The Rickshank Rickdemption was easily one of the funniest, most action-packed and all-round best episodes of the entire franchise. Rickmancing the Stone would therefore have a lot to live up to. But as other users have already written, this episode seemed like something from an entirely different (writers') universe. A little research reveals writers of the episodes linked to The Simpsons (which have been stale and boring for some time now), and which explains the one-dimensional, all-too formulaic and simply boring plot lines. There is a lot to be said when the funniest moment is the end-credit scene, or when Beth is the most accurately portrayed character in the entire show, even though she appears but three times.
I don't want to discredit the show entirely, and I hope that this episode is a ricknomaly, in every sense of the word. It didn't feel right, and I am a little frustrated at out how it made it past Roiland & Harmon, nevertheless, especially given the hiatus... Please, please return to the philosophical, the absurd, the ricktastic, the non-canonical and the wonderfully quirky Rick and Morty we all love. Do not invest too much into the episodic or in trying to move the show more towards a main-stream audience (just because of its increased popularity).
I have excessively high hopes for 'Pickle Rick', nonetheless. It looks every bit the return to true form that it should be. Otherwise this season will fast be forgotten or ignored entirely...