I liked Ep 3, a solid, character-driven story that is enjoyable BUT feels just average when measured against Rick and Morty’s highest standards.
Morty’s plot is a hilarious satire on relationship idealism. He falls for Planetina, a Captain Planet-esque hero, and quickly discovers that dating a selfless, globally-focused savior presents some hilariously impossible, relationship-straining challenges.
The counter-plot follows Rick and Summer on a nihilistic “hot girl summer” bender, cruising through various apocalyptic extinction events for fun. This thread perfectly highlights Rick’s predictable avoidance of emotional commitment, even when paired with an unconventional partner.
It’s a funny, structurally simple episode that smartly skewers relationship expectations but lacks the dazzling conceptual punch of a top-tier episode.