Rick and Morty Season 7 Bringing Back Birdperson Made One Classic Episode Even Better

Summary Rick and Morty season 7 premiere featured an unexpected twist when Birdperson forgave Rick, enhancing the episode.

Despite initial controversy, Rick and Morty season 7 received its best rating in years with an impressive 9.4.

The show subtly showcases character growth for Rick, emphasizing his willingness to set aside pride for friendships.

Although Rick and Morty’s season 7 premiere wasn’t perfect, one character’s comeback elevated the outing with an unlikely twist. Rick and Morty season 7 seemed destined to be overshadowed by controversy. The show’s co-creator and the original voice actor for both title characters, Justin Roiland, was dismissed in January 2023 after allegations of domestic abuse surfaced. Rick and Morty season 7 opted to replace Roiland with soundalike actors instead of A-list stars, a decision that put a lot of pressure on the new performers. Fortunately, the new voices were almost indistinguishable from Roiland’s original performances in the dual role.

While Rick and Morty season 8 might struggle to impress critics and viewers again, the show largely managed to win back the crowd in its seventh outing. Rick and Morty season 7 was admittedly uneven, with the premiere garnering a rating of only 6.1 compared to the previous season finale’s 8.0 rating. However, Rick and Morty’s season 7 finale ended up earning the show’s best rating in years with an astounding 9.4. Even the premiere had its merits, including the reintroduction of one deadpan supporting star. This comeback was achieved via a hilarious subversion of audience expectations.

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Birdperson Forgiving Rick Made Rick And Morty Season 5 Episode 8 Better

“Rickternal Friendshine of the Spotless Mort” Dissected Their Friendship

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In season 5, episode 8, “Rickternal Friendshine of the Spotless Mort,” a dejected Rick enters the mind of his badly injured old companion Birdperson to find a friend. Birdperson disavows Rick at the episode's ending after discovering that Rick had been hiding his knowledge of Birdperson’s daughter. Rick is aware that Birdperson won’t want to continue spending time with him after learning of her existence, and a bitterly disappointed Birdperson leaves him alone in the episode’s dark ending. It is a bleak episode that sets up the events of season 5’s show-shaking finale, wherein Rick’s other lies are finally revealed.

After this dramatic ending to their friendship, Birdperson casually forgiving Rick was a great twist in season 7, episode 1, “How Poopy Got His Poop Back.” Rick and Birdperson are one of Rick and Morty’s underrated character pairings so it was great to see them together again. However, it was the revelation that Birdperson was sick of spending time with his daughter that made the scene so effective. When he was last seen, Birdperson was determined to reunite with his daughter and cared about nothing else. Now, he was desperate to leave her behind and get a weekend away.

Rick And Morty’s Season 7 Premiere Proved Rick Has Grown

Rick And Morty’s Antihero Finally Started To Care For His Friends

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The self-serious Birdperson admitting that parenthood was more challenging than he expected was humorous and humanizing. Meanwhile, Rick’s penitent attitude toward his friend allowed “How Poopy Got His Poop Back” to slyly hide some character growth in its silly story. Most of the episode centered on the antics of Mr. Poopybutthole, meaning it was far from poignant. However, while Rick and Morty season 7’s lowest-rated episode was outright absurd, Mr. Poopybutthole’s story subtly proved that Rick had learned to swallow his pride to keep his friendships alive. This Rick and Morty revelation was overdue after years of Rick’s manipulation.