WARNING: The following contains SPOILERS for Rick and Morty, season 5, episode 8, “Rickternal Friendshine of the Spotless Mort."
The post-credits scene at the end of Rick and Morty season 5, episode 8 teases the return of the Federation and introduces a new character with surprising ties to Birdperson. The whole episode, titled “Rickternal Friendshine of the Spotless Mort,” revolves around Rick’s relationship with Birdperson, whose dying mind he attempts to save by diving into his muddled memories. That journey ultimately leads to a curious revelation – that Tammy and Birdperson actually had a daughter, unbeknownst to Rick’s befeathered friend.
Since most of Rick and Morty season 5 has consisted of more insular one-off episodes, it’s fun to finally get some new canonical content for Rick’s backstory and the characters central to it. Birdperson has always been a fan favorite, and his interactions with Rick throughout “Rickternal Friendshine of the Spotless Mort” reveal some interesting new details about both characters. By the end of the episode, Birdperson is awakened from his coma, but he quickly flies off in search of his child, clearly upset at Rick for withholding her existence from him until it suited his own interests.
In the post-credits scene of Rick and Morty season 5 episode 8, Tammy and Birdperson’s daughter is formally revealed. The new character is shown imprisoned in a high-security facility of the Galactic Federation, which hasn’t been a major presence in the show since the end of season 4. After being taunted by a fellow inmate, Birdperson’s child quickly attacks and begins to physically dominate her opponent, before being dragged off by the prison guards. Clearly, she possesses much of her parents’ respective strength and fighting ability.
The Rick and Morty post-credits scene has a few larger implications for the end of season 5 and the future of the show. It’s clear that Birdperson intends to rescue his daughter from the Federation’s clutches, which could easily bring the galactic overlords back as major villains in the series. That could take shape in the season 5 finale, or it might not be until season 6. Either way, it looks like another showdown with the Federation is inevitable for Rick and the rest of the Smith family.
Birdperson’s child also presents some interesting new wrinkles in his relationship with Rick. He clearly resents Rick for holding back on telling him about his daughter, accusing him of doing so as a way of keeping Birdperson from leaving him. Because of how much Rick cares about Birdperson, their interactions are always particularly revealing of Rick’s own inner psyche. Will Birdperson’s latest jab at the scientist’s narcissism prompt any real change? Only time, and the rest of Rick and Morty season 5, will tell.
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August 10, 2021 at 12:11AM
