Over the years,Rick and Mortyhas continued to develop the complicated relationship between Summer and Rick. First premiering on August 15, 2025,Rick and Mortyhas run for 71 episodes across seven seasons so far, withseason 8 ofRick and Mortyon the way with an anticipated release date of 2025. WithRick and Mortyfeaturing the titular duo going on wacky adventures, the show does a surprisingly good job of grounding its stories with complex relationships between the characters.
Summer Smith is an integral part ofRick and Morty. She is the older sister of Morty and the granddaughter of Rick in theSanchez family tree, and she embodies the traits of a typical teenager much more than he younger brother. At 17 years old, Summer is obsessed with status and popularity, mostly with her peers, but she has some family issues as well — many of which are connected to her grandfather
Summer And Rick Have A Tumultuous Relationship In Rick And Morty
She’s Envious Of Her Grandfather Taking Morty On All Their Adventures
Summer and Rick have had a tumultuous relationship since the very beginning ofRick and Morty. One of the main driving forces behind this is thatRick decides to take Morty on all of his multiverse-hopping escapades, while Summer is left behind. These types ofdecisions that Rick makes leave Summer jealous, but he has told her before that her opinions mean"very little"to him. In fact, for most of the series, Rick actively does not want Summer to go places with him and Morty.
Unfortunately, moments like this between the characters are few and far between, with their strained relationship being the status quo.
Like most families, though, Rick and Summer’s relationship isn’t always adversarial. InRick and Mortyseason 1, episode 9, “Something Ricked This Way Comes,” Rick helps Summer get buff so that the two of them can enact revenge on Mr. Needful after getting fired by him. In a post-credits scene, Rick and Summer are seen together using their new strength to beat up various terrible people. Unfortunately, moments like this between the characters are few and far between, with their strained relationship being the status quo for the whole series.
Why Rick Treats Summer Poorly Explained
Summer Reminds Rick Of His Late Wife
Throughout most of their relationship, it is unclear exactly why Rick treats Summer the way he does, especially compared to how he treats her brother Morty. Eventually, though, Rick does give a reason why he might feel the way he does towards Summer. InRick and Mortyseason 6, episode 1, “Solaricks,“it’s revealed that Summer reminds Rick of his wife, and her grandmother, Diane.
Rick and Morty’s First Thanksgiving Episode Was Way More Important Than You Think
Rick and Morty’s lone Thanksgiving episode marks an important point in the sci-fi comedy show’s history, although viewers might not guess this.
Diane was largely a mystery throughout most ofRick and Morty, as she was the deceased wife of Rick. Eventually, fans learned more of thestory behind Diane Sanchez, and it makes sense that Rick would want to keep Summer at more of an arms length if she reminded him of his wife. In some ways, it’s possible that Rick is actually looking out for Summer, not wanting her to get caught up in the dangerous situations he finds himself in with Morty.
What’s Next For Summer In Rick And Morty?
For most ofRick and Morty, the titular characters have been the stars of the show, with a heavy focus on their adventures together and the relationship they built over time. But in season 7,Summer has became the third main characterin the series, even going on more adventures with the two of them than she ever has before.
Summer has seen a lot of personal growth throughout the series, and season 7 put her in a good position to take on an even bigger role inRick and Mortyseason 8. This could be just the dynamic the show needs to continue to feel fresh after having run for so long already. Changing up the group dynamics so much by having Summer become even more involved will also be the perfect way her relationship with Rick can evolve.
Rick and Morty
Cast
Rick and Morty is an animated science fiction series that follows the eccentric scientist Rick Sanchez and his impressionable grandson Morty Smith as they embark on perilous adventures across space and alternate dimensions. The show explores the impact of these exploits on Morty’s tumultuous family life and personal challenges.
