‘President Curtis’ Review: Adult Swim’s ‘Rick and Morty’ Spinoff Lacks the Original’s Wild Inspiration but Improves as It Goes Along
Adult Swim’s Rick and Morty spin-off President Curtis begins weakly but improves into a mildly entertaining diversion, according to this review. Centring on the recurring US president character Andre Curtis, it lacks the parent series’ most inventive, anarchic energy, but later episodes become funnier and more focused than the unpromising pilot.
Keith David returns as Curtis, a divorced president more interested in vigilante missions and online gaming with citizens than governing. Created by Dan Harmon and James Siciliano, the 10-episode first season uses smaller threats linked to American history, civics and government—beginning with Curtis claiming to have killed a cannibalistic Paul Bunyan—rather than the grander multiverse stakes of Rick and Morty.
In short
- A shaky Rick and Morty spin-off improves after its pilot.
- Keith David’s president tackles eccentric, history-themed threats.
- It is amusing, but lacks the original’s wild creativity.
Explained simply
Rick and Morty is an animated comedy series known for stories involving time travel and alternate dimensions. Adult Swim, the channel that broadcasts it, has created a spinoff series focusing on a character from the original show.
President Curtis follows the fictional American president Andre Curtis. Unlike the parent series' expansive interdimensional adventures, this show focuses on Curtis as a divorced president who is more interested in vigilante missions and gaming with citizens than in performing his presidential duties.
The series was created by Dan Harmon, who originated Rick and Morty, alongside James Siciliano. Its first season contains 10 episodes and draws its stories from American history, civics and government rather than the multiverse concepts of the original series.
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