Having once been one of the most popular animated shows on TV, some viewers have turned on Rick and Morty season 7 featured the lowest-rated episode in the entire series, hurting its reputation in the process.

As a result, the pressure is mounting on the next installment to exceed expectations, especially since loyal fans have waited almost 18 months for new content. Fortunately, the long hiatus appears to be a good sign as Rick and Morty teased the Citadel's return in season 8's trailer, which suggested the show could be back to its best. Truthfully though, despite featuring a few underwhelming adventures recently, Rick and Morty hasn't suffered quite as big of a downfall as some opinions would lead you to believe, with one episode proving the franchise is still as good as ever.

"Fear No Mort" Is Already An All-Time Great Rick And Morty Episode

The Episode Contains Many Elements That Make Rick And Morty So Great

Although some of season 7's outings may have fallen below expectations, "Fear No Mort" is one of the show's strongest episodes in years, proving Rick and Morty is still capable of delivering great adventures. The concept of the fear hole featured in "Fear No Mort" made for an incredibly complex and interesting plot, which focused on Morty conquering his deepest fear. There were so many layers involved and several twists that made it impossible to tell if Morty had truly escaped the hole until the final few minutes, earning the episode plenty of praise from fans and critics.

The fact that it's the latest episode in the series further proves that modern Rick and Morty is by no means past its best, even if it has a few more misses than usual. The creators are clearly taking more risks these days to make the show stand out, especially after Justin Roiland's departure, and while season 7 may not have been perfect, it wasn't bad either. Even among some disappointing outings, "Fear No Mort" cemented itself as one of the best episodes Rick and Morty has produced in the last few seasons and is officially an all-time great adventure.

Rick And Morty Is Different, But It Never Stopped Being Good

Despite Having A Different Feel From The Earlier Seasons, Modern Rick And Morty Episodes Still Have Plenty To ire

Viewers are right in their observation that Rick and Morty is different from before, but that doesn't mean it stopped being good. The biggest change in recent years is that the titular characters have new voice actors, and while they do a great job of replicating Roiland's performance while adding their own spin on things, the difference is notable. Additionally, Space Beth becoming a more prominent part of the show and the Rick Prime storyline have offered a slightly unique feel in recent seasons, but they have also been some of the show's biggest strengths, proving that change is good.

Continuing to adapt and evolve will understandably put some viewers off, but trying to regurgitate the same formula over and over would hurt Rick and Morty far more than it would help it.

Continuing to adapt and evolve will understandably put some viewers off, but trying to regurgitate the same formula over and over would hurt Rick and Morty far more than it would help it, suggesting these recent amendments could be for the best in the long run. Dropping Rick during "Rise of the Numbericons: The Movie" was a clear mistake, and the writers will hopefully learn the right lessons from this. However, introducing new central characters and attempting to flesh out the protagonists' relationship is a good move, one which should keep the series relevant for years to come.

Rick and Morty season 8's episode titles have offered clues about what to expect for next season, and assuming the show delivers on many of these teases, I'm confident we're in for a good batch of episodes. Therefore, the changing nature of the series may be a big adjustment for some viewers, but it is essential to maintaining the quality that has always been there, and I hope season 8 can find success and continue Rick and Morty's strong legacy.

Some Later Rick And Morty Episodes Have Indeed Been Disappointing

There Are Some Notably Disappointing Episodes In Recent Seasons

Despite Rick and Morty remaining one of the top animated shows around, there is no doubt that some of the more modern episodes have missed the mark. "Rise of the Numbericons: The Movie" is the most notorious example since it's the franchise's lowest-rated episode on IMDb, but the likes of "Wet Kuat Amortican Summer" and "How Poopy Got His Poop Back" were also big disappointments from season 7. Season 5 also had a few poor episodes, as "Rickdependence Spray" and "Gotron Jerrysis Rickvangelion" didn't connect with viewers, making them some of the show's least popular outings.

Rick and Morty season 8 will premiere on Adult Swim on May 25, 2025.

As the years have rolled on, it isn't too surprising that some adventures have fallen below the high standards Rick and Morty has set, but it is ittedly becoming a more frequent trend recently. Therefore, it seems inevitable that the series will continue to release a few episodes that aren't ed particularly fondly, but as long as Rick and Morty still manages to produce outings like "Fear No Mort" every season, I'm confident the show will remain one of Adult Swim's biggest IPs.