Ep 7 “Big Trouble in Little Sanchez” tackles self-identity through two fantastic parallel plots. 7.5/10
Rick turns himself into “Tiny Rick” to hunt a vampire, but his popular, energized teenage persona traps his genuine, unhappy consciousness, providing a dark metaphor for escaping emotional problems through superficial means. Roiland’s portrayal of Tiny Rick’s slow, desperate emotional unraveling is a series highlight.
The B-plot is equally compelling, sending Beth and Jerry to an alien marriage counselor where their inner perceptions of each other materialize as hideous, powerful monsters.
While the plots are tonally different (one a high school romp, the other a monstrous psychological battle) they both smartly explore how the main characters avoid facing their own emotional reality.