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Note: this is a spoiler-free review for Rick and Morty Season 4. If you want a more spoiler-y and in-depth look at Season 4, we’ve included links to our various episode reviews at the end.

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Rick and Morty is a series notorious for keeping its fans waiting. Season 4 premiered over two years after Season 3 wrapped up its run, and fans had to deal with another six-month gap in between the first and second halves. But if we’ve learned anything over the years, it’s that the quality of the series tends to make those long gaps worth suffering through in the end. Season 4 is no exception. If hardly the most consistent Rick and Morty season to date, Season 4 often showcases the series at its very best.

Every new season starts off with a mission statement of sorts, usually delivered by Rick himself in the form of a drunken, fourth wall-shattering monologue. Season 4 is a little different in that regard. The series picks up in the aftermath of Rick’s resounding defeat in the Season 3 finale. Having been forced to abandon his feud with the president and failed to prevent Jerry from returning home, Rick is faced with a major shift in the balance of power and a family generally less willing to tolerate his toxic behavior. There’s not really a strong narrative thread tying Season 4 together, but there is that greater emphasis on Rick as the self-defeating malcontent who loses many of the fights he picks. At the same time, several episodes illustrate how characters like Morty and Beth are the architects of their own misery rather than innocent victims of Grandpa Rick’s ego.

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Those hoping for a more story-driven season (especially in light of some of the big developments from Season 3) may feel a bit let down by the relative lack of continuity in Season 4. Ultimately, though, that doesn’t really matter. We have dozens of new episodes to look forward to in the years to come. Season 4’s only real missed opportunity on the storytelling front is its lack of focus on Beth and Jerry. The season does begin to make up for lost time on that front near the end, but it still seems as though more could have been done to explore Beth and Jerry’s crudely repaired relationship and the growing rivalry between Rick and his perpetually inept son-in-law.

Instead, Season 4 feels like an intentional return to basics in many ways. The Season 4 premiere helps re-center the series around the concept of a mad scientist and his grandson getting into zany sci-fi adventures. At the same time, never does it feel like Rick and Morty is resting on its laurels or failing to innovate. The premiere is one of many episodes that veers into unexpected territory, even finding ways of exploring Morty on his own terms rather than as Rick’s befuddled sidekick. One of Rick and Morty’s finest qualities is the way it still functions as a great, high-concept science fiction series if all the jokes are removed, and Season 4 continues that trend.

Occasionally the show tries a little too hard to keep outdoing itself and add new layers to already complex premises. The midseason premiere “Never Ricking Morty” is one example of an episode that doesn’t know how to quit while it’s ahead. But plenty of other Season 4 installments like the heist movie spoof “One Crew Over the Crewcoo’s Morty” and the Jerry-heavy “Childrick of Mort” show just how far the series can take a clever story idea. And perhaps no episode better speaks to Season 4’s ability to break the mold than “The Vat of Acid Episode.” After multiple attempts to recreate the novelty of Season 1’s “Rixty Minutes,” the series finally manages to put a fresh spin on the anthology format again.

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The worst that can be said for Season 4 is that the quality never remains very consistent. Season 4 tends to seesaw between great and mediocre. “Claw and Hoarder: Special Ricktim’s Morty” is easily the season’s biggest misfire – the rare Rick and Morty episode that settles for being bizarre and irreverent rather than actively funny. “Promortyus” is another weak link in the chain. It starts out as a hilarious parody of the Alien movies with an unexpected twist, but that episode peaks early and never really manages to build from that point.

There are times when Season 4 takes a style over substance approach, but that’s not always a bad thing. The animation quality has improved to the point where sometimes it’s enough to simply revel in the epic carnage and the intricately crafted battle sequences. The revamped Season 4 intro sequence illustrates just how much the show’s visual fidelity has improved in recent years, especially when new scenes are juxtaposed with the handful of holdovers from Season 1. The spectacle really benefits episodes like “The Old Man and the Seat.” While that episode is fairly unremarkable in terms of plot, the gorgeous animation and the copious amount of celebrity guest stars help elevate the fairly pedestrian material.

