Rick and Morty Season 9 Is Dividing the Fandom — But Not For the Reasons You'd Think

The latest Rick and Morty episode has the timeline anything but calm. While the show has always sparked debate, season 9 is forcing a choice: is this the sign of a series gaining genuine depth, or is it a betrayal of the chaotic, anything-goes spirit that made it a hit? The reaction was instant — and loud, with wholesome praise for the Smith family's parents battling against frustration from viewers who miss the old bite.

The Jerry Appreciation Posts Are Real

For a vocal part of the audience, this season is a clear upgrade, especially in how it treats its characters. Moving Jerry away from being the eternal butt of the joke is a major win.

One user wrote, "It's crazy how better the show got since dropping the Jerry is a punching bag bit and actual give the guy some character development."

This love often zeroes in on the latest episode's B-plot, where Beth and Jerry get high and revisit their youth. Many called it the best part.

"Honestly the B plot with Jerry, Beth, and eventually Rick was pretty adorable," posted a viewer. Another fan online said, "As someone who may or may not have been high many times, I think the writers NAILED the Beth and Jerry plot this episode. It was hilarious." The appreciation extends to Jerry's subtle growth, with one post noting, "I'm really digging the Beth/Jerry dynamic now, and how Jerry is willing to own up to how he was – and his willingness to call Rick for help."

This character-first vibe has led some to declare this the best the show has been in years, explicitly crediting a major behind-the-scenes shift. A fan posted, "I think this season's been the best one since the incident."

Did the Show Trade Edge for Heart?

Not everyone is buying this evolution. A solid contingent feels the series has ditched its core identity—the wild, high-concept sci-fi romp—for slower, more emotional storytelling. This debate often gets framed as a clash of animated titans.

One user framed the divide starkly: "'Helluva Boss abandoned its original concept of—' Thank fuck. Look at Rick and Morty. R&M was conceived as a show meant to showcase various wacky adventures and delivers on that. All I ever see those fans wishing for is some character depth/progression/continuous storylines."

This poster sees the push for serialized stories as a step away from what made the show special. Others just think the show doesn't feel as sharp, arguing its moment has passed.

"I feel bad for Rick and Morty. Season 9 has been amazing so far and no one cares," one viewer argued. "They've never recovered from being 'the Pickle Rick show'."

The Toxicity That Won't Quit

Underneath the debate about tone is a more troubling layer in the fan response. Several reactions point a finger at the fandom's own problematic corners, specifically those still defending former co-creator Justin Roiland after his exit.

One critical post asked pointedly, "How many of them are Rick and Morty fans who defended Justin Roiland after he was exposed as a pedophile?" Another dismissed a segment of the audience entirely, writing, "they bred a new kind of rick and morty fan on twitter that's just as illiterate as those heavy christian south park fans." These comments spotlight an internal friction that goes way beyond critiquing a plot.

Reading Between the Sci-Fi Lines

Even with the division, plenty of fans are digging into the season's bigger themes. A prominent theory sees the current arc as a deliberate mirror to—and potential escape from—the Evil Morty saga.

"What I'm thinking more is that this season is building up Morty to be more independent but in a way that is significantly more healthy than the way that Evil Morty did it," one viewer theorized. Another added, "I think Morty is beginning to understand why evil Morty does what he does he’s slowly gaining a better understanding of evil Morty’s perspective."

This reading suggests the writers are intentionally contrasting Morty's gradual, earned independence with Evil Morty's violent breakaway, giving fans of longer-form storytelling something serious to chew on.

The Rick and Morty season 9 reaction is a snapshot of a show at a crossroads. One side cheers the emotional maturity as growth, especially post-Roiland. The other sees that same maturity as a softening of its anarchic soul. And weaving through it all is a tired acknowledgment from some that the show's reputation, and parts of its fanbase, might be baggage it can't fully shed. The discourse isn't cooling off any time soon.