Tag: Kris Mukai

Adventure Time, Animation

“The Butterfly and the River” Review

Adventure Time Reviewed

Original Airdate: November 20, 2025

Written & Storyboarded by: Kris Mukai, Anna Syvertsson, Charmaine Verhagen & Maya Petersen

I think at this point in the season, I have little expectation that it’s going to drastically change from what we’ve gotten so far. It seems that this team is very invested in exploring Fionna-World, even more so than the magical elements surrounding it. I’ve seen plenty of people, including myself, kind of rag on the Fionna-World bits for feeling a bit tiresome, but one argument I don’t necessarily get behind is that it’s poorly paced. I think spending an extended period of time fleshing out these characters and letting them breathe in their own world is a methodical approach into helping them feel more real and making us care more for them as individual characters. Whether or not that’s actually interesting is another story, but I’d argue that the magical elements are the pieces that feel much more sloppily panned out. Marshall’s story takes up most of the episode while Huntress Wizard’s section feels tacked on.


Let’s jump into the Marshall and Gary stuff first, which I actually was somewhat fond of this time around. One thing I like about Fionna-World is whenever we’re given a curveball about how these characters operate differently from their Ooo counterparts. It gets a bit tiresome to see all of the parallels between worlds in a way that doesn’t really stray too far from what we’ve seen already. I’m a bit pessimistic when it comes to the development of Marshall and Simone’s (finally named in the credits!) relationship, as I really don’t want to retread the same emotional beats that Simon and Marceline had in the original series. Granted, it’s still early, and I could see them pulling some type of twist that makes this connection different (my money is currently on Hana Abadeer somehow sabotaging the relationship), but since we only barely know these characters, I just can’t see it hitting with the same amount of emotional resonance.

However, there are elements of expanding these characters beyond just initial base traits and dynamics that I can appreciate. For instance, I like all the scenes with Gary’s parents! It was kind of a surprise to me, because I was so sure Gumbald, Lolly, and Chicle would be tied back into it, but having them be these standalone entities that we’ve never seen before actually helps this world to feel less superficial (UPDATE: It was later confirmed by Tom Herpich that Gordie and Gertie were based primarily on Banana Guards). Gordie and Gertie are lovely, and it’s so cool to see my boy Joe Pera guest star in an episode. If y’all haven’t seen Joe Pera Talks With You, I recommend watching it immediately – you will not regret it. Pera’s voice lends itself so wonderfully to the world of the series, and it brings such a gentle warmness to the character himself. It kind of makes sense that Gary would be way more adjusted than PB. Gordie and Gertie clearly gave him a wonderful life, so aside from being a tad bit of a control freak, he isn’t so drastically domineering as his Ooo counterpart. I additionally love Gordie and Gertie’s squishy, nearly genetic designs, once again clearly designed by Tom Herpich. Contradicting my initial point about how I like seeing new characters, having Nelly play a part in the family dynamic was a treat. Her making Deviantart style drawings in her room got the biggest laugh for me – so sweet how she’s living up her little neurodivergent life.


Marshall and Gary’s dynamic this time around is pretty okay and I like how there is a bit more of a conflict for them to work through after being so mushy throughout the first chunk of episodes. Marshall having added character depth of feeling like he can’t express himself additionally fleshes him out beyond his counterpart, who struggles more with being expressive to a fault. Whereas Gary is pushy, but not so egotistical that he pushes aside the woes of his partner. It’s pretty sweet, even if I find Gary’s delivery increasingly grating. I really would’ve preferred if Rannells stayed in this role. I have very little to say when it comes to Marshall’s connection with his mother outside of it being a nice bit of lingering trauma for Marshall himself. Also found it very funny when she just straight up kicks her son out after being annoyed by him.

On Huntress Wizard and Cake’s side, I quite like their dynamic, even if I find their exploration to mostly be uninteresting. I think there’s a lot you can do with the mystical elements of the Fionna-World treehouse, but it’s mostly squandered to just show us glimpses of this world and its magical counterpart that don’t really add anything to the scope or characters themselves. At most, we get little quippy bits of Cake and Huntress Wizard working off of each other, which is relatively fun. Cake’s continued desire to be independent from her previously domesticated lifestyle continues to be engaging, and there’s several great reactionary moments from her. My favorite bit though was her reading Of Human Bondage and being disappointed with its contents. And poor M-Cron! That dude just wants to fuck a cat at all costs and he can’t even get his moment. I do like that these sections focus more on expanding upon the relationship between two characters, especially when it’s giving Cake more of a chance to interact with the third team member than she did last season, I just wish there was substance to the expedition itself. It’s not fully devoid of fun as I mentioned, and I do like the segment where it’s shown that baby Finn is an eternal baby that ends up being a savior of his surroundings. But I just don’t think there’s a ton of meat to the adventure itself, mostly being an aimless series of events that don’t even really seemingly add to HW’s individual journey, or even just be that engaging in the process. I did get a little too much into the fun fan theory that these characters all have false childhood memories because the GOLB switch happened when Fionna was 17, but nah, it seems like that’s pretty much debunked with Marshall’s childhood in this episode.


Probably the most frustrated I was this time around was with the Ooo segments, that once again end with a bait-and-switch. I really got into the theories that Simon chasing after magic again was somewhat of a relapse for his character – it would’ve been neat to see that he and Fionna’s arcs are very much still connected, with the two of them struggling to find change in their lives even after world altering events. Last episode even kind of suggests that he’s somewhat ashamed to have the Wishing Eye, concealing it in his jacket secretively. But that’s sorta thrown out in this episode, where he just uses it to no avail. Isn’t it supposed to take a piece of your soul when you use it? I guess you could concur that’s what is happening to Finn, who is becoming progressively more decrepit, but it felt very gimmicky to me. They keep introducing cool longtime artifacts into the series only to do absolutely nothing with them for the sake of progressing the story under false pretenses. It’s getting very annoying to watch.

We also have Fionna’s side quests, which are mostly light and fun, with the added drama that she’s seeking out help from Abadeer to pay off the park’s debt. I’m reaaally not interested in having this story arc that is probably just going to result in everyone being kind of rightfully pissed off with Fionna for several episodes. I doubt they’re going to commit to it fully and I imagine there’s going to be a resolution with Fionna and her friends, so it just seems like a bit of added drama that doesn’t sound particularly fun to tackle. I do like Queenie so blatantly being petty – she’s a fun character.


