Rick and Grandpa Ray have uncommon interests and identities that place them outside the mainstream. When they discover that they both love the sci-fi television show Rogue Space, they suddenly have a bond that leads them to get to know one another and discover other shared qualities that place them outside the mainstream. They don’t feel safe sharing those parts of themselves with others, so Rogue Space symbolizes the bond of their secret knowledge about one another.

Rick, initially wary of Grandpa Ray, considers him a stranger until he discovers that Grandpa Ray is a fellow Roguer. “Did you ever ask?” Grandpa Ray replies to Rick’s delighted surprise (43). They watch Rogue Space every Sunday, which is also when they have their deepest, most vulnerable conversations, from Rick’s increasing doubts about Jeff to his coming out as asexual. Grandpa Ray supports him through all of it, accepting Rick’s identity when the rest of the family doesn’t and comforting him through the ending of his friendship with Jeff.

In turn, Grandpa Ray reminisces with Rick about his late wife, Rose, whom Rick never knew, and his own discomfort with their “normie” family. Grandpa Ray is vulnerable and reveals his comic-convention-going, crossdressing-cosplay days with Rose.