The possibilities for the science-fiction genre are seemingly endless, and yet so many sci-fi stories cover the same ground. It’s why Justin Roiland and Dan Harmon’s Adult Swim series Rick and Morty has been such a breath of fresh air since it debut in 2013. The show is genuine hard sci-fi, with well thought-out premises and situations that aren’t simply forgotten or discarded after one episode. Roiland and Harmon double down on these stories, while adhering to the rules of the universe they’ve created. But Rick and Morty is also sharply, sometimes darkly funny, offering up a variety of ridiculous, crude, and hilarious situations and moments.
The show endures, however, because of its heart. You may not immediately think of compassion when it comes to Rick and Morty, but it’s there. The love that Roiland and Harmon have for these characters permeates, and they’re not afraid to approach difficult situations and subject matter with real, sometimes tough emotions. That is what makes Rick and Morty far more than a raunchy cartoon or strange sci-fi series.
With that in mind, I went back and revisited all the Rick and Morty episodes from the first three seasons and ranked them from worst to best, in an effort to further dive into what makes this show special episode by episode. Truth be told, there’s really not a single worthless episode of Rick and Morty—there’s good to be found in even the least memorable of the bunch, so think of this as a way of appreciating each episode of the show rather than an episode-by-episode judgment.
Without further ado, let’s get started…
41.) “Pilot”
AKA “The First One” Season 1, Episode 1
The first episode of Rick and Morty is a little rough, which isn’t entirely unexpected. Pilots are hard, and this show was born out of a silly Back to the Future parody, so this episode leans a little too heavy on nods to that film and the constant “Morty!” spouting from Rick gets a bit grating. But there was certainly enough here to show promise for the series to come, and the show absolutely understood the dynamic between Rick and Morty from the start—this is a relationship in which Rick will ask his grandson to shove alien seeds waaaaaay up his butt. The episode’s conclusion, with Morty writhing in pain on the floor while Rick screams at him, is also a foundational piece of their relationship and tells viewers this is definitely going to be a “no hugging, no learning,” kind of show.
40.) “Something Ricked This Way Comes”
AKA “The One with The Devil” Season 1, Episode 9
Rick and Morty is very much its own thing, but this episode is the one that feels the most like an homage to Futurama (or maybe it’s just the inclusion of the Devil). It’s a fun episode with an interesting premise, and Jerry’s subplot about going to Pluto has some solid jokes. But this one doesn’t exactly stick the emotional landing it’s going for in regards to the Jerry subplot, and the Devil storyline fizzles out in an uncharacteristically expected conclusion.
39.) “Raising Gazorpazorp”
AKA “The One with the Sex Doll” Season 1, Episode 7
After the heftiness of “Rick Potion #9”, we get a relatively lighter episode in which Morty becomes a parent. There are some great jokes in this episode, and exploring the difficulties of fatherhood through this young boy is a fun premise, but ultimately it’s more of a middle-of-the-road entry.
38.) “Lawnmower Dog”
AKA “The One with Scary Terry” Season 1, Episode 2
Rick and Morty is at its best when it’s doing its own thing, which makes this Inception parody just a little subpar in the overall legion of Rick and Morty episodes. That said, there’s enough of Roiland and Harmon’s distinct flavor here to make it interesting, and the subversion of expectations for Scary Terry makes for a hilarious payoff. As is true of most of these early episodes, the domestic stuff is a bit iffy, but again the lengths to which Roiland and Harmon are willing to take a silly premise like a talking dog make Rick and Morty a very twisted cut above.
37.) “Ricksy Business”
AKA “The One with the Titanic Getaway” Season 1, Episode 11
Season 1 comes to a close with a fun, crazy character-filled installment that’s enjoyable enough, but not especially memorable. The Jerry/Beth Titanic getaway subplot has a few interesting surprises but lacks any big, memorable moment, while the party at the house is a bit unfocused. It does, however, go off on a high note with Rick breaking the fourth wall to dance and tease Season 2.
36.) “Look Who’s Purging Now”
AKA “The One with Tony! Toni! Toné!” Season 2, Episode 9
It was a bit surprising to see Roiland and Harmon tackle a Purge parody in their second season, and as such it’s probably the least memorable of that bunch. It’s fun enough, but after so much great original sci-fi it was a bit of a bummer to just see a full-on lift of another premise. That said, Morty’s interaction with the lighthouse keeper is a definite highlight, and it’s impossible not to have “Feels Good” stuck in your head long after watching.
