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'Rick and Morty' Fan Theories

'Rick and Morty' fan theories make you think – and want to rewatch the show.

By Ossiana TepfenhartPublished 7 years ago 8 min read
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Rick and Morty is one of the biggest breakout shows on Cartoon Network's Adult Swim programming block. The television follows a mentally unstable super genius scientist by the name of Rick Sanchez as he goes on insane, multi-dimensional adventures with his shy, hapless grandson, Morty.

There are fart jokes. There's drama involving failing marriages and bad relationship counseling. There's gore and mayhem. In many cases, the humor might be crude or crass.

But, no matter how you cut it, the show is really well-written. What makes Rick and Morty so fascinating is that there are a million layers to the show – many of which are thought up way in advance. Little details that meant nothing earlier become major in later episodes. Jokes become deeper the more you watch the show.

It makes you wonder what the truths behind the characters' actions are, and it makes you wonder what the characters are really thinking. This led to a million different Rick and Morty fan theories.

There are Rick fans out there who swear he's actually a good guy. There are Morty fans who just are more or less interested in seeing Morty maybe hit it off with his crush. No matter what perspective you want to look into, there are Rick and Morty fan theories that will have you thinking harder - and getting ready to see the rest of the much-awaited third season.

Check out some of our favorite fan theories below - do you agree with any of them?

Rick is aware of the fact that he's in a cartoon.

A common Rick theory is that "the Universe's smartest mammal" might actually be very well-aware that he's actually a cartoon. After all, if he's smart enough to notice that he can travel to an infinite number of dimensions, or travel inside a human body, wouldn't he realize that, in at least one dimension, he's actually a cartoon character?

This is one of the most commonly believed Rick and Morty fan theories out there - and it's easy to see why. Rick breaks the fourth wall a lot, especially with his catchphrases, his comedy bits, and his flashbacks. He even looks right at the audience at random times in the show.

If you were a cartoon character and were aware of it, wouldn't you want to have a catchphrase - or just look at the "fourth wall" once in a while? If you think about this theory Rick might actually be in on the joke.

Wubalubbadubdub!

Rick may have had another Morty prior to the one in the show.

Many Rick fan theory nuts tend to believe that Rick had another Morty, who may have died in an adventure mishap prior to the show's beginnings.

Rick, at least the one that we have been following in the series, is seriously depressed and seems to legitimately care about his family - unlike other Ricks from other dimensions. Could it be that loss was what drove him to have a heart?

Supporting this fan theory isn't too hard; there's ample evidence to this.

The entire premise of the show is about Rick coming back to his family after going missing for 20 years. Later on, it's revealed that this is Rick from universe C-137.

In the "Get Schwifty" episode, it becomes clear that Rick held Morty as a baby. Morty is only a teenager - so which Morty was Rick C-137 remembering? How did that photo get taken?

It can't be the Morty of the show's dimension because Rick wasn't around to witness his birth. He only recently came back to his daughter's doorstep, which means that photo would be impossible. Is the photo on Bird Person's wall from an alternate dimension, and, if so, why would he have it?

(Note: The shot of Rick holding Morty as a baby spawned tons of Rick and Morty fan theories, but we're going to stick to this one theory right now.)

It's also worth noting that the way other Ricks refers to Rick C-137 and Morty is a bit strange. Rick C-137 gets called that by other Ricks from other dimensions. He's a well-known Rick. But, the only person to refer to his Morty as Morty C-137 is Morty himself. Suspicious? You bet it is - and multiple fan theories exist about this, too.

Moreover, when the two accidentally destroyed their Earth due to a virus in "Love Bug," they didn't stick around. Instead, Rick told Morty to bail - leaving the rest of their family to suffer in a ruined world.

The two ended up replacing an alternate universe version of themselves that died in the family garage. How quickly Rick jumped universes suggests that he may have done something similar in the past.

The content of Rick's flask isn't just alcohol - it's what's keeping Rick one step ahead of everyone else.

