Of all of thefantastic animated shows on television, few can compare withRick and Mortywhen it comes to its cleverly written storylines andwonderfully unique characters. In Rick Sanchez, the show has one of the most complicated protagonists on television, while in Morty, it boasts a character that’s teeming with potential for personal growth and general character development.
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Over the course of four seasons, the pair have sharedsome incredibly memorable adventures, although there are some episodes that shine just a little brighter than the others. Whether due to the part that they play ina larger, overarching storyor simply a moment of sheer comedy brilliance, these episodes set themselves apart from the rest and area must-watch for anybody who enjoys animated comedy shows.
Updated July 03, 2025, by Tom Bowen:Throughout its five excellent seasons, Rick and Morty has consistently delivered the perfect blend of well-scripted humor and engaging storylines. Granted, there have typically been long gaps in between seasons, but it’s hard to argue that each one hasn’t been well worth the wait. With more than a full year having now passed since the fifth season premiere, fans of the series will be hoping that season six isn’t too far away. Regardless of how long it takes, though, that the fifth season featured some ofthe best Rick and Morty episodes of all timewould suggest that the future of Rick and Morty is looking pretty bright. There’s also a 10-episodeRick and Morty anime seriescurrently in the works, so fans really do have a lot to look forward to.
22Rickternal Friendshine of the Spotless Mort (S05E08)
Rick’s inability to connect with those around him is well documented at this point, though that’s not to say that he doesn’t still havea few genuine friends. Perhaps his best and oldest companion is Birdperson, who returns in Season 5 following his epic showdown with Rick at the end of Season 4.
As Rick and Morty explore Birdperson’s unconscious mind, viewers are given a much better understanding of how Rick and Birdperson first came to be friends. It’s an interesting story with plenty of great moments, though, like many things before it, is tarnished somewhat by Rick’s incessant selfishness.
21Ricksy Business (S01E11)
Ricksy Business is the eleventh and final episode of Season 1 and sees Rick and Summer throw a wild house party while Beth and Jerry are away. Morty’s reservations about his grandfather’s lack of responsibility ultimately come to a head, leaving him with a difficult decision to make when the episode’s climax rolls around.
As well as introducing some of the show’s whacky supporting cast for the very first time, the episode also reveals the meaning behind Rick’s “Wubba Lubba Dub-Dub” catchphrase. Knowing that he is in a lot of pain arguably makes him a much more compelling character and paints some of his other Season 1 exploits in an entirely different light.
20A Rickle in Time (S02E01)
Rick and Mortyseason premieres often tend to pick up right where the previous season’s finale left off and that’s exactly the case with season 2 and A Rickle in Time. Shortly after unfreezing time, an argument between Morty and Summer leads to the creation of an alternate reality, with Rick’s paranoia then causing yet another split. This attracts the attention of a Time Cop who threatens to take Rick to Time Prison forunauthorized use of Time Crystalsand things only get worse from there.
Though a little bizarre thematically in places, the episode is full of witty humor and insightful ideas regarding parallel universes. The audience also gets a rare glimpse ofRick’s good side, with the excentric inventor willing to sacrifice himself to save Morty. As usual, Beth and Jerry’s antics are equally enjoyable, with the pair fighting to save the life of an injured deer while on their way to get ice cream.
19Edge of Tomorty: Rick Die Rickpeat (S04E01)
After Morty gets his hands on a Death Crystal and sees a version of reality in which he ends up dying in Jessica’s arms, he starts using the crystal to decide his each and every move. This includes allowing Rick to die and refusing to help resurrect him which eventually leads to an all-out war with America’s armed forces.
Seeing Morty go off-book and stand up to his grandfather (and, later, a hologram of his grandfather) is incredibly refreshing, though it would perhaps have been nice if he had done so for himself rather than for a woman. Conversely, Rick’s cloning conundrum is all about the humor and, in that regard, is arguablyRick and Mortyat its very best.
