Rick and Morty's ninth season delivered its fifth episode, "Jer Bud," which attempts to revisit a plotline from the show's first season. While the episode brings back Morty's dog Snowball, the storyline ultimately fails to live up to its nostalgic promise. The primary narrative, which sees Morty reluctantly tasked with liberating a race of sentient alien pets called Mups, struggles to find its footing. Despite an effort to shift focus from Rick to Morty, the premise of the Mups and their plight offers little humor or engaging development.
The episode's standout element is the subplot featuring Jerry. In this arc, Jerry finds himself possessed by an external force, leading to a hilariously absurd take on a simple job interview. This storyline effectively leverages Chris Parnell's performance as Jerry, allowing the character to explore a more confident and capable persona than his usual disposition. The "Worm Jerry" plotline takes a series of unexpected turns, including a visit to an alien drug den and a dramatic mid-air childbirth scenario, all while Jerry maintains an unusual composure.
This secondary storyline also makes good use of supporting characters, including Rick and both versions of Beth, providing much-needed attention for characters who have had limited focus in the season so far. However, the stark contrast in quality between the main Morty-Snowball narrative and the Jerry-centric subplot ultimately results in "Jer Bud" being considered the weakest installment of Rick and Morty Season 9 to date. Despite its shortcomings, the episode suggests that the season's quality will improve in subsequent episodes.