Summer Smith
Rick and Morty character
A teenage girl wearing a pink T-shirt and white pants. She is smiling and has her arms crossed.
Summer Smith, as depicted in Rick and Morty.
First appearance
Last appearanceSummer Prime:
"Look Who's Cronenberging Now" (2018)
Created byJustin Roiland
Dan Harmon
Designed byJustin Roiland
Voiced bySpencer Grammer
In-universe information
Full nameSummer Smith
AliasMs. Die Hard
NicknameSum-Sum
SpeciesHuman
OccupationStudent
Assistant to Lucius Needful
Empress of Glorzo
AffiliationDeath Stalkers
WeaponWolverine claws
Family
SpouseHemorrhage (ex-husband)
Significant othersEthan (ex-boyfriend)
Christina LaCroix (ex-girlfriend)
ChildrenNaruto Smith (son-nephew)
Summer Smith Jr. (adoptive stepdaughter)
RelativesMortimer Smith Jr. (nephew)
Thoolie Smith (nephew)
NationalityHispanic-American[1]
Age17

Summer Smith is one of the main characters of the American animated television series Rick and Morty. Created by Justin Roiland and Dan Harmon and voiced by Spencer Grammer, Summer is a conventional and often superficial 17-year-old teenager, who is obsessed with improving her social status among her peers.[2] Known for her smart and humorous personality and for her high dexterity, the character has been well-received. She is the well-meaning and intelligent older sister of Morty Smith, the daughter of Jerry and Beth Smith, the granddaughter of mad scientist Rick Sanchez, and mother-aunt of Naruto Smith.

Following Rick and Morty abandoning their original reality in the first season episode "Rick Potion #9", a new Summer identical to the original is introduced, Summer C-131; the original Summer Prime is shown in a now post-apocalyptic wasteland with her parents in the third season episode "The Rickshank Rickdemption", before dying in the Rick and Morty comic series (later referenced in the sixth season premiere "Solaricks"), the latter of which additionally establishes Summer to be pansexual, a character trait later incorporated into their television series depiction.[3] The character also serves as the protagonist of the 2016 miniseries Lil' Poopy Superstar, exploring her adventures after the events of the second season episode "Total Rickall".[4]

Biography

Summer is 17 years old and is a student at Harry Herpson High School along with her younger brother Morty. She occasionally expresses jealousy that Morty gets to accompany Rick on his inter-dimensional adventures, whom she sees as a hero, though he is often contemptuous and dismissive of her teenaged life perspective and values. As the series progresses, Summer begins accompanying Rick and Morty on their adventures and is trusted with restoring their memories in the scenario of the pair being rendered amnesiac.[5]

Development

Addressing the character's "gradual" evolution from side character to main character over the course of the series and Dan Harmon's attribution of her vocal performance to the character's increased role in an interview with Looper, Summer Smith voice actress Spencer Grammer stated that:[6]

"I maybe wasn't necessarily aware that I was having that kind of an influence at all [on the character], but I love voicing Summer and I love acting. So it's really lovely when you do something that you love and other people can find inspiration from that too."

Reception

The character has received positive reception. The Mary Sue praised Summer as "the most interesting female character to ever appear on Adult Swim [and] a great example of powerful, funny feminine youth."[7] The A.V. Club praised "⁠[how] Summer develop[s] from the fun, quippy side character to a notably more active participant in the intergalactic shenanigans and a strong thinker" over the course of the series, stating that "what makes her so fascinating is that some of the things that would be vilified in other young female characters often make her the smartest person in the room. The fact that she’s concerned about being social and popularity makes her the most personable. She tends to have a better understanding of how people work than anybody else."[8] Inverse declared that "Without a doubt, Summer is the most relatable character on Rick and Morty",[9] while SyFy described her as a better main character than their brother Morty, praising her increased role in the series as it goes on.[10]

VerbStomp described Summer as "[one] of those girls in high school everyone hated, but simultaneously tried to be [and] primarily concerned with increasing her status amongst her peers, and [classmates] — she’s a necessary trope that adds to the dynamic of the Smith family."[11]

References

  1. ^ Audio commentary — "Auto Erotic Assimilation"
  2. ^ "Summer Smith". comicvine.gamespot.com. Retrieved September 14, 2018.
  3. ^ Venable, Nick (27 May 2020). "Rick and Morty Star Shares Thoughts on Character's Sexuality Flip in Comic Storyline". CinemaBlend. Retrieved 27 May 2020.
  4. ^ Nevin, Will (February 10, 2017). "Steering the good ship S.S. 'Rick and Morty' through comic waters: Oni Press Managing Editor Ari Yarwood on two years, 20-plus issues of sci-fi insanity". The Oregonian. Retrieved February 10, 2017. The two miniseries we've done so far have been a fun way to experiment, too. Sarah Graley's cartooning in "Lil' Poopy Superstar" is definitely different from the TV show, but it's so charming and fun, and she wrote a great story about Summer and Mr. Poopybutthole having an adventure together.
  5. ^ Audio commentary — "Morty's Mind Blowers"
  6. ^ Venable, Nick (19 November 2020). "How Rick And Morty's Summer Changed Because Of Spencer Grammer — Exclusive". Looper. Retrieved 19 November 2020.
  7. ^ Gaudette, Emily (24 November 2015). "Why Rick and Morty's Summer Smith Is Adult Swim's Best Female Character Yet". The Mary Sue. Retrieved 24 November 2015.
  8. ^ Miller, Shannon (7 December 2019). "Rick And Morty's Spencer Grammer on voicing the most functional member of the Smith clan". The A.V. Club. Retrieved 7 December 2019.
  9. ^ Plante, Corey (26 February 2020). "Spencer Grammer Reflects On The Wild Ride to Rick And Morty Season 4 and Beyond". Inverse. Retrieved 26 February 2020.
  10. ^ Elison, Meg (19 October 2017). "Why Rick And Morty's Summer is a Better Companion for Rick". SyFy. Retrieved 19 October 2017.
  11. ^ Martineau, Maxym (November 10, 2015). "That's Deep: The Characters of Rick and Morty". VerbStomp. Archived from the original on December 11, 2019. Retrieved September 14, 2018.
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