Rick and Morty season 5, episode 8 release date – and when to expect it on Netflix

Wubbalubbadubdub! Here’s all the latest on Rick and Morty’s ongoing fifth season.

By Daniel Furn

Published: Tuesday, 03 August 2021 at 12:00 am

After parodying both mafia movies and Japanese anime Voltron simultaneously in the latest instalment, all eyes are now on episode eight of hit sci-fi comedy Rick and Morty.

Season five of the subversive series will soon be drawing to a close, but first we have the eighth episode which is intriguingly titled ‘Rickternal Friendshine of the Spotless Mort’.

A clear reference to the acclaimed 2004 film Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, this suggests the next episode will see Rick and Morty once again play around with memory.

However, after the success of ‘Total Rickall’ and ‘Morty’s Mind Blowers’, it’s clear that some of the show’s best episodes see the dysfunctional duo remembering, forgetting or straight-up inventing memories – so here’s hoping for another corker.

So here’s everything you need to know about *burp* season five, Morty, including the release schedule and how to watch the show in the UK.

How can I watch Rick and Morty season 5 in the UK?

Good news Rick and Morty fans, the duo are back on UK screens this summer returning to their rightful home at E4. UK fans will be able to watch their antics a day after the US showing so there is no big gap between broadcasts.

The next episode of season five airs in the US on 8th August – and there’s no need for a portal gun as UK fans can watch the episode on Monday, August 9th on E4. The eighth episode is called Rickternal Friendshine of the Spotless Mort (a reference to Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind). Episodes will be available on-demand via All 4 after transmission.

What time is Rick and Morty season 5 airing on E4 in the UK?

Rick and Morty season five episode eight airs on Adult Swim in the United States on Sunday, August 8th at 11pm ET. As there’s no gap E4 will air the same episode at 10pm on Monday, August 9th BST.

Episodes are broadcast weekly on E4 on Mondays at 10pm BST.

Rick and Morty season 5 release schedule

If you’re wondering when you can watch the next few episodes, they will air weekly. We now have all 10 episode titles and the UK airdates:

Rick and Morty season 5 release date

We don’t have a confirmed date yet! If we take a look back at season four then we expect we will have to wait a few months after all episodes have aired on E4 in the UK if Netflix has the same deal.

Rick and Morty season 5 plot

The unpredictable and non-linear nature of Rick and Morty means that it’s hard to predict what will happen next. Hopefully the ‘Interdimensional Cable’ format will return– last season, it was replaced by the controversial Never Ricking Morty meta episode.

Interdimensional Cable did indeed return in episode five – but sadly only for a one-off joke rather than being the basis for an entire episode.

We’re still yet to find out what happened to Evil Morty and what he did to the Citadel under his leadership so hopefully he’ll make an appearance this season too.

At the 2020 virtual Adult Swim festival the writers teased that there would be more continuity in season five – which we’ve already seen with Keith David’s President popping up several times as Rick’s recurring frenemy as well as the unexpected return of giant space baby Naruto Smith. However, rumours are swirling that episode eight will see Rick relive his memories – and finally show his long-awaited backstory.

Rick and Morty season 5 cast

Justin Roiland will of course return to voice half the cast, including titular characters Rick and Morty, alongside Sarah Chalke (Scrubs) as Rick’s long-suffering daughter Beth, with Chris Parnell as her passive husband Jerry.

Kelsey Grammer’s daughter Spencer Grammer completes the family as Morty’s sister Summer.

After season four’s host of famous guest stars, including Paul Giamatti, Keegan-Michael Key, Matthew Broderick, Justin Theroux and even Elon Musk, season five is bound to feature a similarly star-studded cast – and RadioTimes.com exclusively revealed three big upcoming guest stars.

Former ’90s child star Christina Ricci (Casper), Timothy Olyphant (Deadwood) and Alison Brie (GLOW) were announced to appear in undisclosed roles. This marks a Community reunion for Brie and Rick and Morty co-creator Dan Harmon, following previous guest appearances by other stars of the college sitcom including Joel McHale, Gillian Jacobs and Jim Rash.

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Timothy Olyphant, Alison Brie, Christina Ricci
Steve Granitz/WireImage/Rich Polk/Getty Images for IMDb/Frazer Harrison/Getty Images

It was later revealed that Brie would voice Captain Planet parody Planetina in episode three ‘A Rickconvenient Mort’, which would also feature Jennifer Coolidge (American Pie), Steve Buscemi (Fargo) and Fred Stoller (Everybody Loves Raymond). Ricci would then appear in the following episode ‘Rickdependence Spray’ as underground-dwelling horse-person Princess Ponietta, while Timothy Olyphant starred as marine-turned-turkey Coop in episode seven.

Keith David and his iconic voice have popped up in a few season five episodes already as The President, while legendary actress Susan Sarandon is also set to return as family therapist Dr Wong from the Pickle Rick episode.

Accomplished voice actors Nolan North and Troy Baker have also both appeared this season, with the two best known as the leads of videogame franchises Uncharted and The Last of Us respectively.

However, the long-rumoured Kanye West appearance will not be taking place in season five, despite his public appeal to be in the show and the creators even offering the rapper his own episode.

Rick and Morty season 5 trailer

Adult Swim has released a few trailers for season five now, and they’re as bonkers and brilliant as you’d expect. The latest seems to highlight the season’s renewed focus on family – in Rick and Morty’s unique way of course:

Will there be a Rick and Morty movie?

With network Adult Swim commissioning a whopping 70 episodes back in 2018, Rick and Morty fans have a lot of offbeat intergalactic adventures to look forward to.

However, it looks like the dysfunctional duo’s most exciting trip yet could be to the big screen, with producer Scott Marder teasing that a film of the subversive series is quite likely.

“It’d be daunting, I wouldn’t be shocked if there was one that comes down the pipe one day,” Marder told Metro.”I feel like every episode is a movie. I’d like to see what a movie would be, I feel like we pack so much in.”

“I think it will happen,” Marder added. “I do think it will happen.”

Summer actress Spencer Grammer also weighed in, noting that the subversive series was unlikely to go for a conventional theatrical release.

“It’d have to be something so big – like a 3D interactive movie that also has a theme park. I don’t know if you could just do a straight movie,” Grammer said. ‘There are those 4D movie theatres in New York City.”

How to watch Rick and Morty seasons 1-4

Seasons one to three of Rick and Morty are available to watch on Netflix, and also air in the evenings on E4. Season four aired exclusively on E4 at 10pm on Wednesdays with the new episodes then made available to stream on All4. It then joined the earlier episodes on Netflix, arriving on the streaming platform on Tuesday 16th June.

And if you want to get another fix of the time-travelling pair, a new short recently debuted – inspired by anime but otherwise very much showcasing the Rick and Morty than we’ve come to know over the last four seasons.

Check out the best series on Netflix and best movies on Netflix to keep you entertained or visit our TV guide for more to watch.