With theRick and Mortyfranchise turning a decade old this year, the continued success of the show seemed like a guaranteed thing. However, as word of co-creator Justin Roiland’s actions has begun to spread, many fans are beginning to wonder what effect it will have on the show.
In the past week, news sources have revealed that Roiland is currently awaiting trial on charges for felony domestic violence against one of his former girlfriends. Details revealed that the case is actually based on an instance from 2020, which is when the charges were pressed, yetthe news had not been leaked until now.
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Specifically, the charges involve corporal injury and false imprisonment. Because the charges are so intense and problematic, even if the show is not canceled or does not cut ties with Roiland, many viewers would likely be hesitant to view it. Whether or not the legal battle is closely reported on, fans are not likely to feel inclined to watch a show that bends morality if it is being made by someone who bends morality in real life.
Already, there have been disturbing rumors circulating about theRick and Mortycreators, so these additional chargescertainly don’t help their case. For example, in 2020 (the same year that Roiland was charged with the current charges he faces), a particularly problematic video from 2009 that featured Dan Harmon performing lewd acts on a babydoll began circulating. This situation created an uprising among fans turning againstRick and Mortyand calling for it to be canceled.
Though the popular animated series survived that disaster, the show’s creator’s poor lifestyle choices continue to haunt the series. It has been a couple of years since the charges that Roiland faces took place, yet the extremity of the charges, paired withthe extremity of the uncomfortable videoof Harmon, suggest that the morality of these creators should be in question. More specifically, even fans that love Rick and Morty are beginning to feel that allowing the show to continue being made is enabling this kind of bad behavior– especially because the actions of some of the characters are also problematic.
With all of these issues stacking up, there is a strong chance of the show getting canceled, though it has already been renewed for a seventh season. This debacle is surely going to at leastslow down the production process, if the series doesn’t end up getting completely canceled. That said, there is the possibility of other writers stepping up, and possibly even taking over.
If the show continues on, there is certainly going to be a change in creators. In fact, it would perhaps be better for the show to completely wipe the slate at this point, and begin its next season under new showrunners. Any writer knows that a piece of themselvesis inevitably woven into their work, which certainly contributes to the conversation of a change in creators being beneficial toRick and Morty. While changing writers would undoubtedly change the series, it would possibly be a change for the better, the way things have been going.
Nonetheless, because changing creators would affect the creative and literal voice of the show in such a big way, it’s not likely that replacing Roiland will be considered as a solution to the dilemma. It is actually far more likely for the show to be canceled if Roiland is found guilty.Rick and Mortyhad originally beenagreed upon making an additional 70 episodes in 2018– which it still hasn’t met– but in circumstances like this one, those contracts don’t usually hold up.
All of this comes at a time when the series was at peak success. Beyond reaching a decade of being made, having a large collection of well-selling merchandise, and even starting other similar shows, the franchise has a lot to lose at this point. Additionally, Roiland’sSolar Oppositesis likely to be canceled as a result of his current legal circumstance. These two shows contribute highly to the presence of unique,science-fiction focused contentin the adult animated series scene, thus the subgenre will suffer greatly if the shows end up canceled.
Before these recent issues with the creators arose,Rick and Mortywas expected to rise to the same level of success as other well-known adult animated shows, such asFuturama, Family Guy, and evenThe Simpsons. Roiland has even spoken before of his intent to make a new season ofRick and Mortyas long as he lives, and at one point that may have been a realistic promise, but now, it seems highlyunlikely that the show will make itpast season seven. So because of the poor decisions of creators, there’s a good chance that fans will have to look for sci-fi centered satire elsewhere.
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