Inconsistent or not, Season 4 ends with what is easily the series’ strongest finale episode yet. “Star Mort Rickturn of the Jerri” captures so much of what makes the series great – the impressive animation, the hilariously outlandish sci-fi concepts, Rick’s deep-seated self-loathing, Jerry – and blends it all together in an episode that manages to pay off on some long-standing loose ends and add far more depth to Rick and Beth’s relationship. That episode hints at some major status quo changes to come in Season 5, changes that can’t be ignored as easily as those introduced at the end of Season 3. No doubt we’re in for another long wait, but at least Season 4 proves Rick and Morty is in no danger of overstaying its welcome.

Watch the trailer for co-creator Justin Roiland’s animated comedy Solar Opposites below:

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You can find links to IGN’s individual Season 4 reviews below:

• Rick and Morty Season 4, Episode 1 – “Edge of ToMorty: Rick Die Rickpeat” Review
• Rick and Morty Season 4, Episode 2 – “The Old Man and the Seat”
• Rick and Morty Season 4, Episode 3 – “One Crew Over the Crewcoos Morty”
• Rick and Morty Season 4, Episode 4 – “Claw and Hoarder: Special Ricktims Morty”
• Rick and Morty Season 4, Episode 5 – “Rattlestar Ricklactica”
• Rick and Morty Season 4, Episode 6 – “Never Ricking Morty”
• Rick and Morty Season 4, Episode 7 – “Promortyus”
• Rick and Morty Season 4, Episode 8 – “The Vat of Acid Episode”
• Rick and Morty Season 4, Episode 9 – “Childrick of Mort”
• Rick and Morty Season 4, Episode 10 – “Star Mort Rickturn of the Jerri”

The long-awaited next Evil Dead movie is actually happening, according to Ash Williams himself, actor Bruce Campbell. However, the original trilogy’s director, Sam Raimi, will not direct the film, instead passing the baton — er, chainsaw? — to a new director. And, according to Campbell, Ash himself will also be sitting out this installment.

In a chat with Empire, Campbell revealed the next Evil Dead movie is being written and directed by Lee Cronin. Raimi and Campbell appear to be involved in a producing capacity.

“It’s called Evil Dead Now. Sam handpicked Lee – he did a cool movie called The Hole In The Ground. We’re going to get that sucker out as soon as practical,” Campbell said.

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Campbell said Evil Dead Now, like the 2013 reboot Evil Dead, will focus on a female protagonist rather than Ash, with the actor-producer promising a “more dynamic” entry.

“From this point forward, they kind of have to stand on their own,” Campbell said of the films.

“We just want to keep the series current. And the mantra, really, is that our heroes and heroines are just regular people. That’s what we’re going to continue.”

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Campbell last played the role in the now-canceled Starz series Ash vs Evil Dead. He and Raimi collaborated on Evil Dead, Evil Dead 2, and Army of Darkness.

I’ve been into scale models for a little while now, and as far as hobbies go, I find it both fun and relaxing. Now, the hobby isn’t for everyone, because it’s basically a constant uphill process of getting better. I’m not a beginner, but I’m leagues behind the sorts of builds I see online or done by our very own Max Scoville.

While I prefer building tiny versions of cars, or airplanes with my son, I also have a soft spot for the extremely bizarre, and thankfully Bandai Hobby has just put its 1:1 scale Cup Noodle model kit up for preorder.

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Check out the gallery below to see the Nissin Cup Noodle 1:1 scale model kit:

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The model kit’s “noodles, egg, shrimp, and ‘mystery meat'” were 3D scanned from actual Cup Noodles, to provide a level of authenticity you probably wouldn’t expect. On top of that, the “leeks are made from vinyl material” so you can then cut to your preferred leek-specifications.

You can preorder the Bandai Hobby Cup Noodle model from Big Bad Toy Store or Amazon, although Amazon is currently sold out of preorders. I want to repeat that: Amazon is currently sold out of preorders of the 1:1 scale Cup Noodle model kit.

And yes I totally preordered one.

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Seth Macy is IGN’s Executive Editor, Commerce, and just wants to be your friend. Find him on Twitter @sethmacy.

 

It’s a great time to save some serious money on the best subscription PS4 and Xbox One services around. Both PlayStation and Xbox have deals on their subscription gaming services as part of the Days of Play and Deals Unlocked savings events, so if you’ve been waiting on renewing your subscriptions, the wait is over.

