r/rickandmorty • u/fool4it_ • 12h ago
General Discussion What is everyone’s thoughts on S9 E2 Spoiler
I really enjoyed this episode, had a decent plot and the pacing was great too. I’m hoping the rest of the season can be on the same scale as the first two episodes we’ve had but we shall see.
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u/Apprehensive-Ear2461 12h ago
Episode 1 was action packed and episode 2 was slow and melancholic. Very nice start for the season
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u/gurgleflurka 11h ago
It felt like a deeper exploration of the whole "mind vs hardware" idea they introduced in the Jerrick Trap, where Jerry and Rick had an argument about how Rick's "hardware" (his intelligence/brainpower) makes everything different for him, but Rick argued just having the will to use one's mind properly in any body would lead to the same intellect.
Here, we saw Ted, who had identical hardware to Rick, matching him on intelligence and the feats he was capable of, but because he lacked Rick's memories he still doubts himself. Then he hits the button, gains the memories, but realises nothing's improved at all.
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u/IV-65536 2h ago
I don't think the button actually does anything. That's what makes the episode special.
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u/princeng083 1h ago
Yeah the button really just gives him back some memories prior to vacation cuz Ted had already become the miserable alcoholic that rick is
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u/IV-65536 1h ago
No, I mean like it literally does nothing
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u/hideandgofreek 1h ago
You’re saying his memories naturally come back every time and the button is a placebo?
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u/IV-65536 58m ago
I'm saying that it's not the point. Before Rick (Ted) presses the button, he's already able to use the portal gun effectively, defends his family, and even starts wearing the same clothes which his friend points out. This is the show telling you that he's already Rick, before pressing the button. He discovers the fun of the multiverse by visiting different cultures, and he sees that he only brings death to those that ever get close to him. He learns that even after being capable of everything, he can't solve his problems.
That's Ricks core struggle, it doesn't matter what new name he calls himself.
Think about it, if the button was a literal memory giver, it'd be hooked up to his head, or light up and make noises.
It doesn't do any of that, and that's in purpose. The function of the recovered button is not a literal memory giver. It's that Ted realizes that he's just the same miserable person.
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u/Ataturk_Void_Crowley 11h ago
I find it sad that no one give a shit about Ted not even his pals once they entered “Rick’s” garage. And clearly Morty and the rest of family didn’t care about Ted’s simple happiness.
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u/depressed_Kedy 10h ago
I love episodes abour Rick's existential crisis and search for meaning and happiness. In thies episode we watched how desparate he is to find some peace and happiness free from all his traumas and thoughts, and he tries to have it through simplicity. It is pretty much like the theme in the Zima Blue episode from Love Death and Robots. Only difference is, Zima had a chance to go back, but Rick cannot bevause Diane is gone forever. Another issue is Rick cannot really abandon his life or pretend he is someone else. As long as he knows he would be living a lie, he just cannotgo and do it, and creates mechanisms that would stop himself at some point and turn back to his original reality. Such a self-contradicting character. I cannot tell if he is more nihilistic or more romantic.
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u/neurom4nte 11h ago
I loved the episode, nice story.. cant spoil much but I liked it more than episode 1
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u/serendrewpity 9h ago edited 9h ago
I loved S9E2. It was a nice contrast to Episode 1 and honestly not what I expected. I didn't expect to like it.
What stood out to me was how much it echoed Rick’s therapy arc with Dr. Wong. In “Analyze Piss,” Rick learns that ignoring the ridiculous “big bad” villains is basically the “kill move.” Dr. Wong tells him to stay the course, and Rick realizes that not reacting actually works.
But in S9E2, even when Rick escapes into a “vacation” built around blissful ignorance, he still ends up wired to find the villain. And the villain is still himself. Hence, the "Everyone's running from something line."
That feels very connected to “Pickle Rick,” where Dr. Wong cuts straight through Rick’s self-mythology: “You are the master of your universe, and yet you are dripping with rat blood and feces.” Rick is usually not trapped by villains, governments, families, therapy, or even the multiverse. He is trapped by the fact that his own mind keeps turning peace into a problem to solve.
So S9E2 worked for me because it wasn’t just “Rick takes a vacation.” It was Rick trying to escape Rick, and still finding Rick waiting for him at the end. Which is hilarious, sad, and extremely on-brand for the galaxy’s most emotionally avoidant garage raccoon.
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u/snake112211 8h ago
10/10. Deeply melancholic and amusing
Anyone else got “Severance” kind-of-vibes from this one?
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u/SoupEmbarrassed8588 10h ago
I also love it, season 9 is off to a great start. I was starting to get worried the series was got off the rails, jumping the shark, if you will. I watched episode 1, 6 times already, 10/10
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u/Fxavierho 11h ago
Guess rick is going thought his depression this season, Dr. Wong will come in handy
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u/GiteshS9100 11h ago
WAY better than episode 1. This is what i want not a fighting fiesta for 20 mins rather a thoughtful deconstruction of a character. Could've been less on the nose and spoon feedy but regardless one of the better episodes of the series.
