Edge of Tomorty: Rick Die Rickpeat

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"Edge of Tomorty: Rick Die Rickpeat"
Rick and Morty episode
Episode no.Season 4
Episode 1
Directed byErica Hayes
Written by Mike McMahan
Production codeRAM-404
Original air dateNovember 10, 2019 (2019-11-10)
Running time22 minutes
Guest appearance
Episode chronology
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"The Rickchurian Mortydate"		Next →
"The Old Man and the Seat"
Rick and Morty season 4
List of episodes

"Edge of Tomorty: Rick Die Rickpeat" is the premiere episode of the fourth season of the Adult Swim animated television series Rick and Morty . Written by Mike McMahan and directed by Erica Hayes, loosely adapting Akira by Katsuhiro Otomo, the episode was broadcast on November 10, 2019. A stand-alone graphic novel miniseries, Rick and Morty: Worlds Apart , serving as a sequel, was published by Oni Press from February 3 to May 5, 2021. [1] [2] [3]

Contents

Plot

Rick takes Morty on an adventure to Forbodulon Prime to harvest "death crystals"—crystalline substances that allow a person to foresee various possible outcomes about their death. When Morty holds a crystal, he envisions a peaceful death as an old man comforted by his longtime crush Jessica. Determined to make this future a reality, Morty follows the crystal's visions to guide him every step of the way and assumes control of the ship on the way home. This leads to a disastrous flight that propels Rick to his death, after which a holographic projection of Rick manifests and instructs Morty on how to bring him back to life using DNA from his corpse. Upon seeing through the crystal that reviving Rick will deviate his death from his desired outcome, Morty refuses to continue with the process and goes home alone.

While Holographic Rick harasses Morty to discard the crystal and restore him, Rick's consciousness is restored to clones from several different deadly and fascist realities, ending in a Wasp Rick, who helps him get home and transform him back into a human (through unknown means). Meanwhile, Morty becomes increasingly captivated by the guidance of the crystal, blindly obeying its prompts to steal weapons from Rick's arsenal and go on a killing spree. He allows himself to be captured, but escapes punishment by reciting the dying words of his trial judge's husband.

Rick and Wasp Rick learn about Morty's theft and rampage from Holographic Rick. The three Ricks follow Morty, who uses a ferrofluid to turn himself into a monstrous cyborg abomination. They extract Morty from the cyborg, but Holographic Rick is assimilated to the fluid and attempts to destroy the remaining Ricks and Morty. However, Wasp Rick stings the now-giant Holographic Rick in the eye, and the resulting mass of offspring bursts his head open.

Upon arriving home, Jerry and Beth chastise Rick for turning Morty into an "Akira", but Morty defends him and assumes full responsibility for his actions. Rick and Morty agree to split the differences in their adventures in overlapping rants (reminiscent of Rick's monologue at the end of Season 3’s first episode).

In the post-credits scene, Morty overhears Jessica envisioning her future career as a hospice care worker and realizes that he had misinterpreted the crystal's visions. When Rick portals in and asks him for help on another adventure, a furious Morty immediately agrees.

Production and writing

"Edge of Tomorty" was written by executive producer Mike McMahan and directed by Erica Hayes. [4] The episode is dedicated to producer Mike Mendel, who died on September 22, 2019. [5] Characters introduced in this episode include Teddy Rick, Nazi Morty, Shrimp Rick, Wasp Rick, and a Kirkland version of Mr. Meeseeks. [6] [7] While recurring characters returning include Gearhead, Jessica, and Mr. Meeseeks, while the President is briefly pictured. [8] The staff writers also used themes that were previously presented in the series such as the use of Meeseeks boxes, from the episode "Meeseeks and Destroy"; the shift in the Smith family hierarchy, from third season episode "The Rickchurian Mortydate"; and "Operation Phoenix", from the second season episode "Big Trouble in Little Sanchez". [5] [9] [10] The ferro fluid sequence was animated by Studio Yotta, who previously animated on the "Bushworld Adventures" episode. [11]

Themes and cultural references

Several pop culture references and homages are presented throughout the episode. [9] Its title is derived from the science fiction film Edge of Tomorrow and its tagline "Live Die Repeat", in which the protagonist dies and is repeatedly resurrected due to alien technology. [6] [12] Zack Handlen of The A.V. Club observed that the themes of death in the episode are presented in two ideas: one which gives Rick endless lives (through a device that keeps waking up a clone in another reality; every time that clone dies, a new one wakes up someplace else) and Morty "the ability to predict the future and avoid death without exactly knowing what any of it means." [6] It also drew inspiration from Japanese anime, as Edge of Tomorrow itself was based on the Japanese light novel All You Need is Kill . [13] Critics also noted the episode's partial adaptation of the manga Akira . [5] [6] [8] [13] [14] In an argument with Rick, Jerry warns that "I don't want to see anymore Anime stuff happening to my son, buster!" [14] Several commentators noticed the Morty's fixation on avoiding a violent death leads to the violent deaths of many, which was similar to going to a full "Akira"/Tetsuo from the manga and anime. [5] [14] Morty himself was described by the police and news as an "Akira boy". [14]

