Ep 2 “Valkyrick” is a slight step down after the bonkers Season 8 opener, but even a below-average Rick and Morty episode is still a good, watchable 25 minutes.
The first half is fast, chaotic fun: rogue assassination, Rick barging in, instant firing, mad scientist reveal: pure Rick and Morty energy.
The Space Beth/Rick team-up is the clear highlight – exploring their father-daughter dynamic with subtle emotional beats amid the chaos feels refreshing and surprisingly heartfelt – But it makes the second half slow noticeably for the bonding… and repeated spore/virus humor, which starts strong but gets stale by the end.
No Morty at all is always a tough carry for the series (his anxious reactions usually ground the absurdity), and the uneven pacing shows when the action drags into repetitive mutant fights.
Still, the emotional core and Space Beth’s spotlight keep it engaging… better than some mid-tier episodes, just not firing on all cylinders. 6.5/10.