Warning: Contains SPOILERS for Rick and Morty season 7, episode 1!
Summary
- Rick and Morty Season 7, episode 1 brings back five popular side characters, including Mr. Poopybutthole, who is struggling with drug and alcohol addiction since being shot by Beth.
- Gearhead makes a return, but has a tough time as his head gets ripped off by a Predator and his gear testicles shoved in his mouth.
- Squanchy appears in his monstrous form and relapses after going to rehab, while Birdperson resumes his normal life as a father and Gene joins the group as the only sober person, although he later abandons his sobriety. Rick and Morty Season 7 is dedicated to utilizing the show's supporting cast.
Rick and Morty season 7, episode 1 brings back five characters from the show's past, and here's why they're here and what they've been up to since they were last seen. Rick and Morty's cast of side characters has grown into a massive pool of iconic supporting cast members, with many one-off gag appearances getting turned into fully fleshed-out characters. Luckily, Rick and Morty isn't done developing some of them yet. Five of the most popular side characters have surprise returns in Rick and Morty season 7, episode 1, with all of them playing a major role in the main story of the season 7 premiere.
Rick and Morty season 7 is finally back, with the premiere of the newest batch of episodes finally releasing on Adult Swim. Rick and Morty season 7 has been highly anticipated, not only for its potential to continue the overarching hunt for Rick Prime, but also due to the premiere episode recasting Rick and Morty. Interestingly, season 7, episode 1 focuses on Rick putting on an intervention for Mr. Poopybutthole, leading to the scientist getting all of his oldest friends together to help in performing the task. The gang then goes on a massive bender, showing off a new side to some classic Rick and Morty characters.
5 Mr. Poopybutthole
The first surprise returning character in Rick and Morty season 7, episode 1 is Mr. Poopybutthole. As it turns out, Mr. Poopybutthole has been living with the Smith family ever since his wife left him, leading to the character developing an unhealthy relationship with drugs and alcohol. Mr. Poopybutthole's life has gone downhill since Beth shot him several seasons ago, and while they were initially sympathetic, the Smiths want him out of the house. Thus, they task Rick with staging an intervention for his old friend, although it quickly devolves into a drug-fueled quest to win Mr. Poopybutthole's wife back.
4 Gearhead
Gearhead is the first character that Rick enlists to help with the intervention, although the character is initially hesitant. Out of all the characters in the episode, Gearhead definitely has the worst time, with a Predator ripping his head off and shoving his gear testicles in his mouth. Gearhead last appeared in a cameo role in season 5's "Rickternal Friendshine of the Spotless Mort," although he hasn't had a significant role in any story since season 3. By the end of the season 7 premiere, Gearhead is seen heading back to Gear World so that he can repair his damaged body, although he may show up again in future episodes.
3 Squanchy
Squanchy is one of Rick and Morty's most popular side characters, and he too appears in the season 7 premiere. Rick and Gearhead show up at Squanchy's door to recruit him for the intervention, to which Squanchy agrees. Not much is known about what happened to the character since his last appearance in season 5, with Rick and Gearhead debating over if he was even still alive. Squanchy can be seen transforming into the monstrous version of himself that had been seen in previous episodes, with him attempting to use this power to fight the Predator. Poopybutthole explains that Squanchy went to rehab after the episode, with him later relapsing.
2 Birdperson
Rick's best friend Birdperson also appears in the episode, with him being the third person that Rick recruits for the intervention. Birdperson has been raising his daughter since he was last seen, with his life mostly returning to normal since his time as an evil cyborg. Birdperson struggles to keep his daughter from finding the Federation, with him seeing the intervention as a chance to briefly escape from fatherhood. As per usual, Birdperson is more reserved than Rick's other friends, but he manages to have a good time throughout the episode. By the end of the episode, Birdperson returns home to continue raising his daughter.
1 Gene
Gene is the final surprise character to appear in Rick and Morty season 7, episode 1, with many viewers possibly not even remembering who he is. Gene is the next-door neighbor of the Smiths, although he isn't typically portrayed as a friend of Rick's. However, Rick explains that the group needs someone sober for the intervention, with Gene being the only sober person he knows. Gene abandons his sobriety throughout the night, however, with him and his shotgun having a wild time. Bringing back Gene and these other character shows just how dedicated Rick and Morty season 7 is to utilizing the show's supporting cast.
New episodes of Rick and Morty release Sundays on Adult Swim.