Image via Adult Swim
In recent seasons, Rick and Morty has returned to its most famous stories, but one character who has never made a proper comeback is Snuffles (Rob Paulsen) from the second episode. His story is still one of the best in the show, and the ending leaves plenty of room for the series to explore if it so desires in the form of the new dog planet. Similarly, Morty (Harry Belden) himself is a far different character from the last time he saw Snuffles, and is closer to Rick (Ian Cardoni) than the teenager he was in the first season. If the series wants to return to classic material, then having Snuffles return in his new status as Emperor Snowball might be the best way for the show to do it.
‘Lawnmower Dog’ Is Still a Classical ‘Rick and Morty’ Episode
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When it first aired nearly twelve years ago, Rick and Morty felt incredibly new and unique, and few storylines were as great as the introduction of Snuffles in the second episode. Like the majority of episodes before and since, there are two very different subplots, and the one surrounding Mr. Goldenfold (Brandon Johnson) is funny on its own, but Snuffles is what the episode is remembered for. Sure, it’s yet another classic cautionary tale of science going too far, which feels surprisingly rare in a series that has become more focused on crazy concepts and meta humor. On a similar note, it’s a simple concept too, one which contrasts nicely with the more wacky side of the episode. Snuffles himself is also a memorable side character, with his hilarious and auto-tuned voice being provided by legendary voice actor Rob Paulsen in an introduction which is both funny and intimidating. There is a reason why his very first line — “Where are my testicles, Summer?” — became the show’s first of many memed moments. Similarly, in an era when the show liked to playfully parody other media, one could argue it’s a cute little spin on common robot uprising ideas, just as the parallel story is based on Inception at the height of its popularity. Even today, Snuffles remains beloved among the fans despite being a one-off character, and the writers clearly know it as well. A brief tease of him, alongside Tammy (Cassie Steele) and Birdperson (Dan Harmon) in a vision, appeared in the controversial story train episode, and was notably included in the trailer for that season. Unlike them, however, Snuffles has never reappeared in the show, and it’s about time that changed.
The Snuffles Storyline Has Plenty of Character and Worldbuilding Potential
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At the end of ‘Lawnmower Dog,’ when Snuffles leaves to create his own world of intelligent dogs, both Morty and Rick reflect on what that planet could end up looking like. Rick even says, “I would watch it for eleven minutes of pop,” and it suggests the writers had planned to revisit the idea, but they never have. This is odd when you think about it, since the episode gives the impression that Snuffles had been a regular part of the Smith family until that point, and yet none of the many other universes even reference him. It raises the question of why and whether Snuffles ever succeeded at establishing the society he wanted. On a character level, there is another reason why going back to Snuffles is worthwhile, and that is his relationship with Morty. Our favorite little hero, and arguably the only human Snuffles truly cares about, is far from the innocent teenager he was in the first season, as one might expect from someone with his experience. Today, he’s much more jaded and independent of Rick himself, even outsmarting him occasionally. Having Snuffles return might prove nostalgic for him, just as it would be for the fans, and the show would not have to go meta to do it.
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“Rick and Morty forever and forever a hundred years Rick and Morty!”
‘Rick and Morty’ Could Use Another Bottle Episode
As Rick and Morty enters its eighth season, the show has begun returning to old concepts and characters, but the results have generally been mixed. Both Unity (Christina Hendricks) and the Numericons have made a comeback, but the former had already ended perfectly and the latter proved to be one of the worst episodes so far. Unlike the Numericons, where the cliffhanger was more of a joke that never needed elaborating, the Snuffles story had a deliberately open ending that is just begging to make a return. The world of Rick and Morty feels truly endless, and not going back to it would be a missed opportunity. As insane as the world of Rick and Morty is, some of their best episodes have been bottle storylines, focusing on either one subplot or location in the span of twenty minutes. Whatever this new planet is like, having an episode devoted to it could prove to be a great way to deconstruct society in the way classic science fiction is meant to do, through whatever humorous method the writers choose. Far from a gimmick or simple fan service, the potential is there for a great story if written and explored well. At a time when the series feels like it’s past its prime, this callback to the early days could be what it needs to keep older fans invested. Rick and Morty can be streamed on HBO Max in the U.S.
Rick and Morty
Release Date
December 2, 2013
Network
Adult Swim
Showrunner
Dan Harmon
Directors
Bryan Newton, Dominic Polcino, Anthony Chun, John Rice, Stephen Sandoval, Jeff Myers
Writers
Tom Kauffman, Wade Randolph, Eric Acosta, David Phillips, Erica Rosbe, Sarah Carbiener, Matt Roller, Michael Waldron, Caitie Delaney
Justin Roiland
Rick Sanchez / Morty Smith
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