In the background of the Zigerion ship, you can spot silhouettes of The Iron Giant , Q*Bert , Xenomorphs , and Ignignokt from Aqua Teen Hunger Force .

This is technically the only episode where the real Morty doesn't appear until the very end and post-credits scene, as he was a simulation for the entire main plot.

Jerry is accidentally abducted and placed in a 5% capacity simulation. He remains completely oblivious to glitches—like people walking through walls—and successfully pitches his mediocre "Hungry for Apples?" ad campaign to a board of simulated clones.

(S1E4) is a masterclass in sci-fi comedy that established Rick and Morty as a top-tier series by layering simulations within simulations. Parodying the twist-heavy style of director M. Night Shyamalan , the episode follows Rick as he outmaneuvers the Zigerions—a race of intergalactic scammers—while a blissfully unaware Jerry lives out his greatest professional triumph in a low-power digital delusion. Plot Summary: The Triple-Layered Con