Rick Sanchez abhors the very notion of canon in Rick & Morty - he would rather "get back to simple adventures" than deal with the difficulty of character growth. His powerful emotional denial rubs off on his relationships, particularly Beth, although she has recently started treating Rick like the unstable father he is.
The Smith family aside, Rick & Morty isn't known for heartfelt moments of friendship or healthy parent-child interactions, which means that most characters take longer than average to better themselves. Still, a few of them demonstrate respectable levels of consistency, so credit must be given where it's due.
9 Rick Is Still Trapped In The Void Left Behind By His Wife And Daughter
It's not that Rick Sanchez is unable to change his toxic habits, considering his incomprehensible genius, so it seems unlikely that he doesn't know how to evolve as a person.
The problem is that Rick wants to be the nerd who insults the very concept of emotion in order to protect his fragile heart from further degradation. Rick is still trapped in the void left behind by his wife and daughter, and only time will tell if he can move on.
8 Evil Morty Disappears Into The Obscurity Of The Multiverse Without Any Character Growth
Evil Morty remains the same secretive, scheming villain in the season 5 finale as he is when introduced at the end of season 1 of Rick & Morty. The only difference is that his once mysterious motive has been officially revealed, the eradication of the Central Finite Curve.
However, that's all anyone knows about Evil Morty's goals. He shatters Rick's self-important illusions along with the Citadel, and disappears into the obscurity of the multiverse. Evil Morty is certain to return in future seasons, but he technically doesn't have a reason to do so anymore.
7 Mr. Poopybutthole's Character Growth Is As Unpredictable As His Personality
Mr. Poopybutthole's meager appearances on Rick & Morty aren't nearly enough to give his fans their fix, but they manage to paint a more or less clear picture of his personality.
Mr. Poopybutthole is unpredictably wacky: from the meaningless sounds that pour from his mouth to his incandescent martial prowess. While he survives Beth's laser gun attack and becomes stronger than before, he is, unfortunately, unable to sustain his marriage as of Rickmurai Jack.
6 Morty Is Finally Beginning To Claim The Respect That Rightfully Belongs To Him
Rick uses Morty's passive demeanor and countless insecurities to boss him around endlessly, to such an extent that Beth is forced to intervene to protect her son's mental health. Being around his grandpa's domineering apathy prevents Morty from flourishing into a confident teenager, like his sister, Summer.
Rick's facade of indifference used to enchant his lonely grandson with visions of friendship that never really came to fruition, but Morty is finally beginning to claim the respect that rightfully belongs to him, much to Rick's annoyance.
5 Jessica Is Slowly, But Surely, Developing Into A More Fleshed-Out Version Of Her Earlier Self
Jessica starts as Morty's love interest and nothing more. Her portrayal is bare-bones and there's hardly any momentum to propel her character arc forward.
With every season, however, she develops into a more fleshed-out version of her former self, earning a well-deserved place as an important side-character in Rick & Morty. Jessica doesn't mind all the weird adventures that Morty and his grandpa get into - she lends them a hand on at least three separate occasions.
4 Jerry Is Realizing That Rock Bottom Is The Best Place For A New Start
As impossible as it is for fans to believe that Jerry Smith is capable of anything other than crying himself to sleep every night, he has gradually become somewhat less spineless, proving that he's not as immature as he appears (within reasonable expectations).
The Cronenberg Dimension's Jerry transforms into a vigorous warrior, while the current version saves his father-in-law and his wife/space-wife from certain death. There's one way out from rock bottom, and Jerry is close to realizing it.
3 Birdperson Is Arguably The Most Grown-Up Character In The Series
Birdperson is arguably the most grown-up main character in Rick & Morty. The drawback, of course, is that there's not much growing up left for him to do. Birdperson loves Rick, which is why he enjoys the latter's presence in many situations.
Everyone has a limit beyond which they will lose their composure, and Birdperson is no exception, even though his patience can be stretched significantly more than others. When he re-emerges from his consciousness prison, he instantly acclimates to his original identity, demonstrating his mindful nature.
2 Summer Learns To Let Go Of Her Insecurities And Become A Better Person
Summer Smith loses almost all of her adolescent hang-ups - dating, popularity, parties - over the course of Rick & Morty, turning from a frivolous teen girl to a veteran tough girl in just a few months.
While she's occasionally jealous of the intimacy shared between her brother and grandfather, Summer learns to let go of her uncertainties in order to become a better person. Despite her general lack of interest in household gossip, Summer's love for her family borders on the fiercely overprotective.
1 Both Earth Beth And Space Beth Reject Their Emotional Reliance On Rick
Beth may not possess even a fraction of her father's intelligence, but she is still one of the smartest and most unfettered characters in Rick & Morty. Her desire to keep Rick around often leads her to neglect other aspects of her life, particularly her children (but also her husband).
Beth begins her healing journey during and after the season 4 finale, having come to terms with her father's emotional incompetence. Both Earth Beth and Space Beth reject their dependence on Rick in favor of developing meaningful relationships with the rest of the family.