35.) “Anatomy Park”
AKA “The One with Pirates of the Pancreas” Season 1, Episode 3
This was the first episode to really showcase the dynamism and extent of the science-fiction aspect of the show. While “Lawnmower Dog” deals in dreamscapes, “Anatomy Park” brings to life a fully functioning theme park inside a dead hobo. That in and of itself is the joke, but the park has a tremendous amount of specificity to it that makes it tangible and compelling as genuine sci-fi, aside from the jokes. Plus John Oliver is perfect casting as the John Hammond-esque park director. The domestic subplot, however—involving a polyamorous relationship for Jerry’s parents—is kind of dead weight here.
34.) "One Crew over the Crewcoo’s Morty"
AKA “The One Where Dan Harmon Clearly Hates Heist Movies” Season 4, Episode 3
Okay so the Heist Con episode is at once incredibly fun and incredibly frustrating. It’s hilarious how severely Dan Harmon hates heist movies, and you can feel that anger seething through in the entirety of the episode. But this is also one where the joke goes on and on and on and on, and while the punchline works, getting there is sometimes a little repetitive. Which of course is the point, so I imagine this one hits differently for different people, but for me it doesn’t quite get there. Despite the fact that it includes one of the show’s best jokes ever when Rick tells the con-goers, “Your boos mean nothing, I’ve seen what makes you cheer!”
33.) "Edge of Tomorty: Rick Die Rickpeat"
AKA “The One with All the Nazis” Season 4, Episode 1
The Season 4 opener came after a long, long wait for new episodes, and it delivered by giving us a story in which Rick really and truly dies. Of course he has a contingency plan, but watching Morty obsess over dying with Jessica at his side while Rick keeps being resurrected in worse and worse timelines is tons of fun. The episode is also poignant, which is Rick and Morty at its best. Morty’s wrongheaded obsession with this supposed endpoint leads him to live a life lacking in any substance at all, driven by a single fear. But what’s truly touching is seeing how Rick may finally have changed—he genuinely cares about Morty’s well-being, working to save him from the death crystal’s grip. Solid ep, bro.
32.) “Get Schwifty”
AKA “The One with Ice-T” Season 2, Episode 5
The “alien invasion threatens the planet” premise has been done to death, so Roiland and Harmon offer a counterpoint: “aliens force Earth into an American Idol-style singing competition.” It’s as ridiculous as it sounds, and credit to Roiland and Harmon for crafting genuinely memorable songs for this. The episode is also bolstered by a subplot involving Jerry, Beth, Summer and other townspeople mistaking the giant alien heads for new gods, and while this story probably could’ve been improved by taking the lead in an episode, it’s enjoyable enough.
31.) "The Rickchurian Mortydate"
AKA “The One Where Rick Blows Off the President” Season 3, Episode 10
The Season 3 finale is a bit of an odd episode, and coming as the capper of the best season yet, it’s a little disappointing. It doesn’t pack the emotional punch or jaw-dropping cliffhanger quality of the Season 2 finale, but it does offer some interesting character evolution. It’s basically a breakup story between Rick and the President of the United States, drawing some strong parallels to real-life breakups with a classic Rick and Morty twist. And then there’s Beth trying to figure out if she’s a clone or not, with these two storylines ultimately intersecting in a bit of a character dynamics reset to a pre-“Wedding Squanchers” mode with Beth and Jerry finally back together. The change here is that Beth, seemingly, now actually loves Jerry, and most importantly Rick decides to stick with a family he pretends to loathe rather than move to a different timeline. “The Rickchurian Mortydate” isn’t a bad episode, but it lacks the cohesiveness or wallop of some of the other Season 3 episodes, so it’s a bit of a letdown in the context of the new season. That said, it does get some major points for that Mr. Poopybutthole cameo.
30.) "Childrick of Mort"
AKA "The One Where Rick F*cked a Planet" Season 4, Episode 9
A recurring theme throughout Rick and Morty is Rick's lack of parenting skills, and how deeply he hides his desire to do better. This episode attempts to tackle the issue of parenting head-on by telling a story in which Rick thinks he's impregnated a planet, and together with Beth engineers a perfect parenting system. It goes haywire as things normally do in this series, but it's fascinating to see the show dig into the pride that Rick feels when he raises what he thinks are his children, which is why when confronted with the truth that he's not their father, he defends them anyway. Even more interesting is that this is a bonding excerise for both Rick and Beth, whose relationship is complicated at best. While the episode doesn't quite gel as well as something like "The ABCs of Beth," it's entertaining nonetheless — especially in how it puts Jerry on a parenting journey of his own.
