Jessica (Rick and Morty)

Last updated
Jessica
Rick and Morty character
First appearance
Created by Justin Roiland
Dan Harmon
Designed byJustin Roiland
Voiced by Kari Wahlgren [1] [2] [3]
Misa Ishii ( The Anime )
In-universe information
Full nameJessica
SpeciesHuman
GenderFemale
TitleTime God
Occupation Student
God of time
Significant others Morty Smith
Brad (ex-boyfriend)

Jessica is a recurring fictional character in the American animated television series Rick and Morty and resulting franchise. Voiced by Kari Wahlgren and created by Justin Roiland and Dan Harmon, loosely inspired by Jennifer Parker from Back to the Future , Jessica is the crush and later casual girlfriend of protagonist Morty Smith, who for the first four seasons of the series is oblivious to his feelings being partially reciprocated by Jessica. A social media-savvy student, in "Mort Dinner Rick Andre", Jessica is turned into a time god after spending millennia frozen in time within an alternate dimension where-in time passed faster. Known for her kind, inquisitive personality, the character has received a positive critical reception. [4] [5] [6]

Contents

Development

The character was created by Justin Roiland and Dan Harmon; when the concept of Rick and Morty was brought up to Adult Swim, the ideas for an expanded supporting cast and Jessica being featured as a "will they, won't they" love interest for Morty Smith was introduced, depicted as having red hair due to Harmon's love of redheads, and loosely inspired by Jennifer Parker (portrayed by Claudia Wells and Elisabeth Shue), the love interest of Marty McFly (the inspiration for Morty) in Back to the Future . [7] [8] In 2020's Rick and Morty Character Guide, an Easter egg sees Jessica be given the initialized name "Jessica W." in reference to the surname of her voice actress: Kari Wahlgren. [9] On the design of "Witch Jessica" in Rick and Morty: Ever After , the series' artist Sarah Stern described her as "the most enigmatic character in the book [who] needed a look [that was] both threatening and characteristically sylish [with] some fun forest-witch vibes [and] a black bodysuit strung with silver and bone", after the series' writer Sam Haggs had requested she be designed with "threatening but also step-on-me vibes". [10]

Fictional character biography

Jessica is introduced in the series' "Pilot", expressing interest in getting to know Morty more before Morty is taken away on an adventure. In "Rick Potion #9", a love potion given to Morty by Rick mutates with Jessica' common cold eventually leads everyone in the world not related to Morty being turned into "Cronenberg" monsters, and Morty and Rick abandoning the reality, the Prime Dimension, for another one, Dimension C-131. C-131's Jessica makes her first formal appearance in the first season finale "Ricksy Business", attending Rick's and Summer's party. Irritated by her boyfriend Brad, Jessica allows Morty to comfort her and he takes her on a tour of Rick's garage, showing her a map of the universe that fills the room and telling her of his adventures.

In "Rest and Ricklaxation", after Morty is split in two people, a Toxic Morty and Confident Morty, the latter asks out Jessica before making her feel he'd "get bored with her". Jessica then helps Rick with merging the Mortys back together, glad to have him back. A deleted subplot further explored Jessica herself "detoxed", her split versions described as "very co-dependent". [11]

In "Edge of Tomorty: Rick Die Rickpeat", Morty becomes obsessed with using a "time crystal" to follow a life path to a future where he will die with Jessica (actually one where she is his nurse), Jessica expressing further interest in him in "The Vat of Acid Episode".

In "Mort Dinner Rick Andre", Morty calls Jessica to admit his feelings for her, and the couple arrange a date. During his date with Jessica, as their attempts at making out are interrupted by Mr. Nimbus, whose actions lead to Jessica being sucked into another dimension, where she is frozen in time as a lure for Morty. After Nimbus and Rick help Morty rescue Jessica, Morty tries to continue their date, only for Jessica to reveal how due to spending "endless time" in stasis with only her thoughts for company, she has a changed perspective on life and the universe, telling a crestfallen Morty that they should just be friends "for now", before walking off into the night. [12]

Jessica returns in the seventh season episode "Rickfending Your Mort" (following Morty's move to the Parmesan Dimension in "Solaricks"), where a flashback reveals her and Morty to now be casually dating. [13]

Reception

The character has received a positive reception, from outlets such as Comic Book Resources , [4] [14] Looper , [15] Screen Rant , [16] [17] [18] The A.V. Club , [19] Inverse , [5] and Decider . [6]

