Every ‘Rick and Morty’ Episode, Ranked

Writer: Nick Rutherford
Director: Erica Hayes

Of course Summer (Spencer Grammer) and Morty’s (Justin Roiland) incest baby is coming in last place. It wasn’t just that “Rickdependence Spray” was gross with its constant jizz jokes and cannibalistic horse creatures. It’s that the episode is unfocused. “Rickdependence Spray” lacked the sharp wit and tight turns that have come to define this show. Instead of a classic Rick and Morty adventure, it felt like a B-grade parody of itself.

Writer: Jeff Loveness
Director: Anthony Chun

This is another gross one. Morty wants a pet dragon, which leads to Rick forming a soul bond with Balthromaw (Liam Cunningham) in this exploration of the surprisingly horny world of magic and dragons. Clearly, “Claw and Hoarder” was meant to be a response to the global popularity of Game of Thrones. But exactly what the episode was trying to say about George R.R. Martin’s universe remained unclear. Was it saying that GoT is needlessly horny? Is there something in there about audiences only being horny for dragons? Who knows? Thankfully Matthew Broderick’s Talking Cat saves this otherwise uneven episode.

Writer: Eric Acosta and Wade Randolph
Director: Jeff Myers

After fooling around with a sex robot, Morty has to learn how to be a father. Meanwhile, Summer and Rick travel to Gazorpazorp, a planet run by the highly evolved females of this alien race. There are a lot of predictable gendered jokes, including a major plot point that involves Rick’s farts upsetting this planet’s ruler. In some ways “Raising Gazorpazorp” feels as broad as “Rickdependence Spray.” But since this episode premiered during the show’s first season, it’s more forgivable.

Writer: Dan Guterman, Ryan Ridley, and Justin Roiland
Director: Juan Meza-León

The best way to describe the second interdimensional cable episode is “fine.” “Interdimensional Cable 2: Tempting Fate” has some good moments. The How It’s Made parody about making a plumbus was bizarre, and we’re still suffering from a case of Jan Michael Vincent fever. But overall the improvised TV shows and commercials aren’t as funny as anything in “Rixty Minutes.” Couple that with a plot that revolves around Jerry’s (Chris Parnell) penis, and you have the makings of a dud.

Writer: Dan Harmon
Director: Anthony Chun

We’ve seen Rick and Morty help the President (Keith David) time and time again. But in Season 3, all members of this not-quite-a-dream team have had enough. As Rick and the President face off against each other using increasingly insane sci-fi devices, Morty realizes that he doesn’t want a selfie with the President after all. It’s not that “The Rickchurian Mortydate” is a bad episode. The oneupmanship between Rick and the President is fun to watch. But Rick’s silly personal vendetta against the ruler of the free world feels at odds with Beth’s (Sarah Chalke) panic that she may be a clone. Together it makes for an installment that slightly misses the mark.

Writer: Ryan Ridley and Tom Kauffman
Director: Stephen Sandoval

When Beth and Jerry leave the house, Rick, Summer, and Morty throw an epic house party. Once again, there are some fun moments in this episode. The endless paradox that is Abradolf Lincler certainly comes to mind. But sick dance moves aren’t enough to make up for how half-baked the Titanic retreat feels.

Writer: Anne Lane
Director: Kyounghee Lim

This Season 5 episode is a bit like “Ricksy Business.” While the adults are away, Summer and Morty get up to some good old-fashioned teenaged hijinks. The difference is that the Hellraisers are a lot more interesting than a bunch of adults obsessed with James Cameron. Plus, this episode has the coolest character in Rick and Morty history: Bruce Chutback. He’s so awesome that he comes with his own theme song. It’s those little touches that really push this episode above the previous one mentioned.

Writer: Eric Acosta and Wade Randolph
Director: John Rice

Starring John Oliver, this Jurassic Park parody was the first time fans were really exposed to the weird potential of Rick and Morty. A full theme park in the body of a homeless alcoholic man, complete with Pirates of the Pancreas? It shouldn’t work, and yet it does. The only reason why it’s so far down on this list is because this cartoon is in the business of constantly challenging itself. As far as classic Rick and Morty adventures go, know that this is the bar.

