Rick and Morty offers some rare emotional depth in “A Rickonvenient Mort”

Rick and Morty fits in a Captain Planet parody, a hedonistic trip to doomed planets, and some actual emotional connection in “A Rickonvenient Mort.”

With Rick and Morty’s fondness for nihilistic cruelty and reminding us all that nothing matters, long-time viewers might be surprised by the rollercoaster of emotions in the newest episode, “A Rickonvenient Mort.”

In this episode, the titular duo are separated into different stories, with Morty literally being swept off his feet after meeting Planetina, an environmentally conscious Superhero summoned to save Earth from pollution when her four kids, the Tina-Teers, combine their four elemental rings. Anyone with even a casual knowledge of ’90s cartoon shows will recognize them as a parody of Captain Planet, but in classic Rick and Morty style, there are a few twists that shake up the story.

The Tina-Teers, originally formed in the ’90s, are all grown-up now and have complete control over Planetina’s comings and goings. This drives a wedge between her and Morty, giving the episode a more grounded and relatable conflict than found in a lot of the gang’s more far-flung cosmic adventures.

By isolating Morty away from Rick, the writers give his story more stakes. Rick can’t swoop in with a solution or even offer help, so it’s all on Morty to move the plot and save the day. Funny enough, with his grandpa gone, we get to see Morty’s Rick side blossom. This seems to be a character arc for Morty in Season 5. Similar to the first episode this year when he goes on a bloody rampage against another civilization over some jugs of wine, we’re more often seeing Morty take matters into his own hands to get what he wants. A chip off the old block.

Speaking of Rick, the smartest man in the universe takes a backseat in this episode. While Morty falls in love, Rick and Summer go on a hedonistic bender to three planets before they meet doomsday. The inhabitants of each world throw wild parties to celebrate the lack of anything to live for, and Rick and Summer drop in for some “no-commitment” fun. This side plot provides the perfect balance to the A-story. It has fun visuals with three unique alien worlds and a plethora of jokes that all hit the bullseye, particularly thanks to Daphne, Rick’s romantic interest with an ace up her sleeve. Well, more than an ace really.

So far this is the stand-out episode of Season 5. It provided all the things that I expect from Rick and Morty — fun adventure, great humor, creative sci-fi visuals– while also giving me what I’ve felt it’s been lacking for some time: some wholesomeness, character motivation that I can root for and understand, and a glint of optimism for a better world. Planetina is not only Morty’s first romantic connection now that the door with Jessica seems fully closed, but also represents an ongoing back-and-forth of hope and doom regarding the planet. And instead of dismissing these emotions, they are given the moment and weight that they deserve. No spoilers, but don’t be surprised if you come away crying, as I did when the credits rolled.

That is ultimately what I’d like to see more of going forward this season. Oftentimes in Rick and Morty, emotional attachments between characters are sacrificed for jokes or to make a point, etc. However by the end of “A Rickonvenient Mort,” those attachments stay attached. They are given a space alongside adventure and humor. Hopefully this won’t be the last episode this season where Rick and Morty shows its heart.

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