In Rick And Morty, One Episode Stands Above The Rest

"Rick and Morty" has long been a conversation in pop culture. Airing on Adult Swim since 2013, the show has not always had a consistent rollout. The show is famous for years in between seasons, though this may contribute to the consistency in quality. Now that seasons of "Rick and Morty" will be released closer together, that may assuage fans for the time being. Regardless, Dan Harmon's animated sci-fi show always seems to be in the headlines. 

Among many other things, "Rick and Morty" has generated controversy because of demand for Szechuan sauce and more recently, backlash over Season 5. This internet drama makes it clear "Rick and Morty" is a divisive show, but that is how it thrives and ultimately why it is so popular. Fans follow their favorite characters on adventures for its sharp wit and comedy that only Dan Harmon and Justin Roiland can deliver, but there is one episode that far outreaches the others. 

"The Ricklantis Mixup" is the highest rated episode on IMDb and for good reason. At an astounding 9.8 out of 10, this episode is not only one of the funniest, but the best structured episode of the entire series.  The concept of the episode on its own is brilliant. Rick and Morty have destroyed the Citadel of Ricks, but that isn't the end of the government. There is a population of Ricks and Morty's that still live on the Citadel. Rick jokes that no one is interested in anyone living there or any stories the Citadel has to offer. The entire episode then revolves around that very concept.

Surprisingly enough, the humor isn't what sets this episode apart from the others. "The Ricklantis Mixup" pulls off a delicate balancing act. The episode interweaves three storylines about the citizens living on the Citadel of Ricks. The audience is introduced to Ricks and Mortys not shown in previous episodes, and this one captivates and makes viewers care about characters they've never previously seen.

What is so special about this episode are the topics that are addressed. The story tackles class differences as well as police corruption, even going as far to reference well known crime dramas. One moment refers to the end of the first episode of "The Wire" when the Morty candidate is shot. Although this is a specific joke, it proves that there are real issues being discussed. The episode is not only funny but genuinely moving. Each storyline concludes with devastating consequences and marks the return of Evil Morty, a recurring character of the series and portrays aspects of Morty not seen in other iterations.

"The Ricklantis Mixup" is ambitious. Justin Roiland, who voices Rick and Morty, is the only voice actor in the episode as they are the only characters present. These storylines prove that "Rick and Morty" is self-aware while at the same time shows the ability for impressive storytelling. There is a reason that this episode still ranks the highest.