It marked a crossroads for the series, blending the surreal elements of the first season with a more mature, nuanced conflict, the kind it would later be acclaimed for. “Susan Strong” is the earliest episode to hint at a wider storyline, noting Finn being the last human and leaving Susan’s true identity ambiguous. Yet it is Susan’s (Jackie Buscarino) first appearance that makes it to the list here, for a very important reason. Susan Strong (S2, E18)Īgain, this author had great difficulty in deciding which story should be placed in the Number 7 spot, all of which featured the titular character of this episode – also considered was “Beautopia” (S3, E14), “Dark Purple” (S6, E29), and “Hide and Seek” (S8, E24) from the Islandsmini-series. More importantly, Shoko’s story is one which resonates, telling of a lonely teenager who is taken aback at offers of friendship, kindness and acceptance, echoing the series’ main themes. This author originally considered the heartfelt “Simon & Marcy” (S5, E14) for the Number 8 position, before reneging and selecting “The Vault” instead, which sees Finn come to terms with a vision he has been experiencing – that of a streetwise girl named Shoko (Isabelle Fuhrman) who has known nothing but hardship her entire life.īefore “The Vault” went to air, little was known about how the Candy Kingdom came to be, or what life was like prior to Finn and Jake’s existence the episode helps to address those ponderings, offering a fascinating insight into pre-Kingdom life. The Vault (S5, E34)Īdventure Time is no stranger to flashback episodes, many of which are among the series’ best. Equally hilarious is seeing Adventure Time’s two central characters reduced to using placards, forgoing the perfectly-timed banter that they, and other characters, usually take part in. Finn sums up their conundrum thus:īMO’s innocence and juvenility has always been one of the most charming aspects of Adventure Time, and that strength is utilised fully in “Shh!” – hilarious though BMO’s actions are, running and hiding seems like the most natural thing for a childlike being to do. They try to inform their sentient computer BMO (Niki Yang) about the wager, but are unable to do so BMO is led to believe that the two are possessed by evil forces and makes for the cavities in the nearby walls. One morning, Finn and Jake decide to have a good-natured bet to see who can go the longest period without speaking. In short, the episode talks about greed in a way which is comprehensible and amusing to viewers of all ages. The exploration of wealth, and its effect on society, in “Furniture & Meat” is a fascinating one, alluding to folk heroes like Robin Hood and, more subtly, the works of sociologists Emile Durkheim and Max Weber – note how Finn and Jake don’t give away their bounty for free, only offering it in exchange for services.
Whilst there, they use their treasure to manipulate people into doing their bidding, drawing the wrath of Wildberry Princess (Maria Bamford) in the process. Having accumulated a lot of dosh from their adventures over the years, Finn and Jake decide it time to spend their riches in Wildberry Kingdom. Some of the choices are rather obvious, others rather obscure, yet all are episodes I take pleasure in viewing at every and any opportunity. But with those other shows now earning the attention of audiences, CN has called time on Pendleton Ward’s creation, which is to wrap-up with the special “Come Along With Me”.īefore that happens though, I wanted to take this opportunity to reflect on all the wonderful moments that Finn, Jake et al have provided over ten seasons and 279 episodes by listing my favourite stories from the show’s entire run, and why they deserve to be held as timeless classics.
Renowned for its animation, music, storytelling and humour, Adventure Time has been a huge creative force, paving the way for ground-breaking programmes and fostering a litany of artists, including Rebecca Sugar ( Steven Universe), Patrick McHale ( Over the Garden Wall) and, more recently, Julia Pott ( Summer Camp Island). Throughout the decade, children and adults have found themselves enamoured with the heroics of Finn (Jeremy Shada), a human teenager, and his surrogate brother Jake (John DiMaggio), a magical dog, as they traverse the enchanted Land of Ooo, a journey which is soon to end.
ADVENTURE TIME PILOT SHORT SERIES
This week marks the conclusion of Cartoon Network’s flagship series and, with it, a remarkable era of television.
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