This technical leap translates into a significant reduction in file size, typically around . For a 22-minute episode of Rick and Morty , this means a crisp 1080p x265 file can weigh in at just 200-300 MB , a fraction of the size of its x264 equivalent. For context, x265 can achieve a 40-50% reduction in storage and bandwidth requirements, making it ideal for archiving entire seasons.
: In a rare moment of genuine selflessness, Rick realizes there aren't enough stabilizing collars for everyone. He gives his own collar to Morty to save him, telling him, "Be better than me". Fortunately, Rick finds a spare collar in the void just in time to save himself. The B-Plot
x265 handles high-contrast borders with incredible precision. The lines remain razor-sharp, mimicking the raw source file directly from the animation studio. 3. Preserving the Cosmic Color Palette
A typical file you might find will be named something like: Rick.and.Morty.S02E01.1080p.BluRay.x265-10bit.AAC5.1-FuN.mkv . Let’s break that down:
Before we get into the technical details, let’s talk about the episode itself. Rick and Morty Season 2, Episode 1, titled “A Rickle in Time,” originally aired on July 26, 2015, on Adult Swim. It picks up immediately after the events of the Season 1 finale, “Ricksy Business.” For six months, Rick, Morty, and Summer have been living in a frozen moment in time, repairing the house after a massive party. When Rick finally decides to restart the cosmic clock, the trio finds themselves in a quantum-uncertain state of existence, leading to reality splitting into multiple, unstable timelines.
In a traditional x264 encode, this level of simultaneous on-screen action frequently causes macroblocking—those annoying, pixelated squares that appear during fast-moving sequences. Because x264 struggles to efficiently compress multiple independent frames of motion packed into a single screen, the image clarity drops exactly when you need to see the subtle differences between timelines.
For software, the default media player on Windows 10 and 11 (the "Movies & TV" app) supports HEVC, as does the default player on macOS. However, for the best experience, especially with advanced features like 10-bit color and subtitles, power users recommend VLC or the open-source MPC-HC. On mobile devices, apps like or MX Player (on Android) provide robust HEVC playback. The short answer is that while legacy devices may struggle, most modern systems are fully capable of handling x265 content.
For digital media collectors and enthusiasts, finding the optimal file format to preserve this visually chaotic episode is crucial. This is why downloading or encoding Rick and Morty S02E01 in the x265 codec (HEVC) delivers a vastly superior experience compared to older formats like x264 (AVC). What Makes S02E01 "A Rickle in Time" Unique?
Visually, this episode is a nightmare for video compression. It features: