^{Credit: Rick and Morty (Adult Swim)}

It’s been almost a decade since Rick said, “If it takes nine seasons, I want my McNugget dipping sauce, Szechuan sauce, Morty.” Well, we’re on Season 9, and there was no mention of Rick’s beloved Mulan teriyaki dipping sauce. Season 9 does have a few callbacks to previous episodes, though, opening with the return of Evil Morty. Episodes centered on this fan-favorite villain have yet to miss, this being no exception. At first, “There’s Something About Morty” almost seems laidback compared to the character's past appearances, as our duo reluctantly team up with their nemesis. Naturally, it isn’t long until Rick turns the tables on Evil Morty, culminating in an adrenaline rush that leaves the big bad behind bars. 

Whether or not this is the last we’ve seen of Evil Morty (I doubt it will be), this episode brings new dimensions to the character. Evil Morty brags about being superior to Morty Prime, even arguing that he’d be a better match for Rick. By the episode’s end, we’re left to wonder if Evil Morty is actually the jealous one. Not only does Morty Prime have a Rick who cares about him (in his own way), but he also has a family who’ll help him give any evil variants an ass-kicking. With involving character dynamics and a climax that keeps gaining momentum, the premiere sets a tone for one of the show’s most consistent seasons in a while. 

This isn’t to say that Rick and Morty ever jumped the shark, despite behind-the-scenes shakeups like Justin Roiland’s downfall. If I had to rank every season, though, Season 8 would come in last. Even the show’s producers would likely concede that Season 8 wasn’t their best foot forward. Case in point? They could’ve submitted a Season 8 episode for Emmy consideration this year. Instead, they entered “There’s Something About Morty,” which just barely made the Emmy eligibility cutoff. It was a smart move, as “There’s Something About Morty” got nominated for Outstanding Animated Program. 

Looking ahead to next year’s Emmys, Season 9 has several other standout episodes. Some bring back other familiar antagonists, such as Morty’s dog Snowball. Season 9 doesn’t over-rely on nostalgia, introducing memorable new characters like petty kung fu master Liu Sin, folksy android Reese, and “Ted.” Technically, the latter is Rick, who purposely annually erases his memories to enjoy a blissful vacation on another planet. When Ted becomes aware of this, he revolts in Severance fashion, which doesn’t end well for him or Rick. It’s not the only time this season that we see Rick go to war with himself. 

In "Erickerhead," Rick’s head becomes separated from his body. Both are still equally destructive, deciding that there can be only one. Apart, though, the two sides of Rick are surprisingly more affectionate towards Morty and Summer. Empathy also factors into "Rickuiem Mort a Dream," in which Morty chases an emotional high after Rick exposes him to a “sympathid” parasite. "Salute Your Morts" brings a different kind of high as the adults find themselves tripping on a potentially perpetual alien drug, forcing the irresponsible Morty and Summer to step up as the mature ones. 

While those are all strong efforts, the season’s best episode by a mile is “MortGully: The Last Rickforest.” Although the title echoes FernGully, the episode plays like Avatar, Edge of Tomorrow, and the best prison escape movies rolled into one. Absorbed by a tree, Rick and Morty enter a cycle of life and death. Starting as single-celled organisms, they must continually evolve into different species to orchestrate a breakout. Aside from being cleverly written and inventively animated, this is perhaps Rick and Morty’s most atmospheric outing since "The Vat of Acid Episode." It reminded me why I fell in love with this series in the first place, showing that nine seasons in, Rick and Morty isn’t done evolving. 

Even if the past few seasons have been hit and miss, Rick and Morty has consistently ended on a high note with episodes like “Hot Rick,” “Fear No Mort,” and “Rickmurai Jack.” Season 9 continues this trend with "Field of Dreams,” in which Morty gets his own portal gun. Reality hopping, Morty seemingly finds a version of his family that isn’t dysfunctional. Of course, things aren’t as they appear, forcing Morty to track down a sober Rick who can only help him in a toxic state. Morty learns the hard way that sometimes, it’s better to be content rather than chase perfection. 

Likewise, there are elements of this season I could dwell on, such as minimal screen time for Space Beth. Even Beth Prime isn’t given much development this season after emerging as one of the show’s most complex characters in recent years. Some of the Jerry-centric B-plots could also feel undercooked compared to the A-plots. On the whole, though, there were no misses among this batch of episodes, which we arguably haven't seen since Season 4. The Smith family may never be perfect, but they're probably the best versions of themselves by now. For a show just shy of its tenth season, Rick and Morty is similarly in the best shape we can expect. 

Nick Spake is the Author of Bright & Shiny: A History of Animation at Award Shows Volumes 1, 2, and 3. Available Now!