Animated television shows have the capability to outperform live-action television shows of all genres, and this fact holds true from the viewpoint of the life of an everyday person looking for some entertainment at the comfort of their home. Animated shows and Cartoons can be all the more unbelievably ludicrous, more abhorrent and disputably far more engaging because of the lack of physical limitations and the abundance of creative workspace and possibilities.

Speaking of massively successful cartoons on the mainstream media, one beloved yellow family from Springfield comes to mind.

Ruling the television sets for over twenty-seven years, "The Simpsons" have kept people of all ages entertained for quite some time now. But have they finally met their match with the largely popular and viral sci-fi show starring the greatest grandpa-grandson duo animated television has ever seen? We surely do think so.

Here are 6 good reasons why "Rick and Morty" is, on this date, better than "The Simpsons".

1. Character-Development is the Word

Any die-hard Simpsons fan would vouch for the fact that the show is fun albeit the plot variance in each episode. But that’s where it ends, and that is precisely all it has to offer. There has been noticeably minimum to no Character Development at all, taking into account all the characters of the Simpsons family since their very first episode that was released in December 1989.

"Rick and Morty", on the other hand, has worked keenly on each character of the family and shown the evolution of character since its debut in December 2013.

2. Fertile plots grow more fans

Another very noticeable difference that sets the two shows apart is the gravity of the plot.

Having the same bunch of characters work their dynamics in different environments of the same town almost all the time makes for a repetitive plot in case of "The Simpsons".

"Rick and Morty" avoids this domain considering the fact that the episodes, even as they are independently entertaining, are interconnected and point towards a bigger picture.

"Rick and Morty" also has a lot of room for Easter Eggs due to this very fact, which makes the show more cryptic and mentally engaging to today's viewers.

3. Story Writing is penultimate

An animated television show or cartoon without story writing that is creative, explorative, and limitless adds juice to the show in ways more than mentionable. Effective story writing also determines the kind of fans the show will attract and what age group they fall under. A more diverse story that isn’t dumbed down broadcasting companies over time earns the loyalty of fans while constantly and steadily multiplying the fanbase.

Considered to be the best writer "The Simpsons" ever had, John Swartzwelder left the team after 59 episodes and a golden streak in the show’s history and is still considered as the greatest writer the show ever had by all the writers who have contributed to the show. "Rick and Morty" has one-upped "The Simpsons" in terms of story writing, no doubt.

4. Addressing modern day social issues

When the writers of a show engage in writing an episode that revolves around addressing a social issue, there is no better form of lightly dosed informal education and food for thought.

"Rick and Morty" is shrewd at pointing out the overlooked and lightly taken flaws in modern society.

From addressing the issue of gender inequality in “Raising Gazorpazorp”, to depicting the issue of inequality between humans and their pets in “Lawnmower Dog”, to addressing the issue of child molestation and providing swift justice in “Meeseeks and Destroy”, to taking a very dark and bold look at class struggle and social hierarchy in “The Ricklantis Mixup”, the show has the ability to make one think and question the nature of things while simultaneously entertaining them.

"The Simpsons" won an Emmy in the year 1997 for taking arms against homophobia in the episode “Homer’s Phobia”. There have been no such instances of social commentary in the show ever since, and it seems like the after-effects of the dominance of the broadcasting company.

5. A multi-talented cast results in a fully rounded show

It goes without saying that Justin Roiland is perhaps the most underrated voice-actor/animator/script-writer/show creator of all time. With the man lending his voice to both Rick Sanchez and Morty Smith, while ever so imaginatively crafting each and every episode with co-creator Dan Harmon, the show blossoms in terms of creative genius. "Rick and Morty" has a team that is more able in terms of being multi-talented which makes for a more functional show with lesser need to bring in additional teammates. This also means a lesser change in the dynamics of the show’s overall presentation to the audience.

"The Simpsons" falls short in this aspect.

Although Daniel Castellaneta is a genius who lends his voice to Homer Simpson, Grampa Simpson, Barney Gumble, Krusty the Clown, Groundskeeper Willie, Mayor Quimby, Hans Moleman, Sideshow Mel, and Itchy, the creative writing team has undergone many changes throughout the existence of the show that these characters have thinned down depending on the strength and imagination of the script.

6. Stats, Social recognition, and Fanbase

"The Simpsons" is a giant, having been around for 28 years, with a total of 28 seasons and 618 episodes. It is the kind of show that has been literally passed down generations. The shelf life of the show has been fairly consistent, owing to its brand value and funding by the Fox Broadcasting Network.

Although being one of the pinnacles of animated television entertainment in the 90’s, the show’s popularity saw a steady decline after the first 13 seasons, both due to the change in the writer, and the birth of new cartoon shows with comparatively better storylines.

To be frank, it is the unspoken truth that "The Simpsons" has become stale as a show due to its regurgitated writing which fails to appeal to the viewer of today. "Rick and Morty" is in its 4th year as a show, with its ongoing 3rd season and only 28 episodes down. This show has been monumental in gathering the largest amount of viewers in the shortest span of existence as a mainstream show. The show’s creativity and ability to engage the viewer is debatably superior and the fandom gets larger by the minute.

Although the winner is clear since "Rick and Morty" managed to briefly kill The Simpsons in their own show in the episode Mathlete’s Feat, both shows are equally entertaining in their own ways. What are your thoughts on this?
© ALL RIGHTS RESERVED