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Managing editor & film and television critic with a Bachelor's of Arts in English Literature with a Writing Minor from the University of Guam. Currently in graduate school completing a Master's in English Literature.
How can you explain this to yourself?
The Rick and Morty‘s fourth season finale is titled “Star Mort Rickturn of the Jerri;” it is written by Anne Lane and directed by Erica Hayes.
If you haven’t caught up with the show, do so now or read at your own peril. Some spoilers ahead!
“Star Mort Rickturn of the Jerri” gets its episode title from the Star Wars franchise. Rick Sanchez (Justin Roiland)’s daughter Beth Smith (Sarah Chalke) returns from the depths of space to confront her father, but she encounters a clone of herself, or perhaps she is the clone. Morty (also Justin Roiland) and Summer Smith (Spencer Grammer) take turns wearing an invisibility belt. All of this happens when Tammy Gueterman (Cassie Steele) and her companion Phoenixperson (Dan Harmon), formerly Birdperson, return to Earth to exact their revenge.
Other details found in the episode originate from elements of George Lucas’s franchise. The NX-5 Planet Remover is a parody of the Death Star; both are colossal deep space machines that have the most ridiculous weaknesses in them. Morty and Summer compare themselves to Luke and Leia Skywalker but change this comparison to Hansel and Gretel after they remember the twins had kissed.
The season finale’s story continues from previous episode arcs in Season 3:
- Episode 1: “The Rickshank Rickdemption” — The episode begins in Rick’s mind, visualizing Shoney’s as a mental setting; and in an end-tag scene, Tammy watches Birdperson revive as Phoenixperson.
- In this episode, Rick takes Beth (the one who came from space) to Shoney’s; and Tammy and Phoenixperson finally arrive on Earth.
- Episode 3: “Pickle Rick” — The family has a group therapy session with Dr. Wong (Susan Sarandon).
- In this episode, Beth returns to therapy with Jerry Smith (Chris Parnell).
- Episode 8: “Morty’s Mind Blowers” — Rick and his grandson Morty remove their memories and transfer them into vials.
- In this episode, Rick has a vial of his memory about which Beth is the real one and which is revealed to be a clone.
Additionally, some other popular culture references appear throughout the action sequences. Space Beth fights with her father in the garage, and the two use Pokeballs that release monsters from the spheres. Later, the two Beth Smiths propose they do a version of The Parent Trap by switching themselves to confuse others, which Rick actually does as revealed in his memory vial. Lastly, Phoenixperson almost hits Rick’s heart, which becomes shielded with armor. This visual representation may be an allusion to the X-Ray Attacks that appeared in the later Mortal Kombat games.
We would be remiss to not point out the puppetry displayed in the episode. Jerry and his homemade sock puppet at the therapy session foreshadows his using Tammy as a puppet later in the story, when he and his children use the invisibility belt to their advantage.
This finale is largely intended for Rick’s character development as a scientist, but more so as a father and grandfather. His actions affect those around him and perhaps he finally realizes this. There are no other strong meanings in the episode that are up for interpretation other than the invisible garbage truck that appears in the end-tag scene. In a world currently plagued by both a disease and a pandemic, we tend to see who is essential to our lives, and one profession is the garbage disposal business. Their trucks take the world’s trash in order to get rid of people’s filth.
“Star Mort Rickturn of the Jerri” is a finale that may convey itself as complex to the viewer, so it may deserve multiples watches to properly understand what is occurring and why. The episode does not dumb anything down and shoves all the writing, animation, development, etc. into the viewer’s face. With that said, it’s nice to see this season come to a close. Until then, we can only wait to see what happens in the next stages of these characters’ lives.
9/10
What do you think? Have you seen Rick and Morty yet? If not, do you plan to? Let us know! For more Rick and Morty & animation-related news and reviews follow The Cinema Spot on Twitter (@TheCinemaSpot) and Instagram (@thecinemaspot_).
Rick and Morty is available to watch on Cartoon Network’s nighttime program Adult Swim!
Managing editor & film and television critic with a Bachelor's of Arts in English Literature with a Writing Minor from the University of Guam. Currently in graduate school completing a Master's in English Literature.
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