Okay, let's just get this out of the way. "Promortyus." Season 4, Episode 7 of Rick and Morty. I know, I know. Many of you probably watched it and thought, "Wow, what a weird trip!" And you're not wrong. It was definitely a trip. But was it a bad trip? I'm here to tell you, and I might be the only one saying this, but I kind of… liked it? Like, really liked it. Is this an unpopular opinion? Probably. Do I care? Not really.
Let's talk about the premise. Rick gets this crazy alien egg, right? And it hatches. And then it’s a whole thing. A huge, sprawling, apocalyptic thing. We've got Rick, Morty, and this little alien creature that’s basically a parasite. And it’s trying to take over everything. The universe, if it could. Sounds pretty standard Rick and Morty fare, doesn't it? Except it wasn’t. Not really.
The episode throws us into a world that's just… chaotic. It’s a planet that’s been utterly decimated by this egg thing. And Rick and Morty are stuck in the middle of it, trying to survive. But the real star, the real… event of the episode, is the egg itself. Or rather, what comes out of it. It’s called "Promortyus." And it’s… a lot. It’s a creature that’s both terrifying and, in its own messed-up way, kind of adorable? Don't judge me.
The animation in this episode is something else. It’s gritty, it’s gross, and it’s spectacular. The designs of the creatures, the destruction of the world, it’s all so vivid. You can almost smell the burning and the decay. And through all of this, we have Rick and Morty trying to navigate this nightmare. Rick, of course, is his usual brilliant but cynical self. He’s trying to find a way out, a way to exploit the situation, a way to get back to his workbench and a stiff drink. Morty, on the other hand, is his usual anxious, moral compass. He’s worried about the innocent, about the right thing to do, even when faced with something as monstrous as Promortyus.
And that's where the episode gets interesting. It forces Morty to make some really tough choices. He has to decide between his own safety and the potential well-being of others. And Rick is there, egging him on, or perhaps more accurately, pushing him off a cliff and hoping he learns to fly. It’s classic Rick and Morty dynamic, but with a higher, more existential stake.
Now, let's address the elephant in the room. Or, the giant, horrifying, sentient egg in the room. Promortyus. This creature is designed to be pure, unadulterated chaos. It feeds on life, it spreads destruction. It's a force of nature. And yet, there’s something about its raw, primal existence that’s… fascinating. It’s a creature that just is. It doesn’t have motives or plans. It just acts on instinct. And in a universe full of complicated, self-aware beings with all sorts of hang-ups, there’s a strange purity to that.
Some might say the episode is too nihilistic, too bleak. And I can see that. There are moments where it feels like all hope is lost. The world is ending, and our heroes are just tiny specks trying not to get crushed. But isn’t that kind of the point of Rick and Morty sometimes? It’s about facing the absurdity of existence, the vastness of the cosmos, and finding some kind of meaning, or at least some kind of humor, in it all.
I think what I loved most about "Promortyus" was its commitment to its vision. It didn't shy away from the darkness, from the unsettling nature of its central antagonist. It embraced it. And it used that darkness to explore the characters in new ways. Morty's resilience, Rick's occasional flicker of something resembling care (even if it’s just for his own creations). These moments, buried under the gore and the chaos, are what make the show so compelling.
It’s a creature that’s both terrifying and, in its own messed-up way, kind of adorable? Don't judge me.
And the ending! Oh, the ending. It’s a classic Rick and Morty gut-punch. Just when you think you’ve figured it out, just when you think there’s a sliver of hope, the rug is pulled out from under you. It’s shocking, it’s hilarious, and it perfectly encapsulates the chaotic nature of the show. It leaves you thinking, "What just happened?" and "What will they do next?"
So, to all of you who thought "Promortyus" was a bit of a mess, a bit too much, I hear you. But I also urge you to give it another watch. Look past the immediate shock and awe. Look for the character moments, the thematic resonance, the sheer audacity of it all. It might just surprise you. It might just become one of your favorite episodes. And if it doesn’t, well, that’s okay too. There’s always the next dimension, the next bizarre adventure. But for me, "Promortyus" was a wild ride I was happy to be on.
