Personal potential and demonising derangement
Skimming through the comment section of a Ricky and Morty episode argued that Jerry’s potential was sapped by Rick and Beth. Jerry is imperfect and at times a bumbling idiot. While Rick may call him a sadistic predator he is just trying to regain his manhood and respect. Ever since Rick has walked back into his life he has time and time again emasculated Jerry. Rick is a talented genius and Jerry an average man. By comparison he is a loser but much of his loser-ness has little to do with his own failings and more to do with Rick’s incredible ability and experience.
There are moments of excessive cowardice. Yet these cowardly moments are selfish for his own survival. If he were alone then it wouldn’t be all too bad. Maybe a bit unsympathetic but understandably so for survival. Still, overall Jerry stands up for his manhood and respect. In the early seasons he pushes back for his children for Morty’s security, sanity and success. Beth blinded by her father’s approval and risking desertion (don’t know if it was intentional but grammatically "Rick" is one letter away from "risk" something Beth nor Rick are willing to do often) takes her father’s side unwilling to see him leave again. It is not even about patriarchal power but simple respect. Beth and the children choose Rick’s side over and over. Slowly and slowly Rick steals Jerry’s initial place in the family. If anything, Rick is the sadistic predator that everyone initially feels bad for and then slowly gains their trust from Jerry.
Jerry’s actions gradually become more and more laughable due to Rick’s consistent polemics. He demeans Jerry at every turn. While at the start it causes a ruckus of argumentation slowly it devours Jerry’s confidence. He begins to fumble regularly. This only empowers Rick to continue to mock him and everyone to weigh in on this truth. A bully just giving a beat down. Yet Rick created this fumbling by mentally draining Jerry. He has questioned Jerry's confidence spiralling his self-esteem into the gutter. With little assistance from his family and increasing opposition he became the family fool. Rick’s aura is pounced upon and everyone takes jab at Jerry. No support from his loved ones only dehumanises him further. Any action he takes is critiqued. As he is measured to Rick he is seen as inferior because of his inherent average nature. Rick is the new kid in town who acts outside the bounds. He is interesting but given this attraction the opposite effect is targeted at the old kid. He proactively replaces Jerry with teasing and downgrading.
Worst of all, his most cherished support system betrays him. His wife takes her abandoning father’s side. The kids would rather a cool rule breaking grandfather than a strict caring parent. He is left alone. Whenever he does something good it is overshadowed by Rick or somewhat imperfect and thus not worthwhile. He is regarded with contempt. The audience joins in the contempt party due to the family’s negative regard. He cannot catch a break because no one respects him. The audience follows the character’s reactions. Overlooking Rick’s toxic intervention and the family’s wrongheaded motivations. Perceptively, it seems Jerry is in the wrong. The show continuously tries to frame Jerry in a negative light to demonstrate his foolish existence. Yet most of these examples can be explained in a positive light. Jerry is a simpleton and there is nothing wrong with that. He has his priorities straight and convictions stamped.
Jerry’s family is a cancer to his success. Family does take priority and therefore he is unable to reach his potential. In alternative universes and post-separation he demonstrates skilful individuality. The family may look down on him and criticise him for his imperfections and his decision but it wasn’t a if he was at total fault. There are always two people in the given conflict and the show consistently paints him as the villain. He is accosted for the decisions of others that impact him. Without them he does pretty well for himself. It may not be a perfect life but demonstrates potential excess. He is deserving of his manhood and respect. Just because he is a simpleton who wishes to drought by his family does not make him some inferior individual. No matter how the show wishes to frame Jerry, he is a capable individual when praised. Once rick challenges Jerry’s manhood all he does is try too hard. He is competing for his family’s respect. Something he shouldn’t have to do. The show takes as a given but that is messed up. Rick’s remarks should have little bearing on Jerry’s capability.
Rick is presented as Jerry’s foil. A capable alpha who takes charge and sets Jerry in his place. As the seasons progress and his behaviour becomes comedic it is not hard to see why an audience would either conclude normal Jerry behaviour or Rick exposed him. Yet in none of these examples are all the variables taken into account. Rick’s framing need not be accepted. His perception of Jerry is accepted by his family and then subsequently Jerry himself. As he fails over and over he becomes that which Rick called him. Yet it was statistically destined to occur once Jerry blundered enough to believe that Rick was correct. This is not the Jerry of the early seasons nor the solo Jerry. It is quite plausible that Rick’s attacks are viscous out of envy and resentment. There is what to tease Jerry about but his insults are maliciously laced to dehumanise and dethrone. He cannot be second fiddle to Jerry. The show portrays rick as a troubled man who trying to make things right but this is not. No matter how much he aids Jerry it is to demonstrate his superiority.
Shifting a caring strong minded Jerry to a bumbling idiot over the seasons champions Rick as the saviour to the family. Yet it is his teasing and jabs at Jerry that fortify this fall off behaviour on this part. Rick is able to torment Jerry and able to normalise it. Teasing is not too bad, it is harmless. Yet day in day out attacks create a normalcy. Everyone is so caught up in Rick’s cool-ness and other unhealthy baggage that they accept Jerry’s inferiority. When Jerry’s actions measure to something potentially similar to Rick’s framing he ousts Jerry. He manipulated the circumstances to devalue Jerry’s influence. He manufactured consent from the family and the audience. Reactive access to torment Jerry with zero barriers. At least the president has a secret service. Jerry has no one and betrayed so easily it is daunting. His personality does not do any favours but can’t blame the guy that much when a foreigner steals your family and makes you the bad guy by provoking their insecurities.
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