The day was as black as Prince Aemond's heart

Aemond was not one of those people who had the courage to confess his love, but his words speak for themselves. He draws a clear line between himself x Helaena and with the rest of their family.

Almost a year ago, I made a post where I argued that the creators and writers had retconned the backstory of Rick and Evil Morty's relationship.

With the release of the new season, I have a theory on how the writers could play this out. Or maybe it's just my own headcanon and idea. Someone might have already suggested something similar. Enjoy! ❤️

We know that Rick C-137 was one of the founders of the Citadel of Ricks and also built the Central Finite Curve. This means Rick helped other Ricks with other scientific ventures, including the Morty cloning project. Morty has always been treated as expendable. "Original" grandsons died, and Ricks couldn't return home without a Morty. Also, some Ricks never had a daughter, or their Beths died for various reasons. That is why Morty clone mass production was eventually established. But it all had to start somewhere.

I believe it all started with the creation of the very first Morty clone. The Ricks couldn't just spawn a 14-year-old grandson from the get-go, so they had to engineer a baby first. And that first baby could have been Evil Morty. This perfectly explains Rick’s memories of baby Morty and that famous photo.

I think Rick C-137 spearheaded this project. He raised and educated the child, which accounts for this specific Morty’s exceptionally high intellect. Rick actually cared for him, which is why he cried during that memory playback. It also explains why the photo looks like it was taken in a lab.

(Of course, there's also a flashback where Baby Morty is in a home setting, but that could be a simulation of a house or a room. In any case, I'm trying to piece this together; I don't think the show's creators were thinking about this when creating Season 1.)

Moreover, when Rick left the Citadel, he was sad and drinking—his classic coping mechanisms for pain and depression. Only then did he move into Rick Prime's house.

Most likely, Rick got scared of his growing attachment to the boy and abandoned the project. Evil Morty was then handed over to another Rick, who didn't view him as a grandson, but merely as expendable property. Being so young, Morty might not have remembered his infancy, or only kept fragmented memories of it.

It's highly possible Evil Morty went through multiple Ricks. This would explain his deep resentment and his belief that all Ricks are fundamentally the same (plus, he eventually uncovered the Citadel's darkest secrets). Finally, Evil Morty wiped all his data from the Citadel’s database so they could never track him down. After all, he wasn't just any ordinary Morty—he was the prototype, the very first clone.

For Evil Morty, destroying the Citadel was a liberation from all his trauma. Yet, unlike other Morties, he remains a lonely child with no mother, father, sister, or grandfather. Watching Rick C-137 genuinely care for Morty Prime sparked a deep sense of envy and resentment inside him. Evil Morty know that Rick C-137 was the one who raised him in infancy. This would explain his subconsious desire to reclaim the only version of Rick who ever truly cared about him.

Well, these are just my thoughts. I really hope we see Evil Morty again in Season 9.

If my theory holds any water and Rick C-137 shares a past with Evil Morty, then Rick himself must suspect it… Which is exactly why he wiped his own memory and went on vacation in Season 9, Episode 2. It cut him deep to have to turn Morty over to the cops. He feels a heavy burden of guilt, even though he knows it was necessary to protect Morty Prime.

After returning from vacation and restoring his memory, Rick is clearly suffering. But why? He finally got his revenge on Rick Prime, he lives with a family, and everything is relatively stable. Of course, like anyone, he dwells on the past and secretly wishes he could be with his actual, biological daughter, wife, and original grandkids. But what if the real trigger for his current misery was this exact conflict and the painful parting with his very first grandson — Evil Morty?

An update. I’m currently rewatching the whole show from Season 1, and in Episode 10, Rick mentions that he once conceptualized the 'matrix of suffering Mortys' on paper as a way to hide. This got me thinking: either Evil Morty came up with the exact same plan independently, or (going by my theory) he was close with Rick during his childhood and stumbled upon these blueprints. Seeing that project could have absolutely terrified him, leading him to realize that Rick C-137 is just as messed up as all the other Ricks. That would explain why he felt zero remorse in Season 1 and actively tried to frame and kill him.

But why wasn't there any info about this Morty clone project in Rick’s scanned brain? I think Evil Morty could have erased that data from the hard drive device himself. After all, when Morty downloads Rick C-137’s memories later in the series, that specific memory of Rick holding a toddler Morty is missing. I honestly believe that toddler was actually Evil Morty.

