Several pop culture references and homages are presented throughout the episode.[6] Its title is derived from the science fiction film Edge of Tomorrow and its tagline "Live Die Repeat", in which the protagonist dies and is repeatedly resurrected due to alien technology.[3][9] Zack Handlen of The A.V. Club observed that the themes of death in the episode are presented in two ideas: one which gives Rick endless lives (through a device that keeps waking up a clone in another reality; every time that clone dies, a new one wakes up someplace else) and Morty "the ability to predict the future and avoid death without exactly knowing what any of it means."[3] It also drew inspiration from Japanese anime, as Edge of Tomorrow itself was based on the manga All You Need is Kill.[10] Critics also noted the episode's partial adaptation of the manga Akira.[2][3][5][10][11] In an argument with Rick, Jerry warns that "I don't want to see anymore Anime stuff happening to my son, buster!"[11] Several commentators noticed the Morty's fixation on avoiding a violent death leads to the violent deaths of many, which was similar to going to a full "Akira"/Tetsuo from the manga and anime.[2][11] Morty himself was described by the police and news as an "Akira boy".[11] The Idea of being resurrected in a clone might be a reference to first season of the TV show "Altered Carbon", especially the final scene in Season 1 Episode 8.