A Lot or a Little?
What you will—and won't—find in this TV show.
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Positive Messages
very little
The show leans on edgy content and at least one morally despicable character to get laughs. It's a successful ploy, but it downplays the realistic repercussions for the characters' behavior. Death, violence, lust, and alcoholism are meant to be comical rather than worrisome, and some racial and gender stereotypes exist as well. Rick's influence over Morty is emotionally scarring, and he bullies him into doing some pretty dangerous things. Little is sacred in the show's content, so expect to hear and see it all.
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Positive Role Models
very little
Rick teases and torments Morty into submission, subjecting him to extreme emotional abuse until he complies. He mocks the value of school, encourages his grandson's lustful thoughts about his crush, and is a raging alcoholic. Morty is unable to stand up for himself around his domineering grandfather. Although Morty's dad is aware of Rick's bad influence, Morty's mom encourages the damaging relationship. Of course, this is all meant in fun.
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Violence & Scariness
some
Many scenes are violent, though the animation style lessens the content's impact. Humans and otherworldly creatures exchange gunfire, and those who are hit (usually the nonhumans) spurt blood, explode, are dismembered, and often die. Broken bones, bloody surgical scenes in a vet's office, and violent bullying are common. When humans die, it's usually in a semicomical way, like being frozen and then shattered.
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Sex, Romance & Nudity
some
Morty's unrequited lust for a classmate is common fodder for sexually driven content. In one scene, he dreams about Jessica showing him her boobs (the top half of which are shown) and asking him to squeeze them and "knock them around." Background visuals such as wall decor show scantily clad women in suggestive positions. A lesser character's name is Principal vagin*.
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Language
a little
"Hell" and "damn" are frequent flyers.
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Drinking, Drugs & Smoking
a lot
Rick's alcoholism is central to the plot and drives his erratic and dangerous behavior, all of which is meant to be funny rather than concerning. He's often seen drinking and wears a permanent splotch of booze spittle on his lip.
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Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that Rick and Morty is intended for mature viewers who can take the copious violence, alcohol consumption, and sexual content in stride. The show centers on a degenerate relationship between an anxious, socially marginal teen and his lunatic lush of a grandfather who drags him into absurd schemes through time and space. In other words, there are no positive role models here; in fact, the show's foundation is the sad*stic emotional control Rick wields over Morty. Violence is graphic albeit in a cartoon way, so you'll see body explosions, gushing wounds, weapon use, and some death. Expect some sexually suggestive stuff as well, with hints at nudity (a girl flashes Morty, although only the top part of her breasts is visible) and some bawdy talk about sexuality.
What's the Story?
RICK AND MORTY follows the misadventures of a socially awkward teen and his alcoholic grandfather as they travel through various dimensions carrying out bizarre schemes. For Morty (voiced by Justin Roiland), high school is a minefield of social traps, from him hiding his crush on the school hottie to fending off pressure from bullies. Still, when it comes down to it, he'd rather be there than riding shotgun with his grandfather, Rick (Roiland again), a scientific genius who's dangerously off his rocker but determined to have Morty along for ride...and to do the grunt work for him.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the market for shows such as this one. Is this the kind of entertainment adults want? What is the appeal of animated series for grown-ups?
Is this series controversial? Does any of its content cross the line? Do TV ratings do enough to warn viewers about a show's content?
How much of what we see in entertainment do we internalize? Is it important that the characters be good role models or not? What shows do you watch that have positive behavior models?
