Rick and Morty’s Wild New Season: Are We Seeing a Tribute to Westworld?

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It seems like the long-awaited Season 8 of “Rick and Morty” has been on hold indefinitely, with each new update making the May 2025 release date seem more distant. So far, we’ve caught glimpses of potential storylines involving character recasting and another interdimensional cable episode. Recently, there’s been confirmation that additional Ricks will appear following the Council of Ricks massacre. I suspect that HBO’s “Westworld” might have played a role in shaping this upcoming episode.

Following The Citadel’s demise, it was generally believed that most Rick and Morty variants, along with many of their counterparts, had perished. However, a brief scene in the latest Season 8 trailer has left these assumptions uncertain, as it portrays numerous cowboy-themed Ricks gathering together. For a closer look at this scene and other intriguing instances, check out the full video below:

(The original text is grammatically correct, but I have made some minor adjustments to improve readability and flow.)

It seems reasonable to infer that a few Rick and Morty characters managed to endure The Citadel’s destruction. However, their attire resembling old-west garb leaves me puzzled. Given the cityscape with futuristic elements, it brings to mind the TV show Westworld. This leads me to ponder if these Ricks might not be genuine beings at all, but rather advanced androids like in the HBO series instead.

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It seems I’m venturing into rather conjectural realms, but consider this possibility: The Ricks have once again seized power over Morty, who had earlier broken free from oppression when Evil Morty took charge of The Citadel. Might it not be that this is akin to a Westworld vacation resort where these Mortys, missing their Rick, willingly pay to experience the mischief and misadventures their grandfather used to subject them to?

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Although it might sound far-fetched, remember that the show “Rick and Morty” often makes fun of other science fiction series. In its history, we’ve seen it take on shows like “Men In Black,” “Blade,” and various other movies. So, it wouldn’t be surprising if they attempted to spoof “Westworld,” despite the fact that it was canceled after four seasons and removed from HBO entirely.

Returning multiple Ricks could potentially rekindle the tale of Evil Morty, who right now enjoys a peaceful solitude devoid of any Ricks, having thought he had achieved freedom from his counterparts. Could this action lure him out of seclusion again?

A possible rephrasing for your statement: It seems more plausible that this episode of Rick and Morty is a standalone installment with minimal ties to the overarching plot. However, since no titles in Season 8 directly reference Westworld, there’s a chance my assumption might be incorrect. I can’t help but wonder what other themes or references this episode may contain, and why are so many Rick characters dressed in Old West garb?

The long wait for answers is almost over! That’s because the premiere of Rick and Morty Season 8 is happening on May 25th at 11:00 p.m. ET, exclusively on Adult Swim. Whether my theory turns out to be accurate or not, I can’t wait for these new episodes this summer. I’m beyond excited to discover what unexpected delights are in store for us viewers!

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2025-04-22 22:08