New Season of 'Rick and Morty': A Fresh Start and Change of Pace
Rick and Morty, the popular animated series known for its humorous take on character development, has returned for its eighth season. The show, which airs weekly on Adult Swim, is committed to maintaining the quality of voice acting from the previous season, with Ian Cardoni taking over as the voice of Rick and Harry Belden as Morty.
The new season, comprising 10 episodes, has been carefully structured with a predetermined arc. This tight production schedule, confirmed by Adult Swim, has left no room for extra episodes or last-minute content additions, focusing the storytelling on a mix of standalone and emotionally continuous episodes. One such episode, "Summer of All Fears", explores the relationship dynamics between Beth and Summer, offering a fresh perspective on Beth's view of her daughter.
Behind the scenes, there have been significant changes. Following the departure of co-creator Justin Roiland, Scott Marder has taken over as the new showrunner. This leadership switch, along with a strict episodic structure, has influenced the storytelling approach and production timeline for the season. The season premiered in 2025, following a hold in 2023 due to the Writers Guild of America strike.
The episodes of season eight are filled with the show's trademark vivid animation, bizarre tangents, and outrageous body horror. In one episode, Jerry's enthusiasm for celebrating Easter causes an intergalactic crisis, while in another, Rick's determination to commit deep-space theft brings forth a calamity. Fans who thought they'd seen the last of the show's Citadel arc in season seven will be pleased to know that it is addressed in the standout episode "The Rick, the Mort & the Ugly".
The ongoing sibling rivalry between Summer and Morty is a recurring theme in the series, and season eight is no exception. The episodes also continue to explore Rick's psychological struggles with memory and loss. In one instance, Morty expresses his enthusiasm about Rick's character change, indicating some continuity to Rick's evolution.
The series is executive produced by Dan Harmon and Scott Marder. The voice cast includes Sarah Chalke as Beth, Chris Parnell as Jerry, and Spencer Grammer as Summer, alongside Cardoni and Belden as Rick and Morty respectively. New episodes can be purchased from digital retailers the day after they premiere, and the season will hit streaming in the U.S. on September 1.
In "The Rick, the Mort & the Ugly", Cardoni and Belden seem to be having an absolute blast trying on different Rick and Morty variants in their performances, showcasing their versatility and enthusiasm for the characters. The show's creators have also included phone charger-related puns in the season premiere, demonstrating their commitment to maintaining the series' unique humour. Overall, season eight of Rick and Morty promises to be an exciting continuation of the series' eccentric and engaging storytelling.
Gizmodo recently published an in-depth review of the eighth season of Rick and Morty, applauding the show's continued exploration of its characters and its commitment to maintaining top-notch voice acting, especially from Ian Cardoni as Rick. io9-reviews also praised the season, highlighting the standout episode "The Rick, the Mort & the Ugly," and the exciting narrative twists that continue the series' unique blend of entertainment, technology, and the future. In addition, entertainment enthusiasts can enjoy the season's episodic structure and mix of standalone and emotionally continuous episodes, which are now available for purchase on digital retailers. This season showcases the versatility and enthusiasm of the voice cast and offers a fresh perspective on storytelling, all while providing viewers with the show's signature humor and vivid animation.