What else can I say about this one? It’s nice to have a Rebecca Sugar song back, even if it’s pretty underutilized in the episode itself. I like how the one marshmallow kid is depicted having vitiligo – I’m not sure I’ve ever seen a character with vitiligo depicted in an animated series. Also, there’s a really fucky looking version of Jay and Little Destiny walking around and I’m not sure if that’s supposed to be them or Fionna-World versions of them? I don’t know if this was just a really poor board translation or the intention of the episode, but the latter doesn’t really make sense considering that they would be Fionna’s children? I guess it’s a little late in the game now to be nitpicking the rules of this universe, but I’m just gonna assume it’s really them until I get information otherwise. Blah, I’m just getting tired. I wanna hold out hope that the second half of the season can turn things around for me, but I’m already so disenchanted. Part of me wonders if I’m really even adding anything new to the discussion – there’s plenty of people who really like this season and have been digging deeper into the characters and their nuances, and kudos to them! I feel like a cranky old miser trying to find an investment point each week and just being left with very little I actually want to say. I’m glad that this series has fans and it’s continuing to expand on characters that many want to see more of, but for me, it’s kind of becoming a weekly process longing for the spark that made this series so great to me in the first place. Maybe I’m just getting old!

No guest sequence this week sadly, but I loved the return of the wish world from Blenanas. Glad that they got Thurop Van Orman back to play him!

Favorite line: “We’re eating like royalty tonight! Because we’re the Princes.”

Uncategorized

“The Lion of Embers” Review

Adventure Time Reviewed

Original Airdate: November 6, 2025

Written & Storyboarded by: Charmaine Verhagen, Maya Petersen, Kris Mukai & Hanna K. Nyström

Shipping has always been kind of an intrinsic element of the F&C world. The first three episodes featuring Fionna and Cake were mainly designed around showcasing the most prominent pairings in the series and letting them run rampant. So to see that the series is still very much interested in playing around with these pairings, while combining them with the dissection of fairytale tropes, is quite a fitting pair. Even if I still have some qualms about the presentation itself.


Let’s tackle the Fionna and Cake stuff first. I’m slightly more optimistic about some character work within Fionna-World this week, even if the story beats still are not doing it for me. I just still can’t really get behind the more grounded elements of this world no matter how hard I try, and think that’s just going to be kind of a constant every time we spend an extended bit of time in this realm. So rather than continue to emphasize my qualms with the direction of the series, I’m gonna focus more on what is working up to this point. I actually like how much of a loser Fionna is! I was worried that, with her arc somewhat completed in the previous season, all of the parts that made her unique in the past would kind of be watered down. There’s been glimpses of her struggling to change in the first two episodes, and while this direction has kind of been teased for a while, I had worried she was maybe a little too conscientious. It’s hard to pull off the notion of a character being selfish when she’s constantly thinking about the others around her, but she’s pretty self-destructive here. She self medicates by binge drinking, throws herself onto Hunter, and is actively resentful of somebody who she doesn’t even know.

Breaking through the idyllic 90’s sitcom backdrop, Fionna’s struggle to actually find stability in her life is quite well done. I remember everyone kind of wincing at the fact when Muto revealed that these characters were somewhere in their late 20s, because the expectation has always been that once you get to that point in your life, you should pretty much have it figured out. Fionna’s role has consistently proven that there’s no amount of guaranteed reprieve for the work that you’ve put in and the suffering you’ve endured, which is a sad truth that she’d rather bury underneath the desire for any type of connection at all. Once again, Madeleine Martin breathes a lot of life into this character, really selling the emotional scenes where she’s at her absolute lowest. It’s additionally sad to see that she seemingly is still traumatized from her experience with the Winter King. There’s a brief flash of his face when she tries to kiss Hunter, and it’s not really explored in much more detail than that. Just a glimpse of how much it’s still lingering in her subconscious, something the season has not shied away from. Also, fans have been speculating that Hunter is trans. There’s a shot of him taking his shirt off, with a scar shown around his chest area. Could just be a wound, but very cool inclusion to see if not, and once again very subtle. It’s nice that this series has been continuing to advocate for the LGTBQIA+ community amidst a world that has grown increasingly oppressive. (UPDATE: The night after this episode aired, Hunter’s voice actor confirmed that the scars are indeed from top surgery)


It’s additionally neat to see how Fionna’s “soul connection” with Phelix is crushed in a way that both connects it back to her Ooo counterpart and also somewhat shatters it. Finn and FP have a bit of a tumultuous relationship back in the original series and it’s no exception here, with Fionna mistaking her connection with Phelix as some sort of prophetic love bond, instead of a stepping stone for moving on to something more healthy. Finn and Fionna both yearn for their former partner and don’t see the potential red flags that come with pursuing something that they probably should’ve left in the past, but the dynamics have changed a bit where the emotional maturity seems much more of a fault on DJ Flame’s side rather than Fionna. I mean, he invited his ex to his concert only to make out with his current girlfriend on stage, with Fennel finally debuting by name (and finally getting a win! Nice flip flop of Finn’s connection to Fern). It’s referenced back in Ooo when Flame Princess mentions that she herself has a new relationship, showing that this is a romance that just simply wasn’t meant to last in all corners of the multiverse. Was gonna wait to talk about her in the Ooo segments, but holy shit, it’s Flame Princess! So wonderful to see her again after years of being absent, even if it ends up just being a notion of debunking true love’s kiss. I think the series has been pretty smart in showing that, even with connections that span across universes, there are subtle dynamics that set them apart. While I’m convinced that Fionna and Phelix’s relationship was purely a mismatch of contrasting wants and needs, Flame Princess shares a poignant moment and acknowledges that she did love Finn. I feel like it would be a bit of a disservice to show this relationship only as a missed opportunity, but the episode very cleverly sprinkles in this impactful moment to remind us that what we were watching for so many years wasn’t entirely surface level.

Granted, I do feel somewhat like it continues to be a disservice to Flame Princess how much her role has been squandered throughout the years. DJ Flame seems pretty one-dimensional, and I’m not sure I really see them trying to do anything to flesh him out further. Of course, I could be wrong, but with so many different characters to explore I somewhat doubt he’ll really get any true time to shine. Not that I really want to see him take on a bigger role, I don’t really like the character that much. But with so many iterations of Ooo’s citizens getting their own loving portrayal in Fionna-World, it seems kind of sad to see FP’s role demoted so egregiously to further add tension in Fionna’s life. And as much as I liked FP’s sweet new fire suit, to have her show up so many years only to reinstate her relationship with Finn is somewhat of a bummer, despite how much I liked the scene itself. It just is kind of sad to me how much promise this character started out with, only to be overshadowed by nearly every other major cast member in the series and even ones who began more in the background, like Huntress Wizard. Poor FP.