-The blood of the dragon runs thick-

When your "allies" become your murderers.

That's why it's most offensive to me that Sasuke was destroyed as a character, and also that the system hasn't changed since Kakashi and Naruto came to power.

That is, Sasuke spent time in prison, and the elders continue to hold their positions of power. As if the humiliation wasn't enough, Kishimoto also took away Sasuke's arm.

Indra, after a falling out with his father and younger brother, renounces the Otsutsui family name and takes the new name Uchiha. He fathers children, who, I believe, make him happy, and creates his own clan – the Uchiha. Indra is the first Uchiha and the father of all Uchiha.

Sasuke is Indra's reincarnation; we see his deep, tender, and devoted love for his clan. But Itachi murder everyone, leaving Sasuke the last Uchiha, deeply unhappy and broken. Indra's soul literally watched as his children, his descendants, were murder. This is madness and unbearably painful.

1. In my opinion, most of the characters should have died during the war. I think Might Guy's team and he himself should have died. We were essentially given the lead-up to Guy's death in the battle with Madara, and we saw a dramatic farewell to his character, but in the end, everything was destroyed by the Deus Ex Machina and his miraculous rescue. I also think his entire team should have perished, which would have been quite symbolic. Guy's team was the most united and strong, and their deaths would have been symbolic.

2. Kiba and Shino should have died. These characters essentially stopped developing and contributing to the plot, but their deaths would have shown the consequences of the war and allowed for growth for Hinata; she would have been able to survive it with her sensei, Kurenai. Hinata could have been shown caring for Mirai.

3. Kakashi and Obito should have both died. We were literally shown how both of them were willing to give their lives to protect Sasuke and Naruto. Their deaths would have been meaningful, would have had meaning, and would have allowed Team Minato to retire and reunite in the afterlife.

4. 50% of the people caught in the eternal tsukuyomi should have died. Or even more… We should have been shown the damage, the consequences of everything.

5. Many villages should have ceased to exist. There would have been too many deaths, a ruined economy, a crisis, the aftermath of the war.

6. Naruto should have become the 6th Hokage. Yeah… I hate the Hokage and Konoha itself, but I understand that the story should have ended with Naruto becoming Hokage, after all, he is the main character. The last chapter really should have been about Naruto's Kage Ceremony.

7. Sakura and Naruto should have been together. I can't stand Naruto, and I'm neutral towards Sakura (she irritated me at one point, then I liked her, then irritated me again, but in the end, I'm neutral towards her). I really think Naruto and Sakura were supposed to be together. Even Kishimoto's wife loved that ship. From the first episode, we see that Naruto's dream is to become Hogake, gain recognition from the village, and be with Sakura. He loves her, wants to be with her, and at the same time, he was afraid to confess his feelings to her. Sakura herself also loves Naruto, but because of her childhood obsession with Sasuke, she couldn't open up to these feelings. I still remember Sai telling Sakura that Naruto loved her and how she cried. I remember thinking, "What a powerful scene, she has to change them, they have to open up to each other." I remember Sakura crying during her conversation with Sai, and how she hugged Naruto after the battle with Pain. Sakura should have grown beyond her obsession with Sasuke and realized that Naruto was truly the one who always cared about her. This would have given her and Naruto growth. Sakura is very similar to Kushina—Minato noted this. And I remember Naruto telling him she was his girlfriend. Sakura tried her best to save Naruto after he lost Kurama. That's why I 1000% believe they were supposed to be together.

8. Hinata should have become the head of the Hyuga clan. I'm also sure Hinata should have grown out of her unrequited love for Naruto. Let's be honest, this relationship doesn't develop her. Of course, Naruto was someone she looked up to; she wanted to be strong like him and truly loved him with tenderness. But he didn't love her. She died for him, told him she loved him, but he never talked to her about it. It hurt. Hinata had to accept this and move on. She had to embrace her heritage and defend her right to leadership of the Hyuga clan. Out of love for Neji, she was determined to reform the clan and abandon the slave stigma and segregation. Hinata should have become a strong leader of her family and received the recognition she deserved.

