Neither Rick nor Morty: "President Curtis" is exactly what this universe needed
After nine seasons where "Rick and Morty" turned from brilliant sci-fi anarchy into a brand addicted to gloom, the spin-off "President Curtis" arrives with a completely different approach. The badass American president at its center replaces existential despair with cheerfulness and healthy absurdity.
With the conclusion of its ninth season, which ended just this week, it is clear beyond any doubt, even to the biggest fanboys: "Rick and Morty" is tired. Many will tell you that this fatigue began long ago, in seasons 4-5, when the brilliant sci-fi creation of Dan Harmon and Justin Roiland began to deal mainly with itself — with its rules and the viewers' expectations. Meta instead of story is a malignant disease of many original works that, by virtue of their own inertia, go deeper into a rut instead of daring to innovate.
Too often, "Rick and Morty" failed in this: it almost completely gave up on the suspension of disbelief, preferring to focus on breaking the fourth wall and an inflationary flood of exhausting inside jokes. Even if there was some recovery in the last season or two, the show is tired, and it shows. That is exactly why the timing of its new spin-off, "President Curtis" (broadcast on HBO Max), could not have been better. This does not mean it is on the same sublime level as the parent series in its glory days, but even half of that is welcome in these dry days.
A new hero, new rules
As the name implies, "President Curtis" follows a character who popped up throughout the seasons of "Rick and Morty" — US President Andre Curtis (voiced by the wonderful Keith David, owner of a deep and recognizable baritone). However, this is not some sleepy Joe Biden; President Curtis is an action hero who feels he must solve the burning issues of the country with his own hands. Most of these issues involve supernatural threats, which allows the series to differentiate itself from the complex galactic plots of the parent show.
In "President Curtis," things are a bit simpler: the first episode touches amusingly on the conspiracy theory that the moon landing was staged (including a funny guest appearance by Stanley Kubrick), while the rest of the time is dedicated to introducing the characters. These include his new Chief of Staff Roa Banks (Stephanie Beatriz, "Brooklyn Nine-Nine"), who is also a cyborg, and his head of the Secret Service Francis O'Doyle (Jim Rush), who is also a half-leprechaun. Why a half-leprechaun and why a cyborg? Just because it's funny, and because that's what creators Dan Harmon and James Siciliano wanted.
A healthy spirit of mischief
The narrative is secondary to the parade of frequent one-liners, visual gags, and the sense of delightful chaos that reigns everywhere. If you watched the last, agonizing episode of the ninth season of the parent series, and then the first episode of the spin-off, you will get a clear demonstration of the difference. During the 13 years it has been part of our lives, "Rick and Morty" reached some of its most impressive peaks when it turned to the darkest regions of its heroes' souls, but many of its low points were discovered there as well, turning into soul-blackening existential horror.
It seems that "President Curtis" has come to correct this accumulated impression through a healthy spirit of mischief and captivating absurdity, and honestly, that is enough for us to stay with it. Can President Curtis and the pair of characters beside him hold this on their shoulders for a season and more? We shall see. In any case, it has already been renewed for another season. In the meantime, one thing is certain: this may not be the heir that fans thought they would get, but God knows it is the heir they need.
