Summary
Portal travel is a huge part ofRick and Morty. With that ability, Rick is not only able to travel to another location or planet in an instant, but he can also travel to other dimensions or timelines. He’s even relocated to different dimensions because he and Morty doomed the one they were in by turning everyone into Cronenbergs, or they got into squirrels' top secret business.
Relocating to a different dimension is actually the entire premise ofRick and Morty, as the Rick that stars in the show, Rick C-137, isn’t even the original Rick of his new home. But if one Rick is deciding to relocate, then, inevitably, all the Ricks will want to relocate. But that obviously can’t happen, logistically. The Citadel of Ricks was created for Ricks from all dimensions to have a place in the galaxy that they can safely reside, whether they are running from the Galactic Federation or because they simply want to be surrounded by their own kind.
What is the Citadel of Ricks?
The Citadel of Ricks was founded by a group of Ricks – including Rick C-137 – as a place theRicks of the multiversecan go to stay safe from the Galactic Federation or whatever other entity was hunting them down for their crimes. The Citadel itself is a space station and is large enough to be subject to an entire society of Ricks, who have their own government, offer normal employment opportunities (like factory workers or teachers), and even housing.
It was revealed in season 5 ofRick and Mortythat the Citadel was even where Ricks began mass-producing Morty clones to give to Ricks whose Morty had died or disappeared. The Mortys would then go through school to learn how to be the best sidekick to Rick as they can, and then they’d be given to a Rick in need.
Rick C-137, despite having been one of the Citadel’s co-creators, denounces the Citadel and wants no part in any of its existence. However, when he went to prisonat the end of season 2ofRick and Morty, the Citadel feared he would reveal their secrets and launched a mission to assassinate him. Rick C-137 evaded their assassination attempt, and went on to transport the entire Citadel into a Galactic Federation prison, causing mayhem and destruction that brought an end to the Citadel as it was for many years. But it did continue to run, just under different management.
Who’s Been In Charge of the Citadel of Ricks?
For a long time, the Citadel was run by the Council of Ricks, a group of six trans-dimensional Ricks who co-founded the facility and continued to run it after Rick’s departure. The Council was responsible forassigning Mortys to their new Ricks, as well as being lawmakers, judges, jury, and executioners. It wasn’t particularly a democracy, although they never enforced out of the ordinary laws against any Ricks residing on the Citadel. Ricks living on the Citadel were for the most part free men.
Power changed, however, once Rick retaliated against SEAL Team Ricks' attempt to assassinate him, and he killed most of the Council. After their fall, the Ricks and Mortys of the Citadel decided to act as more of a democracy and elect their next president. Of the candidates made up of different Ricks, there was one Morty who decided to run for president.
This Morty candidate promised equality between the Ricks and Mortys of the Citadel, givingMortys more of an identitybeyond being Rick’s sidekick/cloaking device. The Morty won the election and became the first Morty leader of the Citadel. But it was soon revealed that he was in fact the infamous Evil Morty, responsible for the deaths of 27 Ricks. So, while he was the first Morty president, he would be the last leader of the Citadel, ever.
What Happened to the Citadel of Ricks?
The Citadel was being run by Evil Morty, who in the shadows was designing a deviceto escape the Central Finite Curve: a plane of existence created by Rick C-137 and the other Citadel founders separate from the infinite realities where Rick doesn’t exist. This way, they could remain the smartest man in the universe and keep the Mortys trapped in their own universe.
By leaving the Central Finite Curve, Evil Morty would create a sort of black hole that would destroy the entire Citadel in a matter of seconds. As he was preparing for his departure, he released a false warning to the people of the Citadel that would make them try and leave via their portal guns. But it was all part of his plan, as he hacked every last one of their portal fluid, making them not be able to leave and have to stay and be destroyed with the Citadel.
Evil Morty’s plan was a success, as he escaped the Central Finite Curve and destroyed the Citadel. Rick and Morty C-137 both managed to escape, though, but hadno way to teleportout of the facility. Space Beth eventually saved them, but the Citadel was left in ruins, and the Ricks and Mortys who were there were left dead along with it. Thus, marks the end of the Citadel inRick and Morty.
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