Additionally, I actually quite like Cake’s whole arc that the season has been playing with! I enjoy how much Cake has additionally filled Finn’s shoes this season; Finn’s role in the original series was always that he was the only one of his kind contrasted by a world of colorfully odd characters that he struggled to truly relate to. With Cake, she’s the odd one out now, trying desperately to connect to a normal world and not knowing how to. I mentioned in the previous season that I didn’t really think Cake needed to have an arc and that I’d be fine if she was really just there for comic relief, but I think this is a legitimately interesting way to explore the addition to magic in this world. Namely because I’m really not sure how this works. Is it going to be normal for a human man to be dating a magic cat? What are the ethics of this? With all of the ways that this season has ruthlessly been demolishing fairytale tropes, I would not be surprised if this ended in heartbreak for her, but genuinely this is one of the parts of the season where I’m not certain exactly what it’s trying to say or where it’s going. Like last season, I kinda get the gist with where they’re heading with Fionna’s character, and what lessons she has to learn to feel more comfortable in her skin. With Cake, it’s kind of a mystery, and it’s neat “will they, won’t they” that comes with a plethora of different predicaments.

Some other bits I liked in this section: Gary’s little gushing over Marshall singing was funny, as was Ellis P.’s fairly useless attempt at helping the team. I continue to enjoy the special title sequences that play around with different styles, this one feeling sort of like a Little Golden Book story. I initially just saw the transition into Fionna-World as a comparison point for the more fantastical things that were happening prior, but I’m pretty sure this is portraying the exact moment when Simon was zapped of his magic mind. It’s cool how these characters have backstories and whole lives that kind of just happened despite the fact that they just suddenly incarnated into the bodies of late teenagers. Also, Cake origin story! I love how it all started with a sandwich – once again, these characters can only be so strong outside of their universal traits.


Over in Ooo, we’re treated to a return of all the princesses we’ve come to know, including newer entries like See-Through Princess and a deepcut like Cotton Candy Princess. It did my heart good to see so many classics back again, with several getting their own moments grandeur. Wildberry Princess reminding us that she’s bent on carnage and taking out a Banana Guard, Hot Dog Princess trying to get freaky with it, Breakfast Princess still being prissy, and even LSP being up to her usual antics. Although there is a human stand-in for her that we check in with regularly, I truly missed LSP (or LSQ now?)! I also like how tertiary characters like Embryo Princess, Emerald Princess, and Engagement Ring Princess get their moment in the limelight by reminding us of their connection to the Enchiridion’s power. Granted, I would be shocked if they got anything to do outside of a line or two, but having background entities that have been in the series for so long actually have a role in plot development is quite nice. Simon, PB, and Marcy all continue to provide enjoyment in these sections. Simon’s pretty much the only voice of reason among this gaggle of insane princesses who are either just trying to get it on with someone on their deathbed or have no idea what to do. I think this could’ve easily dumbed down Peebs a little too much, but she’s grappled with magic in the past at the expense of her own scientific pride. I’m sure she doesn’t really buy into the idea that “true love’s kiss” is really what is going to help Finn, but her desperation and lack of understanding about the mystical world are quite clear, once again sold perfectly by Hynden Walch’s performance. It’s a bit of a bummer that John DiMaggio isn’t around, even for his smaller parts of a Banana Guard and Muscle Princess. I would guess that they asked him to come back in some capacity, and I wonder if he turned it down either because of a busy schedule or out of a lack of interest in being delegated to bit parts.

Baked into the C-plot is some cosmic junk, bringing a glitchy Prismo, Scarab, and Cosmic Owl back to the forefront. Kumail Nanjiani is once again back as Prismo, which is delightful to see. Again, while I thought Sean Rohani did a fine job last season, it just feels so right to have Nanjiani back in the driver’s seat. I like the little portions in the Time Room, along with the vague explanation of how the mystical world works. It’ll be interesting to see if the Sean Rohani character last episode ends up being some new cosmic being that exists beyond the multiverse; loving the idea of expanding this world even bigger than it already is. I couldn’t get into Scrabby much last season, but I do like his dynamic with Prismo, and it’s nice to see that now that he’s not the primary antagonist of the series, he’s allowed to soak up goofier moments and feel less tryhard. Cosmic Owl is next to suffer a fated recast, though this makes sense with the death of his original voice actor, M. Emmet Walsh. The new voice actor is fine, though I find Walsh’s inflections to be way funnier. I like the lingering tension built around whose croak dream he would be apart of, even if I was nearly certain that it wouldn’t be Finn or Huntress Wizard. To have it be Big D was fun twist, with the implication that we’re gonna be seeing some changes in the exploration of FarmWorld this season. I really didn’t expect Peanut to get any kind of bigger role after last season, so watching him be propped up as a new antagonist is certainly fun. The dream sequence itself is mostly straightforward; I was gonna note how there is also a wolf in this dream as there was previously in The Hare and the Sprout, though this instance appears to be a lot more literal than metaphorical.

Love the Sleepy Beauty symmetry here.


And then there’s Huntress Wizard, who is pretty insignificant in the overall story because of her current state. Save for a separate dream sequence that once again incorporates Dream Warrior, once again seemingly confirming that he is the same person as Spirit Warrior. Similar to his role in Who Would Win, he offers cryptic advice ala The Man from Another Place from Twin Peaks (along with more Cheers references that I continue to groan at). I imagine HW will be exploring this advice more as the season continues on, but I couldn’t help but feel these ambiguous offerings also pertained to Fionna’s journey. “Follow the beet to the roots,” i.e. Fionna followed the “beat” of both her heart and DJ Flame’s set pieces to discover the root of her problems, namely her desire for instant gratification. Additionally, “a broken tool seeks the flame,” speaks to Fionna’s inherent sense of brokenness and her desire for a spark to keep her going. This is probably all a stretch, but as I’ve said before, it’s always fun to play around with the different theories and meanings you can derive from each mystery.

