The Fairly Oddparents Scene That Rick And Morty Fans Can't Help But Love
"Rick and Morty" is one of those shows that feels like it has a bit of everything, but there's also nothing else quite like it. The Adult Swim show follows the misadventures of an alcoholic yet extremely intelligent scientist and his neurotic grandson as the two venture through various universes and dimensions, all while dealing with everyday family life. Created by Justin Roiland and Dan Harmon, the show was originally conceived by Roiland after creating a series of vulgar "Back to the Future"-inspired animated shorts entitled "The Real Animated Adventures of Doc and Mharti." The Emmy-winning adult cartoon practically has the DNA of the '80s sci-fi comedy classic running through its veins.
However, is it possible that the show might have taken its love for another famous property to a whole new level and just straight-up copied it? Despite its reverence for other movies and shows, "Rick and Morty" certainly never feels like it is stealing any particular ideas. At the end of the day, the series remains original in its execution with its outrageous humor and bizarre scenarios. Some cartoon fans, however, have begun to notice a striking similarity between one of the most iconic episodes of "Rick and Morty" and a moment from one of the most beloved Nickelodeon animated series of all time: "Fairly OddParents."
Cosmo turned into a pickle over a decade before Rick did
In a tweet, "Fairly OddParents" creator Butch Hartman shared a screenshot from an episode of the show with a caption that read, "Cosmo did it in 2005 #PickleRick." In the image, we see Cosmo (Daran Norris), one of the two titular fairy godparents transformed into what looks like a pickle. The moment is meant to be compared to "Rick and Morty" Season 3, Episode 3 ("Pickle Rick"). The episode sees Rick (Justin Roiland) transform himself into a pickle to avoid having to attend family therapy, only to wind up going on a much more perilous adventure.
Hartman's tweet was meant to be taken as a joke, but it nevertheless sparked conversation among fans. A Reddit thread was started by user u/What_is_going_on30, featuring the same screenshot with a similar caption that added, "'Rick and Morty' nerds ain't slick." A wide array of comedic comebacks were birthed. For example, u/IntoTheBelly replied, "At least 'The Simpsons' didn't do it." Other users such as u/Picklerick1023l, u/HeyIplayThatgame, and u/hallowedData29 commented on the differences, noting that Rick utilized science to transform, whereas Cosmo uses magic.
One user pointed out that the biggest difference is that the "Fairly OddParents" scene has no stakes. "Cosmo can turn back into a fairy anytime with a wave of a wand," u/incredibleamadeuscho wrote. "The best part of 'Pickle Rick' is his struggle to become human again." And in reality, the entirety of the "Pickle Rick" episode has far darker implications than any episode of "Fairly OddParents" ever did. In fact, according to a GQ interview with Dan Harmon, the purpose of the episode is to speak about Rick's struggle with alcoholism.
If you or anyone you know is struggling with addiction issues, help is available. Visit the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration website or contact SAMHSA's National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).