The following contains spoilers for Rick and Morty Season 6, Episode 4, "Night Family," which debuted Sunday, Sept. 26 on Adult Swim.
Rick and Morty is a powerhouse in animated television that isn't going away anytime soon. As the characters often like to say, "Rick and Morty, 100 years!" But as with any TV series, the show has had its hits and misses. Season 5 saw the series dip in quality and get just a 57 percent fan rating on Rotten Tomatoes. After such a divisive season and a year-long hiatus, the comedy appears to be back on track.
Season 6 of the hit series has already delivered four memorable and thought-provoking episodes. The season performed its own reset by literally having Rick reset portal travel. This resulted in self-contained installments that focus on the show's roots: clever sci-fi stories told in a humorous way. With no signs of slowing down, it's possible that Rick and Morty Season 6 will be its best ever.
The series created by Justin Roiland and Dan Harmon has always had its fans. But a few questionable choices in Season 5, combined with too much focus on its serialized elements such as Evil Morty, meant the show lost its way in terms of story and character. However, Season 6 suggests that the creative team has realized their mistakes and actively worked to get Rick and Morty back to what made it wildly popular in the first place.
Season 6, Episode 4, "Night Family" gave audiences a gritty horro- thriller combined with Rick and Morty's signature sci-fi comedy. The episode explored each member of the Smith family's inner thoughts and played with a new dynamic among them. Rick's reset of portal travel also forced the family to come up with clever solutions to problems since they couldn't just portal away. All of these elements resulted in one of the most creative episodes in show history.
Rick and Morty has always been an over the top science fiction comedy. With so much fan feedback and so many episodes (the show was renewed for 70 more episodes before Season 4 premiered), it's understandable that the series hasn't always been perfect. Yet Season 6 is justifying that massive renewal.
While it's still telling a larger story, Season 6 has delivered several incredible and memorable episodes. There hasn't been a weak one in the first batch. There are at least four more episodes left in the season -- and if they're all up to the same standard, Rick and Morty could go from its worst season to its best.
Rick and Morty airs Sundays at 11:00 p.m. on Adult Swim.