Best Xbox Game Pass Ultimate Deals

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Best PS Plus and PS Now Deals

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Or you can get 12-month PS Plus subscriptions direct from the PlayStation Store:

• PS Plus for $41.99

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Seth Macy is IGN’s Executive Editor, Commerce, and just wants to be your friend. Find him on Twitter @sethmacy.

The CW announced Monday that they have fired The Flash cast member Hartley Sawyer over a series of racist, misogynistic tweets he posted in the past.

Sawyer portrayed Ralph Dibny, aka the Elongated Man, on the superhero series. He first appeared on The Flash in a recurring role in 2017 before becoming a series regular in 2018.

“Hartley Sawyer will not be returning for season seven of The Flash,” The CW, producers Warner Bros. TV and Berlanti Productions and executive producer Eric Wallace said in a statement (via THR).

“In regards to Mr. Sawyer’s posts on social media, we do not tolerate derogatory remarks that target any race, ethnicity, national origin, gender, or sexual orientation. Such remarks are antithetical to our values and polices, which strive and evolve to promote a safe, inclusive and productive environment for our workforce.”

In 2012, Sawyer tweeted, “The only thing keeping me from doing mildly racist tweets is the knowledge that Al Sharpton would never stop complaining about me.” Several other cited past tweets are sexual and misogynistic in nature.

Although Sawyer has deleted his Twitter account, he has since posted an apology to his Instagram account for his past tweets. “My words, irrelevant of being meant with an intent of humor, were hurtful, and unacceptable,” Sawyer wrote. “I am ashamed I was capable of these really horrible attempts to get attention at that time. I regret them deeply.”

The Flash’s showrunner and executive producer Eric Wallace said on Twitter that Sawyer’s past tweets “broke my heart and made me mad as hell”:

My statement regarding Hartley Sawyer and THE FLASH. pic.twitter.com/hni0MxOWZU

— Eric Wallace (@ewrote) June 8, 2020

The Flash’s sixth season recently ended, with the show renewed for a seventh season that is expected to air in 2021.

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If you’ve been looking for a new laptop, and portability is a major factor in your purchasing decision, I have good news. Right now you can pick up the ultra-lightweight latest model MacBook Air from Amazon or Best Buy and save $100 while you’re doing it.

This gold variant has a 256GB SSD, 8GB RAM, and a 13″ screen, as well as Touch ID compatibility and more.

MacBook Air for $899

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Brian Barnett writes wiki guides, deals posts, features, and much more for IGN. You can get your fix of Brian’s antics on Twitter and Instagram (@Ribnax).

Hello Games’ space exploration title No Man’s Sky will be one of the latest additions to the growing catalogue of games available through the Xbox Game Pass subscription service. Launching on the Xbox One version of the service opens up a huge audience for No Man’s Sky, as the subscription service has 10 million subscribers and counting. An exact release date for No Man’s Sky on Xbox Game Pass has not been announced yet, but we know it’s this month. That means you could be able to dive into your own region of a massive universe in mere days or weeks.

Additionally, Hello Games confirmed that No Man’s Sky will be released on the Windows PC store. The game was already available on Steam, but this is the first time it’ll be available on Microsoft’s own store. A release date for the Windows 10 edition has not been confirmed.

No Man’s Sky developer Hello Games is planning to support the game with even more ambitious expansions and updates to come in 2020.

The game has undergone radical changes since its initial launch several years ago, including a multiplayer mode and major overhauls to inventory systems and even base-building.

The Xbox Game Pass catalog has more than 100 titles, including Red Dead Redemption 2, NBA 2K20, and Halo: The Master Chief Collection. The library also includes all of Microsoft’s first-party new releases, so subscribers can get Halo Infinite later this year at no extra cost.

Xbox Game Pass costs $10 USD/month or $15 USD/month for Xbox Game Pass Ultimate that bundles Game Pass with Xbox Live Gold. Microsoft is currently offering a nice discount on the subscription cost, letting you get your first month for only $1 USD.

Xbox Game Pass is a promising subscription service, but some developers are worried that it’s eroding the value of games–check out GameSpot’s editorial here to learn more.

The products discussed here were independently chosen by our editors. GameSpot may get a share of the revenue if you buy anything featured on our site.