Writer: David Phillips
Director: Dominic Polcino

After dropping Jerry off at daycare, Morty learns that his grandpa has been selling weapons to assassins. That’s when he becomes determined to save the latest target, a telepathic gas-based entity named Fart (Jemaine Clement). This one gets major points for introducing us all to Jerryboree, the trippy game Roy: A Life Well-Lived, and for the psychedelic “Goodbye Moonmen.” It also has one of the most upsetting finales in the first couple of seasons as Morty is forced to kill the being he swore to protect. But between these excellent flourishes, the rest of the episode can feel a bit generic, especially when it comes to Fart’s ultimate plan.

Writer: James Siciliano
Director: Douglas Olsen

One of the funniest parts of Rick and Morty are the bizarre traditions that happen off screen, and one of those has to do with the presidential pardon. Every year, the President pardons a turkey. And every year, Rick turns himself into a turkey to ensure that he’s legally covered, no matter what. Much like with “The Rickchurian Mortydate”, this episode is a dick measuring contest between Rick and the President. But without Beth’s existential crisis, the holiday special is allowed to just be silly.

Writer: Mike McMahan
Director: John Rice

Summer and Rick’s adventures have produced some of the best and worst moments in this series. This episode falls on the better side of this pairing. When Summer starts working for the devil, Rick can’t handle the thought of his granddaughter idolizing another older man. Meanwhile, Jerry and Morty get swept up in the politics of Pluto after a science experiment gone horribly wrong. More than just a solid take on Stephen King’s Needful Things, “Something Ricked This Way Comes” offers some excellent commentary about how most businesses and politics are corrupt anyway. So why not work for the literal devil?

Writer: Erica Hayes
Director: Anne Lane

Rick and Morty has had a lot of action-packed episodes over the years, but this one contains the absolute best full-family brawl. Earth Beth and Space Beth confront one another right as Tammy (Cassie Steele) returns with Phoenixperson (Dan Harmon). If that sounds like a whole lot of plot, that’s sort of the problem with this Season 4 finale. Watching it for the first time as a fan was immensely gratifying. But the episode is comparatively light on jokes

Writer: Tom Kauffman
Director: Jeff Myers

Prepare for some twists! Rick is held captive in virtual reality unless he gives the Zigerions his recipe for Concentrated Dark Matter. Oh, also Jerry is captured by accident, a mistake that leads to the best day of Jerry’s life. From the endless twists that are clearly mocking M. Night Shyamalan to the way Rick tricks the simulation’s computers, this was one of the first episodes that blended pointed pop culture commentary with a sharp understanding of sci-fi.

Writer: Ryan Ridley
Director: John Rice

If Rick and Morty’s pilot established what this show would be about, then “Lawnmower Dog” cemented its tone as your smartest friend who talks like a stoner. Rick tries to incept Morty’s math teacher to give Morty an A, an adventure that somehow leads to the duo confronting a Freddy Krueger knockoff who loves to say the word “bitch.” Meanwhile, the rest of the Smiths have to deal with the fallout that comes with endowing the family pet with sentience. A well-balanced and consistently funny episode, “Lawnmower Dog” never overstays its welcome.

Writer: Tom Kauffman
Director: Wes Archer

This episode is best remembered for five words: “Show me what you got.” Rick and Morty are forced to perform for their lives when the Cromulons select Earth to compete on Planet Music. Lose, and your planet will be destroyed. Win, and…well, you don’t really get anything. The goal is just to avoid mass destruction. Not only was this one responsible for the impossibly catchy “Get Schwifty” but it also revealed the surprisingly dark meaning behind Wubba-lubba-dub-dub.

Writer: Siobhan Thompson
Director: Kyounghee Lim

After an adventure that falls off the rails, Rick bets Morty that he can successfully replace him with two crows. Meanwhile, Morty spills some portal fluid on his hand and befriends another person who’s been hurt by Rick’s chaos and egomania. As far as breakup stories go, this is a pretty great one. Rick and Morty’s relationship has been toxic for years, and this episode is unafraid to explore those gross depths. But for its strengths, “Forgetting Sarick Mortshall” feels more like the first half of “Rickmurai Jack” rather than a standalone episode in its own right.

