There’s nothing like a terrible fanbase to ruin a great show.
I get it, Rick and Morty is a good show. No one can deny that. It's got characters worth caring about and abundant laughs. Its off-kilter style and often-improvised dialogue makes for an interesting watch — and draws some of the worst fans in all of TV.
It’s a breed of angsty people that has infected the fanbase of Rick and Morty. They read too deeply into the show’s story arcs; they run the jokes into the ground; and they belittle anyone without the patience to watch 20-minute “Rick and Morty fan theory” videos on YouTube.
I can’t believe I actually have to say this, but here it is: You aren’t an intellectual just because you watch an Adult Swim cartoon.
The silent majority of people who watch Rick and Morty balk at the cringeworthy outspokenness of show’s more toxic (and more vocal) fans.
They get “Pickle Rick” tattoos, they draw fan art, they talk about the show’s supposed deeper meanings and, most significantly, they never shut up about it.
These toxic fans set false criteria for being a “true fan” — with the entire idea of “true” fanhood being an incredibly pretentious idea in the first place — and then go on to embarrass the show and its fans with totally disgusting behavior.
The toxicity of Rick and Morty’s fanbase perhaps came to a head in September when, according to Entertainment Weekly, the show’s new female writers were doxxed and harassed by “fans.” Dan Harmon, the co-creator of the show, publicly slammed the harassers.
“I loathe these people,” Harmon said of the so-called fans who harassed the show’s female writers. The show had diversified its writing staff for its third season by having an equal number of male and female writers, which prompted the harassment.
Being overly obsessed with anything, even a cartoon, leads to complete toxicity.
Just sit back and enjoy Rick and Morty. We just want nice things.
It’s almost like any edgy college student thinks they’re the show’s genius titular anti hero, Rick — when in reality they’re more like Rick’s groveling, pathetic son-in-law, Jerry.
And nobody likes a Jerry.
Bennett Leckrone is a sophomore studying journalism at Ohio University. Please note that the views and opinions of the columnists do not reflect those of The Post. Want to talk about Pickle Rick with Bennett? Tweet him @LeckroneBennett.
