In the previous episode, we saw Summer, Rick, and Morty receive a spotlight to how much they have changed over the events of the season. This week's episode turns the spotlight towards Beth and Jerry. As secondary characters, we focus on their main points, Jerry's hypocritical and submissive nature and Beth's abandonment issues. Just a warning, there will be some minor spoilers, but I will try to avoid them.
How is Jerry dealing with the divorce?
We see finally Jerry differently than how we have seen him the entire season, pathetically struggling following his divorce.
In this episode, the kids come to visit and he comes out wearing a robe and offering them smoothies; this is a refreshing new look at Jerry for which we soon see the catalyst. Into the room walks an alien revealed to be Jerry's new girlfriend, Keara, a Krutabulon (which is not a race with which we are familiar before this point.)
Keara's design resembles the Na'vi from James Cameron's "Avatar," which we later learn is much to Jerry's dismay. Jerry repeatedly refers to her "avocado-shaped head," height, and blue skin as reasons he wishes to break up with her. After he tells her that the kids want him to end the relationship, she hunts them, reasoning that the relationship will resume when the kids are gone.
When Summer learns this, she reprimands Jerry for being a closet racist and a beta male. This continues the theme that we saw in "The Whirly-Dirly Conspiracy," adjusting our view of Jerry from pathetic to despicable.
Beth's old playpen
Beth's story for the episode starts with her seeing the father of a friend of her's from grade school sentenced to death for eating his child.
Upon seeing Beth dismay at the circumstances, Rick takes her to Froopyland, a place that acted as her playpen when she was younger. Beth expresses the idea that she believed it was imaginary, before growing angry that Rick placed her in Froopyland instead of spending time with her.
Rick extensively demonstrates how safe the place is by jumping from a cliff and submerging his head, neither of which harm him.
While making this point, a large bird grabs him and takes him away, the talons removing his arm. It is revealed that this is the result of Beth's childhood friend having incestuous relationships with the creatures of Froopyland in order to generate meat on which to sustain himself.
It is revealed in their conversation that Beth was placed in Froopyland to "protect the neighborhood" with Rick describing her as dangerous, backing the assertion by showing the "toys" Beth had him make, such as a sentient switchblade. She claims that these were attempts to spend time with him, acting as one of the very few looks we get into Beth's childhood.
Beth asks the boy to return with her so his father will not be executed, but he refuses.
We then see Beth, as Rick would, simply take what she wants (in this case, Tommy's finger) and asks Rick to clone him. Rick offers to let her help before further offering her the opportunity to leave with a clone in her place, telling her that she could leave for a week, a month, or even the rest of her life. Beth is unsatisfied with her life and considers it before coming to a decision that is not revealed to the audience. In the final scene, Beth is acting differently, implying either a clone or a newfound appreciation for her family. This may be used as a tool to accelerate character growth towards a more hardened, Rick-like Beth, or it may simply never be brought up again.