Everything is an elaborate plan by Rick, right?

Spoilers ahead

We know the drill with Rick & Morty - things can get very wild very fast and Season 6 Episode 3 is no different. During a very twisted Thanksgiving toast, Jerry declares he will most definitely unalive himself if Beth cheats on him and then Beth does - with herself or rather Space Beth. 

As fun and messed up as the affair of the Beths was, fans are sensing some devious intentions and are theorizing that Rick planned the affair to get rid of Jerry or make the family dynamics way more complicated for two reasons:

1. When Space Beth leaves in her Spaceship, Jerry says "Well seems like we all learned a little lesson this weekend. At least I know I did" to which Rick responds solemnly "Me too Jerry" and then takes a swig of his ever-present pocket flask.

2. After the brief exchange with Jerry, Rick stores the Venusian wine (reportedly responsible for the affair) in his secret cabinet and then destroys the key.




Theory #1: Rick wanted Beth to leave Jerry

This fun fan theory states that Rick has finally learned his lesson that Beth will never leave Jerry and has given up on working that angle. It's an easy theory to agree with given how sinister Rick can be and the love/hate relationship between Rick and Jerry. But Rick has a love/hate relationship with everyone he loves and in Rick & Morty S02E07: "Big Trouble in Little Sanchez"  where Jerry and Beth's relationship seems to be at the end of its lifeline, Rick actually drops  (and picks them up) from space couple therapy. If he wanted their relationship destroyed, he could have just done nothing.


Theory #2: Rick wanted Beth to leave Jerry so he added a love potion to the Venusian wine

This theory is riding off the back of  Rick & Morty S01E06 "Rick Potion #9" where we discover that love potions are a thing and Rick can brew them. Fans theorize that Rick added a love potion to the Venusian wine so the Beths could have their extramarital fun but regular wine would probably have achieved the same. Alcohol makes people horny and the Beths were already flirting with each other before they drank the wine. Also, there's no evidence that the Venusian wine belongs to Rick; it was lying on the counter and Space Beth seemed pretty familiar with it so she could have brought it herself.




Did Rick orchestrate the affair of the Beths? Counter Theories

Jerry's "emotional defense system"

After it's revealed that the Beths were having an affair, Jerry literally goes into his shell because it turns out Rick installed it at Jerry's behest. If Rick orchestrated the affair then the shell is a hindrance to his plan because it made Home Beth worry and feel regretful of her actions. Was there a chance that it would have been easier for Beth to walk out of the relationship if she couldn't see Jerry's face? Maybe.

Rick & Jerry's love/hate relationship 

In the early seasons, Jerry and Rick had this back and forth where they kept trying to get rid of each other - Jerry would whine to Beth about her father, Rick would say to Jerry's face how unworthy he was of his daughter etc. But when it comes down to it, Rick mostly ends up saving Jerry. In Rick & Morty S04E04: Claw & Order, Rick shows a sliver of selflessness and genuine affection for Jerry when he wipes Jerry's memory of whatever the fuck they saw about the talking cat so Jerry can live in ignorant bliss.




Rick's Cabinet of Regret?

When Rick stores the Venusian wine in the cabinet, other items there seem to be a Meseeks box, what looks to be a bottle of whiskey, a hairy ball sack and a bottle of liquid with a tiny dead Morty in it. So the hidden cabinet could be Rick's little shame cabinet or cabinet of failures. Who knows?