‘Rick and Morty’ Teases an Emotional Season 8 Finale—and That New Spin-Off

“Sizzling Rick,” the season eight finale of Rick and Morty, hits Grownup Swim July 27. On the present’s San Diego Comedian-Con panel, the cast and creators teased the emotional influence it’ll make—whereas additionally sharing a clip packed stuffed with the present’s trademark humor—notably because it pertains to Rick’s arc this season.

Talking about Rick’s evolution, not simply this season however because the present’s 2013 debut, government producer Dan Harmon was reflective. “Having a personality that begins off so edgy and nihilistic, it’s form of painful typically if you happen to get the sense that the character rising or altering goes to be acquired by some individuals because the character softening or getting extra sterile or sanitized,” he mentioned.

“I’d simply ask individuals to contemplate the choice, which might be like—issues don’t age properly, particularly edginess from a 52-year-old man. I can solely ever simply observe my instincts about, like, would I proceed to be a crotchety outdated man that thinks he’s smarter than everybody within the room? I’m nonetheless a nihilist, however I believe that the nihilism, once we began the present, it felt like a tentacle of belief going between an viewers that was very disillusioned by the form of artifice of tv. And that it made them belief us to start out the dialog with, okay, let’s go together with your worst concern. What if nothing means something? … However the present was by no means making an attempt to say, ‘Let’s all now give up to meaninglessness.’ It was simply saying, ‘I understand how you’re feeling.’”

Showrunner and government producer Scott Marder hinted that “Sizzling Rick” will supply “ explainer for why [Rick’s] simply the best way he’s,” with some payoffs coming for intentional story decisions made all through the season.

Sarah Chalke, who performs Beth (and Area Beth), referred to as season eight one in every of her all-time favorites. “[It’s] so properly written and so humorous and sensible and nice … One of many issues in regards to the present is that it will possibly simply punch you within the intestine, and swiftly you’re so emotional, and the finale did that. That’s one in every of my favourite episodes.”

There’s extra Rick and Morty to come back—in addition to the spin-off President Curtis, which was introduced on the panel with the assistance of star Keith David.

“Right here’s what you’re presupposed to do when you’ve got an incredible present that runs for 1,000,000 years and makes everybody comfortable. You make a spin-off,” Harmon—who’s additionally an exec producer on President Curtis—defined.

For his half, David sounded delighted in regards to the mission. “It’s all the time nice being with Rick and Morty, after which to spin off and create one other form of universe the place [my character is] much less in regards to the paperwork of presidency than going above and beneath this world to do nice issues.”

Harmon provided a number of nuggets in regards to the characters David’s co-stars Jim Rash and Stephanie Beatriz might be taking part in. Rash is Particular Agent O’Doyle, who’s “a half-leprechaun, so he has all of your customary leprechaun powers… it’s extra a sci-fi model of what a half-leprechaun could be.” Beatriz performs Curtis’ chief of employees, and “she’s acquired AI implants that attempt to maximize her neuroplasticity. She’s not a robotic, she’s not cyborg, however she’s a medical freak with the flexibility to study and unlearn issues at her discretion.”

Harmon described President Curtis as “extra X-Information than Physician Who” on “the extent of sci-fi that might solely be boring to Rick, which permits us to go deeper into it. It’s the president’s world. I believe Rick feels he’s above that. We aren’t going to do a bunch of alternate dimension hopping on this present. This present takes place in a single universe the place the president’s acquired one planet to run—don’t inform the remainder of the international locations he thinks that—however he’s defending it from forces that might in any other case usurp it.”

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