Reception

Broadcast and ratings

The season premiere was broadcast by Adult Swim on November 10, 2019. [15] The episode was also streamed online for free for audiences based in the United States. [15] According to Nielsen Media Research, "Edge of Tomorty" was seen by 2.33 million household viewers in the United States and received a 1.9 rating among the 18–49 adult demographic, an increase from the 676,000 viewers during the initial broadcast of the previous season's premiere episode. [16] [17]

Critical response

The A.V. Club 's Zack Handlen gave the episode an "A−" rating, and praise it as "about as close to a straight putt as the series is capable of: Rick and Morty go on an adventure, a concept is introduced, and there are then horrible consequences which keep escalating until the status quo is restored." [6] Jack Shepherd of GamesRadar+ gave it a four-star rating, describing it as "certainly a bold opening to the season" and lauding its closing monologue for a mission statement for the season as similar to that of the second season's premiere. [7] Jesse Schedeen of IGN also praised it as the show's strongest to date, extolling the heavy emphasis on Morty himself, saying that it "helps the new season begin on a compelling and, at times, even heartwarming note". [9] Vulture 's Liz Shannon Miller described the episode as a "bleak beginning to the season" and commented that there is the brutal reality that fascism has become "the default" for most of the multiverse. [5]

Related Research Articles

The Edge of Tomorrow or Edge of Tomorrow may refer to:

Rick and Morty is an American adult animated science fiction sitcom created by Justin Roiland and Dan Harmon for Cartoon Network's nighttime programming block Adult Swim. The series follows the misadventures of Rick Sanchez, a cynical mad scientist, and his good-hearted but fretful grandson Morty Smith, who split their time between domestic life and interdimensional adventures that take place across an infinite number of realities, often traveling to other planets and dimensions through portals and on Rick's flying saucer. The general concept of Rick and Morty relies on two conflicting scenarios: domestic family drama and a misanthropic grandfather dragging his grandson into hijinks.

<i>Rick and Morty</i> season 3 Season of television series

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"Meeseeks and Destroy" is the fifth episode of the first season of Rick and Morty. It premiered on Adult Swim on January 20, 2014. The episode was written by Ryan Ridley and directed by Bryan Newton. In the episode, Rick provides the family with a solution to their problems, freeing him up to go on an adventure led by Morty. The episode has been well received, and was seen by about 1.6 million viewers when it was first aired on Adult Swim.

"Close Rick-counters of the Rick Kind" is the tenth and penultimate episode of the first season of the American science fiction comedy animated television series Rick and Morty. Directed by Stephen Sandoval and written by Ryan Ridley, the episode aired on April 7, 2014. With a title alluding to the 1977 film Close Encounters of the Third Kind, the episode is notable for introducing both the rules of the franchise's multiverse and the series' main antagonist — "Evil Morty" — whose storyline is continued across the 2017 third season episode "The Ricklantis Mixup", the 2020 short film "Rick and Morty vs. Genocider", the 2021 fifth season finale "Rickmurai Jack", and the 2023 seventh season episode "Unmortricken".

"Ricksy Business" is the eleventh and final episode of the first season of the American science fiction television series Rick and Morty. Written by Ryan Ridley and Tom Kauffman and directed by Stephen Sandoval, the episode aired on April 14, 2014. The title of the episode is a pun to the film, Risky Business.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">A Rickle in Time</span> 1st episode of the 2nd season of Rick and Morty

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rick Sanchez</span> Fictional character

Richard Daniel "Rick" Sanchez is one of the two eponymous characters from the Adult Swim animated television series Rick and Morty and resulting multimedia franchise. Created by Justin Roiland and Dan Harmon, he is voiced by the former during the first six seasons of the series, then by Ian Cardoni beginning with the seventh season, and Yōhei Tadano in Rick and Morty: The Anime, after voicing the character in the Japanese dub of the series and various promotional short films. Rick is a misanthropic, alcoholic mad scientist inspired by Christopher Lloyd's Dr. Emmett "Doc" Brown from Back to the Future and Reed Richards / Mr. Fantastic from Marvel Comics. In September 2021, Lloyd portrayed Rick himself in a series of promotional interstitials for the series.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pickle Rick</span> 3rd episode of the 3rd season of Rick and Morty

