The Dimension C-137 moniker holds a coveted place in Rick and Morty lore. For diehard fans, unraveling the puzzle box around "Morty C-137" provides endless debate, theories and obsession. But what do we actually know about the supposed Morty C-137?
Let‘s embark on a deep dive into the twisted web of clues, speculation and meaning behind the legendary title. If you‘re like me – a devoted Rick and Morty superfan – understanding Morty C-137 offers the ultimate fan payoff.
Morty C-137 Does Not Actually Exist
This remains the one certain fact about Morty C-137 that interdimensional chaos cannot distort – he is not a real being. In the opening episode of Season 6, Rick Sanchez confronts the Morty we follow in confusion:
"Why do you keep calling yourself ‘C-137?‘ You‘re not f**king C-137 Morty."
The Citadel Ricks later express the same puzzlement over our Morty‘s C-137 moniker. This confirms the fan theory that our Morty wrongly assumed he was C-137 just because Rick called himself that.
So where did Morty get this idea? Likely fromRick constantly using "C-137" as an intimidation tactic to seem like the "Rickest Rick." Morty innocently followed suit, not realizing Rick‘s dimension of origin differed from his own.
The Allure of C-137 in Pop Culture
Despite being inaccurate, the C-137 code gripped public imagination almost like a viral meme. The designation spawned songs, merch, endless discussions and memes:
Google Search Popularity of "Morty C-137"
| Year | Average Monthly Searches |
|---|---|
| 2017 | 73,000 |
| 2018 | 121,000 |
| 2019 | 247,000 |
| 2020 | 426,000 |
This growing curiosity demonstrates the intoxicating lure of decoding "C-137" among fans. As streaming pushed Rick and Morty into the zeitgeist, interest in the cryptic Morty C-137 skyrocketed.
What Does C-137 Actually Mean in the Show?
C-137 refers specifically to the dimension where Rick Sanchez was born. Typical Rick backstory goes as follows:
- Rick married childhood sweetheart Diane and had daughter Beth
- Another vengeful Rick murdered Diane and Beth
- Rick embarked on nihilistic dimension-hopping adventures
This traumatic origin story occurred in Dimension C-137 prior to infinite iterations of Ricks and Mortys spreading through the Central Finite Curve.
Within the multiverse, each reality has a unique dimension code. C-137 serves as the "home base" for the show‘s Rick Sanchez.
Is Our Rick Really C-137?
Though Rick refers to himself as "Rick C-137," obsessive fans debate if he actually hails from there. Significant hints suggest otherwise:
- Rick has warm memories of holding baby Morty. But Morty couldn‘t exist in his native C-137 since Diane and Beth died.
- When Rick‘s family is killed in C-137, he discovers portal technology and abandons the dimension. He could never return.
- By calling himself C-137, Rick invokes fear since that dimension spawned the Ruthless Rick who killed his family.
This implies Rick may have usurped the C-137 title once occupying that reality. The motives? Intimidation, hiding from enemies, disguising his pain.
Cracking the Code of Rick and Morty‘s Origins
A cornerstone of the show revolves around questioning each Rick and Morty‘s "true" origin story. As Rick tells Morty in the pilot:
"It‘s just Rick and Morty. R-Rick and Morty and their adventures, Morty.. A-across the multiverse!"
With infinite realities in play, characters constantly shift, abandon, and overwrite their personal timelines. So determining the "home" or original dimension of any Rick or Morty proves impossible.
What Makes Rick C-137 the "Rickest Rick"?
The Rick who occupies C-137, whether or not he‘s native, is infamous as the most sadistic and dangerous. Among Ricks, he‘s known as the:
- Rickest Rick
- Malcontent Rick
- Rick Prime
- Apex Rick
This Rick has a history of:
- Killing more Ricks than any other
- Undermining the Galactic Federation
- Refusing to align with the Citadel of Ricks
He also displays unusual sentimentality toward Mortys, seen in "panda hugging" memories.
Evil Morty‘s C-137 Vendetta
Evil Morty is a super intelligent Morty hellbent on destroying Rick C-137. Why the vendetta against this specific Rick?
Many posit Evil Morty is the abandoned original Morty of C-137 Rick. He feels betrayed by Rick leaving him. By hatching an intricate plan to infiltrate and take down the Citadel, could Evil Morty be seeking greater purpose after being denied adventures with his Rick?
But Evil Morty now believes Rick C-137 limits infinite realities to only those where he‘s the smartest. As Evil Morty declared in his Season 3 speech:
“The Central Finite Curve is a lie; there are infinite universes beyond it, universes that we‘ll never know.”
Does Morty want freedom? Or just to make C-137 Rick suffer? The motives of Evil Morty remain shrouded in mystery.
Survival in the Central Finite Curve
Rick C-137 is believed to have created the Central Finite Curve – an enclosed section of the multiverse containing realities where Rick is the smartest being.
This essentially “rigs the game” so Ricks always win. But it limits possibilities to these finite realities.
Within the Curve live an infinite number of similar Ricks and Mortys. Some posit the “C-137” label helps Ricks distinguish themselves in this homogeneous multiverse.
Who Are the "Real" Rick and Morty?
With so many versions existing in the infinite realities within the Central Finite Curve, the debate over the "one true" Rick and Morty persists.
Many posit C-137 Rick and Evil Morty are the originals. Others believe we‘ll never conclusively know their exact origin dimensions.
Creators Dan Harmon and Justin Roiland intentionally avoid clarifying which Rick and Morty are considered the prime version. This allows endless theorizing among fans.
But among the Ricks, Rick C-137‘s reputation as the most cunning and dangerous persists across realities, making him the de facto "Rickest Rick."
Does Morty C-137‘s Identity Really Matter?
In a show with infinite variations of characters across the multiverse, does determining one "true" Morty C-137 actually matter?
To many fans, yes. Cracking this code offers the ultimate satisfaction. But we must remember that Rick and Morty TV lore often contradicts itself and leaves questions unanswered.
However, just because something doesn‘t matter to Rick Sanchez III doesn‘t mean fans can‘t have fun obsessing over it. Figuring out the puzzle box around Morty C-137 drives passionate debates across message boards, conventions and subreddits.
Theories on Morty C-137‘s True Identity
Many hypotheses attempt to pin down the real Morty C-137:
- Evil Morty – The super intelligent Evil Morty abandoned by C-137 Rick seeks revenge
- Eye Patch Morty – This quietly cunning Morty could have an agenda against Rick
- Hammerhead Morty – His hatred of C-137 Rick aligns with Evil Morty‘s mission
- Acid Spitting Morty – He shows greater determination and skill than typical Mortys
Personally, I believe Evil Morty has the strongest motive as the abandoned original. But Rick and Morty revels in endless uncertainty. We may never know.
Cracking the Code Keeps Fans Hooked
The mystique around Morty C-137‘s identity has sparked endless fan debates across Reddit, Twitter, Discord and beyond. Some of my favorite theories include:
- Morty C-137 traveled to Rick‘s original dimension to spite him
- Rick C-137 is not the real C-137 so Morty can‘t be either
- Morty C-137 was killed by Evil Rick long ago
This thriving discussion among the show‘s cult fanbase shows how the cryptic allure of C-137 keeps viewers passionately engaged.
The code encapsulates the show‘s signature mind-bending premise. While we may never definitively crack the case, the quest to uncover the truth about Morty C-137‘s identity will persist indefinitely. And that mystery is what keeps Rick and Morty fans coming back, season after season.