Writer: James Siciliano
Director: Kyounghee Lim

It’s always nice to see how similar Beth is to her father. Did we say nice? We meant disturbing. When Beth learns that her father impregnated a planet, she starts out with good intentions as she demands that Rick care for his new children. That good deed is quickly corrupted when Beth and Rick assemble a factory designed to sort and train Rick’s offspring. Meanwhile, Summer and Morty indulge in drugs and video games, and Jerry tries to camp. This episode does a great job of taking an absurd sci-fi premise — in this case hooking up with a planet — and pushing it to its absolute comedic limit.

Writer: Dan Harmon and Justin Roiland
Director: Justin Roiland

It’s the episode that started it all. Rick needs Morty to transport Mega Seeds, and the only way he can is by shoving them way up his butt. What’s interesting about this first episode is how well it laid the groundwork for what was to come. Sure, there’s more burping in the pilot and the animation is noticeably different, but the emotional roots are there. This first one sets the stage for Beth’s crippling insecurity when it comes to her father, her crumbling marriage, and Morty’s toxic relationship with his grandfather. It also doesn’t hurt that the mile-a-minute jokes pack a punch.

Writer: Alex Rubens
Director: Bryan Newton

Hey, it’s tiny Rick! To help with his grandkids’ vampire problem, Rick goes back to high school. At the same time, Beth and Jerry give space therapy a try. Rick and Morty is especially sharp when it dives into nihilism, and Rick contemplating his own mortality while trapped in a teenage body is about as nihilistic as it gets. Despite its subject matter, this one is all silly, no seriousness.

Writer: Tom Kauffman
Director: Wes Archer

Season 2’s finale is a hard one to judge. On one hand, Birdperson’s wedding to Tammy feels about as politely interesting as any other generic wedding. On the other hand, when Tammy finally shows her true colors, things go from boring to gut-wrenching, fast. That finale is why this episode is so high on this list. Well, that and Rick’s horror over the on the cob planet.

Writer: Justin Roiland
Director: Stephen Sandoval

There are a few episodes in Rick and Morty‘s first season that indicated this show was something bigger than the average Adult Swim show. “Rick Potion #9” is one of them. After Morty convinces Rick to make a love potion so that Jessica (Kari Wahlgren) will fall for him, Rick accidentally turns their dimension into a world full of Cronenbergs. This first dimension switch changed the course of the show and was our first glimpse into how little Rick cares about the actions to his consequences. Plus, the flu-hatin’ rap is an ear worm.

Writer: Jeff Loveness
DIrector: Erica Hayes

Other people may rank the Story Train episode lower, but here at Decider, we appreciate wild creative swings. Rick and Morty find themselves trapped on a Story Train, a literal story device used for an anthology episode. Or they’re toys on the Story Train? Does that mean the train set also comes with a Jesus figurine? You could waste hours trying to parse through the logic of this one and still fall flat, and that’s sort of why it works. Between its wild jokes, “Never Ricking Morty” stands as a pitch perfect criticism of stories that get smugly meta for no good reason.

Writer: Tom Kauffman
Director: Anthony Chun

When Rick and Morty goes into therapy mode, it typically comes back to the same point about toxic relationships. That’s not the point that “Rest and Ricklaxation” makes to its constantly screaming credit. Through Morty, the episode smartly examines how unhealthy constant positivity can be. Meanwhile, Rick comes to terms with the fact that the attachments that make him weaker may actually be the point of being human. There isn’t anything else quite like it on TV.

Writer: Mike McMahan, James Siciliano, Ryan Ridley, Dan Guterman, Justin Roiland, and Dan Harmon
Director: Bryan Newton

This may be the second strongest of this show’s many anthology episodes. Morty begs Rick to erase his mind after seeing the ultimate truth from the Truth Tortoise. What follows is basically a clip show filled with adventures we’ve never seen before. It’s kind of the perfect format: We get to experience the comedic relief of an adventure going horribly wrong without dealing with any of the emotional aftermath.