References

  1. ↑ Wahlgren, Kari (June 21, 2021). "I'm a Time God... #RickandMorty". Twitter . Archived from the original on 2021-06-22. Retrieved June 21, 2021.
  2. ↑ Wilding, Josh (May 23, 2022). "Rick and Morty Star Kari Wahlgren On Her Crazy Ride Playing Jessica And Rick's Computer (Exclusive)". Toonado. Retrieved May 23, 2022.
  3. ↑ Kari Wahlgren Talks Voicing Jessica, Rick & Morty, Music & More!. WISECASTS by Wisecrack. August 17, 2021. Retrieved August 17, 2021– via YouTube.
  4. 1 2 Clogston, Taylor (February 5, 2022). "Rick & Morty: 5 Characters on Morty's Level (& 5 Nowhere Close)". Comic Book Resources . Retrieved February 5, 2022.
  5. 1 2 Plante, Corey (June 14, 2021). "Rick and Morty Season 5 Episode 1 proves it's time for the show to move on". Inverse . Retrieved February 20, 2024.
  6. 1 2 Cobb, Kayla (June 30, 2021). "'Rick and Morty' Needs a Jessica Spin-Off". Decider . Retrieved June 30, 2021.
  7. ↑ Czajkowski, Elise (12 November 2013). "Dan Harmon's Rick and Morty Premieres on Adult Swim on Dec. 2". Splitsider. The Awl. Archived from the original on 2 July 2017. Retrieved 7 January 2017.
  8. ↑ Unedited: See Dan Harmon's Full interview About 'Rick & Morty,' Writing, Success, 'Incels' & Kanye. MSNBC . November 2, 2021. Retrieved November 2, 2021– via YouTube.
  9. ↑ Albro Lundy ( a ). Rick and Morty Character Guide ,vol. .1(December 23, 2020). Milwaukie, Oregon : Dark Horse Comics .Retrieved on December 23, 2020.
  10. ↑ Sam Haggs ( w ),Sarah Stern and Emmett Helen ( a ). Rick and Morty: Ever After (June 15, 2021). Portland, Oregon : Oni Press .Retrieved on June 15, 2021." Rick and Morty: Ever After "Bonus Materials: Creating the world of Ever After – Art by Sarah Stern and Emmett Helen" – "Sarah: "Witch Jessica is the most enigmatic character in the book, and she needed a look that's both threatening and characteristically stylish. I wanted to giver her some fun forest - witch vibes, so I gave her a black bodysuit strung with silver and bone. The big, fluffy feather cloak is very insulating on chilly mornings too, I'm sure!" Sam: "I think the best thing about Evil Witch Jessica is how much I would absolutely wear her outfit right now. Hot-Topic -circa-2009 wishes. I wanted threatening but also step-on-me vibes, and that's exactly what Emmett and Sarah gave us. Iconic."
  11. ↑ Cobb, Kayla (May 18, 2018). "Rick and Morty Season 3: 13 Crazy Stories You Didn't Know". Decider . Retrieved May 18, 2018.
  12. ↑ Flook, Ray (June 18, 2021). "Rick and Morty Season 5: Forget Nimbus – Morty Has A Date with Jessica!". Bleeding Cool . Retrieved June 18, 2021.
  13. ↑ Gunning, Cathal (November 20, 2023). "Rick & Morty Season 7 Episode 6 Recap: 12 Funniest Gags & Moments". Screen Rant . Retrieved November 20, 2023.
  14. ↑ McCarrick, Michael (September 17, 2021). "Rick and Morty: Morty's Love Interests, Ranked". Comic Book Resources . Retrieved September 17, 2021.
  15. ↑ Storc, Matt (September 30, 2022). "Why Jessica From Rick and Morty Sounds So Familiar". Looper . Retrieved September 30, 2022.
  16. ↑ Gentile, Alex (December 17, 2021). "Rick and Morty: Main Characters Ranked By Likability". Screen Rant . Retrieved December 17, 2021.
  17. ↑ Suarez, Amanda (December 5, 2021). "Rick and Morty: A Quote From Each Main Character That Goes Against Their Personality". Screen Rant . Retrieved December 5, 2021.
  18. ↑ Zabo, Marta (December 7, 2021). "Rick and Morty: How Jessica's Time God Powers Could Change Season 6". Screen Rant . Retrieved December 7, 2021.
  19. ↑ Handlen, Zack (May 18, 2020). "It's live, die, repent you ever doubted Rick on Rick and Morty". The A.V. Club . Retrieved May 18, 2020.
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