Rick and Morty is a show that consistently breaks from convention to deliver spectacular episodic adventures, but there is one episode that marks a major turning point in the series. The first four seasons of Rick and Morty contain some of the very best episodes of the show’s entire run, including “Pickle Rick,” “Total Rickall,” “The Vat of Acid Episode,” “The Ricklantis Mixup,” and “Meeseeks and Destroy.”

However, in the early run of the show, the formula largely favored self-contained episodes that only occasionally touched on a larger narrative and evolution of the individual characters. In the subsequent seasons, there has been more of a tendency to explore a larger narrative and revisit older plot points, but the best episode of the series did something more ambitious.

In Rick and Morty, season 7, episode 10, “Fear No Mort,” the season finale, this episode permanently altered the dynamics between Rick Sanchez and his grandson, Morty Smith. And as a result, the series has been digging deeper into this transformation ever since.

“Fear No Mort” Redefined The Show In A New Era

When Rick and Morty began airing, Morty was a scared, whimpering, horned-up, young man who could not be relied on to ever get himself out of trouble. Constantly, Morty would get into trouble, or create messes that Rick would need to sweep in and fix, creating a familiar and repetitive dynamic that made sense in the context, but after a few seasons, this became tiresome.

Fortunately, seeing that things needed to change, the season 7 finale gave Morty a chance to shine in an adventure that saw him confront his greatest fears, and come out the other side without being rescued by his grandfather. And in Rick and Morty’s usual meta style, the story plays out with deeper layers of narrative that unfold as the episode progresses.

Rick and Morty attend a scare park which proves less than invigorating for the space-faring duo. However, they get invited to explore a mystery that promises to be the real fear-inducing attraction that they are craving. They find a fear hole in a Denny’s bathroom, and a video that informs them they will face their greatest fear if they choose to jump in.

While Rick immediately rejects the premise, Morty is clearly conflicted. On one side, he fears what he might face inside the fear hole, but on the other, he wants to prove himself, and so, he runs and jumps into the fear hole, leading to Rick and Morty’s greatest story to date.

“Fear No Mort” Proved Rick and Morty Could Survive Anything

Morty faces monsters initially, before being rescued by his grandfather, and then believing the test is over, only to realise they never left the fear hole. This plays out a handful of times, as they face new challenges only to realize they are still in the hole, before years go by and Rick and Morty go about their lives.

But, when Morty eventually realises that Rick never jumped in after him, and that his real greatest fear is relying on his grandfather, he is freed from the fear hole, and he meets his grandfather standing by the side of the hole, avoiding entering himself.​​​​​​​

While this could feel like a moment that severs the connection between Rick and Morty, the opposite is true. Not only does Rick gain a newfound respect for his grandson, shown by him taking the picture of Morty from his wallet and proudly placing it on the wall of survivors, while Morty becomes comfortable in his relationship with Rick, knowing that it’s his choice now, and no longer a necessity he commits to out of fear.

Evidently, this is a big shift for the series, but it was a necessary one, and it led to the most recent seasons being able to explore each and every character’s journey independently.

Rick and Morty Is At Its Best When It Breaks All The Rules

One of the defining features of Rick and Morty is the fact that it is a show that is willing to bend and break every rule. Just as audiences think they know what to expect, or that they can predict where the story will go next, the show decides to break from tradition and move in an entirely new direction.

That being said, it also manages to do this without making it seem like it’s intentionally focusing on being controversial, rather than trying to tell the best and most innovative new stories. “Fear No Mort” embodies this quality of the show, and three years after the episode aired, it has helped to shape the show perhaps more than any other episode that came before.

Rick proved he had a soft spot for his grandson, Morty proved he no longer had to rely on Rick to fix every problem, and the show put everything out into the open regarding the deep inner feelings of characters. From Morty’s need to prove himself to Rick’s inability to do the same, this episode was exceptional for so many reasons.

Rick And Morty Continues To Deliver Evocative & Emotional Stories Inside Wildly Entertaining Formats

And of course, Rick and Morty manages to replicate this formula time and time again as they create deeply creative stories that are willing to be controversial and messy, while also managing to create something that resonates with audiences and causes viewers to think deeply and ponder the moral aspects of the series.

Themes such as family, romantic relationships, politics, and friendship, yearning for the past, and so much more have all become part of the fabric of the series, and so, when Rick and Morty approaches an intense topic, the audience is more than willing to get on board and see where the story goes. There is nothing on TV quite like Rick and Morty.

Every episode in the series contributes to making this show’s legacy, and proves time and again that it’s not just a one-off fluke, but a team of exceptional individuals who can transform the nonsensical and outrageous into something more profound, more cutting, and altogether a vastly superior experience when compared to similar shows currently releasing.

“Fear No Mort” is absolutely one of the most legendary and memorable episodes of Rick and Morty to ever grace our small screens, but it is by no means in isolation when it comes to great storytelling and innovative devices to move the narrative forward. With that, the show continues to break the mold and set the standard for what is possible with great writing and the right team in place.

Release Date

December 2, 2013

Network

Adult Swim

Directors

Bryan Newton, Dominic Polcino, Anthony Chun, John Rice, Stephen Sandoval, Jeff Myers

Writers

Tom Kauffman, Wade Randolph, Eric Acosta, David Phillips, Erica Rosbe, Sarah Carbiener, Matt Roller, Michael Waldron, Caitie Delaney

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  Justin Roiland

  Rick Sanchez / Morty Smith