Rick and Morty Season 9 Episode 5 Review: “Jer Bud” Brings Back Snowball but Jerry’s Story Completely Steals the Show

Following the entertaining momentum of Episode 4, Rick and Morty Season 9 takes a nostalgic detour with “Jer Bud.” On paper, the return of Snowball—formerly Snuffles—from the beloved Season 1 episode “Lawnmower Dog” sounds like the perfect way to revisit one of the show’s earliest fan-favorite stories. Unfortunately, the nostalgia never evolves into a compelling adventure.

Instead, Episode 5 ends up telling two completely different stories in terms of quality. The Snowball storyline feels surprisingly underdeveloped despite its emotional potential, while Jerry’s bizarre subplot delivers the unpredictable humor and escalating absurdity that fans expect from the series. The result is an episode that’s entertaining in parts but ultimately becomes the weakest installment of Season 9 so far.

Snowball’s return doesn’t live up to years of anticipation

For longtime viewers, Snowball’s return has been teased through visual callbacks and Easter eggs for years. Ever since the intelligent dog left Earth to build a civilization of his own, fans wondered whether Rick and Morty would ever revisit that storyline.

“Jer Bud” finally answers that question.

Morty reunites with Snowball only to become involved in another crisis, this time centered around the Mups, a civilization of genetically damaged humanoid pets seeking freedom and self-determination. The central idea—that intelligent animals eventually recreate the same flaws as humans—is classic Rick and Morty territory.

Unfortunately, the execution never fully capitalizes on that premise.

The Mups themselves fail to become memorable characters, and many of the jokes surrounding their appearance and behavior simply don’t land. Rather than offering clever satire or emotional payoff, the episode repeatedly circles the same concept without significantly expanding it.

Considering Snowball’s importance to one of the series’ earliest classics, the storyline feels surprisingly ordinary.

Morty gets the spotlight, but not the story he deserves

One welcome change is Rick’s reduced role throughout much of the episode.

Season 9 has frequently reminded viewers that Rick dominates almost every adventure, often leaving Morty reacting rather than leading. “Jer Bud” attempts to reverse that formula by allowing Morty to handle much of the conflict independently.

That creative decision deserves credit.

Sadly, the narrative itself isn’t engaging enough to showcase Morty’s growth. Instead of presenting meaningful challenges or exploring how much he’s matured over nine seasons, the episode gives him a conflict that rarely feels urgent or emotionally rewarding.

By the finale, it becomes clear that the biggest missed opportunity isn’t Snowball’s return—it’s failing to give Morty a memorable standalone adventure.

Jerry unexpectedly becomes the episode’s MVP

If the A-story struggles to maintain momentum, the B-story does exactly the opposite.

Jerry once again proves why he’s become one of Season 9’s most reliable comedy engines.

After becoming host to an intelligent colony of alien worms, Jerry transforms into an impossibly confident, charismatic version of himself. Chris Parnell delivers one of his funniest performances of the season, completely embracing Jerry’s sudden personality shift.

Watching “Worm Jerry” navigate a routine job interview before stumbling into increasingly ridiculous situations—including alien drug dealers, emergency childbirth aboard a crashing airplane, and effortlessly handling chaos that normal Jerry would never survive—is consistently hilarious.

Unlike the Snowball plot, this storyline never stops escalating.

Every new scene raises the absurdity while still remaining character-driven, making Jerry’s transformation feel both ridiculous and strangely believable within the show’s universe.

The subplot also makes much better use of Rick and Beth, giving supporting characters meaningful opportunities to bounce off Jerry’s newfound confidence.

Nostalgia alone isn’t enough

One of Episode 5’s biggest lessons is that bringing back beloved characters isn’t automatically satisfying.

Snowball was memorable because “Lawnmower Dog” perfectly balanced science-fiction, comedy, and emotional storytelling. “Jer Bud” revisits the same character but struggles to find a fresh reason for his return beyond nostalgia itself.

Meanwhile, Jerry’s completely original subplot demonstrates exactly why Rick and Morty remains successful after nine seasons. Rather than relying on past memories, it embraces unpredictable storytelling and character-driven comedy.

Ironically, the newer idea feels fresher than the nostalgic sequel.

“Jer Bud” is an uneven episode that never fully justifies revisiting one of Rick and Morty’s earliest fan-favorite stories. Snowball’s return lacks both emotional impact and comedic payoff, making the main adventure surprisingly forgettable despite its nostalgic appeal.

Thankfully, Jerry’s outrageous worm possession subplot injects enough creativity, humor, and excellent character work to prevent the episode from becoming a complete disappointment. While Episode 5 ultimately ranks as the weakest chapter of Season 9, its hilarious B-story proves the series still knows how to surprise when it leans into its strangest ideas.