The season 9 finale of Rick and Morty, titled "Field of Dreams," delivered a particularly brutal conclusion that showrunners Dan Harmon and Scott Marder say was essential to maintaining the series' core identity. The episode forced Morty Smith to confront profound truths about his relationship with his grandfather, Rick Sanchez.
According to Harmon, there's a constant concern that if Morty isn't subjected to extreme situations, the show risks becoming unrecognizable. "Morty has been a 14-year-old boy for over a decade, and that decade has subjected him to hourly life trauma and a relationship with one of the most abusive people in the universe," he explained in a virtual interview. The finale saw Morty encountering an alternate, idealized version of his family, one that had distanced itself from Rick due to his alcoholism. This idealized reality, however, eventually revealed its own dark side when Jerry attempted to prevent Morty from leaving.
Further exploration led Morty to a version of Rick who had been sober for 17 years, happily married, and teaching at MIT. This healthier Rick acknowledged the near-ruinous impact of his portal gun research. Despite this, Morty's insistence on its invention ultimately led this alternate Rick back to drinking and nihilism, transforming him into the familiar, destructive figure.
By the episode's end, Morty is once again adventuring with a less-than-responsible Rick. Co-showrunner Scott Marder highlighted the dysfunctional dynamic between the two as "kind of the heart of the show." He elaborated that the finale examines how Morty has been significantly corrupted by this relationship, but in a full-circle moment, he is also forced to corrupt Rick to achieve his own desires.
While Morty has not aged chronologically throughout the series' nine seasons, the showrunners emphasize that his experiences have undeniably changed him. "I think we have organically grown Morty while still keeping the core of his identity," Harmon stated. "He’s an idealist. He believes in truth. He believes that there is a right way to do things." He added that while Rick has also evolved, his core cynicism remains, and their growth occurs within the context of their established personalities.