The post-credits scene for Rick and Morty season 5, episode 2, “Mortyplicity,” features very specific music playing in the background – and here’s why it’s perfect. Since 2013, Adult Swim’s irreverently funny animated series has chronicled zany events in the lives of self-centered scientist Rick Sanchez and his much-kinder grandson, Morty Smith (both voiced by co-creator Justin Roiland). Season 5 kicked off with a bang, taking the show’s thoughtful, funny, nihilistic, and quirky misadventures into a more episodic format. “Mortyplicity” utilizes that nature, jumping from the time-bending events of the previous episode into a more mind-bending scenario with a slew of Smith family “decoys,” which are clones Rick made of them for safety purposes.

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As usual with Rick and Morty season 5, episode 2 is packed with quickly delivered, humorous pop culture references. TV and movie staples abound, from Ex Machina, to Blade Runner, to Westworld, and more. The show’s penchant for utilizing callbacks and cleverness, along with its notable references, is even present in the episode’s post-credits scene. The sequence features the show’s signature brand of darkness, and it perpetuates its popular trope of slapping Jerry with terrible misfortune. A wooden decoy version of his character meets a torturous fate and is depicted living through countless eras of human history while being used as a beaver dam, a crucifix, and a mirror that’s set on fire.

In the background, “Who Wants to Live Forever” by Queen is the soundtrack for decoy Jerry’s unlucky fate. And though the song’s name and melancholic tone lend themselves perfectly to the sequence, it’s also a perfect choice for another reason. It’s one of the songs that the explosively popular band wrote for the 1986 film Highlander. The fantasy-action flick, which has become a cult classic, jumps back and forth in time as it fleshes out the story of immortal warriors. Earlier in the episode, when Rick is trying to tell the Smith family what they’re up against regarding decoys and squids, he makes a reference to the movie. He says that it looks like they’re playing by “Highlander rules now,” and he recites the film’s plot-relevant tagline: “There can be only one.”

Not only does the post-credits scene execute a well-done callback to one of the episode’s earlier jokes, but it also parallels some of season 5’s subject matter so far. Decoy cloning and mortality are, of course, prominent in episode 2. But, additionally, in the prior episode, there’s a great deal of jumping in and out of different points in time and dimensions as Morty inadvertently sets dark events in motion while trying to steal some of Mr. Nimbus’ wine.

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Just like with plenty of other instances of the show using incredibly appropriate music, such as the use of “Hurt” by Nine Inch Nails and “X Gon’ Give It To Ya” by DMX in past seasons, the Queen-infused post-credits scene is another example of real-life, emotional music being used to add an extra layer 0f thoughtful absurdity to the show’s events. Overall, the first two episodes in Rick and Morty season 5 have been fun, fresh, and packed with the bizarrely funny content that the series has become so beloved for over the past eight years.

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Lindsey DeRoche
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Lindsey DeRoche is a TV and movie features writer for Screen Rant. She received a BA in English, with a concentration in writing, from Plymouth State University in 2018. She’s had a passion for reading, writing, TV, and movies since her early years.

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