9. Sasuke… my favorite character. I feel so sorry for you… But you have no place in this world. His entire family—his entire world—was destroyed and trampled. He's been through too much pain and suffering. He's left alone, and there are no more Uchiha. In my ideal ending, he becomes Hokage and changes the Shinobi world, but I understand that in Kishimoto's universe, that wouldn't have happened. Sasuke should have died, dying in battle with Naruto, defending his views, his clan, his freedom, his rights. He should have found peace and reunited with his family in heaven (except for you, Itachi, you're in hell) and found peace. I don't see a bright and happy future for this character. He can't live in the future; the trauma is too great, the grief is too great, and it's simply too late. This world doesn't deserve you.

Why did we get what we got? And why did we get Boruto? Why isn't there a proper ending?

Because Naruto is a franchise that brings in a lot, a lot of money. Because the anime ran for 14 years, which means jobs, income for the studios, actors, and so on.

I think Kishimoto was simply given a condition to end the story so the studio could continue milking the cow. Kishimoto is retired and earns passive income. The studio is in the black and is making Boruto. The next anime will be about Naruto's grandson, and so on. Yes, the ratings have dropped, but it's still a very profitable project. I want to say that no one will abandon the story for a logical ending.

The other day, I was remembering Sasuke and Itachi's battle, and how Itachi lied yet again to paint the Uchiha as villains.

He told Sasuke a false story about Marada and Izuna, which proves his undying hatred and resentment towards his people.

In Itachi's illusion, Izuna looks completely different from what Hashirama and Tobirama remember. Izuna is actually a copy of Sasuke (or, more accurately, Sasuke is a copy of Izuna). Both Hokage point out this. But Itachi didn't know this, which is why Izuna doesn't look as he should.

2. The lie that both brothers killed their friends to awaken the Mangekyo Sharingan and take over as clan head. Madara and Izuna were the sons of the Uchiha clan head and have always held power. The brothers didn't kill their friends. The Uchiha wouldn't tolerate kinslayers leading the clan. It's a desecration of the bloodline and also a risk of betrayal. "Today he kills another. And tomorrow the entire clan" (really, Itachi? Are you judging by yourself?). I'm sure both brothers awakened the Mangekyo Sharingan after the death of their father, Tajima Uchiha. That's why Madara took over as clan head. I also considered the death of their mother, perhaps a mutual friend or close relative (a cousin, for example). But more likely, their father's death influenced the brothers and their awakening of the Mangekyo Sharingan.

3. The lie that Madara forcibly took Izuna's eyes and the lie of Izuna's death. Itachi should have known how Madara's younger brother died. He was the clan heir, and he should have known the history. We know that after Shisui's death, Itachi was stripped of his right to inherit power, and Sasuke was to become the next clan head. But Sasuke was little and hadn't yet been told about Madara. Itachi deliberately glosses over the fact that Tobirama killed Izuna. He shifts this sin onto Madara's soul. Izuna willingly gave up his eyes before his death. He loved his clan and his brother and wanted to protect them.

4. The Uchiha didn't engage in fratricide. Only in the anime were we shown that the Uchiha killed each other for power, and it was exaggerated, like something out of a propaganda textbook and the Overton Window theory. Perhaps there were such criminals, but they exist in any nation. But this was only the exception. As Hashirama and Tobirama said, the Uchiha value family and love—they weren't kin-killers. If this were true, the Uchiha wouldn't have been so organized and wouldn't have survived as a clan.

5. Itachi said that all the Uchiha took their brothers' eyes to awaken the eternal MSH. But this is a lie. In that case, the Uchiha would have had the same slave-like segregation within the family as the Hyuga. Younger brothers would have been born and used as "spare parts." But that's not the case. This means no one forcibly stole eyes. The Uchiha loved each other and didn't wish suffering on their siblings or other relatives.

I believe Kishimoto made a retcon to remove responsibility from Itachi. On the day of Shisui's death there was a clan meeting that no one should miss, Itachi for some reason does not attend it, he tells his father that he will have a mission. What mission does he have if he was in the village that day?

I believe Itachi did not lie to Sasuke when he said that he killed Shisui. Itachi knew that Shisui would try to talk to Danzo. I think in the original scenario Itachi was supposed to meet Shisui, who wanted to warn the clan about the danger, but Itachi did not agree with this and he panicked, a fight began.

