One quality that I really appreciate out of Rick and Morty is that there is never any fear to try something new or different in an episode. Whether it turns out great or horrible, the show is good enough to still deliver funny moments. Last night’s episode, “Interdimensional Cable 2: Tempting Fate,” has Rick breaking out his interdimensional cable box to receive more interesting TV channels in the hospital waiting room while Jerry is being treated. The episode was still solid, but bringing back the TV channels provided a certain type of hype that might not have lived up to expectations.
Jerry is approached in the hospital by leaders of the universe who want to surgically remove his penis and transfer it into the body of the galaxy’s most important person, Shrimply Pibbles, to be used as a new heart. This creates a dilemma for Jerry about wanting to turn the aliens down but being afraid of the disapproval that will come with it. This is such a Jerry plot, or at least a typical Jerry problem, which, I’ll admit, I found pretty amusing. Jerry initially agrees, but never really wants to go through with this operation; he just can’t stand the idea of having people dislike him. This is definitely a common problem people face, so it’s a good topic for them to cover in the show, especially with this character.
Rick and Morty really connected the episode’s two plots together well, with Jerry facing his goofy dilemma about being seen as a “hero,” while Rick, Morty and Summer watch the interdimensional television. As the three of them keep skipping channels looking for something to watch, we are shown a series of continuously ridiculous shows. The shows they watch sort of echo what Jerry is experiencing by displaying extreme attention grabbers with humans fighting cars and a man tearing off his own skin. Both shows are things that make us go, “Why would someone ever do that?” yet, with the amount of ridiculous reality TV out there, it’s what people want to see, and the quickest path to becoming famous. It’s a pretty simple idea but is something everyone might ponder at some point, the “what if” idea of taking the chance at fame if the opportunity arises.
Jerry spends the episode wrestling with his pride (wanting to say no because his penis is his penis) and the need for his fame to be around the idea that he is an honorable and likable person. Some people, like the man crushed and killed by the car, are willing to risk everything to be seen a certain way; however, plenty of others would get into the ring and chicken out because they are willing to put logic first and their pride second. The episode makes Jerry’s back and forth pretty funny, with him threatening to kill the doctors if they do not save Shrimply Pibbles with his penis.
“Interdimensional Cable 2: Tempting Fate” wasn’t a bad episode, and I liked what Rick and Morty did with a re-used idea. Saying that, I also think that the Rick and Morty writers should have saved this sequel idea for a later episode (Season 3 at the earliest) because it felt like a filler topic. Harmon and Roiland communicate their ideas well and still provide plenty of laughs, but other episodes from this season have been fresher and funnier. When Rick and Morty has great episodes, they are complex, fun, and clever in every aspect; this week’s installment was missing a little of that.
Top Moments:
- The TV shows on the interdimensional cable were great. How did that woman get there???
- Jerry just can’t ever catch a break. I’m glad he kept his penis.
- The guest voices this season continue to be amazing. Werner Herzog voiced Shrimply Pibbles in this episode.
[Photo via Cartoon Network]
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