The Dark Irony Of Causality — Another Analytic Lesson Rick & Morty-style

Don’t Lose Your Head

This show just keeps giving. It is hard to watch an episode without recognizing some bit of science, analytics, logic, or human behavior turned on its ear and roughly kicked in the head. In season three, we are treated to “Get Schwifty”. But while Rick & Morty are getting Schwifty (don’t ask, probably shouldn’t Google that either, and please keep your damn pants on), Summer, her parents, and the rest of the neighborhood are all losing their heads.

The story line begins with a giant floating head appearing over the planet and announcing quite definitively — Show Me What You Got. As one might expect, this leads to almost instant hysteria. While Rick and his grandson Morty head to the Pentagon — no not THE Pentagon, the lame one on Earth - the rest of the cast is left to sort out this cryptic event for themselves. Things immediately turn dark and comical.

While Rick heads off to help the president understand what is going on. Beth, Summer, and Jerry immediately jump to postulating why it is happening.

Summer: Is it God? If it’s God, do we get out of school? Beth: It’s not God, Summer. Jerry: She’s allowed to think it’s God if she wants, honey!

Just a few minutes into the episode, we dive head first into causality and divinity. The writers have shown little hesitance in going deep or being irreverent. This is always the perfect time for a little practical humor.

(Mr. Goldenfold arrives on a moped.) Mr. Goldenfold: Scary stuff, huh? Pretty freaky. Hi, I’m Morty’s math teacher. I’m also part of the street team inviting folks to the church downtown so we can pray together. Beth: How is praying going to help? Mr. Goldenfold: Ma’am, a giant head in the sky is controlling the weather. Did you wanna play checkers? Let’s be rational! I’ll see you at God’s house! (leaves)

At the church, the debate begins. But quickly Principal Vagina, no relation, convinces everyone that he knows the cause of their problems. He quickly jumps into action — the outrageous pagan sort.

Giant head in the sky, please forgive all that we’ve done. We’re sorry for increased levels of emissions and our racism. And of course, the amber alerts I keep ignoring on my phone.

They become further convinced that this is the right course of action when the heads respond with “Good Job”. They soon double down on their silliness. Then things quickly get more ridiculous as Vagina and Goldenfold begin a program of balloon-based sacrifices.

Only the heads are actually responding to Rick getting schwifty. Once again, we are shown the futility of determining causality. While “Good Job” was almost perfectly correlated, there was nothing in the signal to truly tie it to the actions the neighbors are taking. But surely the rest of Morty’s family is smart enough to understand this? I mean, not Jerry, but someone!

Beth: Now hold on a second, let’s be rational about this. (everyone stops and stares at Beth) Beth: No, I’m… I’m just saying, we don’t know if there’s a cause-effect relationship —

See — someone is thinking! It is also a strong point for those who question whether the writers intend to mix in stuff like this.

Of course, the episode is only half-way over. Additional incidental correlations quickly interject to create further misconstrued causality.

Summer: Oh dear giant head, we apologize for that discussion! It will never happen again! (everyone starts murmuring prayers)

Now knowing Beth and her status as the daughter of the smartest man in several universes, you might think she would be inclined to remain skeptical. She does… but in a very permissive way. As often happens, those who should be skeptical of such things find reasons to ignore them. Beth and Jerry fall victim to liking secondary outcomes of a false premise.

Summer: Here’s yours! (puts hat on Jerry) Mom, do you mind if I cook dinner tonight? Beth: Yeah, sure. Wait, what?? Summer: I love you guys. You gave me life. And it’s the will of the many heads that all children honor their parents.

Summer is making dinner. She is acing her potato class. Jerry and Beth have even been offered roles in the new religious order, now called Headism. Only the Ascension is enough to jar some common sense, that is the balloon sacrifices in case you forgot. Despite the secondary benefit of Summer’s behavior, her parents have had enough. Sanity prevails… well sort of.

Beth: We’ve been waiting 16 years for our daughter to respect us, but the key is, it has to be “our” daughter, not this person she’s become. Jerry: We’ll take our chances raising her without fancy new jobs outside of a potato-based religion. (turns and puts his hands on Beth’s shoulders) And you know what? I’m sick of pretending that we’re together because of the kids in the first place! I married you because you’re the love of my life! Beth: (puts her hands on Jerry’s sides) And I‘m lucky to have you and I never tell you that! You know, we will come out of this stronger as a family! (Cut: Summer has tied Beth and Jerry to ropes and balloons outside.)

Fortunately for Beth and Jerry, more correlated feedback leads to additional false causality. Principal Vagina is “Disqualified” by the giant heads. Well actually, that is another planet entirely. Regardless, it is a rather ironic twist. While true irony is always the subject of debate, there are enough characters in this equation to justify the statement that at least one of them got a bitter taste.

Eventually Rick, Morty, and Ice-T are able to get the planet out of trouble and win the reality TV show hosted by the giant heads. Along the way, Morty learns his own lesson in causality. His lesson is more indirect and hinges on the motivations of Rick. But alongside the second plot line, it is clear reinforcement. A lesson is learned. An article is complete. I like what you got. Good Job. And thanks for reading!

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