saje_

There was nothing particularly creative or interesting about this episode, which is usually not the case for season openers in this series. Also there were almost no jokes that I found to be funny at all, which might not be the case for everyone, it could just be personal preference. Overall I just found it to be a quite boring episode unfortunately, one of the main draws of Rick and Morty for me is it's consistent creative concepts, and there was really just nothing here like that.

I will also say that I did find Rick's new voice to be pretty distracting. It's not just that it's different, I just don't think the performance is there yet. But if given time I'm sure the new actor will be fine, he just needs to find his stride. I will say the new Morty is pretty much indistinguishable for me, at least from the few lines he had in this episode. Mr. Poopybutthole was also a standout in the episode, I forgot he also needed to be changed and I didn't even notice a difference. I'm very glad that Roiland's departure seems to have had a minimal effect on the show's quality, with Rick being the only noticeable change, but maybe I'll feel differently as the season goes on.

I honestly have never been affected by a piece of media before in my life as much as I have been by Vinland Saga. Sure there are things that I've enjoyed more or found to be more entertaining, but this show legitimately shifted my perspective on life. Before I watched it I would have scoffed at anyone saying that about some animated tv show that looks like it's just another shonen about a strong main character doing cool stuff. But now I truly believe that everyone needs to watch this show and really chew on it, because it might make you realize things about yourself and the world that you hadn't before.

The thing is, it really is just a show about a strong main character doing cool stuff, but it redefines what it means to be strong. Sure, Thorfinn is probably one of the physically strongest (or at least deadly) people on the planet, but unlike pretty much any other piece of media ever, that isn't what the show is about. The show is about Thorfinn discovering for himself the true meaning of strength and what it really means to be a man. And to be honest, I was learning right with him.