One brief aside about this episode: there was a lot of discourse about the frame of PB and Marceline on the balcony when the trailer for this season dropped. A lot of people pointed out how close their eyes were drawn together and used it as a statement to how much the show’s individual style has been butchered over time. While I think there’s an argument to be made for the show’s art design evolving from the beginning of the series to now, the instance that people pointed out is literally just how Kris Mukai draws the characters. The pupils being so close together bleeds through her entire section of the episode (from the 3:20 mark to about the 8:50 mark), but they don’t really look like that in any other portion. So there, everyone can stop complaining about this now! Let’s protect the individual contributions of board artists bleeding through instead of it feeling like one homogenized visual experience. (EDIT: THINK these were actually instances of Hanna K’s style, as opposed to Mukai. Still!)


This one is alright, I think a lot of it does depend on how much you enjoy the Fionna-World stuff, and at the risk of beating a dead horse, I am not super into it. But I think it would be to the detriment of this blog if I didn’t at least try to engage with what these segments are trying to accomplish, and as is, I think they’re doing a decent job at it. There’s plenty I do like in this, it just so happens that the direction of these episodes so far has not particularly been my cup of tea. It just wouldn’t be fair to the talented staff who do continue to put a lot into each episode if I was to dismiss it entirely. As is, I continue to be drawn more into the parts of the show that engrossed me to begin with, while feeling more distant to the human elements. But biases aside, I have to give credit where credit is due to the parts that are succeeding and managing to catch my attention as the season progresses.

This week’s artist shoutout is Elle Michalka, who designed the special opening for this episode. Michalka has worked as an art director for several of AT‘s sister shows, including Steven Universe, Gravity Falls, and The Midnight Gospel, as well as Pendleton Ward’s recent pilot Mystery Cuddlers. Michalka’s visual design is gorgeous, and it was a great call to utilize her for the style the intro was going for. Michalka’s designed several other pieces that pay homage to Little Golden Book, like Steven Universe‘s The Tale of Steven and the storybook sequence for the movie. You can check out her portfolio here.

Favorite line: “Don’t use the pointy part. Use the lemniscate end.”

Adventure Time, Animation

“The Hare and the Sprout” Review

Adventure Time Reviewed

Original Airdate: October 23, 2025

Written & Storyboarded by: Hanna K. Nyström, Kris Mukai, Maya Petersen & Charmaine Verhagen

We are back once again, babies!! Let’s go over the ground rules for this batch: since episodes are airing weekly (something that I’m personally very excited about) I’m going to at least try to churn out a weekly review coinciding with the most recent episode. Granted, there’s no promises with this, one because there’s a very good chance that I’ll lose steam down the line and need a break so that I can have the proper energy to write up something half-decent. Second, some episodes last season definitely benefited from taking time to sit with; I think the reviews for Prismo the Wishmaster and Cheers would’ve looked a little different had I not taken the time to chew on them a little. So, we’ll see as we go. As always, a quick thank you to everyone old and new who continue to support the blog! I deeply appreciate your loyalty, and I hope I can continue to offer something insightful and fun in return.

We kick things off with Astrid retelling the tales of last season, and surprisingly it looks like we’re kicking things off pretty much right where they left off, or at least within a few weeks to a month. Love the beautiful watercolor and colored pencil artwork we’re treated to, painted and drawn by Ala Flora. So nice to see my friends Simon, PB, and Marceline again, and Simon’s living with Marcy now! I like to imagine it was offered by Marceline when Simon mentioned he was looking for another place to stay – kind of like a daughter looking after her elderly father, very sweet. Because he’s an easy target, I also like to imagine him interrupting any moments of intimacy between the girls with some nerd shit that only he cares about. I love that dweeb.


We’re welcomed back to our main protagonist shortly after, where we get a bit of tweened animation of Fionna stretching in her bed (begging the gods that this show never gets demoted to fully rigged animation). A genderswapped Betty is teased by the announcer, which I’m interested to see if those implications mean anything in the grand scheme of things. Love to see that they once again cannot stray too far from the snail cameos, as we get a real snail traveling across Fionna’s TV stand, with the addition of the umpteenth Cheers appearance in the series. Though, it doesn’t last long, as Fionna quickly flips through some other 90’s dreck before landing on a fantasy program. Cheers was Simon’s escapist fantasy of a world that was simple and made sense, whereas Fionna still leans toward sensationalist and exciting sensibilities, away from the mundane responsibilities of everyday life. I’ve complained about not being super interested in Fionna in the past, but this does feel relatable. I’m pushing 30 now, which is the same age range these characters are supposed to be in, and here I am writing a blog on a fantasy show that I’m invested in far more than the drudgery of working a 9-5 job day in and day out. Adventure Time really has succeeded at placing you in the shoes of the main character and watching them guide through life in a way that never seems any less confusing. That relatability is always balanced out with something equally fantastical, and while Fionna’s world is far more urban than Ooo, we do now have the addition of a magical cat living in her own apartment right next door. Complete with the first obligatory bacon pancakes reference in this series (hot dog waffles) which admittedly I didn’t even catch the first time around.

New intro this season! I like it, for the most part. As always, it’s great to see the SmallBu team back at it again with very bouncy, vibrant animation. The anime allusions feel slightly jarring, but its an aesthetic that F&C have played around with since their introduction into the original series. The intro additionally doesn’t really feel like Adventure Time – the music and the lack of an introductory long pan feel like a deliberate stray from what we’re accustomed to seeing. I’m kind of all for Fionna & Cake branching out and adopting its own style this way. After 10+ years of alternative intros that have used the original title sequence as a reference point, it’s refreshing to get something quite different in taste. Although, I will say, I liked the music that accompanied last season’s intro far better. I don’t think it’s a very compelling beat and I don’t think it really aids the visuals that successfully either. I almost wish they repurposed the initial score and made new visuals to go around it – but I guess in true anime style, they wanted to start this one from the ground up. Apparently, a good bit of the intro is referencing Revolutionary Girl Utena, an anime I’ve never seen but I am interested in checking it out. I’ll reserve comments about the little bits of foreshadowing for character arcs and relationships sprinkled in until they actually come into fruition within the season.


Glad to see most of the returning players from last season back again in the title card sequence. Michael DeForge’s title cards are better than ever, complete with little iterations of Fionna and Huntress Wizard in both corners. Also, Kris Mukai is back once again! Mukai worked on a few episodes during the course of season 7, including Varmints, Mama Said, and Five Short Tables. Her style is immediately recognizable in the first chunk after the intro through the bakery store sequence (at least, I’m pretty positive it’s Mukai – I’ve only gotten worse at this with time!) with the eyes a lot closer together, accented by several lines and curvy expressions. Also cool that Turtle Prince’s human counterpart is featured in this scene, as she helped bring him to life in Five Short Tables. Also returning after a bit of absence is Chermaine Verhagen, who previously co-boarded Wheels, and had contributed a lot of bit parts and visual development to the show throughout the years. I’ll definitely need more time pinpointing her individual contributions to this episode – gonna take some time to analyze outside of this review so I can better recognize her drawings moving forward.

