# Rick and Morty Season 9 Episode 4 Ending Explained — Owen Wilson, a Fake Friend & the Addiction Cycle Nobody Wanted to See

URL: https://technosports.co.in/rick-and-morty-season-9-episode-4-ending/  
Published: 2026-06-16  
Updated: 2026-06-16  
Author: Reetam Bodhak

*Rick and Morty* just disguised one of its most heartbreaking episodes as a chill fishing trip. Don’t be fooled — “A Ricker Runs Through It” hits harder than any portal gun ever could.

## Rick and Morty: Episode 4 Snapshot

| Detail | Info |
| --- | --- |
| Episode Title | “A Ricker Runs Through It” |
| Season | 9 (Episode 85 overall) |
| Air Date | June 14, 2026 |
| Network | Adult Swim (Sundays, 11 PM ET) |
| Guest Star | Owen Wilson as Reese |
| Next Episode | “Jer Bud” — June 21, 2026 |

## What Happens in Episode 4?

The episode opens on a drunk Rick trying and failing to enter his computer password, sending all his tech into lockdown mode. He rants at Morty — who had simply been trying to help — until a phone call arrives from their mutual friend **Reese**, a folksy fly-fisher they’ve apparently known for years, voiced by special guest star **Owen Wilson**. The trio head off on a camping trip, catching fish and making s’mores before returning home.

But as it turns out, Reese is actually a **robot programmed with all of Rick’s passwords and sensitive data**, designed to verify Rick and Morty’s unique bond as a form of two-factor authentication whenever Rick gets locked out of his system.

Owen Wilson’s casting is quietly inspired — his entire screen persona is built on easy charm and optimism, which makes the eventual reveal land with twice the impact it might have with a less iconic choice. [Comic Basics](https://www.comicbasics.com/rick-and-morty-season-9-episode-4-recap-and-ending-explained-the-episode-tricked-us-all-with-the-saddest-friend-morty-has-ever-had/)

![Rick and Morty](https://technosports.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/rickkkk-1024x576.avif)

## The Vodka Universe, the Hog-Men & the Chaos

Morty, emotionally attached to Reese despite knowing the truth, initiates a tech lockdown and escapes to Rick’s basement, taking Reese with him. Using Reese’s defence protocol, Morty helps him settle into a world Rick has populated with **Hog-Men** who work in a vodka distillery to maintain his endless booze supply.

The Hog Resistance hacks Reese’s brain, which leads to the Smith house being hacked as well — forcing Beth, Rick, Morty, and Summer to band together and fight off the technological assault. It’s peak *Rick and Morty* chaos wrapped around an unusually quiet emotional core.

## The Ending Explained — Is Morty Watching His Own Future?

By the final moments, episode 4 places Morty in a position where he observes Rick returning to familiar patterns of **drinking and system collapse** — suggesting that Morty is witnessing a cycle that reflects earlier versions of Rick’s behavior repeating in the present timeline.

The final image of Morty staring at Rick drinking is the episode’s real gut-punch — described as a haunting scene that finds Morty possibly witnessing his **own future**.

Rick’s paranoia and failure to confront his emotional burdens is going to be his doom — and the episode’s zany mood conceals that tragic truth right until the very last frame. [Film Fugitives](https://fugitives.com/rick-and-morty-season-9-episode-4-recap-2026/)

In the post-credits scene, a new neighbor wanders into Rick’s garage and Morty immediately stabs him, assuming he’s another one of Rick’s artificial creations — before panicking when he realizes the mistake. Classic.

Learn more about the series’ legacy on the [Rick and Morty Wikipedia page](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rick_and_Morty).

For more animated series coverage, check out our [best Adult Swim shows guide](https://www.technosports.co.in) and our [top streaming picks for June 2026](https://www.technosports.co.in) on TechnoSports.

## FAQs

### **Q: Who does Owen Wilson voice in *Rick and Morty* Season 9 Episode 4?**

  
Owen Wilson voices **Reese**, a seemingly real old friend of Rick and Morty’s who is later revealed to be a password-managing android — making his warm, folksy delivery all the more devastating in hindsight.

### **Q: When does *Rick and Morty* Season 9 Episode 5 air?**

  
Episode 5, titled **“Jer Bud,”** premieres on **June 21, 2026**, at 11 PM ET on Adult Swim, with the season finale *“Field of Dreams”* expected on **July 26, 2026**.