While Rick and Morty‘s episodic nature means various locations are often forgotten about throughout the show, season 8 just teased one huge setting making an unexpected return. With season 8’s official trailer dropping, we finally got a strong insight into what to expect for the upcoming installment, and the results are exciting. The series already provided some clues through Rick and Morty season 8’s episode тιтle reveal, which hinted at the Smith family having some interesting stories ahead, but the latest trailer offered even more clarity on what’s coming and I was shocked by one inclusion.

The show’s return in May looks like it will mainly focus on unique adventures with some potential lingering continuity, but it also seems as though Rick and Morty season 8 will feature a canonical episode that continues pushing the overarching story. At first glance, it looked like the series may skip this continuous trend since the creative direction has undoubtedly changed in recent years. However, one important location was present in the trailer despite not appearing for several seasons, and if its previous role is anything to go by, it should play a mᴀssive part in season 8’s story.

Rick & Morty Season 8’s Trailer Hints The Citadel Will Play A Role In The Show

Several Images Suggested The Citadel Could Be Back For The First Time In Several Seasons

Having been absent since season 5, it looks like the Citadel is set to make a shock return based on season 8’s trailer. Evil Morty has been a major part of the Citadel story, and while he remains a key figure in Rick and Morty‘s overarching narrative, it seemed like the Citadel’s chapter was done. However, season 8 appears to be changing that ᴀssumption, as several images indicate this crucial setting will appear once again. One scene showcased several Ricks inside a fancy-looking building while a Morty acted as their waiter, much like how the Citadel used to operate.

Understandably, the sH๏τs featuring this new Citadel were brief and didn’t give away much about the reason for its return, but the fact it is back at all is a huge surprise. While there are other reasons multiple Ricks could appear in one place, there was construction behind the trailer’s main building and the dynamics between Ricks and Mortys strongly resembled the old regime, meaning the Council of Ricks may have been rebuilt. Despite several interesting theories regarding Rick and Morty season 8 emerging, very few fans suspected this critical setting being involved in the upcoming installment.

Therefore, ᴀssuming this isn’t a bait and switch, the Citadel will likely be the hub of season 8’s overarching narrative and should help move the plot forward. How evil Morty factors into the equation or what consequences the return will have are yet to be seen, but the Citadel has easily been one of the best locations in the entire series, and I can’t wait to see where its story goes next.

What Happened To The Citadel In Rick & Morty

Evil Morty Destroyed The Citadel After Becoming President

The Citadel’s return isn’t just surprising because it’s been a while, the shock comes from it being destroyed the last time we saw it. Originally set up by thousands of Ricks, the Citadel was created as a hideout from numerous threats including the Galactic Federation, with the population continuing to grow over the years. The Council of Ricks ruled the society, with several Mortys integrating, despite being mistreated. Eventually, the location was teleported to an intergalactic prison but survived the encounter before relocating once again.

Along the way, Evil Morty was elected President of the Citadel and while he created a level of peace and harmony for a while, he was secretly plotting to destroy the location. Eventually, he succeeded. In season 5, Evil Morty was able to break through the Central Finite Curve and wreak havoc in the Citadel, giving its residents no real chance of escape. The show’s main versions of Rick and Morty did manage to flee via Mortyburg, keeping some of the population alive in the process, but the survivors eventually caved into starvation and cannibalism, with the protagonists barely surviving.

The Citadel’s destruction in season 5 is the last time we saw the location, and given the main characters and Evil Morty have moved on since then, it didn’t seem like it would be coming back. However, even if Evil Morty doesn’t appear in Rick and Morty season 8, his presence will surely be felt as the community he wiped out appears to be back.

It Sure Looks Like The Ruins Of The Citadel Are In The Trailer

Season 8’s Trailer Suggests The Show Will Continue Expanding On What Happened To The Original Citadel

Alongside the visual of multiple Ricks inside the new location, a short snippet at the beginning of season 8’s trailer seemingly featured the ruins of the old Citadel. Just a second into the trailer, a vehicle can be seen pᴀssing a sunset, with a broken structure appearing in the background. While it’s impossible to know for sure if this was the original Citadel, the shape of the debris certainly suggests it could be, with the involvement of several Ricks later in the trailer only adding fuel to the fire that the area will be present in season 8.

Considering we don’t know exactly what happened to the Citadel after Evil Morty destroyed it, this scene hints at season 8 potentially exploring the aftermath of season 5’s finale, with the crashed spaceship signaling that part of the city landed on a nearby planet. ᴀssuming season 8’s Citadel episode offers a deep dive into the society’s destruction and subsequent rebuild, it has all the potential to become one of Rick and Morty‘s best episodes. As a result, this story is easily season 8’s most exciting, with these early teases adding even more hype to the show’s return.

What Secrets Does The Citadel Still Hold For Rick & Morty?

The Citadel’s Return & Survival Raises Questions About Who Is In Charge & What Its Goal Is

With the Citadel returning to Rick and Morty, it offers the chance to uncover any secrets that remain. The show did a great job not leaving any major lingering mysteries, but there are always minor questions such as how the Galactic Federation never found the city, which season 8 could focus on. However, the Citadel’s return does create a bunch of new mysteries. Firstly, it’s unclear if there were any survivors following Evil Morty’s attack, but considering the location appears to be getting a rebuild, some Ricks familiar with the Citadel are clearly still alive.

They may not have been there when the place was destroyed, but it’s possible some Ricks who visited occasionally – like the show’s main version of Rick – may have discovered what happened. Likewise, it’s unclear who is responsible for creating a new version of the Citadel, but Rick and Morty season 8 may have confirmed its leader in the closing sH๏τ. A version of Rick wearing a cowboy hat and a white suit was seen sitting in a chair that looked like a throne while two Mortys served him, suggesting he may be the one running the show.

The return also creates questions about whether the Council of Ricks has reformed alongside whether Evil Morty is aware this new Citadel exists. Finally, there is still the mystery of what role the location will play in season 8 and how the protagonists get there, which is something to look forward to. While Rick and Morty may simply be using the new Citadel for supplies, it’s possible they helped rebuild it in exchange for the help of multiple Ricks, proving how unpredictable the upcoming storyline is.

The Citadel Only Appears In Big Rick & Morty Episodes

The Citadel’s Involvement In Season 8 Suggests A Huge Storyline Could Be On The Horizon

Perhaps the most exciting part about the Citadel’s return is that the location only appeared previously in big episodes. A lot has been said about Rick and Morty‘s canonical episodes, as some fans love that they drive the story forward, while others feel the show is at its best when sticking to one-off adventures. That said, the canonical episodes tend to be the most popular overall, especially in terms of reviews, and the Citadel has only featured in these types of stories, meaning another mᴀssive episode is surely on the way based on the franchise’s history.

While it’s still not clear what the exact plot will be for the Citadel episode or when it will come, I’m expecting big things and have confidence Rick and Morty will deliver. Episodes like “Close Rick-Counters of the Rick Kind”, “The Rickshank Redemption”, and “Rickmurai Jack” have all been highlights of the series so far, with the Citadel playing a major part in each of them, and if season 8 can continue this trend, we’re surely in for a treat when Rick and Morty returns.