Funny to see some of the new iterations of characters, like a female version of Buck Pudding, everyone’s favorite side character. I guess who else would they have as the store manager of Home Depot? I’m also pretty sure that the child in the bus is just a male version of Astrid, so it’s additionally very comical that we now have alternative versions of NEW characters introduced in the series. It’s also driving me crazy – I have no idea who the yellowish person on the bus is supposed to be, if anyone. I’ve been looking at characters on the wiki for almost an hour and cannot identify who this character is alluding to – I’m just gonna open it up for someone in the comments to make me look like a total idiot.

Returning players like Queenie and M-Cron are a pleasure to see too. It’s been a while since we’ve had any Lady rep in the series, so I’m glad to see M-Cron getting a bit more focus, with Cake being absolutely infatuated with him. I’m curious as to where this is heading, which is something I’ll probably be saying a lot in these first few episodes. I do like all of the allusions to fairytales that have been coming into play within the episode thus far: the introduction with Astrid’s “happily-ever-after” story, the naming convention of The Hare and the Sprout, Cake’s cross-species romance, Fionna’s increasing interest in fantasy, the anime-like opening, the focus on mystics in Huntress Wizard’s segments, etc. I wouldn’t be surprised if the entire season largely worked as a deconstruction of fairytale tropes, or at the very least, used them as a thematic stepping point to explore ideas about how these characters view their goals and expectations. In the best case scenario, it’ll work similar to the multiverse concept in season one where they allow themselves to have a decent bit of fun with the genre without getting too lost in clichés. Also, the onslaught of new genderbent character introductions is certainly a bit gratuitous at this point, but I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t slightly enamored with seeing how far they’re willing to take it. Madam Slicer was not on my bingo card for this season.


Simon opening his call to Fionna with “hey, girl!” was irresistibly sweet. It really is a testament to the previous season’s strength that he has become such a beloved presence in the series, after mainly being a gimmick for storytelling purposes in the original series. His awkwardness around PB is additionally hilarious, because I totally think he’s overthinking the kidnapping element and I think PB struggling with her own demeanor is just kind of how she is. Though, I also wouldn’t be shocked if she’s still petty over being called an assistant way back in Broke His Crown. Simon in general seems a lot more well-adjusted after the events of last season than Fionna does, which I’d imagine is a direct result of having several stand-in daughter figures and an outlet for his interest in magic. I was totally prepared for the scene with Simon at the solo tombstone to be heartbreaking, but having it be Choose Goose probably provided the biggest laugh of the episode for me. Not only does this sudden obsession with him since Distant Lands continue onward, but I’ll additionally never understand the absolute vitriol for him that the staff feels. He somewhat unknowingly became possessed after the events of Wizard City, was used and tortured by Simon in the first season, and now is dead with a tasteless rhyme on his graveyard, seemingly rotting in Hell as seen in Together Again. It’s kind of hilarious.

We get our first bits of Huntress Wizard soon after, and I guess this is as good a time as any to talk about the voice actor changes. There’s quite a few recasts this season, which AT is usually no stranger to when it comes to casting celebrities generally outside of the animation industry. This season sees the recast of Huntress Wizard, Gary, and Marshall Lee. It’s always disappointing to see, but none that I feel too strongly about; Jenny Slate is definitely the biggest loss, given that she’s played the character most consistently out of the bunch, but Ashly Burch has been a great presence up to this point in the series and I’m pretty confident she can do this character justice through her work. Donald Glover has been with the series the longest of the three, so losing him is a shame, though understandable because he’s reportedly been struggling with his health behind-the-scenes. As for Gary, it’s just kind of hilarious to me that this character cannot find a voice that sticks. I do wonder what the nature of needing to recast so many of these actors is – the animation industry isn’t exactly thriving right now, so I wonder if it ultimately ended up being that there wasn’t enough incentive to return to the series. In this article, Adam Muto mostly alludes to this being a result of scheduling conflicts, but c’mon, Andrew Rannells can’t show up a few times to voice the gay gum lad?? I guess scheduling conflicts could involve a whole plethora of issues, including travel time, personal matters, and full-time commitments, so I can’t really judge without knowing the whole scope of why they chose not to return.


Anywho, back to the meat. The Vampire King lion was additionally not on my bingo card, and it’s interesting to see him play a bit of a supportive role to Finn, who is in considerable peril. I think Amanda Jones as a composer has gotten progressively stronger from when she first started with the series, as I quite liked the score throughout this episode, especially during the scenes where HW is following the lion to her home. As I mentioned, I think the general sounds complimenting scenes aren’t as odd or experimental as they used to be, but I think think the adventurous, tense stings that accent certain scenes do assist the general tone and scope of the series becoming much more grand. It’s great to see Finn again, even though he largely plays second banana to just about every other character in the episode. It seems his role will mostly be a catalyst for the mission of other characters, namely HW, but I do hope we get some Finn love this season. After seeing him largely repressed and injured a good portion of the recent projects, I’d love to see a brief moment of reprieve for him by the season’s end. At least he’s still having freaky dreams, as indicated by the illusory Huntress Wizard feeding him (Princess Mononoke reference?) Let me just say that the forest backgrounds in general looking quite gorgeous. It’s so cool to see the evolution of certain shots from the original series, like Huntress’s “cliff under a tree,” the originally was composed of flat colors and now transformed into a multi-layered beauty. Shoutout to the many background designers and painters who helped make up this episode, some of which I’m planning to give a shoutout to at the end of each blog entry.

Back in Fionna-World, we’re treated to a few more character returns. Glad to see Marc Maron Squirrel is thriving in his new environment (in his impressionist era, no less!) and we see Marshall really adopting his vampiric roots. There’s a brief moment where he gets a call from “Birthgiver,” with the obvious implication being Hanna Abadeer, though with Ice Queen being taunted in the opening theme, I do wonder how exactly her connection to Marshall will play out in a way that differentiates itself from Marceline and Simon’s history. We’re also treated to Hunter and a quick parallel with Fionna’s injury slightly mimicking Finn’s current state, or at the very least, drawing back to the thorn that Finn had lodged in his hand way back in Is That You? With all of the allusions being made between characters, their physical state, relationships, and emotional wellbeing, I’d love to see this season play around with the ideas of just how much these characters have autonomy over their surroundings, or if they’re destined to falling into the same patterns and soul connections that their otherworldly counterparts are.