Writer: Mike McMahan
Director: Juan Meza-León

The Smith house has been infected by a bunch of alien parasites that implant in people’s memories. Now Rick, Morty, Summer, Beth, and Jerry have to figure out who’s real and who’s a zany character. No show is better at churning out silly one-off characters, and “Total Rickall” really shines a spotlight on that unique talent. But it’s the episode’s devastating finale that elevates it.

Writer: John Harris
Director: Jacob Hair

Rick becomes obsessed with collecting Gotron Ferrets, a new hobby Morty tries to shut down. That’s when Summer steps up to the plate. What starts as one family piloting a giant Voltron-like robot together quickly turns into a Godfather-like crime syndicate of endless Gotron Ferrets and robots. The art in this episode is truly spectacular. The endless frames of Ricks, Mortys, Summers, Beths, and Jerrys are packed with subtle differences that make the episode really feel alive. But this one suffers from seeing the return of Summer and Morty’s incest baby.

Writer: Dan Harmon, Ryan Ridley, and Justin Roiland
Director: Dominic Polcino

There’s no greater lore or emotional growth in this one. There’s just some classic pop culture mockery. Rick and Morty find a purge planet — a peaceful world where all crime is legal one night a year. Cue the violence and buckets of blood. If you’re someone who can laugh at cartoonish ultra violence, this one’s for you.

Writer: Ryan Ridley
Director: Stephen Sandoval

Speaking of game-changing episodes, “Close Rick-counters of the Rick Kind” was absolutely one of them. Not only did this episode introduce fans to the Citadel of Ricks and reveal that our Rick is Rick C-137, but it also teased the most mysterious character in this whole show: Eyepatch Morty. Throw in a whooping scoop of Morty realizing how little his grandpa cares, and this is an all-time great episode. The only reason that it’s not higher on this list is because Rick and Morty is drowning in bangers.

Writer: Ryan Ridley
Director: Juan Meza-León

There aren’t many Rick and Jerry adventures, and “The Whirly Dirly Conspiracy” proves that’s an oversight that needs to be remedied. To make Jerry feel less depressed about his life, Morty convinces Rick to take his dad into space. Naturally, that leads to Jerry trying and failing to assassinate Rick. From Rick calling Jerry a predator that acts like prey to this resort’s many bloody deaths, this one has the perfect balance of humor and upsettingly accurate truth bombs.

Writer: Rob Schrab
Director: Juan Meza-Léon

“A Rickconvenient Mort” stands as one of the most ambitious episodes this show has ever produced. It’s unafraid to go to some truly raw places as Morty navigates through his first heartbreak. But for all its heart and potential, this Season 5 episode never quite adds up. Maybe it’s because of the age gap between Morty and Planetina (Alison Brie). Maybe it’s Summer and Rick’s cringeworthy sexcapade. There are some great moments in this one, but you have to wade through a lot of questionable choices to get there.

Writer: Jeff Loveness
Director: Bryan Newton

Fun fact: This is the only episode of Rick and Morty to start in the middle of a story before backtracking. Rick and Morty’s bodies have been overtaken by a race of face-hugging alien parasites called the Glorzo. But instead of playing off their possession as a source of horror, this episode goes full romance. Both tonally and plot-wise, you never know where “Promortyus” is going to go, and that’s what makes it great.

Writer: Dan Guterman
Director: Dominic Polcino

It is truly difficult to pick the better plot with this one. Is it Rick’s descent into tinier and tinier universes as he tries to understand why his car battery won’t work? Or is it the spaceship using psychologically disturbing goo children to keep Summer safe? Regardless, this fantastic episode is a sleeper hit. It also gets bonus points for featuring performances from Stephen Colbert and Nathan Fielder.

Writer: Caitie Delaney
Director: Bryan Newton

No show pushes dumb concepts to their limits like Rick and Morty, and “One Crew over the Crewcoo’s Morty” is the ultimate example of that. A simple adventure turns into a progressively more convoluted pattern of building and double crossing crews in this giant middle finger to the heist movie genre. There are also some sick Elon Musk burns thrown into the mix, which is always a good time.

