Pilot (Rick and Morty)


"Pilot" is the first episode of the American animated television sitcom Rick and Morty. Written by series creators Dan Harmon and Justin Roiland, and directed by Justin Roiland, the episode premiered on Adult Swim on December 2, 2013. The series introduces protagonists, alcoholic scientist Rick Sanchez and his innocent teenage grandson Morty Smith, as they embark on a dangerous interdimensional adventure to fetch Mega tree seeds. The pilot had a mixed to positive reception and was seen by about 1.1 million viewers when airing.

Plot

Rick establishes himself as a bad influence on his grandson Morty when it is discovered that Morty has missed a semester of school in the time he's spent on adventures with Rick. Rick takes Morty to another dimension, known as Dimension 35-C, which has the perfect conditions for growing "Mega Trees", which bear "Mega Fruit" holding "Mega Seeds", which Rick requires for his research. In order to get past intergalactic customs, Morty hides the Mega Tree seeds in his rectum, but when their cover is blown, Rick and Morty escape while engaging in a shootout with bureaucratic alien insects. Ultimately, the seeds are used to briefly make Morty highly intelligent, causing his parents to believe he is fine with his education and let Rick stay. But the seeds' energy is wasted with Morty writhing from the aftereffects as Rick informs his grandson that they need to go back and get more before going into a nonsensical rant that they'll be going on a lot more crazy adventures.

Reception

Zach Handlen of The A.V. Club gave the episode a B+ rating, stating that " never allowed to forget the dark implications of Rick’s ambitions. Which means there are still stakes, which makes the jokes funnier and keeps the stories interesting." ScreenRant's Jason Tabrys was overall positive in his review of the episode, drawing comparisons to Doctor Who and The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, some of Harmon's inspirations.