Coinciding with the ongoing Black Lives Matter movement, a number of excellent films and documentaries that tackle and address racial injustice and/or highlight the black experience are now available to stream for free – including Selma, Just Mercy, and more.

So if you’re looking to amplify black voices and check out a handful of acclaimed films created by and starring black artists, here’s a quick rundown of what’s currently available for you to watch free of charge.

SELMA

After actor David Oyelowo recently revealed that Oscar voters told the studio they would not support the film after the cast wore “I Can’t Breathe” T-shirts in protest of the killing of Eric Garner, Paramount Pictures has removed the paywall for rentals of Ava DuVernay’s Selma for the rest of the month. Selma follows the 1965 voting rights marches led by Martin Luther King Jr., Hosea Williams, and John Lewis. You can check out our Selma review.

Selma is free to rent in June on all digital platforms, including Amazon, Vudu, and Google Play.

JUST MERCY

Based on the the true story of Walter McMillian, who, with the help of defense attorney Bryan Stevenson, appeals his murder conviction, Just Mercy is a compelling, fact-based legal drama starring Michael B. Jordan and Oscar-winner Jamie Foxx. Brie Larson, Tim Blake Nelson, and O’Shea Jackson Jr. co-star.

Check out our Just Mercy review.

Just Mercy is free to rent in June on all digital platforms, including Amazon, Vudu, and Google Play.

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CRITERION COLLECTION BLACK CINEMA

After committing to making monthly donations to organizations supporting Black Lives Matter, The Criterion Collection announced that it’s lifting the paywall on select titles from black filmmakers and white filmmakers who’ve captured the black experience through documentary.

Some of the films streaming free right now on Criterion Channel are:

• Down in the Delta, by Maya Angelou
• My Brother’s Wedding, from Charles Burnett
• Black Mother, by Khalik Allah
• Portrait of Jason, by Shirley Clarke
• Cane River, by Horace Jenkins

STARZ ESSENTIAL BLACK VOICES COLLECTION

Lionsgate has now made available a collection of programming that amplifies black voices across STARZ platforms — including the app and On-Demand — without a subscription.

You can freely stream the following:

• America to Me – Academy Award-nominated filmmaker Steve James (Hoop Dreams, Life Itself) examines racial, economic and class issues in contemporary American education in this multipart unscripted documentary series.
• A Huey P. Newton Story – A Starz Original Production, Huey P. Newton, charismatic co-founder of the revolutionary Black Panther Party, tells the riveting story of his life and times in this one-man show. Directed by Spike Lee.
• Emanuel – After a 21-year-old white supremacist opened fire in Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church, nine African Americans lay dead, leaving their families and the nation to grapple with this senseless act of terror. Featuring intimate interviews with survivors and family members, Emanuel, from executive producers Stephen Curry and Viola Davis, is a poignant story of justice and faith, love and hate, examining the healing power of forgiveness.
• For Ahkeem –  For Ahkeem follows Daje Shelton, a 17-year-old black girl from North St. Louis, as she strives to graduate from the nation’s only court-supervised public high school. Daje fights for her future as close friends are killed, her sixteen-year-old boyfriend is pulled into the prison system, and nearby Ferguson erupts after the police shooting of Michael Brown.
• Out of Omaha – An intimate portrait of twin brothers Darcell and Darrell Trotter, two young black men coming of age in the racially and economically-divided Midwestern town of Omaha, Nebraska. From executive producer J. Cole.
• Scandalize My Name – This potent documentary, narrated by Morgan Freeman, examines several prominent African-American performers in the American film and television industries during the 1950s Communist witch-hunting McCarthy era.
• Stranger Fruit – What really happened on August 9th, 2014 in Ferguson Missouri.  That afternoon, officer Darren Wilson killed 18-year-old Michael Brown.  Stranger Fruit is the unraveling of what took place, told through the eyes of Mike Brown’s family.
• The Rape of Recy Taylor – A documentary about Recy Taylor, who was gang raped by six white boys in 1944 Alabama. Unbroken, Mrs. Taylor spoke up and fought for justice with help from Rosa Parks and countless women.

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Matt Fowler is a writer for IGN and a member of the Television Critics Association. Follow him on Twitter at @TheMattFowler and Facebook at Facebook.com/MattBFowler.