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Each episode of Dan Harmon and Justin Roiland’s Rick and Morty is full of homages to everything from ’80s-era science fiction to literature.

Each episode of Dan Harmon and Justin Roiland’s Rick and Morty is full of homages to everything from ’80s-era science fiction to literature. The animated comedy returns to Adult Swim for a long-awaited third season on July 30. Here’s a look at all of the references and Easter eggs we could spot in seasons one and two.

Season 1, Episode 1: Pilot

Back to the Future (movie reference)
A mad scientist and impressionable teenager embark on a zany adventure through space and time. Sound familiar? Rick and Morty are heavily influenced by the characters Dr. Emmett Brown and Marty McFly in Back to the Future (1985). The cartoon was inspired by an animated short that creator Justin Roiland previously developed called The Real Adventures of Doc and Mharti, a Back to the Future spoof.
Mystery Science Theater 3000 (TV Easter egg)
When the pilot episode cuts to the Interdimensional Customs zone, you can catch a glimpse of silhouettes of various creatures roaming the area. Eagle-eyed viewers noticed that three of them are in the shape of Tom Servo, Crow T. Robot, and Gypsy from the TV series Mystery Science Theater 3000.
Space Invaders (video game Easter Egg)
In the same scene, a silhouette that resembles iconic alien from the video game Space Invaders can be seen in the corner.

Season 1, Episode 2: Lawnmower Dog

The Lawnmower Man (book and movie reference)
The title of this episode is a reference to the film and Stephen King short story Lawnmower Man (1992). In the movie, a man gains telepathic abilities after being introduced to virtual reality. In the episode, Morty’s dog Snuffles gains the ability to communicate with—and eventually dominate—humans after Rick gives it a special helmet.
Inception (movie reference)
Rick invents a device that makes it possible to enter other people’s dreams, seemingly referencing the 2010 Christopher Nolan film Inception. Rick and Morty attempt to “incept” Morty’s math teacher into giving him straight A’s.
Animal Farm (book reference)
After some fiddling around, Snuffles alters the headset so that it enables him to speak with humans, and eventually evolves it into a full body suit. He grows angry about the way dogs have become subservient to humans and recruits an army of pups to rule over the Smiths, appearing to loosely mimic the events in George Orwell’s 1975 novel Animal Farm. Snuffles even renames himself Snowball, which also happens to be the name of one of the main characters in Animal Farm.
A Nightmare on Elm Street (movie character reference)
A character called “Scary Terry” that heavily resembles Freddy Krueger appears in one dream.

Season 1, Episode 3: Anatomy Park

Jurassic Park (movie reference)
The name of the episode is a reference to the Jurassic Park movie franchise launched in 1993. The sign visible upon entering Anatomy Park also resembles the Jurassic Park logo.
Fantastic Voyage (movie reference)
Rick shrinks Morty so that he can enter a homeless man’s body in order to find the doctor that save Rick’s beloved Anatomy Park project. This premise is similar to the events that take place in the 1966 film Fantastic Voyage.

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