Everyone sees Rick guzzling stuff from his flask in every single episode. But, what is in the flask? It's clear some of it is alcohol - or at least, it's assumed that this is the case.

Currently, one of the smaller Rick and Morty fan theories suggests that the flask isn't just alcohol. In the first episode of Rick and Morty, we learned that Mega Trees are life forms that have the ability to make people smarter - especially when someone ingests the trees' Mega Seeds.

When Morty used the Mega Seeds, he seemed more intelligent. As the effects faded, he started to drool out of his mouth - just like Rick Sanchez so often does. Considering how insistent Rick was about Morty smuggling Mega Seeds, it's safe to say that he's very fond of them.

Rick may also have a Mega Seed addiction that he needs to satiate in order to keep his intelligence. Where else would be a better place to keep his own stash than a flask, where he can infuse the seeds with vodka?

Who is Evil Morty?

Ricks are insanely smart - Mortys aren't. So, how did Evil Morty become so smart? Moreover, why did Evil Morty seem to have a past with Rick C-137?

Multiple Rick and Morty fan theories have tried to explain this away. One suggests that the opening credits' scene where Rick abandons Morty may have actually been a clip where Rick C-137 abandoned his original Morty. That original Morty may have turned into Evil Morty after pulling himself out of danger.

Evil Morty's abandonment issues would definitely explain why Evil Morty hates Ricks so much. He feels like they hurt him, and now he wants payback.

Another Morty theory suggests Evil Morty may have just been a Rick who disguised himself as a Morty to fly low on the radar. This would explain why Evil Morty is so smart, and it also would explain why Evil Morty seems to have a disdain for the Council of Ricks.

Rick hates other Ricks so much, that killing them doesn't seem to be an issue for him. Since we know brain switching technology exists, it's entirely plausible that Evil Morty may have actually been a Rick.

The Mortiest Morty is retarded - literally.

One of the more common Rick and Morty fan theories you'll see deals with the intelligence of Morty and Rick C-137. Rick has explained that every Rick needs a Morty because Morty has the ability to mask Rick's brilliant brainwaves.

This means that there's a good chance that Morty would have to be very slow in order to "balance out" Rick's genius. The Rickest Rick, therefore, would be the smartest of the smartest men in the multiverse. If he's the smartest man in the multiverse, then it'd make sense for the Mortiest Morty to be very, very, very dumb.

In terms of Morty fan theories, this one isn't very kind to Morty. But, unless there's a strange intrinsic difference in Morty's brainwaves when compared to other peoples' brainwaves, there's no other way to deny it.

One of Rick's former jail mates was responsible for the screaming sun.

This is neither a Rick theory nor a Morty theory. But, it's still interesting to think about.

When Rick was placed into a Federation prison, they asked what he was there for. On the Galactic Federation Rick and Morty promo site, you can find screens that show the crimes that others near Rick committed. (Or, you know, you can see other humans posed as prisoners too.)

Criminal number GP-2669-I's crime was that he had "imbued sentience on a non-living object." This means that they gave thoughts and free will to something that shouldn't have had it - such as a corpse, a pickle, or maybe a sun.

The sun on the world that Rick's family fled to was screaming bloody murder. It was in pain. This makes sense, because fire is painful. Could GP-2669-I have been the cause of this pain?

This is one of many Rick and Morty fan theories that makes you wonder about the Federation as a whole - and why they seemed so controlling. Was it actually a bad thing, or was it the only way to really maintain order across such a wide expanse?

All Rick and Morty fan theories are automatically correct, regardless of how outlandish they are.

This is one of my favorite Rick and Morty fan theories, simply because it has to be true.

Assuming that there are infinite universes in the Rick and Morty multiverse, that means that there are infinite possibilities - and that also means that in at least one universe, whatever you think happened to Rick had to have happened.

So, even if it's not "official Canon," whatever fan theory you have is going to be a true in at least one Rick and Morty universe. Mind = blown!

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About the Creator

Ossiana Tepfenhart

Ossiana Tepfenhart is a writer based out of New Jersey. This is her work account. She loves gifts and tips, so if you like something, tip her!

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