“Night Family” is the best episode of Rick and Morty season 6 yet

Eager to get more done in a day without sacrificing their sleep, Rick shares a device with the Smith family that allows them to get a full night of sleep while their unconscious bodies perform menial tasks. Things get tense when the family’s nighttime personas wage war against the oppressive daylighters. Dawn and dusk exchange blows in this week’s episode of Rick and Morty, “Night Family.”

Another great episode this week, in my opinion. Similar to last week, the story is set mostly within the confines of the Smith household, which always seem to make for better stories, especially in these later seasons. This episode is focused, interesting, and doesn’t get bogged down with distractions or B-stories.

Speaking of the story, it’s a neat concept, a classic tale of wish fulfillment gone wrong. Lord knows I’ve longed to be able to never sleep so I could accomplish more. In the first half, we get to enjoy seeing what the Smith family members want to get done in their downtime, which was pretty funny (though I think I’ve seen enough of Rick and Morty’s abs for one lifetime). Ever the small thinker, Jerry only wants to be pen pals with his nighttime persona, which is funny and also useful, since it allows Jerry to act as the go-between as tension grows between the two factions.

The nighttime Smiths feel ill used and abused fulfilling the wishes of the daytime Smiths. Would it be that hard for them to soak their dishes? Rick, never being one to give into demands (or even gentle requests), refuses, sparking war between day and night.

Rick and Morty is focused and funny with “Night Family”

Things escalate smoothly with home run jokes along the way. Some of my favorites were Daytime Morty having to fill his crunch quota to maintain his abs, a robot guard with an inexplicable Jerry Lewis accent, and the fact that we now know another of Jerry’s kinks. It all culminates in a wonderful chase scene as the family flips between states of consciouses and subconsciouses, as well as a twist of a resolution. The story is a real winner this episode.

Finally, I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the outstanding music. The score gets increasingly creepy as the conflict grows. There is a particularly great piece of music when Rick leaves Earth to get indestructible alien plates. I want to hear that track next time I’m four Monster Energy drinks into a gaming session.

And that’s all I’ve got for this week of Rick and Morty, except…don’t think I didn’t notice that Marvel reference, Harmon. Cheap reference humor aside, it’s all aces this week.

Grade: A

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