Want to hear more from the actors and creators of your favorite shows and films? Subscribe to The Cinema Spot on YouTube for all of our upcoming interviews!
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.
Following last weekend’s episode of Adult Swim’s Rick and Morty, the writers of this evening’s episode continue to use their noodles to deliver a truthful message. On the surface, the episode deals with some heavy topic matters. However, with deep scrutiny, it appears the series holds a vital message for the casual audience members.
The seventh season’s fourth episode is titled, “That’s Amorte”. It is written by series co-executive producer Heather Anne Campbell and is directed by Lucas Gray (Family Guy, HarmonQuest, Solar Opposites).
In this review, I will discuss Rick and Morty Season 7 Episode 4. As the title of this article suggests, there will be no spoilers present here. References to previous series episodes may be made!
Trigger Warnings: Suicide, Capitalism, Studio Control
Rick and Morty Season 7 Episode 4 Logline
According to WarnerMedia Press, here is the logline for Rick and Morty Season 7 Episode 4—“That’s Amorte”.
BROH, THAT’S-A SOME GOOD SPAGHETTI.
WarnerMedia Press
Discussion
Like the previous episode, “That’s Amorte” continues to highlight the mental health and psychological aspects of the series’ characters. This time, Rick and Morty treads the waters of some serious topic matters. Still, the series has been no stranger to this kind of feat, having previously covered themes of divorce, abandonment, and bizarre and intense family love.
The writers’ room, storyboard revisions director Michael LaBash, and the storyboard team take fans and viewers through such a sensitive narrative that it can be quite easy to miss one key detail upon a first watch. Rather than discuss the episode’s explicit plot details and beats, it would be more important to cut to the chase and go through the overarching themes. Are you ready for the rabbit hole we are about to travel into? Don’t say you were not warned…
Self-Harm and Depression
From the start of the episode, it becomes clear that matters of life and death are huge themes explored. One line from Summer Smith (voiced by Spencer Grammer) can easily be dismissed, but it is the first hint at what is soon revealed about the entirety of the episode. Rick and Morty sheds light on suicide in ways that appear tricky to understand. One thing the episode does not make explicit is how suicide could provide positive connotations—for example, a soldier sacrificing their life in the line of battle. Instead, there is more of a satirical examination and critique of how this aspect of life could be perceived. Yet, that can just be the usual Rick and Morty schtick.
(To be clear, it should be noted that I am, in no way, insinuating the justification and/or glorification of suicide. Rather, I am writing this to start a conversation about this episode’s use of suicides solely for narrative purposes.)
A couple of in-series media advertisements push for individuals to tap into their mental health. Morty Smith (voiced by Harry Belden) briefly engages with a pornographic site that caters to depressed individuals. This does absolutely nothing for the plot itself aside from adding to the theme of how the episode seems to treat suicide. Moreover, the episode features a billboard that encourages suicide so as to better serve a larger institution. If all this is outrageously baffling and confusing to you, then do not fret. I was in the same boat for hours thinking about this, too. However, one more missable detail suggests that there is a metaphor being delivered by the writers.
Capitalism — The Price Is Right Life
One missable detail in the middle of the episode entails what could almost be pointless witty banter about reality television’s place within the realm of media. Dan Harmon’s previous sitcom, Community, was all about how films and television shows are pieces or representatives of human life. If that is true and that thesis argument could be applied to his current series, then reality television—and the bad kinds, as insinuated by Rick Sanchez (voiced by Ian Cardoni)—makes up just a mere fraction of what the industry as a whole produces. The deeper message below the theme of certain well-being lies within the series’ parent company, Warner Bros. Discovery.
“That’s Amorte”, then, is a subtle critique of the film and television industry in its current state. With film studios and conglomerates taking over streaming platforms and other entities, it wouldn’t necessarily be wrong to see how Rick and Morty suggests that it is about as valuable as the very essence of life. When such takeovers happen, a whole multitude of projects are forced to shut down production and/or be canceled. In other words, they commit metaphorical suicide. As a result, what remains of what used to be the whole is exactly what it is: remains.
Today, the normalized discourse around media consumption has been narrowed down to questions, complaints, and critiques over an individual title’s quality. I mean, ask a comic book fan what they think about the latest Marvel or DC film or TV show that’s out, or ask about the state of Star Wars content, and you just might get a common response. (More to that point, didn’t Mike White pose a similar argument about the state of modern media in The White Lotus?)
Humanity
If we truly had parasocial worship, reverence, or praise of some kind towards films and television series, then this must be looked at through human lenses. The proliferation of media eventually leads to “less [than] human” copies of originals. Here, the industry produces endless remakes and reboots, even those with groundless foundations, even going so far as to manufacture content that is precisely subhuman: AI-involved media. It is at this current point in time where we must surely ask ourselves, “How long does a society take to collapse?”
