Get Schwifty (Give a Shwift)
Get Schwifty was hilarious, but emotionally powerful in an unexpected way. It showed the value of pushing yourself each day to show up and care, despite overwhelming feelings of futility.
For myself, the caring subplot in the Get Schwifty episode is a commentary on the nature of depression. The episode follows Rick’s suicide attempt in the Unity episode (after he sees himself as an unwanted toxic influence), and the instance in Total Rickall where he attempts to goad Morty into killing him (an alleged parasite).
Unlike his manic behavior in previous episodes, Rick is more apathetic, and seemingly numb when the Cromulons invade, and like the battle with depression, present a near-insurmountable obstacle. As the characters begin to grapple with and understand its nature, Morty reacts to the situation with a mindset of futility, wanting to bail, but Rick, despite his indifferent attitude, shows up to literally play his part on the world’s stage.
After Morty accuses him of not taking anything seriously, Rick tells Morty that sometimes,you just have to “go with the flow” until something happens. Rick, making the effort to show up, and stick through the adventure, regardless of his feelings of futility, is a very poignant message for those struggling with depression.
When Morty is upset that Rick seemingly does not care about anything, and Birdperson, a long-time friend of Rick’s, explains the meaning of the seemingly trite and annoying catchphrase, “Wubba Lubba Dub Dub” as “Please help me, I am in great pain.”, in an attempt to help Morty understand Rick’s struggle with depression. He gives the advice of “putting his faith in Rick”, asking Morty to continue to support his grandfather through his struggle with depression, instead of choosing to bail in the moment when he is most needed.
Because Rick, unable to perform without Morty, needs his support to put on the show, and when it comes down to that critical moment, Rick is going to “show him what he’s got.” (The world’s, and his best effort), even at the risk of it falling short. Even in the face of it not even coming close to being enough.
This episode plays with a lot of correlation-causation fallacies, (I.E. the snake in Ricks leg, and when the Cromulons invade, and the principal Vagina’s prayers are seemingly answered.) One of the more subtle ones is that we assume Rick, like Ice-T, is an asshole who does not care, and bails on others who need him.
But my interpretation is that Rick is giving his best effort to care in what has become a life and death matter for not only himself but others as well, and when Morty shows up for the adventure, with full understanding of the stakes involved, something happens and it allows them to finally Get Schwifty.
The correlation-causation fallacy, and the message of “Get Schwifty” isn’t to not give a shit, but I think it is encouraging people to find ways to give a shit.
Although the entire thing is absurd, when Ice T sees Morty become a support system for Rick, the action similarly, melts his frozen heart, causing him to care, and return home with the manifesto declaration of “I CARE NOW!”
Sometimes, the things that literally pull you out of a depressive episode are as simple as a good joke, embracing the absurd, or a headist religion, but regardless of where that meaning is found, active support systems play a crucial role. Rick would not have been able to do it without Morty.
Morty literally being Rick’s back-up, demonstrates the value and effect of having a constant support system who stands by your side on that world stage, and sees the adventure through with you.
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