Can ‘Rick And Morty’ Jump The Shark?
by Frank Martin
It’s hard to be a television fan and not know what it means to “jump the shark.” Originally a reference to Happy Days, it now means the moment a television show tries to be extreme to stay relevant. Things just get so out of hand in the story that the program loses its original magic and starts to go downhill. Tons of long-running shows over the years have jumped the proverbial shark and critics have analyzed when it happens and its effects. But it’s hard to apply the phrase to a series that’s built on absurdity. When it comes to Rick and Morty, it’s important to wonder whether or not such a crazy show can even jump the shark at all.
Created by Dan Harmon, Rick and Morty recently finished its 7th season, so it’s already had an undeniably long run. If it were to jump the shark, this is about the time it would happen. The second episode of the season is a great example. It involves Rick and his son-in-law, Jerry, whom he considers an idiot. Due to an accident, Rick and Jerry get blown up and Rick’s laboratory robot puts them back together. Unfortunately, their brains were mush and the robot does a terrible job trying to figure out which mush went in what body. The result is Rick and Jerry becoming more like the other. They even combine into a ridiculous monster later in the episode.
For a regular show, such an absurd storyline would be a “jump the shark” moment. Even by Rick and Morty standards, this episode is a little out there. But still, even though it pushes the limit, the tone and ridiculous nature is still perfectly in line with the series. It’s possible that an episode like this could have shown up in one of the earlier seasons and fit right in with the others. In the end, it’s a matter of opinion whether or not Rick and Morty can, has, or ever will jump the shark. But regardless, it is still a very fun idea to explore.
Rick and Morty is now streaming on Max.
