Morty was faced with an impossible decision in the latest episode of Rick and Morty which featured plenty of Game of Thrones references, and familiar British talent.
The penultimate episode of Season 6, saw Rick go easy on his grandson as he went on an adventure to the sun, which accidentally sparked a mass solar war.
Jack Black, Daniel Radcliffe and creators of the cult British sitcom Peep Show, David Mitchell, Robert Webb and Matt King all provided voiceover roles for "A Rick in King Mortur's Mort." The overuse of British voice actors makes sense as the entire episode draws on numerous Game of Thrones and Knights of the Round Table themes.
What Happened in Episode 9, "A Rick in King Mortur's Mort?"
Morty and Rick open the episode by traveling to a meteor, at Morty's request, as there's a pop-up food stand he'd like to visit. Instantly a grumpy Rick voices how stupid he finds it.
While waiting in line, Morty runs into some knights who are impressed by his chivalry and present him with a sword. After some coaxing, Morty takes the sword, turning him into Sir Mortaniel (to make it a little "Knightier"), a Knight of the Sun.
The moment is tainted as the knight who offers Morty the sword impales himself on it, killing himself instantly. Morty is transported by fire, off the asteroid they're standing on.
After landing on a castle based on the sun, Morty, or Sir Mortaniel is the new successor to Sir Helios and initially, he's psyched to partake in their way of life. However, his smile fades when it's revealed he must cut off his penis to be a true knight. As well as the medieval theme, the dismemberment is reminiscent of Theon Greyjoy in Game of Thrones.
Rick arrives to get Morty out of it, but Morty must fight the king before he leaves. With Rick's help, using a sword similar to Taskmaster from Marvel, Morty wins and accidentally becomes the new king, King Mortaniel.
Though he tries to get out, the knights are sworn to protect their new king and follow him to Earth. The knights explain that wherever the Knights' scepter is, is the designated center of the universe. In an effort to get rid of them, he informs them that their beliefs about the sun are misguided, and via a science lesson, helps them realize their religion is a lie. The knights disband feeling aggrieved.
While celebrating their victory of logic, it turns out the knights were on to something and the sun starts to explode.
There have been a few subtle nods to it already, but the Game of Thrones parody really kicks into gear from here as we meet representatives from each planet in the solar system, convening and discussing how to keep piece without the Knights of the Sun. Each rep is dressed in extravagant garbs, and they're instantly suspicious of King Morty. He presents the scepter to them all, but they instantly make a play for the powerful device, killing each other in the process.
A full solar war begins, with each planet committing mass atrocities against each other with stabbings, sacrifices, and even the use of mustard gas. The whole war montage is soundtracked with the song "Goodbye, Blue Sky," a Pink Floyd song from the album The Wall.
Throughout the episode, Rick has been "22 percent nicer" to Morty, which is actually driving the grandson crazy. Together they eventually go to "re-illusion" the disillusioned knights that Morty disbanded.
Rick and King Morty find the knights in a crack den, each with notable marks on their arms. It seems the knight who asked for some heroin earlier in the episode got the entire group into the stuff.
To convince them to return to their religion, Morty says he'd be willing to cut off his dick "for no reason." Impressed by his spirit, the knights agree to return to attempt to restore peace to the solar system.
In tears in the bathroom, Morty is coming to terms with his situation, but Rick promises to help him not have to resort to self-mutilation.
At the ceremony, Morty is handed the "sheers of stumping" to cut his member off in front of the cheering crowds. They force Morty to go through checks to make sure he's actually doing it, until he's eventually found out.
Rick and Morty make a run for it, seemingly jumping off a ledge into the sun and committing suicide. The story of their death becomes the new lore for the Knights of the Sun, as King Morty not only sacrificed his penis, but the rest of his body, and the body of his "wizard" too.
It turned out, the pair were just faking their death, and it was a repeat of the famous "Vat of Acid Episode" as was mentioned earlier in the episode.
The Season 6 finale of Rick and Morty, "Ricktional Mortpoon's Rickmas Mortcation," will air on Adult Swim on Sunday December 11, 2022.
Uncommon Knowledge
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Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
About the writer
Jamie Burton is a Newsweek Senior TV and Film Reporter (Interviews) based in London, U.K. His focus is reporting on ... Read more
