How Orwellian
Chances are you probably had to read Animal Farm by George Orwell (and 1984) as part of your reading requirements and standard English class curriculum. Rick and Morty decided to pay homage to the classic novel with the Season 1 episode, “Lawnmower Dog,” wherein the Smith pet Snuffles evolves into a tyrannical figure who rules over his humans.
In addition, Snuffles starts referring to himself as “Snowball,” one of the characters in Animal Farm. Snowball is largely based on Leon Trotsky, who spearheaded the opposition against Joseph Stalin. See, Rick and Morty doesn’t just reference pop culture staples, it also nods to deeply poignant and thought-provoking classic novels!