Of all of the fantastic animated shows on television, few can compare with Rick and Morty when it comes to its cleverly written storylines and wonderfully unique characters. In Rick Sanchez, the show has one of the most complicated protagonists on television, while in Morty, it boasts a character that’s teeming with potential for personal growth and general character development.
Over the course of four seasons, the pair have shared some incredibly memorable adventures, although there are some episodes that shine just a little brighter than the others. Whether due to the part that they play in a larger, overarching story or simply a moment of sheer comedy brilliance, these episodes set themselves apart from the rest and are a must-watch for anybody who enjoys animated comedy shows.
Updated July 13, 2022, by Tom Bowen: Throughout its five excellent seasons, Rick and Morty has consistently delivered the perfect blend of well-scripted humor and engaging storylines. Granted, there have typically been long gaps in between seasons, but it’s hard to argue that each one hasn’t been well worth the wait. With more than a full year having now passed since the fifth season premiere, fans of the series will be hoping that season six isn’t too far away. Regardless of how long it takes, though, that the fifth season featured some of the best Rick and Morty episodes of all time would suggest that the future of Rick and Morty is looking pretty bright. There’s also a 10-episode Rick and Morty anime series currently in the works, so fans really do have a lot to look forward to.
22 Rickternal Friendshine of the Spotless Mort (S05E08)
Rick’s inability to connect with those around him is well documented at this point, though that’s not to say that he doesn’t still have a few genuine friends. Perhaps his best and oldest companion is Birdperson, who returns in Season 5 following his epic showdown with Rick at the end of Season 4.
As Rick and Morty explore Birdperson’s unconscious mind, viewers are given a much better understanding of how Rick and Birdperson first came to be friends. It’s an interesting story with plenty of great moments, though, like many things before it, is tarnished somewhat by Rick’s incessant selfishness.
21 Ricksy Business (S01E11)
Ricksy Business is the eleventh and final episode of Season 1 and sees Rick and Summer throw a wild house party while Beth and Jerry are away. Morty’s reservations about his grandfather’s lack of responsibility ultimately come to a head, leaving him with a difficult decision to make when the episode’s climax rolls around.
As well as introducing some of the show’s whacky supporting cast for the very first time, the episode also reveals the meaning behind Rick’s “Wubba Lubba Dub-Dub” catchphrase. Knowing that he is in a lot of pain arguably makes him a much more compelling character and paints some of his other Season 1 exploits in an entirely different light.
20 A Rickle in Time (S02E01)
Rick and Morty season premieres often tend to pick up right where the previous season’s finale left off and that’s exactly the case with season 2 and A Rickle in Time. Shortly after unfreezing time, an argument between Morty and Summer leads to the creation of an alternate reality, with Rick’s paranoia then causing yet another split. This attracts the attention of a Time Cop who threatens to take Rick to Time Prison for unauthorized use of Time Crystals and things only get worse from there.
Though a little bizarre thematically in places, the episode is full of witty humor and insightful ideas regarding parallel universes. The audience also gets a rare glimpse of Rick’s good side, with the excentric inventor willing to sacrifice himself to save Morty. As usual, Beth and Jerry’s antics are equally enjoyable, with the pair fighting to save the life of an injured deer while on their way to get ice cream.
19 Edge of Tomorty: Rick Die Rickpeat (S04E01)
After Morty gets his hands on a Death Crystal and sees a version of reality in which he ends up dying in Jessica’s arms, he starts using the crystal to decide his each and every move. This includes allowing Rick to die and refusing to help resurrect him which eventually leads to an all-out war with America’s armed forces.
Seeing Morty go off-book and stand up to his grandfather (and, later, a hologram of his grandfather) is incredibly refreshing, though it would perhaps have been nice if he had done so for himself rather than for a woman. Conversely, Rick’s cloning conundrum is all about the humor and, in that regard, is arguably Rick and Morty at its very best.
18 Rickmurai Jack (S05E10)
Though utterly ridiculous in many ways, the “Rick and Two Crows” storyline is an enjoyable one nonetheless. From its anime intro to its nonsensical premise, it manages to provide plenty of laughs while still managing to make a pretty poignant point. That it ultimately leads the show’s titular characters back to the Citadel of Ricks makes it all the better.
The Evil Morty storyline has been rumbling on since the very first season of the show, so to finally get an idea of the character’s motivations more than seven years later came as a welcome surprise to many viewers. Whether or not the payoff will have been worth the wait will really depend on season six, but, as both a standalone episode and a season finale, Rickmurai Jack gets a lot of things right.
17 Mortynight Run (S02E02)
If for nothing else, Mortynight Run deserves its place among the best Rick and Morty episodes for its introduction of the Jerryboree: an interdimensional daycare center that caters exclusively to Jerrys. The rest of the episode is interesting too though, particularly Morty’s moral conundrum with Fart. Also, Goodbye Moonmen is one of the series’ very best songs.
