7 underrated 'Rick and Morty' episodes to watch
Drunken nihilism meets naive morality in Rick and Morty, a show about a sociopathic scientist and his anxious grandson who go on outlandish intergalactic adventures together as they contemplate the meaning of existence. The genre-subverting cult classic simultaneously pokes fun at TV show tropes while navigating them with surprising nuance.
Created by Dan Harmon (Community) and Justin Rolland, the animated science-fiction sitcom pushes the boundaries of comedy, often blending existential humor with imaginative storytelling through subtle but clever animations. So, every episode is the perfect mix of humor, drama, and one-liners, making it impossible to choose a favorite.
However, that means many underrated episodes of Rick and Morty fly right under the radar. Here's a quick recap for fans looking for a rewatch.
Disclaimer: All opinions in this article belong solely to the writer.
Analyze Piss, Promortyus, and other underrated Rick and Morty episodes
1) Analyze Piss (Season 6, episode 8)
A new villain who likes pissing on people crosses paths with the crew. Jerry becomes an unexpected hero after Rick refuses to give Pissmaster the attention he so desperately craves, and Rick gets jealous of Jerry's sudden stardom and decides to interfere, resulting in disastrous consequences.
This Rick and Morty episode is underrated as it takes a silly premise and finds a poignant meaning behind it. When Rick realizes that the Pissmaster has ended his own life out of humiliation, he dons the costume and tries to set his legacy right. While this gets Jerry kicked out of the Council of Superheroes, it also shows Rick's surprising empathy. Promptly afterward, he blabs the truth to Morty, who tells the family.
2) Promortyus (Season 4, episode 7)
Rick and Morty wake up to find face-sucking alien parasites called the Glorzo on them. As they make their way home, they realize Summer is still stuck with the Glorzo and go back to fetch her. In a plot twist, Summer escaped because of a toothpick in her mouth and is now the aliens' Goddess.
The episode's hilarity lies in the B plot, with Jerry's newest beekeeping adventures. It is one of the few times all his hard work doesn't go to complete waste by the end of the episode, and with Trish being attracted to him, this might be his most successful venture yet.
Tons of alien jokes, a parasite who becomes an anti-evolution YouTuber, and a large poop joke to top it all off make it a must-watch.
3) A Rickonveninent Mort (Season 5, episode 3)
Morty takes initiative, and that's it. That's why this Rick and Morty episode is underrated. The boy recycles an aluminum can that Rick throws on the ground, attracting the attention of an environment-conscious superhero named Planetina. The duo set off on a date, leaving a perplexed Rick without a sidekick.
With Morty gone, cue Summer's entry. Rick and Summer speed off to planets on the brink of death to bar, crawl, and find s*xual encounters of their own. Meanwhile, Morty discovers that Planetina is being controlled by four "Tina-Teers" and, in a brutal twist, unleashes havoc on them.
The episode takes a shockingly emotional turn as Morty and Planetina are torn apart by power, control, and morals. It peels back Morty's psyche and reveals his vulnerabilities and desires while employing instant whiplash with Rick and Summer's hilarious exploits.
4) Rickfending Your Mort (Season 7, episode 6)
Rick and Morty bring conflict upon themselves by inviting an Observer to show them clips of their adventures. When the Observer goes rogue and starts showing them embarrassing, annoying, and conflicting clips, they take lethal measures to get it to stop, only for those measures to also be screened by a jury full of Observers.
The show's meta-narrative style always manages to crack fans up, and this episode is no exception. It provides plenty of space for the duo's wisecracks, a throwback at every bad decision and questionable choice that led them there, and an underrated sense of nostalgia for their misadventures.
5) Night Family (Season 6, episode 4)
After Rick reveals that he has a "Night Rick" simulation to do all the activities he can't do during the day with a Somnambulator, the entire family wants in on the scheme. Soon, the night versions gain some sort of inane sentience and start demanding more from the day versions, leading to an all-out war with themselves.
Rick and Morty does a fantastic job with a snowballing premise. If fans think something is a bad idea and will spiral out of control quickly, they are usually right. That's what happens in Night Family, making it one of the most underrated episodes of the show. It is a hilarious commentary on the true nature of human beings and the extent they would go to justify their actions.
6) Look Who's Purging Now (Season 2, episode 9)
An alien planet maintains peace by hosting a once-a-year event called "The Festival," where they murder ruthlessly without consequences. So, when Rick and Morty land there looking for some wiper fluid for their bug-infested windshield, they decide to stay back and enjoy the show. Meanwhile, Summer and Jerry go head-to-head about Jerry's bad parenting.
Fans see Morty unleash his repressed rage in its full glory, guns ablaze at an entire mob of people as Feels Good by Tony! Toni! Toné! plays in the background. The episode also philosophizes the concept of peace and humanity's inherent rage, told through a humorous premise.
7) Rest and Ricklaxation (Season 3, episode 6)
A relaxing day at the spa goes haywire for Rick and Morty when a machine that removes toxicity from the body creates an evil version of the duo. As evil Rick and Morty wreak havoc, the cleansed version of the duo peaks in life, glowing, confident, and happy.
The fandom loves the episode but deserves more hype for the way it straddles the line between dissecting identity and exaggerating the effects of a good spa day for comedic relief. Morty's Wolf of Wall Street-style swagger and Rick's discomfort over not having his toxic self in him are the biggest highlights of the episode.
Stream all episodes of Rick and Morty on Netflix.
