10 TV Shows Literally One Step From Perfection

This one is sure to be controversial, since for the last decade there has been no better guarantee of annoying fandoms than criticizing controversial creator Dan Harmon. A self-described genius, the Community showrunner has finally received the critical and audience attention he (thinks he) long deserved with Adult Swim’s runaway success Rick and Morty.

It’s good to see Harmon succeed. His brand of subversive meta-comedy was a huge influence on his contemporaries and Rick and Morty is an impressively clever, playful deconstruction of sci-fi and sitcom tropes alike, featuring genuinely clever plotting and consistently witty scripts.

Then there’s Rick Sanchez. The titular super-genius is a dysfunctional alcoholic who loathes himself despite—or perhaps because of—the world’s refusal to admonish him for his misdeeds. Sound familiar?

The show clearly hopes to mine the same tragicomic territory as competitor BoJack Horseman, but where the latter unflinchingly criticizes its eponymous character, Rick and Morty is far too in love with the mad scientist to prove him wrong for more than a moment, or to leave him unable to solve a problem for more than a minute.

As a result, while the show is one of tv’s best comedies at the moment, it can’t hope to compare in emotional investment stakes unless it falls out of love with its funny, cool, unflappable, charming, super genius star.