2017. A year that’ll be remembered for a hastily called snap election and the imminent fear of nuclear war.
And also the year where a limited edition McDonald’s dipping sauce from 1998 that was referenced in Rick and Morty caused near-riots when fans couldn’t get their hands on a pack.
Last week McDonald’s announced that for one day only they’d be bringing back Szechuan sauce. This was a limited edition sauce from 1998 that McDonald’s ran as a tie-in when the Disney animation ‘Mulan’ was released. The sauce largely went forgotten, until a reference in season three of Rick and Morty brought it back to the forefront of everybody’s memories in a big way.
https://twitter.com/McDonalds/status/914626606680952832
In the first episode of season three Rick goes on a rant, telling Morty: “I’m driven by finding that McNugget sauce. I want that Mulan McNugget Sauce. That’s my series arc, Morty. If it takes nine seasons, I want that McNugget Szechuan sauce.” And so, with a passing joke, the campaign to bring it back started.
After a campaign that thousands signed, McDonalds eventually relented – agreeing to release the sauce, and when on Saturday 7th October it was time for fans in the US to get their paws on a pack of Szechuan sauce, it wasn’t as easy as they first imagined.
Firstly fans reported that hundreds of people were queuing up to get a chance of tasting the now legendary dipping sauce.
200 people in line in front of me, another 200+ behind me… how much you think this sauce packet is worth in 20 years?
— Jestanii (@johnestanislau) October 7, 2017
How y’all gonna bring the Szechuan sauce back in limited quantities, for a single day @McDonalds? Look at this. pic.twitter.com/xrL3vYsjUi
— remain soLid natured. (@zeLrsn) October 7, 2017
The line for Szechuan Sauce half an hour before it is served. pic.twitter.com/7JcsXBleQ6
— Drake (@TrailerDrake) October 7, 2017
With people queuing for hours, many were furious that their quest to get the Szechuan sauce was unsuccessful – as McDonalds only sent limited amounts of the sauce to each store. And so, the chanting began:
Here at the San Jose Mcdonalds. This is our reaction to the shortage of #szechuansauce #giveusthesauce #rickandmorty pic.twitter.com/sIGaUZKDKj
— KevinFitness (@Chauncey_Boy) October 7, 2017
This is mass craziness! And ALL FOR SAUCE! #LAszechuanline #szechuansauce pic.twitter.com/GzyB1l3uAJ
— Jestanii (@johnestanislau) October 7, 2017
And a stand had to be made:
https://twitter.com/fawich/status/916727172974432256
At some locations it was reported that the police had been forced to turn up:
Cops are at Wellington McDonalds where tons of angry people lined up for hrs for Rick and Morty Szechuan sauce only to learn they had none pic.twitter.com/3T272osid4
— Lulu Ramadan (@luluramadan) October 7, 2017
And it got so bad that one of the creators of Rick and Morty felt obliged to comment.
FYI: We had nothing to do with this McDonald's stuff. Not happy w/how this was handled. Please be cool to the employees it's not their fault
— Justin Roiland (@JustinRoiland) October 8, 2017
But after the huge clap back and uproar for the fans that queued for hours, McDonalds decided to make it right – and now, for one winter only, the sauce will be becoming a permanent addition to the menu.
You spoke. We’ve listened. Lots more #SzechuanSauce and locations. Details soon. And that’s the wayyy the news goes! pic.twitter.com/ooIrbZBsOw
— McDonald's (@McDonalds) October 8, 2017
And who said television couldn’t change the world?