Original artwork, not a still
The Butter Robot and Rick, Rick and Morty, "Something Ricked This Way Comes" (2014)
Robot: What is my purpose? Rick: You pass butter. Robot: Oh my God.
— Rick and Morty • 2013
Behind the line
What it means
Our interpretation.
In a few seconds it says what the show's bigger arcs spend seasons on: a created being learning that its reason for existing is small and meaningless. Rick's 'welcome to the club' makes it a joke about all of us. The robot became a breakout character, returning in later episodes and spreading far beyond the show as a meme about work and meaning.
Context reviewed
In context
Spoilers for Rick and MortyShow the scene
The gag comes from "Something Ricked This Way Comes" (season 1, episode 9, first aired 24 March 2014, written by Mike McMahan). Over breakfast Rick finishes a small robot built purely to pass the butter. The robot asks what its purpose is, and Rick tells it to pass the butter, which it does. When it asks again, Rick states it flatly: you pass butter. The robot looks down at its own hands and registers its horror, and Rick answers with a shrug that this is just what life is like.
Sources (3)
- Rick and Morty wiki: Something Ricked This Way Comes (transcript)Opening breakfast sceneReference checked
- Rick and Morty wiki: Purpose RobotHistoryReference checked
- Rick and Morty wiki: Something Ricked This Way ComesEpisode infoboxReference checked
Context reviewed
