We Are at Peak Meta Levels, Adult Swim!

Rick and Morty S6, Ep 7 Review

Okay, there’s meta, and then there’s what Rick and Morty pulled after returning from vacation.

Yes, Rick and Morty tackled the concept of meta and the fourth wall in an episode that felt like TvTropes.Org wrote it. At first glance, the whole thing seems confusing and hard to follow; and it is. You have to be versed in the concept of tropes in storytelling to understand the humor best. Thankfully, I’ve spent much time on TvTropes.Org, helping me follow along. At least, enough to know you could turn this episode into a drinking game about tropes and meta-humor. 

Into the Meta-Verse

For example, the entire cold opening teased at the end of the last episode turned out to be a red herring, a mislead. None of it happened, Summer’s not pregnant, it’s all to set up the reveal that Rick and Morty got trapped in an illusion thanks to some mosquito guy called “Previous Leon.” After the entity enters the fourth wall to escape their wrath, Rick retaliates by chasing him beyond the fourth wall into tropedom. And since Rick’s smart enough to know that he’s a character in a tv show, he complains about the meta concept the whole time. Basically, he’s a mouthpiece for people to complain about tired tropes and mechanics. 

In addition, it turns out the whole thing’s the result of Story Lord, the villain from the equally meta story-train episode. Now he’s back and wants revenge, even though he never fought Rick and Morty. And Story Lord’s motivation for getting out is motivation. As in, he’s motivated to drain other people’s motivation to make him the most motivated person in existence, thus, the most powerful. 

No More Meta Stuff for a While

To be honest, I had a hard time following the plot of this episode beyond the idea that it’s one big lampshade of meta storytelling and tropes. The most complex ideas flew over my head, and I’m worried that the same thing happened to other fans. By the time Rick and Story Lord started fighting, I had no clue what they were talking about anymore. 

The episode wasn’t a total mess for me, though. A big highlight was the “Self-Referential Six”, the personification of various storytelling tropes that they embody. However, the real highlight was the one they kept prisoner, Rhett Con. The being had the power to retcon anything he wanted into existence. As one might imagine, this pretty much made him a reality-warping god. Now that is some good writing! 

Looking back, I think that I’ll only remember this meta episode for the one-scene-wonder that was Rhett Con. Other than that, I don’t think the writers (or the execs) should indulge in this much meta for a while. 

I Give “Full Meta JackRick” a 2.5/5

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