Solar Opposites’ usual opening sequence is done away with in favor of dramatic credits in simple white text on a black background, which let you know what kind of a ride you’re in for. “Terry and Korvo Steal a Bear” isn’t a sitcom episode so much as it is a pitch-perfect dramatic action film following the plight of a people’s resistance overthrowing a corrupt leader.
It’s amazing all the tropes and storytelling devices employed to make it all work. Framing the story by introducing the new character of the mouse milk man (former CEO of AT&T) is so goddamned brilliant. His arc as a guy in the lower levels who just wants to keep his head down and play his role to someone who feels he can no longer ignore the growing resistance to a fighter in the rebellion who saves resistance-leader Tim’s life is satisfying to witness, but also functions as a vehicle through which we witness how the rebellion grows.
It’s awesome just how many side characters get their own arcs that make the society inside the wall feel like a believable, living place. In addition to the mouse milk man and, obviously, Tim, there’s growth for Christina Hendricks’ character, Sherry, and, additionally, surprisingly satisfying arcs for Tim’s cellmate Jean-Pierre and some dude who looks like Kramer from Seinfeld. The latter is especially great because he’s introduced for a seemingly throwaway gag, but ends up staying with the episode until the end sequence, going out in a blaze of glory (well, “glory” might not be the right word, but it’s certainly a blaze).
Speaking of jokes, yes, this is not always as funny an episode compared to others this season, but “Terry and Korvo Steal a Bear” isn’t trying to be a gag-every-other-moment episode and it’s so effective at what it is doing you’re engrossed, regardless. That said, the comedic moments are still great. I love the miniature Seinfeld set with the Kramer guy and the “yadda, yadda, yadda” drop. Jean-Pierre’s dying words being an extended description of his jerk-off fantasies made me laugh. And I’m also a big fan of the mentions of the “poop vapor” room.
A comparative Rick and Morty episode to this one is “The Ricklantis Mixup” aka “Tales from the Citadel,” which gave us an episode-long look into a society only sporadically referenced before. However, though that is a great episode, it’s not quite the wonderful surprise “Terry and Korvo Steal a Bear” is because this is a much more dramatic left-turn. It asks you not only to immerse yourself fully in a setting only briefly seen before, it also asks you to invest in a lot of new characters all at once, not to mention to adapt to a drastic tonal shift compared to how goofy Solar Opposites typically is.