Liam Hoofe reviews the penultimate episode of Rick and Morty season 3…
After two less conventional episodes of Rick and Morty in the last two weeks, Rick and Morty returned to the usual structure for an episode that finally gives Beth some of the limelight this week, with ‘The ABC’s of Beth’
Beth has, in many ways, been in the background for the majority of this season. Jerry and Summer have both been giving their own episodes, while Rick’s long-suffering daughter has only really been given focus as a character in the Pickle Rick episode back in the first episode of the season, and let’s be honest, no-one remembers that episode for its character moments.
The ABCs of Beth explores Rick and Beth’s relationship and Beth’s fairly twisted childhood in a way that only Rick and Morty could – by having the duo team up to go and rescue Beth’s childhood friend, Tommy, from Froopyland – a candy-coloured artificial world that Rick created to give Beth something to do when she was a child. The reason for saving Tommy? To stop his dad from being executed for supposedly eating him.
Except, when they find Tommy, it turns out he has turned into a cannibal, who is raping the creatures of the land then eating his own offspring. Yep, only Rick and Morty.
The episode combines a lot of things that are great about Rick and Morty – an imaginative setting, with loads of crazy creatures flying around, a twisted take on a family relationship, and plenty of over the top violence and dark humour to top it all off. Rick and Beth’s relationship is a staple of the show and this episode really added a lot to Beth’s character. The reveal that she, like her father, appears to be slightly nuts, was a nice touch and Rick’s proposition for her was one of the show’s best-scripted scenes. Froopyland itself is also a really fun invention. Beth, as it turned out, needed somewhere where she couldn’t hurt herself or others and Froopyland still couldn’t prevent her from that, not even with its breathable water and bouncy surfaces.
The episode, for the first time in weeks, also featured a B-plot. Jerry, who has also not been seen properly for a few weeks, has now settled down with his new girlfriend, an alien woman who wants to do nothing but hunt creatures which are supposedly invading the planet. The plot focuses on the kids meeting her for the first time and coming to the realisation that Jerry is rebounding, badly. The gags come thick and fast here and for the most part, they land. Jerry’s development over the season has been one of the subtlest and the show has adapted very well to the couple’s divorce. Jerry’s biggest development, both here and in the other episodes, has been facing responsibility for his own actions, and while it is still taking some time, by the end of the episode it looks as though he is finally adjusting.
The ABCs of Beth was, overall, a pretty fun episode of Rick and Morty, one that returned the season back to the themes of families and the decisions that they are all facing after the divorce of Beth and Jerry. As episodes go, it was also probably the best balanced of the season so far, with the B-plot being equally as satisfying as the main one. Also, kudos for a pretty damn funny Stone Cold Steve Austin reference.
What did you think of ‘The ABC’s of Beth’? Let us know in the comments below, and let Liam know on Twitter, here – @liamhoofe
