7 Mind-Blowing Fan Theories About the Rick and Morty Universe That Will Astonish You
Explore the most intriguing and bizarre fan theories about the Rick and Morty universe, revealing hidden secrets and potential plot twists that might unfold in upcoming seasons.
From the most plausible to the downright strange and absurd.
1. The Evil Morty Is the Original Morty
By the end of the first season, it becomes clear that the logic of "Rick and Morty" heavily draws from Hugh Everett's many-worlds interpretation. There are infinite universes, each with different versions of Rick and Morty. Some events hint that the Morty we follow most of the time is not the first Morty for our Rick.
For example, in the episode "Close Rick-counters of the Rick Kind," Sanchez cries when recalling memories of a young grandson. In the episode "Get Schwifty," Morty notices a photo on the wall showing Rick holding a young Morty. However, we know Sanchez has been absent from the family for 20 years, while Morty is only 14 during the series, implying Rick has been with this Morty since birth—not the Morty from C-137, but a grandson from another dimension.
How does Evil Morty fit into this? Many fans believe he was the first Morty of our Rick. Some are convinced that the scene from the intro where Sanchez dives into a portal leaving his grandson to be devoured by green monsters is not just a playful clip. The creators have said all intro scenes are canonical, either already shown or to be revealed. It’s likely Rick abandoned his grandson on a dangerous alien planet and deeply regrets it.
The original Morty survived, grew bitter, and sought revenge against his grandfather. The cause of the grudge might be more complex—perhaps Rick hurt or even killed Beth in the original universe.
While this remains speculative, it fits Evil Morty's motivation to become Citadel president. One thing is certain: Rick is hiding something terrible. His catchphrase, "Wubba Lubba Dub Dub," translates from Birdperson's language as "I am in great pain, please help me."
2. Rick Is Friends with Stanford Pines from Gravity Falls
In "Close Rick-counters of the Rick Kind," a portal unexpectedly spits out a pen, notebook, and mug belonging to Stanford Pines, a key character from the beloved series Gravity Falls.
There are many such clever crossovers in Rick and Morty. For example, in "Big Trouble in Little Sanchez," Beth and Jerry try to save their marriage at an alien marriage counseling institute, where Bill Cipher briefly appears on a screen. In "Rickmancing the Stone," Mortys dressed as Dipper and Mabel roam the Citadel, though spotting them is tricky.
These are not coincidences but cleverly hidden Easter eggs for fans. Justin Roiland and Gravity Falls creator Alex Hirsch are good friends who once worked together at Disney.
Some fans speculate that Stanford Pines and Rick Sanchez know each other and might even be friends behind the scenes. There’s no direct proof, but Ford is also a genius inventor and could have built his own portal gun.
Ford's portal only travels to the Nightmare Realm, a terrifying parallel world ruled by madness and immorality, home to Bill Cipher and other monsters. Still, it’s possible Ford has visited multiple dimensions and met Rick in one of them.
3. There’s a Universe Where Morty Is a Genius and Rick Is a Fool
With infinite universes, there must be versions where Rick is foolish. Other Sanchez versions derisively call the simple-minded kind-hearted Rick from dimension J-1927 "Fool Rick." Yet, he managed to create cakes out of thin air by mixing chemicals, proving he’s smarter than he looks.
Official comics reveal that in J-1927, there’s a smart Jerry who caused many problems. However, these comics focus on Rick and Morty from universe C-132, not the show’s main characters.
Another comic shows an inverted universe where Rick and Morty have swapped roles: Rick is an ignorant alcoholic while Morty is the inventive genius. Fans’ guesses are not far off. In "Tales from the Citadel," a foolish Rick resembling the comic character briefly appears.
A popular theory once suggested Evil Morty and Fool Rick are from the same dimension, explaining Evil Morty’s intelligence and escape. This is unlikely, as the episode states Fool Rick has no children or grandchildren.
4. Rick Is Aware He’s in a Show
Rick’s ability to break the fourth wall and speak directly to viewers with lines like "See you next week!" supports this theory. In "Interdimensional Cable 2: Tempting Fate," when Rick tunes into intergalactic TV, he casually says he’s working on a "sequel," referring to the first season’s interdimensional cable episode.
Within this theory, Rick’s catchphrase "Wubba Lubba Dub Dub" takes on new meaning. Perhaps Rick suffers because he’s losing his sanity, trapped in a cartoon reality with no escape.
5. Rick Is a Serial World Destroyer
When Rick is imprisoned in an intergalactic jail at the end of season two, his cellmate asks why he’s there. Rick replies succinctly: "For everything." Smuggling mega seeds and illegal weapon trading are minor infractions compared to his other crimes. The Gromflomites call Rick not just a dangerous criminal but a cosmic terrorist.
Fans theorize Rick is a seasoned serial world destroyer, which explains why the Galactic Federation hunts him.
After the episode "Rick Potion #9," Rick’s actions render their original planet uninhabitable. They must abandon their universe and relocate to a parallel reality where another Rick and Morty died. They bury their original bodies in the backyard. Morty is understandably shocked, but Rick remains oddly calm. This strange behavior suggests either Rick’s cynicism knows no bounds or he’s done this many times before.
Supporting this theory, in "Mortynight Run," when Jerry is admitted to a special daycare, Rick lists his dimension as C-137 but marks Jerry's as "unknown." Fans believe this shows Rick has switched universes so often he’s lost track of his current reality.
6. Rick and Morty Are the Same Person
This theory suggests Rick is an older Morty who traveled back in time to influence his younger self. However, creators have stated the show won’t explore time travel themes.
Fans have found subtle hints supporting this theory. For instance, Rick and Morty share remarkably similar tastes in women. In "Auto Erotic Assimilation," Rick shows a fondness for redheads.
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