Since Rick and Morty season 8 promises to break up its titular duo more often, this could make room for more adventures from one underrated pairing. Despite its title, Rick and Morty doesn’t always center on Rick and Morty’s shared antics. Rick often ends up going on adventures with his son-in-law Jerry or his daughter Beth, while Morty has many solo subplots or storylines that focus on his family life. Rick and Morty season 8 looks like it will double down on this approach as the series makes room for more stories that split up its titular duo.

After Rick and Morty’s season 7 ending saw Morty gain a new level of independence from his grandfather, it is fair to reason that the series is paving the way for more solo plots. Already, Rick and Morty season 7 gave Rick and Morty a solo episode each, and the season finale revealed in its twist ending that Morty had secretly been alone for the episode's adventure. This new approach will give season 8 more time to explore an underrated pairing who have worked together in seasons 1, 4, 5, and 7.

Rick and Summer’s Pairing Has Produced Some Great Rick and Morty Episodes

Seasons 1, 4, 5, and 7 Revisited This Pairing

Season 1, episode 9, “Something Ricked This Way Comes,” proved Rick and Summer are a great pairing with plenty of potential. The duo work primarily because Summer’s drive for independence causes more conflict between her and Rick than between him and Morty. This explains why season 4, episode 7, “Promortyus,” season 5, episode 3, “A Rickconvenient Mort,” and season 7, episode 7, “Wet Kuat Amortycan Summer,” brought the duo back together for similarly silly adventures. These were all standout episodes thanks to Summer and Rick’s unique dynamic, which challenges the show’s well-worn usual formula.

Summer’s self-confidence means Rick can’t easily control her, but her inexperience and impulsiveness often result in her running afoul of intergalactic villains

While Rick and Morty’s lowest-rated episode proved that the series still needs to work on Morty’s solo adventures, Rick and Summer’s outings mean Rick has a perfect replacement for his sidekick. Where Morty is easily led, Summer is more independent and rebellious. Summer’s self-confidence means Rick can’t easily control her, but her inexperience and impulsiveness often result in her running afoul of intergalactic villains. Whether she is being worshiped by an entire alien planet or taking advantage of Morty’s transformation into a Kuato, Summer is central to storylines that wouldn’t make sense for Rick or Morty.

Morty is more self-sufficient without Rick, something Summer’s episodes highlight.

Rick And Summer’s Episodes Have A Benefit On Morty’s Arc

Morty’s Stories Without Rick Allow For More Growth

While Rick and Summer’s shared episodes are great for the development of both characters, they also have another secret appeal. Morty’s character development is amped up in episodes where he and Rick are separated since the agreeable character is forced to finally think for himself in these storylines. He helped Jerry navigate Pluto’s politics in season 1 and fell head over heels for Planetina in Rick and Morty’s most underrated relationship, and Morty would never have followed either of these story strands if Rick needed him. He is more self-sufficient without Rick, something Summer’s episodes highlight.

Admittedly, “Wet Kuat Amortycan Summer” didn’t feature much of a role for Morty since he was transformed into a Kuato for the entire outing. However, “Promortyus” proved that Summer’s undervalued role in the show doesn’t just flesh out her character and Morty’s story. Summer’s time in the Glorzo home world forced Rick and Morty to realize that they were monsters as far as these aliens were concerned, resulting in some unexpected soul-searching for the duo. In this regard, Summer’s appearances allow more introspection from Rick and Morty while they also explore her personality further.

If Morty began living more independently, Summer could occasionally take over his role as Rick’s accomplice.

Why Rick and Morty Season 8 Needs More Of Rick & Summer

Rick and Summer Can Improve Both Rick and Morty’s Stories

For Rick and Morty’s season 8 stories to succeed, the series needs to expand its horizons and explore more characters. Rick and Morty can’t center only its title characters in season 8 and must instead give supporting players like Summer and Beth a bigger role to play. Luckily, season 8 can achieve this by making Morty more independent, proving that the character development seen in season 7’s finale wasn’t merely a flash in the pan. Morty refusing to follow Rick’s every whim would open up more space for Summer’s story.

If Morty began living more independently, Summer could occasionally take over his role as Rick’s accomplice. This would allow season 8 to explore another side of Rick as he becomes accustomed to a more defiant henchman while also giving Summer more character development and screen time. Meanwhile, Morty’s story could focus on how his life changes when it no longer centers around Rick’s zany antics. Thus, Rick and Morty season 8 could revamp the show’s entire premise by giving Summer a bigger role.