Rick and Morty transitions between cynical postmodern parody and sincere, metamodern emotional themes.

While the show is famous for its biting, sarcastic humor, it does not stay detached forever. It constantly swings back and forth between extreme irony and deep, sincere emotion. This is a hallmark of metamodernism. The show will mock a classic sci-fi trope in one scene, but in the next, it will focus on the genuine, painful reality of raising children in a broken home or dealing with deep personal trauma.