One of the things that makes serialized shows so enjoyable to watch is the way in which characters change over time. This could be Rick’s realization that he is a toxic influence on the lives of those around him or Morty’s gradual loss of innocence. Much of the latter can be seen here and though the events of the episode aren’t really referenced directly again in future episodes, the change that they evoke in Morty is clear for all to see.
16 Meeseeks And Destroy (S01E05)
Meeseeks have appeared in every season of Rick and Morty in one way or another, but it’s their first appearance that’s remembered the most fondly by the majority of series fans. Only Jerry could take what is ultimately a very simple concept and turn it on its head; somehow creating an impossible task for the Meeseeks with his sheer incompetence.
It’s not uncommon for the rest of the Smith family to have their own adventure while the show’s titular characters are off gallivanting in space, but it’s difficult to think of too many times when Beth and Jerry’s storyline has stolen the show. That’s not to say that Rick and Morty’s time in the giant kingdom is boring, however, and it further reinforces the “be careful what you wish for” theme of the episode.
15 Rest And Ricklaxation (S03E06)
When Rick and Morty visit an alien spa and have all of the toxicity purged from their bodies, it’s perhaps a little surprising that there’s anything left of Rick at all. Indeed, when Toxic Rick is first introduced, there’s very little to differentiate him from the normal version, aside, that is, from his sludge-like composition. Both he and Morty completely change after the procedure though and the results are pretty interesting to observe.
That Rick ultimately uses his compassion for Morty - something that he has always considered to be a weakness - to get the better of his toxic side serves as a really nice twist. It’s also interesting to see how Morty thrives without his toxicity, although Rick once again ruins things for his long-suffering grandchild and things quickly return to normal
14 Rixty Minutes (S01E08)
Though all of the inter-dimensional cable episodes are brilliant, most consider the first one to be the pick of the bunch. It has a little bit of everything, from the ridiculous humor found throughout its earlier stages to the heart-warming nature of its touching conclusion.
To many, Jerry is the very definition of a tragic character and so to see a version of reality in which he is popular and successful is as intriguing to viewers as it is to the Smith family themselves. Ultimately though, it becomes clear that he is destined to be distressed no matter the dimension and also highlights just how important his marriage to Beth really is.
13 The Old Man And The Seat (S04E02)
Loosely based on the similarly titled Hemingway novel, The Old Man and The Seat came a little out of left field. Granted, it still contains plenty of the series’ signature humor, but the decision to separate Rick from the rest of the family was a little unexpected. It did, however, allow Harmon and the writing team to delve a little deeper into the character’s personality than they had in previous episodes.
The scientist’s pursuit of the perfect place to poop perfectly captures how isolated he is from those around him and the ensuing conflict with Tony eventually results in some positive change. The Glootie side story is equally interesting as well and again highlights the fragility of Beth and Jerry’s marriage, while also providing some genuinely hilarious moments.
12 Morty’s Mind Blowers (S03E08)
Rick often tries to pass off his poor treatment of Morty as altruism rather than neglect, even at times when his behavior is clearly self-serving. In Morty’s Mind Blowers, however, there’s definitely a strong argument to be made that Rick’s decision to remove some of Morty’s more macabre memories really is in the best interest of his grandchild.
With each new memory that Morty recovers, his mental state takes a pretty drastic turn for the worse. Some of the revelations really are quite tragic, although there are still plenty of funny moments thrown into the episode which prevents it from ever feeling too dark. Considering it’s effectively just another clip show episode parody, it works surprisingly well and is definitely worth the watch.
11 Mort Dinner Rick Andre (S05E01)
Following its fantastic fourth season, Rick and Morty returned in June of 2021 with the equally enjoyable Mort Dinner Rick Andre: a play on the 1981 movie, My Dinner with Andre. The episode introduces one of Rick’s many excentric rivals and sees Morty securing an unlikely date with Jessica after calling her to confess his true feelings while seemingly moments away from death.
The Mr. Nimbus character is delightfully bizarre and provides plenty of humorous moments throughout the episode. However, it’s perhaps the void in which time moves much faster than it does in the real world that delivers the episode’s narrative depth. That a scheme to age some wine could eventually lead to an all-out war with a tribe of highly sophisticated void dwellers is something that only Rick and Morty could pull off.
10 Rick Potion #9 (S01E06)
As time has passed, Rick and Morty’s format has gradually shifted from episodic to serial, and this has, in turn, allowed the show’s writers to tell some fantastic season-spanning stories. While it’s definitely improved the show as a whole, the change has come at the cost of episodes like Rick Potion #9 which perfectly punctuated the show’s fantastic first season.
The Cronenberg creatures that Rick inadvertently creates are the stuff of nightmares and ultimately force Rick and Morty to abandon their own universe. The idea of them having to bury their own corpses upon their arrival is seriously messed up. So too is their decision to leave the rest of the Smith family behind in the Cronenberg universe.