Writer: Ryan Ridley
Director: Bryan Newton

When Rick reconnects with his ex Unity — a hivemind — you think the episode will end with Morty and Summer losing their grandpa to an all-encompassing girlfriend. Instead, the exact opposite happens. Not only does this stand as an insightful exploration into unintentionally toxic relationships, but it also has some surprisingly funny commentary about racism. That’s a nearly impossible tightrope walk, yet this episode makes it feel effortless.

Writer: Ryan Ridley
Director: Bryan Newton

Is there an early character more iconic than Mr. Meeseeks? While Morty calls the shots on his very first adventure, Summer, Beth, and Jerry enlist the Meeseeks to help them better their lives. It isn’t long before Jerry’s boundless incompetence drives these well-meaning blue beings to their absolute limits. If you love episodes that require Justin Roiland to talk to himself at length, this is your Super Bowl.

Writer: Mike McMahan
Director: Erica Hayes

After getting his hands on a death crystal, Morty becomes determined to die in Jessica’s arms. If that means murdering police officers, using Mr. Meeseeks to shield him from the law, and turning into an Akira boy, so be it. Between Morty’s nearly nonsensical quest for death and Rick jumping from fascist dimension to fascist dimension, this is exactly the sort of action-packed episode you need to kick off a new season.

Writer: Jane Becker
Director: Dominic Polcino

Rick, Morty, and Summer go full Mad Max in this one. But it’s not the dedication to parody that makes “Rickmancing the Stone” so much fun. It’s how the episode uses its setting to further Summer and Morty’s arcs. Quickly, it becomes clear that Summer is using this world to unleash some of her pent-up frustration over her parents’ divorce, while Morty tries to repress those same feelings. It’s a day-in-the-life episode where the humor, themes, and characters are all in alignment.

Writer: Sarah Carbiener and Erica Rosbe
Director: Bryan Newton

Before The Boys made it to TV, Rick and Morty brought us the Vindicators. At the height of Avengers mania, this deeply selfish superhero team emerged to poke fun at how all superhero stories are basically the same. But the Vindicators took its mockery a step further, lambasting the egomania that comes with calling yourself the protector of the universe. A savage takedown coupled with drunk Rick and a thrilling two-faced performance from Gillian Jacobs? Yes, please.

Writer: Albro Lundy
Director: Erica Hayes

Much like with “Never Ricking Morty”, this Season 5 episode explores the show’s navel gazing limits. But rather than callously mocking its own format, “Rickternal Friendshine of the Spotless Mort” does the unthinkable and embraces sincerity. What’s left is an episode that shows Rick at his most vulnerable and his most selfish as he tries to save Birdperson.

Writer: Michael Waldron
Director: Jacob Hair

It’s the surprise emotional episodes that hurt the most. What starts as an episode about Rick tracking down who pooped on his secret toilet turns into heart-breaking reflection about how fleeting life is. If that seems too heavy for the burping scientist show, we don’t know what to tell you.

Writer: Albro Lundy
Director: Lucas Gray

Welcome to the top tier “what the hell is happening?” episode. The Smith family starts to suspect that they may actually be robotic duplicates. But of course that’s impossible because their Rick made robotic duplicates of them…right? The whole episode is a chaotic clip show of Smith families learning that they’re robots and dying over and over again. If the over-the-top violence won’t leave you laughing, then your confusion will.

Writer: Matt Roller
Director: Wes Archer

Season 2’s premiere was proof that Rick and Morty’s first season wasn’t a fluke. In fact, the show was only getting started. After freezing time to clean the house, Morty and Summer’s uncertainty fractures time itself. It’s a sci-fi concept that feels wholly original and that more than delivers in the art department. Incredibly funny and endlessly rewatchable, this is one of the greats.

Writer: Mike McMahan
Director: Juan Meza-León

Taken on its own, “The Rickshank Rickdemption” is a pretty good to average episode that doesn’t balance humor and lore as well as others. However, it’s the legacy of this one that earns it a spot in the top 10. Season 3’s premiere was notoriously surprise dropped by Adult Swim for April Fool’s Day in 2017. It also led to one of the most viral (and embarrassing) Rick and Morty crazes of all time: the McDonald’s Szechuan sauce. You can’t dominate pop culture like that and not earn your way into the Top 10.

