Although Rick and Morty Season 7 introduced one of the best twists the series has ever delivered, that doesn’t necessarily mean Season 8 should double down on that reveal. Rick and Morty Season 8 has a lot of hype to deal with. Not only was it Rick and Morty: the anime a big disappointment, but Rick and MortyThe season 7 finale was one of the best episodes of the series in years. Rick and MortyThe season 7 finale, episode 10, “Fear No Mort,” earned a 9.4 rating on IMDBthe show’s highest rating in years.
This isn’t particularly surprising, as the nested narrative of “Fear No Mort” was exceptionally ingenious. The episode began with a straightforward story, with Rick and Morty jumping into a hole that supposedly showed them their biggest fears so they could overcome them. After a brief farce where the duo fought monstrous insects, they returned home to discover that Rick’s deceased wife, Diane, was somehow back and alive. Rick and Morty immediately agreed that they were still in the hole and that this was all part of the experience, but Rick and MortyThe end of season 7 had more surprises in store.
Rick and Morty Season 8 May Now Revisit The Fear Hole Twist
Rick and Morty’s heroes repeatedly discovered they were trapped in the hole
Gradually, Rick and Morty realized that the fears they faced were bigger and more existential. For Rick, killing Rick Prime early Rick and Morty season 7 deprived him of purpose and Diane’s imaginary return allowed him to sink into complacency. For Morty, the fact that Rick no longer needed his help made him realize that he never developed a personality outside of his existence as his grandfather’s sidekick. Morty realized he had no sense of himself, and as a result, all of his self-esteem was tied up in Rick’s plans for him.
Rick and Morty could always discover that they were still trapped in the Fear Hole and hadn’t realized it yet.
What made this story even more weighty was the fact that, as they repeatedly discovered, Rick and Morty could always discover that they were still trapped in the hole and hadn’t realized it yet. This means that Rick and Morty season 8 could now reveal that the heroes are still in the Fear Hole at any momentas his realistic simulation of reality was convincing enough to fool Morty for an unknowable number of months. At the end of the episode, Rick and Morty repeatedly escape the Hole, only to realize they are still trapped inside. Eventually, Morty discovered the terrible truth.
Rick and Morty’s Season 7 Finale Featured Its Scariest Threat Yet
Viewers never knew if what they were watching was real
Rick never went into Fear Hole with Mortyand Morty was imagining him the whole time. Instead of a shared delusion in which the two had to face their fears simultaneously, the entire episode was Morty’s sole adventure through his greatest insecurities. Although Morty had a solo episode at the beginning of Season 7, “Fear No Mort” proved that he was still scared of the idea of Rick not needing him. At the end of the episode, Morty finally faced this fear and decided to live for himself, earning Rick’s respect.
The episode made it impossible to tell whether the heroes were actually still in the Hole or not, and this made the entire plot singularly frightening. The fear that all of the duo’s hard work would be undone by the realization that they were still trapped in a simulation was an existential nightmare that the series never shied away from, and it made their situation surprisingly disturbing for such a comedic series. However, this does not mean that Rick and Morty season 8 can now revisit that twist. Ironically, the show’s best reveal is likely to be forgotten.
Why Rick and Morty Season 8 Shouldn’t Revisit This Twist
Rick and Morty Season 7 Finale Wrapped Up the Storyline Perfectly
Rick and Morty Season 8 can’t reveal that the heroes are still trapped in the Fear Hole, as that would undo all of Morty’s character development since the end of the episode. While it might be an admittedly clever callback for an episode to suddenly reveal that they never escaped the Fear Hole, devaluing Morty’s discovery isn’t worth the novelty of this Easter egg. Rick and Morty Season 8 could center Morty now that he’s committed to leading a more independent life, and the Fear Hole storyline made that easier.
If Rick and Morty were still in the Fear Hole, that would mean Morty didn’t go in and escape alone. All of her revelations about her overdependence on Rick and lack of independence would be undone, and the welcome change in their tired dynamic would be lost. As such, Rick and Morty Season 8 can’t bring back Season 7’s smartest twist, even though the Fear Hole plot might be the show’s scariest idea yet.
Source: IMDB