18Rickmurai Jack (S05E10)
Though utterly ridiculous in many ways, the “Rick and Two Crows” storyline is an enjoyable one nonetheless. From its anime intro to its nonsensical premise, it manages to provide plenty of laughs while still managing to make a pretty poignant point. That it ultimately leads the show’s titular characters back to the Citadel of Ricks makes it all the better.
The Evil Morty storyline has been rumbling on since the very first season of the show, so to finally get an idea of the character’s motivations more than seven years later came as a welcome surprise to many viewers. Whether or not the payoff will have been worth the wait will really depend on season six, but, as both a standalone episode and a season finale,Rickmurai Jack gets a lot of things right.
17Mortynight Run (S02E02)
If for nothing else, Mortynight Run deserves its place among the bestRick and Mortyepisodes for its introduction of the Jerryboree: an interdimensional daycare center that caters exclusively to Jerrys. The rest of the episode is interesting too though, particularly Morty’s moral conundrum with Fart. Also, Goodbye Moonmen is one of the series' very best songs.
One of the things that makes serialized shows so enjoyable to watch is the way in which characters change over time. This could be Rick’s realization that he is a toxic influence on the lives of those around him or Morty’s gradual loss of innocence. Much of the latter can be seen here and though the events of the episode aren’t really referenced directly again in future episodes, the change that they evoke in Morty is clear for all to see.
16Meeseeks And Destroy (S01E05)
Meeseeks have appeared in every season of Rick and Morty in one way or another, but it’s their first appearance that’s remembered the most fondly by the majority of series fans. Only Jerry could take what is ultimately a very simple concept and turn it on its head; somehow creating an impossible task for the Meeseeks with his sheer incompetence.
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It’s not uncommon for the rest of the Smith family to have their own adventure while the show’s titular characters are off gallivanting in space, but it’s difficult to think of too many times when Beth and Jerry’s storyline has stolen the show. That’s not to say that Rick and Morty’s time in the giant kingdom is boring, however, and it further reinforces the “be careful what you wish for” theme of the episode.
15Rest And Ricklaxation (S03E06)
When Rick and Morty visit an alien spa and have all of the toxicity purged from their bodies, it’s perhaps a little surprising that there’s anything left of Rick at all. Indeed, when Toxic Rick is first introduced, there’s very little to differentiate him from the normal version, aside, that is, from his sludge-like composition. Both he and Morty completely change after the procedure though and the results are pretty interesting to observe.
That Rick ultimately uses his compassion for Morty - something that he has always considered to be a weakness - to get the better of his toxic side serves as a really nice twist. It’s also interesting to see how Morty thrives without his toxicity, although Rick once again ruins things for his long-suffering grandchild and things quickly return to normal
14Rixty Minutes (S01E08)
Though all of the inter-dimensional cable episodes are brilliant, most consider the first one to be the pick of the bunch. It has a little bit of everything, from the ridiculous humor found throughout its earlier stages to the heart-warming nature of its touching conclusion.
To many, Jerry is the very definition of a tragic character and so to see a version of reality in which he is popular and successful is as intriguing to viewers as it is to the Smith family themselves. Ultimately though, it becomes clear that he is destined to be distressed no matter the dimension and also highlights just how important his marriage to Beth really is.
13The Old Man And The Seat (S04E02)
Loosely based on the similarly titled Hemingway novel, The Old Man and The Seat came a little out of left field. Granted, it still contains plenty of the series' signature humor, but the decision to separate Rick from the rest of the family was a little unexpected. It did, however, allow Harmon and the writing team to delve a little deeper into the character’s personality than they had in previous episodes.
The scientist’s pursuit of the perfect place to poop perfectly captures how isolated he is from those around him and the ensuing conflict with Tony eventually results in some positive change. The Glootie side story is equally interesting as well and again highlights the fragility of Beth and Jerry’s marriage, while also providing some genuinely hilarious moments.