"Pickle Rick" is the third episode of the third season of the Adult Swim animated television series Rick and Morty. Written by Jessica Gao and directed by Anthony Chun, the episode premiered on August 6, 2017. The plot follows eccentric scientist Rick Sanchez as he turns himself into a pickle to avoid attending a family therapy session.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mr. Meeseeks</span> Fictional character

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The President (<i>Rick and Morty</i>) Fictional character

President Andre Curtis, often simply referred to as The President, is a recurring fictional character in the American animated television series Rick and Morty. Voiced by Keith David and created by Wes Archer and Tom Kauffman, based on then-sitting Presidents of the United States Barack Obama and Donald Trump in his first two appearances, the President shares a love–hate relationship with Rick Sanchez, often alternating between calling upon him and his grandson Morty Smith to protect America from various threats, to attempting to have him arrested or killed. In "Edge of Tomorty: Rick Die Rickpeat", an alternate reality version of the President's name is stated to be M. Romney while in all of his later appearances, his name is revealed as Andre Curtis. Known for his abrasive, pompous personality and humorous incompetence, the character has received a positive critical reception.

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References

  1. ↑ Kaplan, Avery (October 15, 2020). "Aw, jeez! Rick and Morty: Worlds Apart on the way". Comics Beat . Retrieved October 15, 2020.
  2. ↑ Johnston, Rich (October 15, 2020). "Rick and Morty Promises the Kinkiest Super-Villains Ever, in 2021". Bleeding Cool . Retrieved October 15, 2020.
  3. ↑ Pulliam-Moore, Charles (October 15, 2020). "In This Rick and Morty: Worlds Apart Exclusive Preview, Old People Are the Worst". Gizmodo . Retrieved October 15, 2020.
  4. ↑ Greene, Steve (November 11, 2019). "'Rick and Morty' Review: Season 4 Premiere 'Edge of Tomorty: Rick Die Rickpeat' Is a Bloody, Brilliant Reset". IndieWire . Penske Media Corporation . Retrieved November 18, 2019.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 Shannon Miller, Liz (November 11, 2019). "Rick and Morty Season-Premiere Recap: Unstoppable Science-Fiction Boy". Vulture. Vox Media . Retrieved November 11, 2019.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 Handlen, Zack (November 9, 2019). "Rick And Morty is back and back to basics". The A.V. Club . Gizmodo Media . Retrieved November 11, 2019.
  7. 1 2 Shepherd, Jack (November 11, 2019). "Rick and Morty season 4 episode 1 review: "Definitely not a simple, classic Rick and Morty adventure"". GamesRadar+ . Future Publishing . Retrieved November 11, 2019.
  8. 1 2 DI Placido, Dani (November 11, 2019). "'Rick And Morty' Season 4, Episode 1 Recap: Death, Rebirth, And Anime". Forbes . Retrieved November 11, 2019.
  9. 1 2 3 Schedeen, Jesse (November 11, 2019). "Rick and Morty: Edge of Tomorty: Rick Die Rickpeat - Review". IGN . Ziff Davis . Retrieved November 11, 2019.
  10. ↑ Walsh, Michael (November 11, 2019). "How an Old Plan Saved Rick in Rick and Morty's Premiere". Nerdist Industries . Retrieved November 11, 2019.
  11. ↑ Studio Yotta [@StudioYotta] (November 14, 2019). "Huge thank you to the team at @RickandMorty for the opportunity to work on the Season 4 premiere's Ferrofluid sequences!" (Tweet). Retrieved November 14, 2019– via Twitter.
  12. ↑ Pearce, Tilly (November 11, 2019). "Rick and Morty season 4: First five episode titles explained ahead of show's return". Metro . DMG Media . Retrieved November 11, 2019.
  13. 1 2 Baron, Reuben (November 11, 2019). "Rick and Morty Season 4 Premiere Pays Homage to 2 Japanese Sci-Fi Classics". Comic Book Resources . Retrieved November 11, 2019.
  14. 1 2 3 4 Valdez, Rick (November 9, 2019). "Rick and Morty Season 4 Premiere Pays Homage to Akira and Anime". ComicBook.com . Retrieved November 11, 2019.
  15. 1 2 Bisset, Jennifer (November 11, 2019). "Rick and Morty's first episode of season 4 is online for free". CNET . CBS Interactive . Retrieved November 11, 2019.
  16. ↑ Metcalf, Mitch (November 12, 2019). "Top 150 Sunday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 11.10.2019". Showbuzz Daily. Archived from the original on November 12, 2019. Retrieved November 12, 2019.
  17. ↑ Porter, Rick (April 4, 2017). "Saturday cable ratings: Surprise 'Rick & Morty' premiere gets solid numbers". TV by the Numbers . Archived from the original on April 5, 2017. Retrieved September 2, 2017.
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