What does “Rick and Morty” share with our dreary lives? Nothing. And yet, everything. This show is like a cheap bottle of whiskey: it numbs your mind and, frankly, leaves you with a hollow feeling inside. But that emptiness isn’t entirely a bad thing; in fact, it can be quite honest.
Nihilism in a Nutshell
Take Rick Sanchez. He’s the kind of guy who doesn’t give a damn about anything. The meaning of life? It’s nonexistent. Everything you strive for, everything you build, everything you dream about—it all turns to dust eventually. No one’s coming to hand you your purpose. That’s pure nihilism: the universe doesn’t care about you. And oddly enough, that’s freeing. If nothing truly matters, you’re free to do whatever you want. But does that really lead to happiness? Rick thinks otherwise—he drowns his sorrows in alcohol, aware that no matter how much he drinks, the world remains unchanged.
Freedom Without Joy
You have the freedom to do anything. Leap between universes, swap your body, or create clones. Yet, all of it is meaningless. Every effort to find significance in family, love, or a career is just a sad delusion. Rick is free, but that’s also his greatest tragedy. For him, freedom isn’t about soaring high; it feels more like a heavy stone weighing him down. Although he seems to have it all, deep down, he’s just as empty as the rest of us. While we’re all trying to escape the terror of that emptiness, Rick has accepted it.
When Nothing Matters
You might watch “Rick and Morty” and laugh at the absurdity. But then it strikes you: that laughter isn’t really funny. Because you’re laughing at your own life. All the rushing around, the daily grind—who are you really doing it for? No one. We go through the motions simply because that’s how it’s done. Yet, when you look at Rick, you see there’s an alternative: you can toss out the rules, drift along, and accept that you are nothing.
Loneliness and Emptiness
Rick isn’t truly alone. He has Morty, a family, and a whirlwind of adventures. But it’s all an act. Real loneliness resides within, and no number of people around you can change that. In this solitude, Rick is painfully honest; he doesn’t hide behind the facade of importance. He’s straightforward with himself and with us. There’s an odd comfort in his nihilism—when you expect nothing, there’s nothing to fear losing.
Conclusion
“Rick and Morty” serves as a mirror to our reality: we live in chaos, pretending we have it all under control. But in truth, we don’t. All this mess, all this life—it’s just dust and ashes. If you want to avoid losing your mind like Rick, there’s only one path forward: embrace the emptiness and discover your freedom in it. That’s the only way to cope in a world where nothing holds significance.