The Risks of Being
While it is complex to get into, what makes life most human is the risk(s) taken to develop into old age. In her critical text, In Praise of Risk, the late French psychoanalyst Anne Dufourmantelle states that to live is to raise the question of the essence of the human bond. This leads us to become “something other than mere intelligent bodies—that is, beings capable of a devastating event: love.” Of passion, she writes:
[I]t is our capacity to imagine, to be astonished, to be disappointed, impressed, or undone by something inside us that compels us to love. … The most painful thing about passion is that it drives us to betray our promises, our attachments, and our moral principles, or to hurt those we love. This is why we often prefer to renounce passion, to turn away from it. … Love harbors such risks. And yet it remains plagued by so many repetitions.
Anne Dufourmantelle, ‘In Praise of Risk’ (pp. 18-19, 21)
Like human life itself, films and television series are put together by talented organs and organisms, i.e. departments and cast and crew members. If this can be believed by the masses, then what are the studios not understanding?
The Crew Behind Rick and Morty
Rick and Morty is co-created by Dan Harmon (Community).
The series’ main theme and score is done by Ryan Elder.
Wes Archer is the supervising director. Alex Song-Xia and Cody Ziglar are story editors, while Grace Freud is the staff writer.
Jeremy Gilfor is the writers’ assistant. Michael Kellner and Jax Ball are 2nd writers’ assistants.
Claire Levinson serves as the editor. David Seger is the assistant editor.
Ruth Lambert and Robert McGee are the voice casting directors. Katelyn Semer and Amanda Ray are casting associates. Sara Jane Sherman is the additional casting director.
Amy Chapman and Nick Reczynski are voice-over consultants.
Animators
Robbie Erwin is the art director, while Philip Vose serves as the assistant art director. Carol Wyatt is the color supervisor. Michael LaBash is the storyboard revisions director.
Kari Kilpela is the character design lead. Leasa Epps-Eisele is the background design lead.
Rufino Roy Camacho II, Bismarck “Butch” Datuin, Dan O’Connor, Jason D. Warnesky (The Simpsons Movie, The Simpsons, Star Trek: Lower Decks), and Steve Yurko serve as the storyboard artists. Tiana Aguado, Martin Archer, Paul Cunningham, Adam Ford, MC Griffin, Eric Hoff, and Heather Langley are additional storyboard artists.
Adam Burnier, Sam Brumbaugh, Jackie Cadiente, Byron Merrill, Elisa Phillips, Louie Ramos, Maya Shavzin, and Ken Siu work on the character design.
Paige “PJ” Hankins works on the character design clean-up.
Devyn Adams, Helen Bell, Sean Bodley, Chris S. Bolden (The Simpsons, Disenchantment), Lauryn Danae Bremner (Solar Opposites), Vance Caines, Liza Epps, Cynthia Ignacio, Tiffany Kao, Kevin Chiya Kuan, Alex J. Lee, Kelsey Liggett, Betsy Luk, Tommy Scott, and Tuo Tsui work on the background design.
Tyler Justice and Ashley Nolley work on the background clean-up.
The Voice Cast Behind Rick and Morty
Ian Cardoni voices Rick Sanchez, the genius scientist of the series. Harry Belden voices Morty Smith, the teenage grandson of the series.
Spencer Grammer voices Summer Smith, Rick Sanchez’s granddaughter and Morty Smith’s older sister. Chris Parnell and Sarah Chalke (How I Met Your Mother) voice Jerry and Beth Smith, Summer and Morty Smith’s parents.
James Adomian (The Venture Bros., BoJack Horseman, Close Enough, Harley Quinn), Kotomi, Maurice LaMarche, Albro Lundy, Nolan North, Ryan Ridley, Kari Wahlgren, and Debra Wilson also make voice appearances.
Final Thoughts on Rick and Morty Season 7 Episode 4
While it does nothing to forward the development of the series’ protagonists, “That’s Amorte” just might be an Emmy-worthy narrative about self-sacrifice and the capitalizing of life. Heather Anne Campbell and the writing team have done an amazing job of establishing the metaphors being portrayed here, while also offering levity in a time where endless people are standing up for their livelihoods. The timing could not be any better. With enough attention, this episode could be one for the history books. What, then, does it have to do with spaghetti? Well, that is up to you, the viewer, to find out!
Rick and Morty Season 7 is now airing on Adult Swim via Cartoon Network. The season will stream via Max (formerly HBO Max) next year!
Have you seen the series yet? If so, then what are your thoughts on it so far? Let us know! For more adventure, animation, comedy, and science-fiction-related news and reviews, do not forget to follow The Cinema Spot on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram!
Do you love Rick and Morty and/or want to catch up on the series? Add Seasons 1 through 5 to your Blu-Ray collection today!
Add Season 6 to your Blu-Ray collection as well!
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.
2 Comments on “‘Rick And Morty’ Season 7 Episode 4 Non-Spoiler Review – “That’s Amorte””