While oneRick and Mortyepisode took the same approach as the infamous “Pickle Rick,” this later outing aged a lot better than its predecessor. The reception ofRick and Mortyseason 3, episode 3, “Pickle Rick,” is complicated. When the episode first aired in 2017, it was a critical success and managed to earnRick and Mortyits first Emmy Award, the 2018 Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Animated Program. However, although it is almost as highly rated asRick and Morty’sseason 7 endingonIMDb, fan response would gradually sour in the years to come.
As the phrase “I’m Pickle Rick!” became a meme, the episode itself became seen as cringe-worthy and dated. To be fair to the outing, “Pickle Rick” itself remains strong upon a re-watch. However, it is tough to divorce the episode from its cultural legacy, and its ending can come across as faux-deep while its action set pieces aren’t as impressive as they were eight years ago. AsRick and Mortyseason 8’s release dateapproaches, the current reputation of “Pickle Rick” could kindly be called mixed. However, another similar episode has aged much better.
“The Vat Of Acid Episode” Was Rick And Morty’s New “Pickle Rick”
Both Rick and Morty Episodes Were Ostensibly About Rick’s Gimmicky Tricks
Season 4, episode 8, “The Vat of Acid Episode,” has a lot in common with “Pickle Rick.” Both outings see Rick utilize his ridiculous acumen as a scientific super genius to prove a point while avoiding introspection, both won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Animated Program in their respective years of release, and both are undeniably ambitious in their gimmick-focused storytelling. However, “The Vat of Acid Episode” has aged significantly better for numerous reasons.
Morty is more human and less indestructible than Pickle Rick, making his doomed love story genuinely poignant.
Although the whole episode centers on the gimmick of Rick secretly trying to prove his point about the vat of acid,Morty’s role means the outing is stronger on a re-watch than “Pickle Rick.“Rick and Morty’s Morty storieshave historically used Rick’s dim-witted grandson as little more than a pawn in his schemes, and while this is true here, the approach means “The Vat of Acid Episode” has two characters to root for instead of one. Morty is also more human and less indestructible than Pickle Rick, making his doomed love story genuinely poignant.
“The Vat Of Acid Episode” Is A Much Better Rick And Morty Episode Than “Pickle Rick”
Season 4’s Episode Has Aged Better In Many Respects
Like “Pickle Rick,” “The Vat Of Acid Episode” is often listed as one of the quintessentialRick and Mortyepisodes. Both are great episodes that illustrate how the show can take a seemingly silly premise and turn it into comedic gold, but “The Vat Of Acid Episode” has aged better because of its split focus between Morty and Rick and because it didn’t spawn any overused memes.Rick and Mortyseason 8’s episodesare more likely to replicate its approach as a result.
While season 4, episode 2, “The Old Man and the Seat,” shares a lot of creative DNA with “Pickle Rick,“Rick and Mortyhas wisely moved away from Rick-centric episodes that most ignored Morty since. The few remaining ones, like season 5, episode 8, “Rickternal Friendshine of the Spotless Mort,” offer more substantial criticisms of Rick’s flaws than “Pickle Rick,” making them more re-watchable thanRick and Morty’s infamous season 3 outing.