I feel as though the nearly half-hour episodes are much better paced this time around, which is a slight contrast from last season’s premiere. I felt Fionna Campbell was somewhat distracting in how it padded extra time, while we have moments in this episode that use time more methodically. We’re set up to a variety of different ideas and stories for the course of the season, but it doesn’t feel like information overload either. We’re still treated to more laidback sequences, like Fionna and the gang setting up for Gary’s grand opening. It’s good to see a blend of both, not rushing us right into the action, but having enough variety that it doesn’t feel claustrophobic in its surroundings. The dream sequence, on the other hand, does throw a lot out in a short amount of time, which is a welcomed addition. The more introspective elements seem to revolve around Fionna’s newfound dedication to helping others and the internal pressures that come with putting aside her own needs for others, along with the guilt and trauma that she surely carries along from her adventures through the multiverse. We get a brief glimpse of Martin’s discarded head, someone who previously counted on her that was hurt as a result of her actions. Also appearing is Winter King’s demented chicken servant from The Winter King, which is a possible sign that all of the terror and insecurity that Fionna’s arc implied she left behind is still lingering and at the forefront. We also get a wolf lurking, with a white wolf in dreams potentially symbolizing hope and a wolf in general connecting to some sort of threat or internal conflict. And hey, the thorn wasn’t the only arm symbolism we get up to this point, as Fionna has her own gnarly bionic arm in her fantasy dream! Cool to see Cake and Fionna sharing dreams is still a trademark of their relationship.


Things start wrapping up, as we’re treated to additional conflict setups, like Fionna feeling indebted to Gary after Queenie shuts his business down, Simon teaching Wiz Biz stuff (treating us to an aged up Blaine, Pep, and Cadebra! I love how Pep’s voice is slowly starting to sound pitch shifted, I wondered when he was going to eventually transform into Steve Little), and Huntress Wizard tracking down the bear that hurt Finn. Already saw a lot of people complaining about the abrupt ending, but like, here I am thinking, “we are so back.” It’s Adventure Time, baby! As is, it was a pretty decent premiere. Like I said prior, it’s kind of difficult to talk about it outside of speculation for future entries, but generally a better start pacing wise and more engaging compared to Fionna Campbell. I’m still a bit skeptical about how much I’m going to find myself intrigued by the Fionna-World stuff this season, as I’m definitely much more drawn to what’s happening in Ooo, but nothing established so far was particularly bad. Fionna-World is, at best, mildly charming. I think there’s still plenty they can play around with to evolve this concept and I appreciate the dedication that is being put into the world building. It just so happens that a lot of my attitude seems to be leaning toward “we’ll see what happens” as opposed to feeling glued to the screen, waiting to see what Fionna and her friends’ journeys bring us next. But I’m not totally cynical, I’m absolutely giddy to have this show back in any fashion. This team especially have proven themselves time and time again, so I’m looking forward to just what this season has in store in all corners of the multiverse.

This week’s staff shoutout goes out to Ala Flora who, as mentioned, worked on the opening storybook sequence. Flora’s work is visually stunning, tapping into childlike wonder and boasting beautiful colors in the process. You can check out her portfolio here.

Favorite line: “Mommies say hi!”

Adventure Time, Animation, Lifestyles

“Five Short Tables” Review

Adventure Time Reviewed

FST 1.png

Original Airdate: May 26, 2016

Written & Storyboarded by: Kris Mukai & Aleks Sennwald

Within the past 10 or so episodes, Adventure Time has been consistently churning out some really big and profound episodes. With that in mind, the obligatory Graybles/Fionna & Cake episodes likely feel more like a chore to the staff than a passion project by this point in time, which makes sense, since they chose to combine them. Both series are pretty hit-or-miss; while the Graybles episodes tend to get better, or at least more innovative as they go along, the F&C episodes only seems to get more lackluster and less fun as they go along. I can firmly state that Five Short Tables is nowhere near as awful as The Prince Who Wanted Everything turned out to be, though this one still fails to offer anything new or interesting to the series, and mostly just plays out as a dull, inoffensive use of 11 minutes.

FST 2.png

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, but there just really isn’t a very strong presence among the F&C cast. They’re all essentially carbon copies of their counterparts with diminished charisma and character traits. After Bad Little Boy, Fionna essentially just began to take on the role of “token nice girl” and she doesn’t really offer anything else beyond that. Cake is really the only character who stands on her own as a unique adaptation of Jake, though I often wonder if I’d even think this way if it wasn’t for Roz Ryan portraying her. I will tell you with utter honesty, there’s nothing quite as soothing as hearing Ryan utter the word “flapjack” again. I have trouble believing that this wasn’t an intentional move on the staff’s part. I also think Cake’s interest in expressive pancake art is charmingly silly, though not really enough to keep me captivated throughout the episode’s run.

I will say that the one character who did at least become a trifle more interesting is Gumball. While he sadly isn’t portrayed by Neil Patrick Harris in this episode (though Keith Ferguson at least gave it his all), we actually see a decent amount into Gumball’s psyche as Butterscotch Butler, the butterscotch Scottish butler, mentally eviscerates him using his fears against him. Not only does it give us an interesting look into Gumball’s insecurities and fears, but these can be easily seen as aspects of PB’s mentality as well, of which I have no doubt came into play because Ice King was snooping on her diary. How else would he know these dirty deeds?

FST 3.png

The next few entries are pretty blah. I’m pretty sure a lot of people enjoy the scenes between Turtle Prince and Flame Prince for the added Yaoi, but aside from that, there’s really nothing there that’s particularly entertaining. I remember a whole bunch of people were upset that Flame Prince wasn’t voiced by Dante Basco (which was the headcanon at the time), but holy shit, I had no idea he was voiced by Hannibal Buress until I looked it up! I’m a big fan of The Eric Andre Show. In the next table, we’re treated to a story in which Marshall Lee attempts to feed Lumpy Space Prince his medicine. It’s pretty unfunny, it doesn’t really have an interesting narrative at the helm, and I just don’t really care about the antics between these two pretty non-compelling characters. There are two things worth mentioning: it’s pretty obvious that this is the third board that Kris Mukai worked on for this season when looking at Marshall Lee’s demon-wolf hybrid. I have to say that Mukai’s boarding is a big strength for the episode; Fionna and Cake is big on allusions to anime, and I think Mukai’s drawings and expressions (along with her board partner Aleks Sennwald) really help to carry those allusions forward. The other thing worth noting is that LSP is not voiced by Peter Serafinowicz in this episode, of which isn’t too much of a distraction, because I feel like it effectively distinguishes the authoring styles of both Ice King and Lumpy Space Princess.