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u/Najin_bartol 12h ago
It was good story but it felt like the pacing was a little off, I understand they only have a small window to fit in an entire storyline, but Imo it felt like some of the older episodes did a better Job keeping you aware of the progression of the plot. Also what’s the deal with the Rednecks did he freeze their Time ? Or did he freeze time all together and the Deer was unaffected? Or did he freeze them using the Robotic implants he gave them And where were the time police if he froze time?
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u/Honza8D 8h ago
Time police are not omniscient. They only noticed Rick freezing time in "A Rickle in Time" after morty and summer fractured timelines and made a huge mess. The reason they reacted to evil morty so quickly was because Rick tipped them off.
That being said it didnt have to be time related at all, could be as you said just controlling them through their implants.
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u/fool4it_ 11h ago
Yeah i get what you mean. I didn’t mind the pacing because of the time window they have but I get what you mean. I feel like the newer episodes have a weirder pacing because they have more stuff they wanna show off/add.
The freezing time confused me too, I assumed he froze them with the implants he gave them due to the Deer not freezing. The issue I have with this show is the inconsistency with little bits like the time police or Morty being dumber than he actually is.
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u/Greyrock99 10h ago
I thought it was pretty obvious he froze the implants. There is no need to Rick to freeze all time. Especially with time cops about.
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u/serendrewpity 9h ago
The deer was a trigger that Rick fabricated to start/stop the vacation experiment. It's tail was forked and was not normal implying it was artificial in some way. There are other episodes where a Deer appears. Beth and Jerry hit a deer and try to save its life (heh, dui b/c of rum raisin). Then Shy Pooper there is a Deer like creature that ends the "Poop world" and allows Rick to enter a lab where he tracks down who has been using his toilet. So, the deer is symbolism. Its a plot mechanic.
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u/GoldSlurpee 9h ago
Really enjoyed the new episode!! Fantastic first 2 episodes to a season. This episode Reminded me a little bit of the doctor who episode “the family in blood” with David tennet as the doctor where he erases his memories of being the doctor
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u/No-Target2572 9h ago
I actually happen to be a bowler so I enjoyed it. Specific to R&M I thought it was a unique storyline. But why did Rick need the break??
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u/Old_Refrigerator6943 8h ago
A bunch of the cast from The Office was in it, I noticed in the credits.
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u/blind_marvin 8h ago
I started to get bored with Ted around the halfway point but once we got into the third act it became a classic episode. Excellent start to this season so far.
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u/JoeLunchpail 8h ago
I can’t stop thinking about this show through the lens of Rick being aware of his condition as a popular television character. He has no escape but cancellation, no respite from his all encompassing self awareness. This episode was extremely dark from that perspective.
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u/Equal_Yam_3371 6h ago
It was a beautiful emotionally episode at it's finest! The Phrase catched md, when Rick said, that he would figure out the peace & luck, if he just would be smarter.
Rick's just want not to be depressed anymore
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u/DepthsOfWill 5h ago
Big Iron was a weird inclusion. Not complaining, just reminded me of Fallout for a second there.
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u/Dailydead16 5h ago
Episode made me look in the mirror and look at the things I don’t want to see. I am getting old and I miss the simple life.
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u/Radical_Provides 4h ago
most recent winner of the "oh god my eyes are crying" award ever since Auto Erotic Assimilation
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u/Server-Observer069 2h ago edited 0m ago
This one is relatable, when you leave for a vacation you act like a different person in a different part of the world and forget about what made you take a vacation in the first place. Then when you come back from that vacation you start to feel more and more like your old self based on what you're going through. Hope this makes sense
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u/Phredness 10h ago
I'm just interested in the fact that Justin Roiland is in the credits.
I swear they removed him for a while.
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u/fool4it_ 10h ago
I didn’t even notice that! Maybe he’s working on it behind the scenes? I was shocked Dan was working on it still to be honest.
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u/OprahAteMyChild 7h ago
This is purely speculation on my part but I'm assuming he has to be credited as an executive producer because he was still working on the show when they signed for the 70 episode deal back during season 3. They probably can't take him out of the credits as a producer until the 10 seasons are up.
Could be something else entirely though
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u/Thelakefeben 8h ago
More emotionally charged than usual. We finally get to see Rick’s soft side, so wholesome. Also what the fuck is wrong with him ? Can’t he make his own anti depressants why is he so miserable ? I get he’s smart but at some point you just gotta Morty mind blow yourself for happiness.
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u/Prestigious_Till_331 9h ago
Maaannnnnn I wanted hug rick so bad. And that ending just made me tear up. I just wanted rick to be happy.
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u/seoulsrvr 12h ago
Bojack HorseRick