Ep 225 - S9E8: Rickuiem Mort a Dream

Do you feel that? Episode 8 just dropped and empathy is on display! Let's dive into Rickuiem Mort a Dream!

Semi Pertinent News

Emmy Nominated Rick and Morty — There's Something About Morty nominated for Outstanding Animated Program; Smiling Friends tooPresident Curtis premieres July 26th — review next week, following along all seasonReddit AMA with Marder and Levy on the 21st at 12:30 PacificAdult Swim on the Green, July 23–26, 1–10pm: https://www.adultswim.com/sdcc

MAIN THANG - S9E8 - Rickuiem Mort a Dream

Episode Details

Air Date: 7/12/2026Written by: Heather Anne CampbellDirected by: Douglas Einar OlsenGuest Stars: Bill Camp, Andy Serkis

Broh-nopsis: Hold still broh. It'll make you nice broh.

Our Synopsis: It's hard to see the world through other's eyes, unless you have a brain parasite.

Discussion

Title Reference: Requiem for a Dream - Movie (2000)Themes (A/B Plot): Empathy Bug (Sympathid) — Rick's chasing personal happiness and Morty isn't helping; Jerry Cosplaying as a Serial Killer — Rick sends Summer and Jerry shopping, Jerry ends up having tea with a killer

Favorite Bits

Rick's apartment gags: reading Being and Time, the bedroom wall of Abredolf Lickler and Dr. Xenon Bloom, the butt food dispenser, farting alien earbudsMorty wrecking Rick's distillery for a ride to buy Pokemon cards (and the portal later dropping a pack right back)Rick's credit card blocking Jerry's purchasesThe sympathid/empathy effect throughout — the empathy montage, the Dancing with the Stars bit (real dancing, fake trust), Rick and Morty swapping ship seats depending who has empathyJerry's full serial-killer turn as "The Birthday Butcher," with a metaphorical parent-kill double and a quadruple-kill twins jokeThe drum-hoarding subplot — Jerry wants to save the girl, Summer just wants the drums — plus the bus bully and the paycheck-to-paycheck ironyRandom Jessica sighting in history class, "Miss Under-stood," the jar of wallets on the fridgeMorty's empathy whiplash — sympathizing with an explosion, then losing all empathy right afterThe unhinged police standoff — the negotiator, "his juice is coming out," "I want a hug" then gunshots, an entire police force out of bulletsRick killing the parasite with vodka