Production on Rick and Morty has hit some speed bumps in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, but showrunners Justin Roiland and Dan Harmon are still hard at work on season five. When the animated comedy finally returns to Adult Swim and Netflix, could the spacefaring duo have to face an old enemy?
The Galactic Federation has been an overhanging threat for dimension-hopping adventurers Rick and Morty (both played by Justin Roiland) over the years.
The galaxy’s sinister and oppressive rulers played a major part in season two, when Tammy Guetermann (Cassie Steele) fabricated her wedding to Birdperson (Dan Harmon) in order to imprison Rick.
Their reign over the universe seemingly came to an end in season three when the Citadel of Ricks was teleported into Federation territory, and Rick’s plan concluded with the President’s suicide.
However, both Tammy and her rebuilt legion of Gromflomite soldiers made a dramatic return in the fourth season in pursuit of Rick’s cloned daughter, Beth (Sarah Chalke).
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Aptly renamed The New Galactic Federation, the Star Wars-inspired dictatorship returned with an upgraded Birdperson and a planet-destroying weapon.
Rick once again managed to come out on top, but some fans remain unconvinced Rick and Morty’s greatest threat will actually remain vanquished.
Although the theory was recently dismissed in an article for Screenrant, the show’s complex story structure could eventually make the Federation’s return inevitable.
They wrote: “Since the episode itself is inspired by the franchise, they somewhat resemble the First Order introduced in Star Wars: The Force Awakens.”
Now the series has accumulated a large team of writers, the series could start listening to fan demands for how the cartoon comedy will eventually come to an end.
Recent posts on Reddit have provided the clearest indicator yet that Rick and Morty’s loyal viewership are expecting the Galactic Federation to make another comeback down the line.
One fan speculated: “Rick and Morty won’t go on forever, it will have to end someday. Hopefully not soon, but it will someday.
“I don’t really have a huge story for it, but I have some ideas: Evil Morty will be involved, and possibly the Galactic Federation.”
“There will be different characters from previous episodes [and] Rick will sacrifice himself for something.”
The self-destructive Rick’s chaotic behaviour has been at the centre of the series since season one, and has frequently put his family and sometimes even the whole galaxy in danger.
If the unhinged inventor’s rampage continues to risk life as we know it, the Galactic Federation may have no choice but to reform and take him out once and for all.
Rick and Morty Season 4, Part 1 is available to stream on Netflix.