Rick and Morty Season 9 Episode 3 Review: Rick Fu Hustle
Rick and Morty Season 9, Episode 3, titled “Rick Fu Hustle,” shifts the series into a sillier direction. The episode features Rick (Ian Cardoni) and Morty (Harry Belden) embroiled in a zany martial arts conflict while Jerry navigates a disastrous situation with the new family pool.
What happens in “Rick Fu Hustle”?
The main plot centers on Rick reverse-engineering the Five Point Palm Exploding Heart Technique from Kill Bill. According to reviewer Jesse Schedeen, the episode explores Rick’s refusal to apologize to someone he wronged, leading to a feud with a character named Lin Su.
Rick’s obstinacy manifests in him walking backwards for entire scenes and building elaborate contraptions to avoid admitting fault. While Morty briefly befriends Lin Su, he eventually returns to Rick suffering from his own “death punch problems.”
The conflict culminates in a bombastic showdown between Rick, Morty, and Lin Su. This battle draws the attention of Punchy, a martial arts god, and his massive enforcer, Punchenheimer, who join the fight with increasingly ridiculous special moves.
In a separate subplot, Jerry attempts to clean the family pool. He bungles the task so severely that he ends up in a violent sexual affair with the pool cleaner robot.
Why does the shift in tone matter?
This episode represents a sharp tonal pivot from the season’s earlier entries. Schedeen notes that Episode 2, “Ricks Days, Seven Nights,” was an emotionally charged and depressing look at Rick’s existence, featuring a conflict between Rick and his “vacation self.”
By moving toward a “send-up of the martial arts movie genre,” the series balances its serialized intensity with more traditional, absurd humor. This prevents the season from remaining exclusively in the “depressing” territory where the series often thrives.
The episode also advances a serialized narrative through Jerry’s subplot. The ongoing issues with the family pool suggest the show is experimenting with minor, recurring plot threads across multiple episodes.
What may happen next for the series?
Given the serialized nature of the pool plot, Jerry may continue to face consequences from his encounter with the pool cleaner robot in future episodes.
The series could oscillate between these “sillier” installments and the more depressing, character-driven conflicts seen in “Ricks Days, Seven Nights.” This pattern may be used to prevent the audience from becoming overwhelmed by the season’s heavier themes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who voices Rick and Morty in Season 9?
Rick is voiced by Ian Cardoni and Morty is voiced by Harry Belden.
What is the main conflict in “Rick Fu Hustle”?
Rick enters a martial arts feud with Lin Su because he refuses to apologize for something he did wrong.
What happens to Jerry in Episode 3?
Jerry fails to clean the family pool and enters into a violent sexual affair with the pool cleaner robot.
Do you prefer the emotionally heavy episodes of Rick and Morty, or the sillier, action-packed installments?