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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.
Maybe the United States of America is not what we thought it was. Last week’s Rick and Morty — Season 5 Episode 6 — is titled, “Rick And Morty’s Thanksploitation Spectacular”. Supervising producer James Siciliano serves as the writer, while storyboard artist Douglas Einar Olsen serves as the episode’s director.
In this spoiler review, I will discuss and analyze the details of the episode. Please beware if you have not yet seen it.
Plot Summary
This special episode of Rick and Morty follows Rick Sanchez (Justin Roiland) and his grandson Morty Smith (also Roiland) as they feud with the President of the United States (Keith David). American human beings turn into turkeys, while turkeys turn into “hybrid super soldiers”. Soon, a turkey-turned-human takes over the White House, and it’s up to Rick and Morty to save the nation.
Timothy Olyphant guest stars as the voice of a father-to-be American soldier named Coop.
Spencer Grammer, Sarah Chalke, and Chris Parnell appear as Summer, Beth, and Jerry Smith, respectively. Troy Baker, Dan Harmon, Brandon Johnson, Maurice LaMarche, Dawnn Lewis, Nolan North, Jason Paige, Arnie Pantoja, and Kari Wahlgren also make voice appearances.
Discussion
I am back from vacation and am catching up on Rick and Morty Episodes 505 and 506. This episode particularly tickles my fancy. It satirizes the U.S. Government and the nation’s history in the funniest way possible. The characters desecrate the American belief system by destroying the Constitution, the Liberty Bell, and the Statue of Liberty, all within several seconds. In addition, the writers challenge the viewer to question what attributes exactly characterize the definition of “terrorist”. Is Rick Sanchez a terrorist?
The episode also paints historical figures such as Franklin D. Roosevelt as a human-spider hybrid living under Washington, D.C. It also suggests the theory that North America was founded by Natives and Pilgrims from other worlds, in the same way ]Aliens and Predators were the first figures to tread the planet. This makes me wonder if there may be such a thing as “The Crypt of the New America.”
Some additions to the usual teams of artists are included. Jacob Hair, Lilit Gharzian, and Kyounghee Lim join Samantha S. Gray, Eugene Huang, and Dan O’Connor in storyboard artistry. Phylicia Fuentes, Dik Pose, Jim Shellhorn, and Steve Yurko join Lauren Andrews in additional storyboards.
Demetrice Wilson joins April Eriksson and Allen C. Tam in the prop design. Phillip K. Burrows Jr. and Emi Chan take over in the design clean-up, while Corey Booth, Jack Cusumano, and Doreen Nguyen work on the color design.
Performances and Character Developments in This Episode of Rick and Morty
Keith David just does wonders in his dual role as both the President of the United States and the pseudo-President. I appreciate the character development that the writers have given him. His inclusion in this season as a recurring character is something I admire, especially since David has done so well in Dan Harmon’s other comedy series, Community, in its final season. I liked seeing him progress in Episode 2 (“Mortyplicity”) and Episode 4 (“Rickdependence Spray”) and what he has to offer to the larger narrative of the season. I don’t doubt that he will play a key role in the episodes to come.
Siciliano and Thompson write the President as an individual of powerful rhetoric, similar to Jeff Winger and his speech. Indeed, the writers poke fun at the concept of speeches used to guide characters to the usual resolution. The President says:
Mistrusting Presidents is a patriotic duty. … I know it’s going to take more than some speech, but what is a speech? Isn’t it just a question, and isn’t that a question too? Speeches are words, repeated words, listed words, repeated lists of repeated words. None of that matters. You know what does matter? Me asking you, “Will you do what I say?”
Final Thoughts
Much like Season 1 Episode 3 (“Anatomy Park”) and last season’s midseason finale with their focus on the Christmas season, “Rick And Morty’s Thanksploitation Spectacular” scrutinizes Western tradition. This time, however, it examines Thanksgiving and the rituals thereof that are practiced. The episode points out that soldiers only enlist in the military to make a living wage, which we see with characters Coop and his baby momma, Mary Lou.
The writers peel away the racial discrimination and genocides that associate with the national holiday and add some levity to it all. For example, we see a bartender turning away the President — a Black man — by saying, “We don’t serve your kind here!” but in the next frame, we see a picture of a U.S. President on the bar counter with the words “NO Presidents!” on it.
We also see what a Wizard of Oz reboot directed by Charlie Kaufman would look like, which is exactly what I expected it to be. A third part of the episode that made me laugh is the President’s life going through his mind at once, including the rise of the PlayStation consoles. So far, this makes my Top Three list of favorite Rick and Morty Season 5 episodes so far. Here’s to hoping it all gets better from here!
Rick and Morty Season 5 is now on Adult Swim!
Have you seen this new season? What are your thoughts on it? Let us know! For more animation, adventure, comedy, fantasy, and science-fiction-related news and reviews, follow The Cinema Spot on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram!
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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