12. Season 5, Episode 8: Rickternal Friendshine of the Spotless Mort
This Season 5 episode gives us a rare look into Rick’s past and his relationship with Birdperson (Dan Harmon), as Rick tries to undo the brainwashing that turned his friend into a vengeful weapon of the Galactic Federation. In order to bring his friend back, Rick must enter Birdperson’s mind and memories Beginning-style. While there, Rick is confronted with literal visions of his past and how Birdperson remembers their time together (not all of it flattering). When he finally fights his way to the Birdperson’s true essence, it’s the revelation of a child he unknowingly fathered with Tammy (Cassie Steele) that brings him back to consciousness. What starts out as another ploy by Rick to avoid family therapy turns into a surprisingly emotional journey that reminds us that Rick still has a heart beneath his condescending and often uncaring facade.
11. Season 5 Episode 3: A Rickconvenient Mort
In this episode, we see Morty once again try, and fail, to find love. This time he falls for the superhero Planetina (Allison Brie), who can only be summoned with the power of four elemental rings. Unfortunately for Morty, the rings start out in the possession of greedy adults who want to sell not only goods, but Planetina itself to the highest bidder. But as we all know in Season 5, Morty is willing to do almost anything for a woman. He kills her former owners and future buyer, obtains the rings for himself, and frees Planetina from their grasp. What Morty doesn’t realize, however, is that he’s also freeing Planetina to go on a murderous rampage in the name of protecting the planet. As we’ve established, there are many things that Morty will do for love, but murdering a bunch of coal miners is not one of them.
Meanwhile, Summer and Rick attempt family bonding by traveling to dying planets and attending their end-of-the-world parties and escaping before the apocalypse hits. As strange as it may seem that this endless debauchery is their bonding event of choice between a grandfather and a grandson, their fun doesn’t last long. What is supposed to be a fun time free of responsibility and attachment changes after Rick saves Daphne (Jennifer Coolidge) from her dying planet because she confesses her love for him. In a classic Rick move of pettiness, Summer ends their fun by saving one of the dying planets and proving that Daphne was only interested in Rick to save her own life.
10. Season 1, Episode 3: Anatomy Park
Desperate to celebrate a normal human holiday, Jerry spends much of this episode creating the perfect Christmas celebration with his family. But as with most things in the Sanchez-Smith family, this Christmas is far from normal.
We finally meet Jerry’s parents, their “friend” Jacob, and learn details of their intimate relationship. But as fun as it is to see Jerry’s clear discomfort with his parents’ fluid sex life, it’s far from the best part of this episode. While Jerry does his best to save the holiday, Rick sends Morty into the body of Reuben, a homeless man in whom Rick has built an amusement park. Reuben’s various diseases have threatened the structural integrity of Anatomy Park, and Morty, along with other park employees, must fight for survival after Reuben dies and monstrous forms of various diseases grow closer.
This episode includes Jurassic Park references, Morty trying way too hard to get a girl’s attention, and a giant naked Santa floating and eventually exploding over America. Why would you like to spend the holidays in a different way?