Hey Wisecrack!
Flesh Jared again.
Before we get into it, just a note: We didn’t do a quicktake last week because, well, while
The Whirly Dirly Conspiracy was one of our favorite episodes of the season, we didn’t
really have much to add to the discussion.
But we’re back to take on Season 3 episode 6, where we’ll be looking at the toxic side
of our favorite adventuring duo.
I really love this episode for two reasons.
First, they manage to address the kind of character development we crave in a
way that is both satisfying and the exact opposite of what regular TV does.
And second, they tap into some really interesting ideas about mental health.
So fire your therapist and join me on this Quick Take of Rest and Ricklaxation.
A quick recap: Rick and Morty need a break from almost dying all the time
and come to the realization that they’re burned out.
So they vacation at an alien spa, and take a mental detoxifier for a spin.
While the duo feel cleansed and rejuvenated, they leave behind the parts they hate most
about themselves.
Morty continues to live his life without the sense of crippling self-doubt, becomes the
most popular kid in school, and even lands a date with Jessica.
Meanwhile, Rick seems like a normal human being.
But this new reality is interrupted as the toxic versions of themselves manage to escape
and turn the whole world, uh, weird.
One of the cleverest aspects of this episode is what I’m going to call “anti-character development.”
As we’ve mentioned before, Dan Harmon is a strict adherent to his version of Joseph
Campbell’s “The Hero’s Journey.”
The relevant part here is that many story’s use protagonists confronting their “shadow,”
a kind of dark reflection of themselves that they must overcome - Like Dr. Jekyll and Mr.
Hyde.
In terms of character development, this overcoming usually means our hero has some new insight
on life - like when a compassionate Logan sacrifices himself battling the murderous X-24 -overcoming his selfishness,
or when Luke Skywalker spares Darth Vader, overcoming his temptation towards the Dark Side.
This episode uses this structure, toxic Morty and toxic Rick are quite literal “shadow”
versions of themselves.
But instead of overcoming their toxic personality traits, this episode is a journey to reunite
with their worst selves.
Healthy-Morty is a smooth operator with lots of friends who ultimately needs to rediscover his self
loathing, and Healthy-Rick is a thoughtful super-genius who needs to rediscover his narcissism and
irrational care for Morty.
If anything, the “regular” kind of character development
Is pretty creepy
But I also think this “anti character development” serves as a pretty smart commentary on mental
health in our society.
Rest and Ricklaxation asks: What does it mean to be mentally healthy?
In many ways, this episode serves as an extended parody of certain “healthy” attitudes
promoted by self-help gurus, popular media and the occasional “life purpose cheerleader"
- I swear, they exist in LA.
In particular, this idea that we must strive to eliminate any thoughts that are unpleasant,
or painful.
#positivevibes #selfcare #blessed #sorrynotsorry.
Now, there are a ton of Insta-llectuals who will tell you that being mentally healthy
means uncritically loving yourself, saying yes to everything, counting your blessings,
and believing in yourself no matter how stupid your passive income scheme is.
However, Rick and Morty shows us that these ideals, fully embodied, will make you seem
like a coked-out weirdo.
I think one of the ideas the show is getting at is something sociologist William Davies
has written about in his book “The Happiness Industry.”
For our long-time fans, we actually talked about this book in our Inside Out video.
Davies writes about a concept he calls “compulsory happiness,” that in our modern world there
exists a kind of alliance between corporations, managers and advertisers to promote a definition
of mental health that ultimately serves the capitalist society that we live in; a kind
of happiness that involves cheerfully accepting the status quo, something touched on by Rick before.
This kind of happiness also requires constant self improvement for the sake of being
a better consumer.
We see Morty spouting platitudes that seem lifted from a Tony Robbins book,
demanding that everyone around him partake in his new lifestyle.
And, when confronted with real life problems, like a sentient part of himself being trapped
in hell, his answer is “Trust me things are good.
Taking that away from me… that wouldn’t be healthy.”
The problem with this is that many of the things the self-help industry wants you to
erase, like self-doubt and sadness, are pretty important.
In the case of Morty, it can hold you back from becoming a full-on sociopath.
And a sociopath he becomes.
In a scene lifted from the Wolf of Wall Street, it looks like “healthy” Morty is at the
top of his game as an unscrupulous stockbroker,
with a new hot redhead to replace Jessica.
Rick even compares him to another sociopathic Wall Street fat cat with too much self-esteem.
So what about Rick?
Rick realizes some of these less desirable parts of ourselves, despite the pain they
cause, are essential to actually being healthy
Jessica even tells Morty, "Good to have you back."
suggesting that Morty’s authentic, self-hating self, is
truly his better self.
But my only complaint with this episode is, well, it doesn’t really make sense.
We’re meant to believe that the undesirable parts of a person are purged from their being
based on their own subjective definition of toxicity.
Yet, “Healthy Rick” says this to morty: "I’m really proud to be your grandpa", then
later, claims that his attachment to Morty is irrational, therefore, toxic, and allows
him to nonchalantly do this.
So is his love for Morty toxic or healthy?
Well for more thoughts on that, be sure to check out The Squanch, our very own Rick and
Morty podcast.
We’ve been breaking down every episode of Rick and Morty, and people seem to like it.
For those of you missing a quicktake on the Whirly Dirly conspiracy, we’ve even got
an episode on that.
You can find a link in the description, or almost anywhere you get your podcasts, iTunes,
Stitchr, Google Play, SoundCloud - just to name a few.
And don’t forget to leave a review on iTunes, we might even read it on air.
Thanks for watching guys.
Peace!