Rick and Morty is a tragicomic masterpiece, and there is one hugely underrated episode that deserves more recognition in this department as it highlightes how tragic Rick really is as a character. Some of Rick and Morty’s saddest moments stem from Rick Sanchez, a mad scientist with sociopathic tendencies whose mental health is frequently in question. From the first episode of Rick and Morty, it was clear that the eponymous better (or worse) half of the тιтular duo had some major skeletons in his closet and some major issues to work through. An iconic season 4 episode portrayed this well.

The best episodes of each season of Rick and Morty merged depth with comedy, proving that funny and sad were two sides of the same coin. The darkest senses of humor understand this the best, and Rick and Morty carries advanced expertise in twisted hilarity. Although the best episode of Rick and Morty season 4 might be “Never Ricking Morty,” with what may be TV’s most meta and self-deprecating humor, “The Old Man And The Seat” is one of the saddest episodes of the whole series. This underrated episode shows Rick in all his tragic glory.

“The Old Man And The Seat” Is One Of Rick And Morty’s Most Underrated Episodes

Rick And Morty Is Full Of Hidden Gems

“The Old Man And The Seat” is one of the best episodes of Rick and Morty season 4, proving that Rick Sanchez had a well of shame and guilt bubbling underneath his apparent narcissim and his superiority complex. “Auto Erotic ᴀssimilation” may have been the first time Rick and Morty truly proved how dark it could be, as Rick botched a suicide attempt. But “The Old Man And The Seat” was a worthy follow-up, ending in a sad farce that showed how lonely and pathetic Rick could be behind all his bravado, the ʙuтт of his own ʙuтт joke.

“The Old Man And The Seat” Has A Ridiculous Premise (But A Surprisingly Deep Story)

Rick And Morty Has A Way Of Sliding Important Themes Into Absurd Stories

Rick was furious to find out that an alien called Tony had somehow found a way to use the private toilet he had set up on a beautiful planet with a great view, which ended up saying a lot about him. Many of Rick and Morty’s highest-rated episodes are from earlier seasons, and “The Old Man And The Seat” is a perfect example of why this could be. As Rick tried to punish Tony in this excellent standalone episode, fans were treated to powerfully focused character development on Rick’s part and comedy gold without the obstruction of too much plot.

The ridiculous premise of this episode — a toilet, was surprisingly deep, in the end. Tony pointed out Rick’s need for privacy was a part of him grasping for control in an absurd universe. Tony obviously hit a nerve, because Rick not only let Tony live, but was devastated when he died in an accident. This led to the episode’s tragically ironic ending, as Rick sat glumly on the toilet, experiencing the hologram that he had set up to originally mock Tony. This clarified how Rick’s standoffish aggression was self-sabotage in Rick and Morty, enacted out of fear of intimacy.