Lawnmower Dog

Lore & Background

The plot of dogs gaining intelligence and taking over the planet is similar to Rise of the Planet of the Apes (2011) and the Planet of the Apes franchise in general. Meanwhile, the plot involving Rick and Morty's adventure is a parody of the 2010 film Inception as well as the Nightmare on Elm Street franchise. The episode's title references The Lawnmower Man (1992), where a scientist enhances the intellect of a simple-minded gardener. The episode was seen by approximately 1.5 million viewers when it premiered.

Reader's Guide

The episode begins with Morty's dog Snuffles angering Jerry by continually urinating on the carpet. Jerry asks Rick for a device to make Snuffles smarter. Rick makes the device, and it makes Snuffles smart enough to do things like a normal human, such as going to the bathroom. Meanwhile, Rick plans to enter the dreams of Morty's math teacher, Mr. Goldenfold, to increase Morty's grades.

The two enter Goldenfold's dream on a plane, where Rick pretends to be an Islamic terrorist threatening to hijack the plane if Goldenfold does not give Morty better grades. Goldenfold fights back, and Rick reveals that if they die in the dream, they die in real life. Snuffles opens the battery compartment on the helmet and realizes it can be boosted with additional batteries. Rick and Morty incept themselves into Pancakes' dreams to slow time down.

They encounter a "legally safe knockoff" of Freddy Krueger, named Scary Terry. Snuffles changes his name to Snowball and assumes dominance over the household. Rick and Morty enter Scary Terry's dreams, see he is fearful of being a failure, and save him from being embarrassed in school. In return, he helps them return to reality and convince Goldenfold to raise Morty's grades.

Back in the regular world, Snowball has led an army of hyper-intelligent dogs to the verge of global domination. Rick reveals they are actually in Snowball's dream. Rick gives Morty kidney failure via pills, making Snowball care for Morty's health. Snowball realizes oppressing humans brings heartbreak and cruelty, and the dogs decide to inhabit a world of their own.