WARNING: The following contains SPOILERS for Rick and Morty season 5, episode 1, "Mort Dinner Rick Andre."
The Rick & Morty season 5 premiere introduces the intriguing concept of a seemingly more vulnerable and weaker Rick. Faced with an equally arrogant nemesis, Mr. Nimbus, and Morty's impetuous time-hopping shenanigans, the reportedly "smartest man in the universe" isn't quite able to climb out of the mess he's gotten himself into this time — and that change in character may just be the sort of curveball the show needs.
Rick Sanchez is defined by his ability to think and invent (and most likely brutally murder or psychologically torment) himself out of any situation regardless of where he is in time or space. It's a formula that could easily grow stagnant if it wasn't for the ethical tension that Rick's complete lack of empathy and his genius-level intellect provides. Still, though, the juxtaposition between Rick's all-powerful brain and his all-encompassing disdain for others can only take his character so far before his place on a show known for its irreverent story structure gets a little, well, predictable.
That's why his role in "Rick Dinner Mort Andre" shakes up the series. On a surface level, the season premiere of Rick & Morty has all the aspects of a standard episode, or at least as standard as a show about a dimension-traveling sociopath corrupting his nephew's sanity can be. Rick spouts snarky commentary about an absurdly exaggerated variation on a genre figure (in this case, Mr. Nimbus is a parody of the Marvel villain Namor) while Morty accidentally becomes entrenched in a mind-bending science-fiction plot while trying to accomplish the very normal goal of wooing his crush.
On a closer look, however, the Rick and Morty episode presents more cracks in the scientist's massive ego than usual, perhaps paving the way for further character development. In the episode's cold open, Rick has given up any hope of survival, while Morty's actions save them both. Then, Rick's nemesis, Mr. Nimbus, further grounds the character: Rick's ultimate rival isn't some omnipotent, divine entity: he's a greased-up fish-man with a penchant for kinky sex, aged wine, and self-name dropping. Out of all the cosmic, otherwordly creatures that Rick and Morty have encountered, there's something about Rick's beef with Nimbus that feels oddly basic. Jerry puts it the best when he questions his father-in-law, "I've seen you f*ck a planet, and this is the guy you're afraid of?" To drive the point home, it's actually Mr. Nimbus who saves Rick, Morty and Jessica — before he then bests Rick in a fight and has the police arrest the old man.
By the end of "Mort Dinner Rick Andre," Rick has done virtually nothing right, his arrogance and inability to form healthy relationships hurting him for once instead of allowing him to stay one step ahead of everyone. Rick has struggled in the past before, but the season 5 premiere is unique for showing how independent the rest of the Smith family has become, no longer relying on Rick to save the day (or desperately seeking his approval). Instead of emphasizing the infallibility of Rick's all-powerful brain, the season 5 premiere of Rick & Morty chooses to focus on the more human aspects of Rick, and there's nothing more human than messing up.