The final story starts out pretty creatively, as we’re literally treated to a fanfiction, within a fanfiction, within a fanfiction, within a fanfiction. It’s an idea so ludicrous that only AT could pull it off, and is truly one of the few highlights of this episode that is both pretty funny and legitimately complex. It was cool to hear Grey DeLisle reprise her role as Ice Queen once more, though again, Ice Queen doesn’t offer too much to the actual story and her segment stops almost as quickly as it starts. It is a silly idea that Ice King is the initial creator of the Graybles, and the ending with the distressed Cuber got a legitimate laugh out of me. It’s sad to think that this is actually Cuber’s last episode in the series. While the Graybles episodes were never some of my favorites (aside from the thoroughly ambitious Graybles 1000+), Cuber was always the strongest and most delightful part of any Graybles episode, thanks to Emo Philips, who really brought his character to life.

FST 4.png

Five Short Tables is pretty forgettable. I obviously don’t know what goes on inside the AT writing room, but if I had to guess, I’d say that the F&C episodes come simply out of the pressure of audience expectations and are never entirely what the crew wants to spend their time working on. I can’t say for certain, but I’ll at least say that Aleks Sennwald and Kris Mukai put enough effort into the visual and creative appeal of this episode that I can’t really get mad at it for being lazy, because there’s clear effort put into this one. The truth of the matter is that Fionna and Cake just don’t really have a ton to work with outside of their first appearance and the Graybles stories never fully land. It’s a crossover of two concepts that work together fine, but don’t really standout as anything slightly remarkable.

Thank you for joining me this week for the AT review bomb! With only 50 episodes left, we’re nearing the end. Be on the lookout for The Music Hole later this week, followed by the usual weekly Friday reviews, and then we resume with daily reviews as we move into the winter.

FST 5.png

Favorite line: “The purple thing had a tablespoon of syrup.”

Adventure Time, Animation, Lifestyles

“Mama Said” Review

Adventure Time Reviewed

MS 1.png

Original Airdate: November 5, 2015

Written & Storyboarded by: Kent Osborne & Kris Mukai

Despite the fact that it continues to focus on King of Ooo’s reign in the Candy Kingdom, Mama Said feels classic. It’s a light and silly Finn and Jake adventure episode, and a refreshing one at that. Granted, I don’t think this episode completely emulates the energy of a classic Adventure Time episode, but it makes up for it by being extremely pleasant and laidback in its tone.

MS 2

KOO’s antics in this one are humorous, per usual, as he proves to be all levels of extra by making Finn and Jake sit on stools, only to further his desire of having his own mobile mushroom. It was also fun to see him have such a unique and comical aspiration; I had mentioned that I thought his tendencies toward greed in Bonnie & Neddy were a bit too predictable and uninteresting, while his desires in this one are so absurdly specific that I can’t help but get behind it.

This episode is really nice on an expressive level. Kris Mukai is back once again to lend her distinctive boarding efforts to the series which provides for some truly appealing drawings of both Finn and Jake. It’s cool how her style can work for a more dramatic outing, like Varmints, but also translates to the zany atmosphere that this episode works off of. Kent Osborne also provides his likably malleable designs of Finn and Jake once more, that only seem to get rounder and cuter as his time on the series progresses.

MS 5.png

Speaking of Osborne, a lot of the nice, quieter moments that he included in Jake the Brick also end up in Mama Said, which is really what contributes to the calmer tone overall. I always like moments when Finn and Jake practically talk about nothing; Finn’s line of, “actually, I’m kinda glad we’re walking in this direction. We never walk in this direction,” is so mundane and not complex in the slightest, but there’s something so genuine and natural about it that it just comes off as nice piece of random dialogue. The episode is chock full of little moments like this, both humorous and somewhat bland, but all in the best possible way.

And keeping in the spirit of calm and cool, we’re reintroduced to Canyon! I had a feeling that Billy’s Bucket List wouldn’t be the last that we saw of her (especially because she mentions this) and it’s a true delight to have her, as well as Ako Castuera, back once again. I also really dig her redesign, as she still feels mystical, though more relaxed and casual in her everyday environment. Similar to her last appearance, Canyon isn’t especially interesting or complex, but she provides a certain tranquil aura that makes her welcomed regardless. I was somewhat confused at first as to why a silly episode like this would be the episode they brought Canyon back for, but it actually feels quite fitting, given the ambiance that the episode seeks to accomplish.

MS 3.png

Aside from being chill, this episode also features the most bizarre Adventure Time villain I’ve seen in a long time: the Mother Mushroom. The Mother Mushroom is a well-designed, slightly terrifying, and also hilarious antagonist. The fact that it merely utters what sounds like a Wikipedia entry of mushrooms was also insanely amusing. We’re even treated to a fun and decently animated fight sequence that utilizes Finn’s persistence to kick butt, Jake’s stretchiness, and Canyon’s rad attitude to their fullest abilities.

While I love the conclusion that features KOO kicking Finn and Jake the fuck out for not directly following his orders, I think the Banana Guards singing “Mama Said” is easily the weakest part of the episode. It’s relatively humorous that this episode’s name derives strictly from a minuscule gag that isn’t even related to the story, but the song sequence itself was just a bit too random and out of no where for my liking. In addition to that, I’m not really a fan of somewhat modern songs being used within the world of AT. It works in an episode like Simon & Marcy, that is specifically set in the past, but a tune such as “Mama Said” would strike me as something that should have been lost in translation in this world. It also just kind of feels like padding rather than a legitimate conclusion to the episode.

MS 4.png

One other minor quibble I had with this one is that it feels like it’s trying to have some kind of an underlying theme with Finn and Jake choosing to have fun and ignore their responsibilities, but it never fully comes into fruition. Canyon’s line, “if you don’t like your job, maybe it’s time to find a new one,” is framed in a way that seems like it’s going to have some kind of effect on how Finn views his position within the Candy Kingdom, but all of that is ultimately scrapped when KOO immediately fires the two boys. I’m reaching a bit, considering that it ultimately has very little focus in the episode, but it is something that always felt lacking in how it was elaborated on.

