Pickle Rick. Get Schwifty. Wubba lubba dub dub. Those phrases may not strike a chord with you. But, for animated series,Rick and Morty: millennials favorite TV comedy. TV viewers of a certain age they should be instantly recognizable from the Cartoon Network/Adult Swim. Currently in its third season since debuting in 2013, the show is part intergalactic adventure, part family comedy, led by a brilliant but corrosive (and alcoholic) scientist, Rick, and his relatively average teen grandson, Morty. Stacked deep with pop culture references and absurdist nihilism,Rick and Mortydoesnt seem like a safe bet for broad appeal on its surface.

There are many existential themes within the Adult swim show Rick and Morty, between ricks creations despairing over their...