13 Persuasive Reasons Rick And Morty Is Better Than Futurama

Zack Howe
Updated February 27, 2024 13 items
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Vote up the most conclusive reasons why 'Rick and Morty' is better than 'Futurama.'

There are a multitude of reasons Rick and Morty is better than Futurama. That's not to say Futurama is a bad show, but Rick and Morty is simply unrivaled. It is hands down the best animated sci-fi show, and arguably one of the best shows on television, period. 

What makes Rick and Morty so special is its deceptively intelligent writing. For example, real science is actually explored in Rick and Morty; some entries feel more like a graduate-level course than an episode of an animated comedy. The writers use real-world knowledge to subvert television norms that audiences have grown accustomed to, and the result is one of the best half-hours of television you can enjoy today. 

This list offers a collection of reasons why Rick and Morty is the best animated comedy of all time – and by default, better than Futurama. Read on and cast your vote in this intense battle: Rick and Morty vs Futurama


  • 1

    'Rick And Morty' Dives Deep Into Psychology

    'Rick And Morty' Dives Deep Into Psychology

    Leela is definitely the most psychologically developed character on Futurama. Given her orphanhood, she has a soft spot for the disenfranchised, while holding a healthy grudge and distrust for all else in life. It's a bit of a shallow dive into a psyche, and frankly, not likely an accurate representation of how an orphan's personality develops and manifests.

    Rick and Morty, however, dives deeply into the psyche of each character (and almost always to the point of discomfort). Morty is in the height of puberty, wrestling with the very real anxieties that come with it. His sister, Summer, is similarly developing, but with the added tribulations associated with being a young woman. Both are internalizing their parent's marital problems in their own unhealthy ways.

    Then there's Beth who has some serious daddy issues that she quite realistically is incapable of recognizing (evidenced superbly in "Pickle Rick"), while her meek husband, Jerry, portrays a victim of emotional abuse.

    And of course there's Rick, who is... difficult to analyze. He's not truly a sociopath, as he can feel, but he's perhaps a perfect depiction of the most intelligent being in the universe. Given his intellect, he is only capable of viewing life through an analytical lens. It often overrides his emotional perspective. Considering his experience with lifeforms across multiple universes, it makes sense that he sees each individual life as relatively insignificant in the grand scheme of things.

    356 votes
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  • 2

    The Characters Speak Like Real People

    The Characters Speak Like Real People

    One aspect of Rick and Morty that is so innovative yet so logical, is the characters's speaking mannerisms. The characters do not speak in fluid sentences, but rather bumble through, capturing a more realistic level of articulation than virtually any other TV show (not including Decker). This brings an authenticity to the characters, humanizing them.

    For contrast, consider any Aaron Sorkin-scripted series, where every character speaks a thousand words a minute, spitting out utterly brilliant quips like a super computer analyzes data.

     

    289 votes
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  • 3

    There Is No "Ross And Rachel" Romance

    There Is No "Ross And Rachel" Romance

    The only romantic love in Rick and Morty is between Beth and Jerry, and that's trying at best. Conversely, Futurama does have a will-they-won't-they thing going on between Leela and Fry. This isn't inherently problematic, but it's a tired trope that has been done to death.

    Such a relationship is almost always the central pillar of television narratives: Jess and Nick on New Girl, Jim and Pam on The Office, and of course, Ross and Rachel on Friends. Simply put, it's a very contrived means of making viewers invested in the show. 

    315 votes
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  • 4

    Rick and Morty Will Likely End On Its Own Terms

    Rick and Morty Will Likely End On Its Own Terms

    Given the early success of Rick and Morty, the series will likely end on its own terms. Futurama, on the other hand, was really frustrating for its respective fans.

    Season 5 ended in 2003 and Season 6 didn't begin until 2010, with the show ultimately wrapping after seven seasons. Of course, that's not the showrunner's fault, as the series struggled with ratings. That said, Rick and Morty will almost certainly suffer no such fate.

    279 votes
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  • 5

    The Show Is Uncomfortably Self-Aware

    The Show Is Uncomfortably Self-Aware

    At the very least, Mr. Poopybutthole know that Rick and Morty is a show, and its existence is explained in something of an intellectual loop: Rick created a multidimensional cable device to view television from all universes in "Rixty Minutes;" Mr. Poopybutthole closes Season 2 by watching an episode of Rick and Morty, then telling the viewers that the show will be back in a year and a half.

    Given Rick's fourth-wall breaks, we can assume he's aware of his existence within a TV show, but moreover, the show is implicitly making the argument that all life is a television series - just like Rick and Morty

    255 votes
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  • 6

    Rick And Morty Is Raw And Real

    Rick And Morty Is Raw And Real

    The violence in Rick and Morty is often gruesome, but it actually grounds the show in a sense. There are real, horrifying consequences. In almost every episode, there's a character, or characters, tagging along with Rick who have visceral reactions to the crazy sh*t happening around them. This affords the show the ability to do outlandish, totally unrealistic things across infinite realities, but it also allows the viewer to inhabit whichever unwitting, involuntary companion is with Rick. 

    Futurama, meanwhile, is just a collection of kooks having wacky adventures. They're fun, but they're never really engaging in such a relatable way. 

    281 votes
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