Rick Potion No. 9
A love potion causes a global catastrophe and a universe swap.
"Rick Potion #9" is the sixth episode of the animated series Rick and Morty, written by Justin Roiland and directed by Stephen Sandoval. It premiered on Adult Swim and was seen by 1.7 million viewers at first airing. The episode's title references the 1959 song "Love Potion No. 9" by the Clovers.
Quick Facts
- Series
- Rick and Morty
- Director
- Stephen Sandoval
- Writer
- Justin Roiland
- Guests
- Kari Wahlgren as Jessica; Brandon Johnson as Mr. Goldenfold
- Airdate
- 27 January 2014
- Length
- 21 minutes
- Season article
- Rick and Morty season 1
Facts from the source article.
Plot
Morty, who has a long-term crush on Jessica, asks Rick for a love serum before the Flu Season Dance. Rick gives him a serum derived from vole hormones. Everyone not directly related to Morty falls in love with him. Rick attempts to counteract the DNA with an antidote made from mantis DNA, but it instead mutates the world's population into monstrous mantis-people who want to eat Morty after mating with him. Meanwhile, Jerry follows Beth to work, kills infected mantis-people with a shotgun, and reconciles with Beth after saving her from a raving co-worker. Rick makes a third serum from various DNA sources that ends the desire for Morty but mutates everyone into barely humanoid blobs. Morty blames Rick, but Rick notes the situation began because Morty wanted to roofie Jessica. Calling the creatures "Cronenbergs," Rick scans the multiverse for a nearly identical universe where alternate versions of himself and Morty solved the problem but died. Rick and Morty enter Dimension C-131, bury their alternate selves, and assume their places. Morty is visibly traumatized, set to the song "Look on Down from the Bridge" by Mazzy Star.
Reception
Zack Handlen of The A.V. Club gave the episode a B+, praising it as a deconstruction of the creepiness of the love potion trope. Joe Matar of Den of Geek liked the episode, noting it was not as funny as the previous one but had a wonderfully dark ending and enjoyed Jerry's action hero subplot. David Roa of Dead Screen found the ending satisfying despite being deus ex machina, comparing it to how people move to a new location after destroying where they live. An author for Junkie Monkeys ranked it as his second favorite episode up to that point, behind "Anatomy Park." Noel Davila from Geeks Under Grace rated it 8.6 out of 9.0, calling it one of the greatest and most impactful episodes to the series mythology, appreciating the relationship dynamics and combination of high-concept scientific theory with dark humour. Justin Roiland considered the episode his favorite after the first half of the first season, for its pacing and ending, which he felt was "insane."
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