How RICK & MORTY Tells A Story - Dan Harmon's Universal Theory of Storytelling

The video explores the storytelling structure of 'Rick and Morty', focusing on Dan Harmon's 8-step story embryo. It contrasts TV and movie storytelling, emphasizing TV's focus on maintaining the status quo. The analysis of the episode 'The Ricks Must Be Crazy' illustrates how the show follows this structure, highlighting the futility of change in TV narratives.

What is the first step in Dan Harmon's story embryo?

• A character wants something

• A character pays a heavy price

• A character returns to their familiar situation

• A character is in a zone of comfort

How does TV storytelling differ from movies according to the transcript?

• TV aims to change the status quo

• TV focuses on character development

• TV aims to preserve the status quo

• TV has no structure

In the episode 'The Ricks Must Be Crazy', what is the initial problem Rick faces?

• Summer is missing

• He loses his portal gun

• His ship's battery is dead

• Morty is kidnapped

What is the significance of the Microverse in the episode?

• It is a vacation spot

• It is Morty's dream world

• It is a place where Rick hides

• It powers Rick's ship

What does Rick realize about Zeep in the Microverse?

• Zeep is his long-lost brother

• Zeep is a mirror image of himself

• Zeep is a friend

• Zeep is a powerful enemy

What is the main conflict between Rick and Zeep?

• They both want to escape the Microverse

• They both want to destroy each other's universe

• They both want to control the Microverse

• They both want to save the Microverse

What does Morty do to resolve the conflict between Rick and Zeep?

• He fights them both

• He leaves them to their fate

• He destroys the Microverse

• He forces them to work together

What is the final outcome for Rick and Morty at the end of the episode?

• They decide to change their ways

• They create a new universe

• They return to their original world

• They are trapped in the Microverse

What does the episode suggest about the nature of change in TV storytelling?

• Change is unpredictable

• Change is constant

• Change is futile

• Change is essential

How does Rick and Morty use its circular structure differently from other TV shows?

• To emphasize the futility of change

• To mock popular culture

• To create a linear narrative

• To highlight the importance of change