Episode 2 of the anime is a mix of things

The following review contains spoilers for episodes 1 and 2 of Rick and Morty: The Anime.

Rick and Morty: The Anime was always going to be a gamble, but episode 2, “Fighting Mother,” proves that the source material's wild fusion of interdimensional chaos and writer/director Takashi Sano's hyper-stylized vision has more potential than even the most optimistic fans could have hoped for after their doubts about the debut. While the premiere felt like a skeptical handshake between two worlds, “Fighting Mother” dives headfirst into the madness with a little more confidence and a healthy dose of satisfying sci-fi schlock.

Excitingly, Episode 2 provides a clearer picture of what both Sano and the Rick and Morty Intellectual property in general might be able to function in this new sandbox. Although Rick and Morty: The Anime While it still has much to prove as a long-term experiment, “Fighting Mother”’s high points offer a tantalizing glimpse of what could be a happy marriage between one of the West’s most irreverent cartoons and the most beloved and promising voices in Eastern anime.

It doesn't take long for Rick & Morty: The Anime Episode 2 impressions

The second episode of the anime easily outshines its inconsistent first

Where did the first episode air? Rick and Morty: The Anime He seemed to be struggling to find his voice, figuratively and literally, with some jarring new performances in the voice acting. “Fighting Mother” shows some signs of life, especially in the action sequences. Episode 2 picks up in a linear fashion, continuing the adventures of episode 1, “The Girl Who Manipulated Time.” Rick, after climbing into space, is stranded on his ship by a fleet of Rick variants and is subsequently sent to the Galactic Federation. In the same breath, Summer, who acts as Rick's “man in the chair,” calls a recognizable variant of her mother, Space Beth, who willingly joins the fray.

“You know, time doesn't matter, Summer. Especially when it comes to my dad.” – Space Beth

Space Beth, as you might guess from her delightfully stereotypical name, is a cosmic mercenary, with a long track record of adventuring across space and time. It's through her raid on the Galactic Federation and the rest of her usually action-packed screen time that “Fighting Mother” most captivates. Seeing Space Beth navigate her namesake locale, break into the Galactic Federation, and fight for Rick's life (not her father, but Rick Prime (aka Rick C137)) is the most thrilling and well-animated offering yet. Rick and Morty: The Anime Still.

Rick & Morty: The Anime Finally Starts to Feel Like a Real Anime in Episode 2

The episode more than makes up for the shortcomings of its predecessors.

Rick and Morty: The Anime The overall aesthetic seems crude, albeit deliberately so. Full of jagged lines, the animation itself is sometimes more reminiscent of 90s Nickelodeon shows than most modern anime. This isn't necessarily a bad thing, but, despite the title, Rick and Morty: The Anime has not yet shown off the distinctive features of its new vehicle as one would expect. So far, even when she sings “Fighting Mother,” it's hard not to feel like the stylization could be a little more pronounced.

Fortunately, Sano displays the graceful and impactful movements that fans of his previous works, Tower of God, are well known. In turn, Most of “Fighting Mother's” 17-minute running time manages to successfully inject some of the much-needed visual polish associated with anime. Rick and Morty: The Anime. It's undoubtedly a more visually immersive experience than Episode 1, even if it doesn't quite pull off all the tricks.

Rick C136: I'm the one who saved Beth's life.

Variant Rick: Ah! You sacrificed yourself like an idiot to be emotional.

Rick C136: It's hard to believe, but I think I have that thing they call “sincerity” inside me.

That said, the punches in Episode 2 pack a powerful punch every time they land. And these moments aren't thrown exclusively by Space Beth, nor are they just literal punches thrown with fists.“Fighting Mother” features a selection of truly sensational action sequences. There are full-blown space battles between entire armies of ships, hand-to-hand combat, aerial encounters where fisticuffs are shared on the wings of the familiar face Tammy, and time-mistaken bare-knuckle combat between Rick. To contemplate the well-executed relationships, its familiar characters, and the broader science fiction of Episode 2, the timey-wimey premise is a sigh of relief for anyone still in possession Rick and Morty: The Anime stock, especially after its tortuous first episode.

Rick & Morty: Episode 2 of the anime is up to par, but not when it comes to Morty Smith and Rick Sanchez

The audience is still waiting for the anime to show its main characters, along with

In episode 2, The overwhelming inclusion of Space Beth, Tammy, The President, and a host of multiversal variants hits hard and fast, but it's a case of too much too soon. The melodramatic showdown between Tammy and Space Beth in “Fighting Mother,” where they part ways amidst the wreckage of a space station, is pure Rick and Morty show. It’s undeniably entertaining, but it feels like Sano has dived headfirst into the franchise without laying the necessary groundwork.

At the end of the episode, Rick and Morty: The Anime the decision to keep Rick and Morty apart only complicates matters. The show teases big cosmic conflicts and dramatic arcs, but without establishing a stronger connection between its titular characters, the anime risks feeling fragmented and disjointed. Instead of letting viewers sink into the anime’s unique take on their favorite duo, Sano feels like it’s juggling too many elements at once, leaving the series’ defining relationship sidelined and underdeveloped.

“Fighting Mother” hints at the potential for Rick and Morty: The Anime be more than just curiosity, but is still struggling to find the right balance between his two influences. Episode 2 is an improvement, sure, but it's clear that this experiment is still very much a work in progress. Sano's style breathes some life into the proceedings, but it remains to be seen whether the show can sustain that energy and capitalize on it to its fullest extent. It's becoming clear that Rick and Morty: The Anime is best appreciated as a lively companion piece to the original series rather than a groundbreaking departure. While it offers as much engaging action as the main series has yet to see, it stays comfortably within the established Rick and Morty formula for better AND worse.

Rick and Morty: The Anime is now streaming on Adult Swim. It will air on Max a day later.