The Rickshank Rickdemption

The episode follows the events surrounding Rick Sanchez's incarceration at the Galactic Federation's prison and high-stakes bid to escape, with revelations that both reveal his true motives and character.

Following its initial airing, "The Rickshank Rickdemption" received positive reviews, which generally favored the episode's character development and its surprise turn of events.

[1] Elements of the episode were loosely inspired by the film The Shawshank Redemption and features the series' trademark dark humor, nihilism, and multiverse-based plot line.

[4] Writing for "The Rickshank Rickdemption" commenced on November 2, 2015; a few months later in February 2016, episode director Juan Meza-Leon began work for the project's sound recording.

[1] In February 2017, to celebrate the beginning of the episode's animation phase, Adult Swim Australia released a teaser trailer, later revealed to actually be a "RickRoll": a compilation of clips taken from seasons one and two that offered no new insight into the upcoming premiere.

As a part of Adult Swim's annual April Fools' joke, the premiere was broadcast for four straight hours, interrupting the television network's scheduled new episodes of Samurai Jack and Dragon Ball Super.

[8] IGN's Jesse Schedeen wrote in his review "Justin Roiland and Dan Harmon managed to craft a conflict that was hilarious, darkly poignant and completely unlike anything fans were expecting".

[8] Zach Blumenfeld of Paste called "The Rickshank Rickdemption" the "top of all animated television", an episode that saw deeper character development and humor that rivaled "Total Rickall" and "Meeseeks and Destroy".

[9] Den of Geek writer Joe Matar observed "previous Rick and Morty plot developments, reminding us of the show’s commitment to its persistent multiverse" in a premiere he considered as the series' best.