Shisui was weakened after the battle with Danzo and he lost his eye. He also did not want to hurt his cousin, so he lost and Itachi drowned him (maybe unintentionally) in the river. Afterwards, Itachi takes Shisui's mangekyo and writes a note, forging handwriting with the sharingan.

The police blame Itachi and say that the note is fake.

Shisui, who was bleeding, could not have returned home and written a note on his own.

Itachi wanted to be detained by the police, maybe because he felt guilty? Why would he attack the police if he was not guilty of Shisui's death? Only because of the accusations, he is a "genius" after all, but in this scene he openly shows his hatred for his family. If it weren't for Fugaku, Itachi would have been detained, but not for long because he is Anbu.

Why would Itachi tell Sasuke that he needs to kill his best friend to activate the Mangekyou Sharingan if Itachi didn't do it?

Itachi never blamed Danzo for the death of his best friend-cousin-brother. He never expressed his dislike or accused Danzo of stealing the kekegenkai. Probably because he did it too.

Itachi left all the Uchihas with eyes, which were later stolen by Danzo.

Obito also confirms that Itachi killed Shisui.

Shisui's s*****e makes no sense, he was one of the strongest in the clan and stronger than Itachi, he had a lot of responsibility, he could not just give up everything and agree to kill his family. I will never believe that Shisui decided to die . This is a weakling's decision, and Shisui is not like that.

Shisui would also never stop fighting because he has his younger cousin Sasuke. There are many moments in the manga that prove their closeness.

1. Shisui was the only person Sasuke respected and called him "Shisui-san" (in the entire manga). 2. Sasuke is very saddened by Shisui's death when he learns about it from other clan members. As a child, he does not fully accept this fact and Fugaku tries to distract him by occupying him with the fireball technique. 3. Sasuke is scared when he learns the details of Shisui's death from Itachi. 4. Sasuke is angry when he learns that Shisui's eye was taken by Danzo. 5. Sasuke was also constantly upset that Shisui and Itachi spend little time with him and have secrets from him (in anime).

Shisui was a real older brother (if only because he did not torture a child) and Sasuke truly loved him.

So I absolutely do not believe that Shisui would give up and sell his clan to Danzo, the advisors and Sarutobi. I also remember that the first details of his death were in the anime, not the manga.

Come with me... to Harrenhal / Be with me... Build the new world with me

I actually think the creators of Rick and Morty retconned the backstory of Evil Morty and Rick C-137. Most likely, the original idea was for Rick to live with his other alternate family and raise his alternate grandson, who eventually became Evil Morty.

The most important evidence is Rick's memory of holding baby Morty. And it's not a fake memory, because he cries.

At the end of the episode, we learn that "Evil Rick" was just a controlled puppet.

This means Rick C-137 was having a conversation with Evil Morty.

The whole dialogue feels so personal, as if Evil Morty holds a grudge against Rick C-137. Why else would he try to convince him otherwise?

Rick also has flashbacks that weren't in the show. I think it's Evil Morty in those memories, not Morty Prime.

Evil Marty has a disdainful attitude towards Morty Prime. Evil Morty doesn't care about his alternate selves, just like Rick doesn't care about his.

Interesting moments:

Evil Morty was able to hack Rick's portal gun, which also hints at their connection

Rick is given a coupon for a replacement Morty, which hints at the fact that Rick has already abandoned another Morty before.

3. At the end of the episode Rick also says "Wubba Lubba dub-dub" Does he regret abandoning his first grandson Morty? Is he in pain and suffering? (There is a mistake in the subtitles in the word "lubba" on the screen)

Already in the second season, we are shown a photo of Rick with baby Morty. And Morty Plyme asks who this child is.

Even if we accept the fact that Evil Marty and Rick C-137 are not connected in any way and Rick did not have a grandson before, the question remains: who was that little Morty in the memories and in the photograph?

I think we will never get answers to these questions.

I read that in season 3 there will be a "conceptual" episode and they will experiment this season.

It's bold to think, but maybe there will be stuff about Helaena x Aemond 🧝🏻‍♀️🧝🏻‍♂️

Unfortunately the whole story is centered around Rhaenyra, Alicent and Daemon.

We still don't know if Maelor will be in this story. I understand that after the disastrous season 2 (in all senses), few people hope to get helaemond, but the door is still open 🕷💎