Summer Smith

Summer Smith
Rick and Morty character
First Episode Appearance	"Pilot" (2013) "Rick Potion #9" (2014)
Created by	Justin Roiland Dan Harmon
Character played by	Spencer Grammer
In-universe information
Full name	Summer Smith
Nickname	Sum-Sum
Occupation	Student Assistant to Lucius Needful Empress of Glorzo
Spouse	Hemorrhage (ex-husband)
Significant other	Ethan (ex-boyfriend) Christina LaCroix (ex-girlfriend)
Relatives	Rick Sanchez (grandfather) Jerry Smith (father) Beth Smith (mother) Space Beth (mother) Morty Smith (brother) Leonard Smith (grandfather) Joyce Smith (grandmother) Morty Smith, Jr. (nephew) Diane Sanchez (grandmother)
Nationality	American
Age	17 (seasons 1–4) 18 (seasons 5–present)

Summer 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; the original Summer is shown to be ruling a post-apocalyptic wasteland with her parents in the third season episode "The Rickshank Rickdemption" and the Rick and Morty comic series, the latter of which a

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.

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:

"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." 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." Inverse declared that "Without a doubt, Summer is the most relatable character on Rick and Morty", while SyFy described her as a better main character than their brother Morty, praising her increased role in the series as it goes on.

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."

References

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