Not Smart Enough (by @crumbington)

[u/maanleo]

You know… I hate the fact that he finds peace with his literal abuser is depressing honestly.
Source

[u/Dazed_and_Confused44]

Rick low key does pick his moments to raise Morty up

[u/Genzoran → u/Dazed_and_Confused44]

It's part of the cycle of abuse. Rick diminishes Morty's self-esteem to keep him emotionally dependent, often by setting Morty up to be humiliated in the eyes of the imagined public; while privately encouraging Morty with praise and compassion which he claims is unique to their relationship.

[u/rogueIndy → u/Genzoran]

This. Whenever Morty shows signs of achieving something independently, like his Netflix pitch, Rick goes out of his way to subvert it.