Morty Calls Out Rick In Season 6 Episode 1 With A Hilarious Avengers Reference
Season 5 of "Rick and Morty" certainly had a lot of wild plot lines that culminated in a two-part episode involving crows, Portal Boyz, and an evil Morty (Justin Roiland). From the very start of the season, Rick Sanchez (also voiced by Roiland) is confronted by an enemy and/or friend from his past known as Mr. Nimbus (Dan Harmon), who definitely channels some Aquaman and Namor the Submariner vibes.
Besides the character of Mr. Nimbus, Season 5 of "Rick and Morty" also sees several other superhero-like transplants that involve a female version of Captain Planet named Planetina (Alison Brie), a "Voltron" parody involving assembling ferrets, the former cyborg Birdperson (also voiced by Harmon), and of course, the adventures of an anime and crow-inspired Rick. Season 5 ends with some rather huge reveals involving Evil Morty and the Central Finite Curve, which sees many Ricks and Mortys (or would they be Morti?) being killed in the carnage of Evil Morty's plan. The last moments of the finale reach a crescendo with both Rick and Morty barely escaping by using the Mortytown section of the Citadel as a lifeboat, and Season 6 picks up with a heavy-handed, yet funny nod to one of the "Avengers" movies.
Season 6 opens with an Avengers: Endgame reference
Channeling his very best impression of the start of "Avengers: Endgame," the Season 6 premiere of "Rick and Morty" opens up with the void of space and a voiceover by Rick. Rick then makes a meta observation saying that he thinks he is better than this, referencing his voiceover and floating through space. Rick adds that he supposes that when you are dying, the first thing to go is one's creativity. At this point, the "Endgame" reference becomes even more apparent because Rick notes that the Citadel is gone and that the spaceship they are in is out of power, with emotional and subdued music playing in the background. The scene then cuts to an emaciated version of Rick and Morty, where Rick admonishes Morty for not writing down any of the monologue, commenting that he doesn't have a helmet like "that Avengers guy."
In an even greater meta-comment, Morty then asks Rick who he was talking to when he pretended to not know who Iron Man is, to which Rick just shushes him. Rick and Morty then close their eyes to await death's cold embrace, but just like "Endgame," the scene begins to fill with light, revealing a savior, but instead of Captain Marvel (Brie Larson), it is Space Beth (Sarah Chalke). This entire scene is an homage and parody of "Avengers: Endgame," although with a distinct "Rick and Morty" tone.
This wouldn't be the first time the show has referenced a member of the Avengers, as highlighted by Episode 3 of Season 4, where Rick goes to Heist Con and specifically tells his lab coat to "rip off Dr. Strange." Chances are this won't be the last time Marvel is brought up by "Rick and Morty" either.