The Adult Swim frontrunner Rick and Morty mixes absurdist philosophy with its particular brand of unique humor. It's one of the hallmarks of the show that fans who pay attention will find hidden easter eggs and barely-noticeable jokes that go over most heads.
Those watching should be sure to pay attention in the background of otherwise innocuous scenes – those with a keen eye and a sharp memory will more than likely find some subtle yet hilarious jokes in places most fans wouldn't even think to look.
10 The Morty Recycling Poster
Tales from the Citadel was a unique Rick and Morty episode for showing a glimpse into what life for Ricks and Mortys living in the Citadel of Ricks is like. At a high school for the Citadel's various Mortys, fans noticed a recycling poster on the wall with Morty's head in the center, symbolic of the disposable nature of Mortys in the Citadel.
This hidden detail can be seen in the background of Morty's high school in the Season 3 episode The Ricklantis Mixup.
9 The Meeseeks Show Up in The Menagerie
The Menagerie is home to a collection of the universe's flora and fauna as overseen by the Collector. It's only seen briefly in one episode, but one can just about make out a Meeseeks captured in one of the cells near Rick and Morty's cell.
The Meeseeks can be seen in the Season 3 episode Morty's Mind Blowers, where Morty experiences memories Rick has taken from him.
8 Vote Morty, Because Nobody Exists On Purpose
Another from the background of the Citadel of Ricks, one can see a lone Morty who references one of the character's most famous quotes. His "Nobody Exists on Purpose" quote was from Season 1, and during a Morty's campaign for election, an activist Morty holds a sign with part of this exact quote.
The activist Morty holding a sign can be seen in the background of the Season 3 episode The Ricklantis Mixup as Officer Morty and Officer Rick drive off.
7 Jerry's Secret Doofus Rick Photo
When Jerry met Doofus Rick, the only Rick in the universe who isn't a genius through and through, they hit it off almost immediately. After Doofus Rick left, though, Jerry never quite got over it. He still keeps a framed photo of his long-lost friend in the garage.
This easter egg can be seen under a cabinet in the first episode of Season 3, when Summer goes rooting through Rick's garage.
6 The Season 3 Dune Reference
In the opening episode of Season 3, we see Jerry taking kindly to his new life in the Federation. As chaos breaks loose, a character who's obviously voiced by Justin Roiland references the iconic "he who controls the spice controls the universe" from the classic sci-fi novel Dune.
When Jerry is slowly making his escape in Season 3 episode The Rickshank Redemption, listen for the character in the background as Jerry's coworkers start fighting.
5 The Gazorpians Have A Hidden Joke in Latin
When Rick and Summer go to the planet Gazorpazorp in the first season of the show, they find that the planet is split into two gendered classes, with the females of the species ruling over the males of the species.
Look on the steps leading to a throne in the episode Raising Gazorpazorp from Season 1 for the Latin phrase "sis semper calumniam," which means "you're always wrong."
4 The Symbol On Jerry's Robe Translates To "Weak"
In the tenth episode of the third season, there's a joke that only comes across if the viewer knows Chinese. When Jerry moves out, he is later seen wearing robes with a Chinese character on the back to represent his independence.
In actuality, the character translates roughly to "weak," a perhaps more apt description. Look for this in the episode The Rickchurian Mortydate at the end of Season 3.
3 Snuffles Renames Himself After A Pig From Animal Farm
Snowball, perhaps better known as Snuffles, is the family dog seen in the classic episode where he accidentally is given superhuman intelligence through a helmet meant to make training easier. Snuffles quickly figures out a lot about the world and dogs' place in it, though.
In the Season 1 episode Lawnmower Dog, Snuffles renames himself Snowball for his soft, white fur. It's more likely that this is a reference to George Orwell's Animal Farm, a dystopian novel based around a critique of class and inequality in communism.
2 The Closing Credits Reference Dan Harmon's Divorce
Dan Harmon's production company Harmonious Claptrap shows a small animated segment at the end of every Rick and Morty episode. It started off with him, a dog, and a red-haired woman sitting on a sofa, but after Harmon got divorced, the scene got a bit... messier.
While it's probably a tongue-in-cheek self-deprecating joke, Harmonious Claptrap has a new vanity card that shows Harmon content in bed with another woman, perhaps indicating that he's actually in a better place now.
1 The Flag At School Is At Half Mast AFter Frank Palicky's Death
In the pilot episode, Rick and Morty quickly established itself as a show that wasn't afraid to go to some darker jokes. The school bully Frank Palicky threatens Morty with a knife, which causes Rick to freeze him in place. Palicky later gets shattered into a million icy shards, but the show isn't quick to forget his death.
Look closely about halfway through the very first Rick and Morty episode and you'll see that the American Flag outside of Harry Herpson High School is at half-mast in memory of the school bully. Is it a comment on how people forgive terrible people after they die? Maybe.