Adventure Time (Series Review)

"Come along with me" the name of the final, extra-long episode of the beloved animated series Adventure Time is thematically appropriate and a nice tie in with the theme song, but what about the rest of the episode?
 

Pictured: A minor character who becomes the antagonist in the last episode.

Honestly, I don't know if I'm satisfied. (with the finale, not the show)

If you go back and read my review of Gravity Falls you'll note that I mentioned how I doubted Adventure Time (the series that clearly inspired it and countless other shows) would have an ending anywhere near as conclusive or well executed. And to an extent, I was right.

Without spoiling the entirety of the episode, I'll say that the finale wrapped up nearly every dangling thread that the mess of a final season failed to, leading up to the end. Fern, Ice King, Princess Bubblegum, the other Gum people, Orgalorg, and even Golb of all characters got a conclusive and more or less concrete ending. And considering that Finn and Jake got their origin stories cleared up earlier in the season makes the oddity of this finale easier to excuse.

But in a show with so many characters it would be nigh impossible to give each one a satisfying ending without dedicating an entire season to it, but my issue isn't that there were some characters left out. My issue is that, like the majority of the later seasons, the finale pulls a hard left turn in order to fix pacing issues at the expense of tension and plot.

The war between the Gum people and the Candy Kingdom is not the central conflict of the episode as the entirety of the ninth season set it up to be, instead it is resolved within the fist ten minutes and the majority of the 45 minute super-episode is devoted to a surprise appearance from a trio of minor characters. And this isn't the first time the show has done something like this...

ahem

But it's sad that they decided to go for it in the last episode. Which ends up feelings like a weird fan-fiction more than a real heart-warming ending to one of my favorite shows of all time.

That being said, Adventure Time needed to end, lest it become something else entirely. Spongebob had a half-life of 3 seasons and a movie before it completely collapsed in on itself like a disgusting, moronic flip-book of shock-imagery and stupidity. Ren and Stimpy was never funny, don't @ me.

Kill me.

That doesn't mean the good episodes weren't good. The most recent additions to AT's good episode book were the "Stakes" mini-series starring Marceline which gave the fan-favorite vampire queen her very own set of episodes as well as filled out her backstory.

Which, coming back to the finale, makes the implied romantic relationship between Marceline and PB very strange. While the two have always been friends this leaves a sour taste in my mouth.

Princess Bubblegum isn't a hero, she's not even neutral. The mid and later seasons of the show are pretty explicit about the pink-clad princess being closer to a cold-war dictator than to a benevolent ruler. She steals, manipulates everyone from her allies to her friends, constantly belittles her subjects, conceals her true (magical) identity, spies on other countries, and has literal WMDs standing at the ready. Not to mention the fact that she has on more than one occasion actively sabotaged Finn's romantic pursuits despite pushing him away at every turn.

Without getting bogged down too much in the weeds here, allow me to say that it has been an honor and an inspiration to spend the last 8 years of my life watching what at first glance was "just a kids show".

Gorgeous animation that defies the trend of 3D, Pixar-esque style-less crap that clogs media. Unique character designs and a wholly original style created by Pendelton Ward. A handful of compelling main characters and a legion of supporting players that bring a 2D world to life. Frequent musical incorporation without being hammy. Honest, emotional storytelling that deals with themes of heroism, identity, love, lust, dating, war, religion, the march of science, death, greed, leadership, obedience, memory, sacrifice, stubbornness, mental illness, parents, regret, exploration, and discovery.

I laughed, sang along, and on at least one occasion even welled up a little bit. Despite the finale's shortcomings, Adventure Time is my second favorite animated series of all time. It's right of there with the greats. (Spongebob, The Last Airbender, Gravity Falls, Samurai Jack) And if you haven't given it a chance, there are a myriad of streaming sites (both kosher and not-so-kosher) that host the show. Do yourself a favor and at least once journey to the land Ooo and go on an adventure with Finn and Jake.

The final shot of the series does make one hope for a continuation. Maybe we'll get to go on some more adventures in the land of Ooo. With new characters to fall in love with. But if we don't, that's okay.

Here are some of my favorite episodes:

Another Way (the episode that turned me from a skeptic to a fan)
The Other Tarts
The Limit
Jake vs MeMow
The Creeps
Incedium
Return to the Nightosphere/Daddy's Little Monster
Hug Wolf
BMO Noire
Finn the Human/Jake the Dog
Up a Tree
Bad Little Boy
Puhoy
Shh!
Time Sandwich
Everything's Jake
Jake the Brick
The Diary
and Jermaine