9 Star Mort: Rickturn Of The Jerri (S04E10)
Not every storyline in Rick and Morty provides an immediate payoff, with some taking years to make their mark. This was certainly the case with Space Beth, who Rick created towards the end of season three, some two and a half years prior to her eventual return to earth. She’s not the only familiar face in the episode though, with two other long-forgotten characters also brought back into the fold.
As is the case with most things, two Beths are definitely better than one, and seeing how Space Beth has changed as a result of her leaving the family makes for some interesting viewing. Rick having to square off against his old friend, Phoenixperson (a.k.a. Birdperson), is also pretty cool. However, Rick being forced to finally confront his failings as a father ultimately seems far more meaningful in the grand scheme of things.
8 Pickle Rick (S03E03)
Some people will go to great lengths in order to avoid conflict. Even to them though, turning oneself into a pickle probably seems a little extreme. That’s not to say that it isn’t funny, though, and the resulting struggles that Rick faces to return to his human form are equally enjoyable.
The whole concept is ridiculous on every level and yet is very much in keeping with the general tone of the show. The writers have never been afraid to take things in strange and unexpected directions, and this is just another example of them doing so - albeit, a rather extreme one. It’s because of this that Pickle Rick worked so well and ultimately became a meme in the months that followed. It’s undoubtedly one of the best Rick and Morty episodes, though falls some way short of taking the number one spot.
7 The Ricks Must Be Crazy (S02E06)
Rick has done some terrible things during his lifetime, but creating an entire civilization and tricking them into generating electricity for his ship just might be the very worst. Even so, it leads to some hilarious moments and the introduction of a new character who just might match Rick in the evil schemes department.
The similarities and eventual conflict between Rick and the Miniverse Mayor are what make this episode such a good watch, although the Summer side-plot can be just as enjoyable at times. It’s not often that Rick encounters somebody who is on the same level as him, and although he ultimately prevails, one likes to believe that he at least learned a thing or two from the experience.
6 The Wedding Squanchers (S02E10)
From Gearhead to Abrodolph Lincoler, Rick has made some incredibly bizarre acquaintances while exploring the universes. Although most of them seem to annoy him, there are one or two who the intrepid inventor would call his friends, and when one of these (bird)people decides to tie the knot, Rick begrudgingly agrees to attend the wedding.
Of course, the ceremony ends up being a trap, and although Rick and the Smith family are able to escape, the spiky-haired scientist ultimately decides to turn himself in to spare his family from a life on the run. It’s one of the very few times that he puts others before himself and shows a side to Rick that had been noticeably absent up to that point.
5 Close Rick-Counters Of The Rick Kind (S01E10)
Close Rick-Counters of the Rick Kind introduces the Council of Ricks; a group of trans-dimensional Ricks who arrest Rick C-137 for one of the very few crimes that he didn’t commit. The audience also gets their first glimpse of Evil Morty, who turns out to be the one who framed Rick and ends the episode by disappearing into a large crowd of other Mortys.
The episode does a fantastic job exploring the concept of multiple universes while also highlighting the ongoing plight of the Mortys. Their mistreatment at the hands of Ricks is shown to be systematic, and it’s this that makes the idea of an evil Morty so very believable. It also shows Rick C-137 to be the very best of the Ricks, although it could perhaps be argued that he’s actually the very worst depending on how one looks at things.
4 The Vat Of Acid Episode (S04E08)
Many of the show’s characters have changed pretty drastically throughout its four seasons on the air, but it’s perhaps Morty who has changed the most. Having started out as Rick’s doormat, he’s now a lot more confident and is no longer afraid to stand up to his grandfather. This doesn’t sit well with Rick, however, and creates conflict that the show’s writers are more than happy to explore.
The Vat Of Acid Episode sees Morty criticize Rick’s escape plan and then goading his grandfather into creating a save point button that allows Morty to rewind time. Just as Rick had hoped though, the device ends up causing Morty more pain than pleasure and ultimately leads to Morty having to concede that Rick’s earlier idea wasn’t terrible. The lengths that Rick is willing to go to in order to prove a point are insane and show that while the Smith family may have changed, Rick remains very much the same.
3 The Rickshank Rickdemption (S03E01)
Following Rick’s incarceration at the end of season two, fans of the show were left with an anxious wait to find out the fate of their favorite foul-mouthed inventor. Thankfully, Adult Swim opted to release the season three premiere a few months earlier than expected, making it available to stream for several hours as part of the network’s annual April Fools Day celebrations.
The episode itself features some hilarious moments, although it ultimately serves as yet another reminder of Rick’s unparalleled genius. He’s able to see right through the Galactic Federation’s ruse and escapes the prison with relative ease. The Cronenberg Smiths also make an appearance, as too does the Council of Ricks. The episode ends with Rick ranting about his love of McDonald’s Szechuan sauce, which eventually led to the food vendor bringing it back for a limited period.
