Item: Rick and Morty
Rating: 9.1
Author: Jesse Schedeen

Note: this is a spoiler-free review of Rick and Morty Season 4, episode 1, "Edge of ToMorty: Rick Die Rickpeat," originally published on Nov. 8. Check out our spoiler-filled discussion of the Rick and Morty Season 4 premiere in the video above.

The long Rick and Morty drought is finally over. Not only that, the series has been renewed for an impressive 70 new episodes, with creators Justin Roiland and Dan Harmon promising more new material on a faster timetable. And fears that the more ambitious schedule might dampen the actual quality of the series should be quickly put to rest after watching the Season 4 premiere. The series still knows how to blend absurdist, nihilistic humor with high-concept sci-fi and a dash of pathos.

While two years have passed in the real world since Season 3 wrapped, that gap isn't really felt within the world of the show. The premiere picks up in the aftermath of "The Rickchurian Mortydate," with a triumphant Jerry having moved back in and Rick forced to accept a status quo where he isn't necessarily the alpha dog any longer. The premiere plays nicely on that altered power dynamic. While Jerry himself isn't as big a focal point as hoped, we do see a Rick who's struggling to come to terms with his new reality and the fact that he can't win every single battle.

But as much as this episode builds on the evolving status quo in the Smith household, it also manages to tell a very classic Rick and Morty tale. If not for the animation quality (which seems to improve with each new season), this could almost be mistaken for a Season 1 episode - and that's a good thing. It's refreshing to see the series get back to basics and simply focus on what happens when a very disgruntled Rick and his grandson embark on an adventure and things inevitably go haywire. This episode even throws in a few other familiar faces for good measure. Two of the funnier scenes in this episode revolve around Mr. Goldenfold, of all characters.

Not that the premiere is guilty of dwelling too long in the past. It's easy to infer some plot details from the Tom Cruise-spoofing title, but it's safe to say no one will predict all the weird tangents and swerves. Part of Rick and Morty's appeal is that it's a genuinely clever and thoughtful science fiction series beneath all the R-rated humor and Rick-isms. You could strip all the jokes from the equation and still have a watchable, high-concept series that both honors and subverts the genre tropes. This episode drops plenty of pop culture references and homages along the way, but the conflict is wholly Rick and Morty. The result is a very eclectic, fast-paced adventure that doesn't slow down long enough to overstay its welcome. If anything, the premise could easily have filled out an hour-long episode, though leaner is probably better in the end.

Another big plus is how Morty-driven the premiere turns out to be. Morty actually experiences a very well-realized character arc over the course of 22 minutes, one that emphasizes how much he himself, not Rick, is the architect of his own misery. The series can be very cynical when it hinges on Rick and his inability or unwillingness to grow as a person, but it becomes something else when Morty is the main protagonist. This episode doesn't beat viewers over the head with its message, but it does embrace that message and a newfound sense of optimism. It'll be interesting to see if that sparks a trend in Season 4 and a general shift away from the relatively darker approach of Season 3.

Verdict

Not only does Rick and Morty keep its groove following a two-year hiatus, "Edge of ToMorty: Rick Die Rickpeat" is the show's strongest season premiere to date. This episode manages to reflect the evolving status quo even as it also delivers a classic Rick and Morty adventure. There's a satisfying blend of the familiar and the novel at work in this episode. The heavy emphasis on Morty himself helps the new season begin on a compelling and, at times, even heartwarming note.