Writer: Tom Kauffman and Justin Roiland
Director: Bryan Newton

Hello, old friend. This first anthology episode proved just how high Rick and Morty could soar. “Rixty Minutes” expertly paired wild improvised shows and commercials with a grounded story about Beth and Jerry’s failing marriage and a breakdown from Summer. This was also the first episode to acknowledge that there is continuity in this show. When Morty pointed to his own grave in an effort to comfort Summer? Chills.

Writer: James Siciliano
Director: Jacob Hair

Snake jazz is so blissfully, amazingly stupid, it can only be praised. After killing a snake in space, Morty tries to replace it with a random Earth snake, thereby triggering a paradox full of snake time travel, snake Terminators, and snake Hitler. Roiland and Harmon have long said that they won’t do time travel episodes because time travel never makes any sense. Over the course of 22 glorious minutes, this episode proves them right.

Writer: Jeff Loveness
Director: Jacob Hair

As Rick deals with his previously unmentioned nemesis, Mr. Nimbus, he gives Morty one task: get the wine. That simple request transforms into a living nightmare as Morty’s comings and goings create a ripple effect in a Narnia-like void where time moves faster. It’s both a deeply fun and unexpected installment of science fiction and an unabashedly silly episode.

Writer: Dan Guterman & Ryan Ridley
Director: Dominic Polcino

Citadel episodes are always fun, but the “The Ricklantis Mixup” takes the concept to a whole new level. The episode follows four different stories of Ricks and Mortys, from a grizzled cop Morty and his wide-eyed Rick partner to four coming-of-age Mortys pulling a Stand By Me. What’s remarkable about this episode isn’t so much its scope but its execution. Every vignette comes with its own satisfying conclusion, complete with a new and uncomfortable takeaway about class disparity and corruption. On every level, it’s a masterpiece.

Writer: Jeff Loveness and Scott Marder
Director: Jacob Hair

Picking up right after the events of “Forgetting Sarick Mortshall”, “Rickmurai Jack” is the biggest lore dump this show has ever had. In no time at all, the episode explains Rick C-137’s backstory, what the Central Finite Curve is, and what Evil Morty’s plan has been all along. The answers to all of these questions are satisfying, especially since some of them have been seven years in the making. But what sets this episode apart from other lore-heavy installments like “Star Mort Rickturn of the Jerri” is how it alternates between humor and sincerity. There are plenty of quotable jokes, but there are also some solid gut punches that will leave you wiping a tear or two from your eyes.

Writer: Mike McMahan
Director: Juan Meza-León

Good storytelling can completely change how you see a beloved character without rewriting one moment from their past. That’s what “The ABC’s of Beth” accomplishes, transforming Beth from a woman desperate for her dad’s approval into a borderline psychotic powerhouse who is Rick’s daughter. But it’s the episode’s finale that truly slaps. When given the option to either go find herself or stay with her family, Beth asks her father to decider for her. The fact that he ultimately refuses to make that choice says volumes.

Writer: Jessica Gao
Director: Anthony Chun

Of course “Pickle Rick” is high on this list. When Rick turned himself into a pickle, that was probably the funniest shit the internet has ever seen. If this Season 3 episode merely followed Rick from pickle to rat exoskeleton demigod, it would be top tier. Even if it stopped with Rick’s faceoff against Jaguar, it would still be iconic. But “Pickle Rick” just keeps giving, only wrapping things up after Dr. Wong (Susan Sarandon) gives Rick a full therapist-approved beatdown. This is one of those rare episodes of television that’s so sharply insightful that it forces you to look at yourself.

Writer: Jeff Loveness & Albro Lundy
Director: Jacob Hair

There’s no question that “Pickle Rick” is excellent. But as more time passes, it’s “The Vat of Acid Episode” that rises to the top of the acid barrel, not unlike a strategically placed pile of bones. Typically, this show’s unflinching criticism focuses on one character’s flaws per episode. Not the case with this Season 4 gem, which dives into the depths of Rick’s pettiness and Morty’s secret depravity. It all culminates in a near-perfect episode of television. If you want to introduce someone to this wild show, this is the episode that will hook them.