But overall, Mama Said is nice and fun. Certainly not as funny or intriguing as some of the other breather episodes are, but it really is just that, a breather. It’s relaxing, mildly amusing, and carries with it Adventure Time‘s brand of weird.

As an added bonus, here’s one of my favorite stories (by K.L. Ricks) from the Adventure Time Comics series, featuring Finn and Canyon.

Favorite Line: “Did you notice he was wearing Princess Bubblegum’s clothes?” “Yeah, that was sort of cool.”

Adventure Time, Animation, Lifestyles

“Varmints” Review

Adventure Time Reviewed

V 1.png

Original Airdate: November 3, 2015

Written & Storyboarded by: Adam Muto & Kris Mukai

After an episode like The Comet, which successfully wrapped up Finn’s character arc for the time being, it’s quite fitting that, right off the bat, we’re able to dive deeper into Princess Bubblegum’s demotion dilemma in season seven. Bonnie & Neddy was a decent character exploration on its own, but I’m glad that we’re actually treated with an episode that deals with PB’s stress regarding her “throne-jacking” almost immediately after. It’s also really nice to see Marceline once more after her long-term absence in the previous season, in what makes for not only a great in depth look at Bubblegum’s turmoil regarding her status, but also her falling out with Marceline that has never been addressed in great detail up until this point.

V 2.png

The beginning is just splendid. Any hesitation I felt about enjoying King of Ooo’s character in the last episode was immediately squashed after his brief scene in Varmints, which is purely hilarious. It’s also unique to this episode that Marceline and KOO actually interact with each other, and while their relationship is never explored in full detail (nor does it need to be) it’s cool to see that Marceline is familiar with him. I’m sure he caused tons of different issues for the two gals back in the day.

The feelings of anger that Marceline feels towards PB are totally warranted, especially after finding out that it’s been two whole months since KOO took over the Candy Kingdom. Granted, it’s been two months on KOO’s “Torontian” calendar, which could easily translate to two, maybe three weeks, tops. After working at rekindling their relationship in episodes like Sky Witch and Princess Day (and likely off-screen) Marcy probably feels hurt by the fact that Bonnibel still isn’t being honest with her even after they came to an understanding with each other, and even then, Bonnie isn’t really being honest with herself either. A lot of y’all replied to my review of Hot Diggity Doom and mentioned that PB didn’t technically get voted out of her kingdom, as she decided to quit instead, but I personally always figured that it was a mask for the benefit of her own pride. Though it was barely legal, the election depicted in Hot Diggity Doom clearly did show that the Candy People no longer wanted Bubblegum to run their kingdom, and while PB likely acknowledges that, she also has a failure to accept it. Hence why she once again mentions that she wasn’t kicked out and that she simply “quit.” Her breakdown later on shows that she likely doesn’t believe this as much as she tries to.

V 3.png

A good amount of the first act is dedicated to Marceline and PB shooting the breeze by a pumpkin patch, and it provides for some really nice, laidback moments. A lot of what this episode accomplishes is similar to The Pajama War, where two characters were able to catch up and strengthen their relationship after a period of awkwardness. It’s nice to just watch PB and Marceline breathe and discuss whatever comes to mind with each other. Whether you ship Bubbline or not, this episode is able to be enjoyed on two different levels: those who personally view the two girls as old friends, and those who view them as past lovers. The episode makes it just vague enough that you’re able to gather as much as you truly want to from their interactions, and it doesn’t tease or pander in one way or another to distract viewers from the true meat of their relationship at hand.

The design of the varmints is really neat, and isn’t at all what I would expect these creatures to look like, though in a rewarding way. Their main facial design itself isn’t particularly unique, but the extra detail that is contributed to their limbs, caterpillar like tails, and many teeth makes them very versatile when it comes to their movements and their attacks. Speaking of nice, detailed designs, the beast form that Marceline transforms into is AWESOME! Said design is actually courtesy of Kris Mukai, who joined the staff for  a brief bit period of time this season. Mukai’s style is very distinctive, with the especially rounded and wider heads that each character sports, and her contribution of creating Marceline’s wolf design is exactly the kind of innovative move I like to see from guest board artists. Don’t even get me started on PB’s gun either, because I freakin’ love it. The fact that she can turn creatures into literal batteries, and magically create another weapon by simply setting the device to “two gun,” is hysterical. What a brilliantly convoluted mechanic. The crystal cave setting is also a pretty delightful, and it’s made more endearing and realistic by the fact that Marcy and Peebs have an actual history within the cave.

V 4.png

Speaking of which, a large portion of this one focuses on Marcy and PB recapping their glory days, as well as what exactly went wrong and caused their falling out. This is as overtly emotional as the series has been in a long time, but it is welcomed and feels appropriate given that PB rarely ever expresses her feelings, and only does so because she’s lost practically everything. And man, does PB’s breakdown hit me hard. I totally sympathize with her situation; Bonnie put her blood, sweat, and tears into making her kingdom and the Candy People flourish to their fullest potential, and as a result, she lost practically everything that she had worked so hard to accomplish. She took on a nearly impossible task that practically no one else could achieve, but it also meant shutting off her humanity and pushing everyone away. It’s a sad fact of life and never easy to find that balance one way or another, and PB is learning the hard truth of what it means to be all work and no play.  After all that she’s been through, it’s no wonder that she would arrive at her lowest point here, but also at a point where she can regain that humanity once more. PB not only acknowledges all that she has lost, but starts to realize what she can gain from those losses, as she passionately vents to Marceline, who is nothing but understanding through the process. With this newly found respect, the two can rekindle their relationship that neither of them ever truly wanted to lose, and can also beat down some dern varmints in the process.

The episode ends on a perfect note, as an understandably tired PB rests her head on the arm of a close companion under the stars. All while a misinformed Peppermint Butler hides out at his boss’s request. Varmints is good fun with an emotional center. It’s packed with lots of enjoyable action, designs, backgrounds, and a genuinely compelling dynamic between Marceline and Bonnibel. The relationship between the two would only continue to develop as the series progresses, but this is certainly a great starting point for the two, and dare I say the best Marceline and Bubblegum episode to date.

V 5.png

Favorite line: “Tell Bubblegum I wear her nightgown. Tell everyooooone!”