29.) "Rattlestar Ricklactica"
AKA “The One with the Snake Jazz” Season 4, Episode 5
This is an incredibly high concept episode, with stretches playing out entirely on a snake planet with snake characters, and it’s mostly pretty great. Like some Rick and Morty episodes it loses the plot a little bit towards the end, but more often than not it’s inspired. The B story with Jerry losing a gravity shoe and spending the entire episode refusing to ask for help is wonderfully ridiculous, with Chris Parnell once again proving he’s this show’s secret weapon.
28.) “Big Trouble in Little Sanchez”
AKA “The One with Tiny Rick” Season 2, Episode 7
“I’m Tiny RIIIIIIICCCCCCKKK!” is now a bona fide catchphrase, and while the “Rick trapped inside a younger clone” storyline dominates the episode, it’s really Jerry and Beth’s subplot that makes it so worthwhile. The two’s alien couples counseling goes awry when the subconscious manifestations of each other wreak havoc, but as is true of the best Rick and Morty episodes, this one offers a compelling emotional throughline that helps us better understand Jerry and Beth’s relationship. But also Tiny Rick.
27.) “A Rickle in Time”
AKA “The One Where They Fuck with Time” Season 2, Episode 1
Possibly the most ambitious episode this show has ever tackled, “A Rickle in Time” almost pulls it off. This time-bending installment goes just a bit too far with the split screen scenarios, but for the most part it sticks the landing. It’s an incredibly entertaining way to deal with issues of time displacement, and leads to a refreshingly emotional moment for Rick.
26.) “Rixty Minutes”
AKA “The One with the Interdimensional Cable” Season 1, Episode 8
Obviously this episode was successful enough to spawn a follow-up, but what some forget is “Rixty Minutes” also includes some of the darkest Jerry/Beth stuff. While Rick and Morty are surfing through alien television, Jerry and Beth are considering the lives they could’ve led had Beth had an abortion. It’s heavy stuff for a cartoon, and it goes to some dark places, but it culminates in a genuinely touching ending that thankfully keeps these characters as people to root for—just barely.
25.) "Rickmancing the Stone"
AKA “The One with the Fury Road People” Season 3, Episode 2
There are a lot of great jokes in “Rickmancing the Stone,” but it’s probably the second-weakest episode of the brilliant third season. The backbone of the episode is Summer and Morty acting out as a result of their parents’ divorce, and Rick ignoring/not noticing just how severely the split has hit them, but it seems to take a bit of a backseat to site gags and jokes. Which, honestly, is kind of fine—sometimes you just want a really funny episode of Rick and Morty. And this episode is by no means bad. It just doesn’t hit the ridiculous highs of the rest of the season in terms of cohesiveness of theme, story, and jokes.
24.) “Interdimensional Cable 2: Tempting Fate”
AKA “The One That’s a Sequel” Season 2, Episode 8
The sequel has the (slight) edge over the first “Interdimensional Cable” for a couple of reasons: Stealy, the Eyehole Man, and Jerry’s non-stop quest to be liked while refusing to donate his penis for the betterment of the universe. That’s really it. It’s insanity done right.
23.) Claw and Hoarder: Special Ricktim’s Morty
AKA “The One with the Horny Dragons” Season 4, Episode 4
Rick and Morty’s version of “a dragon episode” is anything but predictable, and that’s what makes it one of Season 4’s best. Watching Rick and a dragon run around, doing drugs, and getting into trouble is a damn delight, then you throw in the sexually charged “soul bonding” twist and things just get weirder. By and large, the show has avoided delving into the realm of magic, instead tending to lean heavy into sci-fi. But Rick’s open disdain for magic as a concept puts a self-aware twist on this installment that makes it that much funnier. And of course the sexually charged wizard yelling “Slut thief!” absolutely slays. But this is also an episode in which the B story is also incredible. It’s at first unclear where “Jerry and a talking cat” is going, but the blend of ambiguous evil with Jerry’s naiveté is brilliant.
22.) "Never Ricking Morty"
AKA "The One with the Story Train" Season 4, Episode 6
The fourth season of the series aired in two parts, and "Never Ricking Morty" was the first episode of the second half of the season — and boy did it kick things off ambitiously. The episode is basically the show's attempt to do an episode that's like "Interdimensional Cable" and yet not, and while it ultimately bites off more than it can chew, it's tremendously fun along the way. The "Bechdel Test" joke is very funny in a self-aware fashion, and the "tickets please" guy spinning around endlessly with blood flowing out of his torso is just objectively hilarious. But the episode is also a bit too meta for its own good, as the Story Train device feels at once like the show railing against fans who demand specific things out of the series whle also trying to do said things, without marrying the two in a successful way. And it ultimately ends on a joke about consumerism while Rick and Morty reaps a ton of profits through merchandise. Credit where credit's due, though — the episode's vision for a series finale is very funny.