by Jimmy Huston
In 2018, the Cartoon Network series Adventure Time ended after ten seasons and over 280 episodes. The series captured the hearts and imaginations of its initial audience of children, teens, and adults. The show's unique sense of humor, memorable characters, and narrative, which became increasingly present and complex as the show continued, all contributed to its appeal. The show had such a strong fanbase that, the “Land of Ooo” and its inhabitants were revisited just two years later, as four one-hour specials, each focusing on a different character, and they were released on HBO Max across 2020 and 2021. As this series of specials entitled Distant Lands ended, the Adventure Time team announced their next project Adventure Time: Fionna and Cake, and after two years of waiting, the show was finally released in August of 2023.
The series consists of ten episodes, each roughly 27 minutes long, and follows the multiversal adventures of the titular characters Fionna Cambell (Madeleine Martin) and Cake (Roz Ryan). Both characters first appeared in season 3, episode 9 of the original show. They come from fanfiction created by Ice King in which all of the beloved Adventure Time characters are gender-swapped. Of course, Fionna and Cake are the stand-ins for Finn and Jake. In their new series, which takes place decades after the original show, they adventure across the multiverse to save their world, joined by Simon Petrakov (Tom Kenny) who was once Ice King before being turned back into a human in the finale of Adventure Time.
The series consists of ten episodes, each roughly 27 minutes long, and follows the multiversal adventures of the titular characters Fionna Cambell (Madeleine Martin) and Cake (Roz Ryan). Both characters first appeared in season 3, episode 9 of the original show. They come from fanfiction created by Ice King in which all of the beloved Adventure Time characters are gender-swapped. Of course, Fionna and Cake are the stand-ins for Finn and Jake. In their new series, which takes place decades after the original show, they adventure across the multiverse to save their world, joined by Simon Petrakov (Tom Kenny) who was once Ice King before being turned back into a human in the finale of Adventure Time.
One of the most notable differences between Adventure Time and Fionna and Cake (2022) is that Fionna and Cake is rated TV-14 while the original was rated TV-PG. Not only does this officially qualify it as adult animation, but it gives it a lot more freedom. An Adventure Time project contains blood and curse words for the first time. This made some fans cautious, as many adult animated shows use these elements as a crutch. Fionna and Cake, however, do not fall victim to these norms. They use violence only when necessary, and the cursing is few and far between and only used by the characters it makes sense for.
Speaking of characters, that is this series’ most vital attribute. The character work is nothing short of impressive. The titular characters work extremely well and are large upgrades from their one-dimensional depictions in Adventure Time. Instead of being the female version of Finn as she was initially, Fionna is entirely her own character. She is probably the character audiences can relate to most. Fionna is just a girl doing her best to get through her 9 to 5 while caring for her cat and hanging out with her friends. She also has a lot of depth to her as she is usually adorable and carefree. However, she has a very stubborn side when she feels like something is unjust. She has a “Hero’s heart,” which is probably the biggest similarity between her and Finn. Her best friend and cat, Cake, is also a significant upgrade from her original, one-note portrayal. While not quite as well developed as Fionna, Cake serves as an excellent comic relief and part of some interesting intercharacter conflicts in the middle of the show. By far, the highlight of the series is the character of Simon. Simon is one of the most tragic Adventure Time characters without spoiling. They take his character arc in a unique direction, especially in the second half of the season, and he is responsible for some of the most emotional moments in Adventure Time. His character alone makes the show worth watching.
Unfortunately, Fionna and Cake’s biggest shortcoming is the pacing, which may result from the fact that the season is only ten episodes. The season starts strong, with the first two episodes being some of the best. However, episodes three and four feel a bit awkward. The show took a little too long to get into the main plot. By episode four, you can tell where it’s headed, so while the episode itself isn’t bad, it feels like you are just waiting to move on. This issue comes back again for the last two episodes of the show. Multiple plots are going on simultaneously in the final few episodes, and it feels like the less impactful, more predictable one gets more focus. The pacing is pretty good throughout the rest of the show, but these few episodes definitely hurt the story's overall flow.
One potential downside of Fionna and Cake is the low level of accessibility, and I’m not just referring to the fact that it’s a MAX exclusive. The show is made purely for Adventure Time fans. There are many instances throughout the series where a side character who only appeared in a few episodes of Adventure Time or maybe one of the Distant Lands specials, comes into the story and plays a crucial role. They do not explain most of the time and expect the audience to know this world already inside and out. So, when it comes to new fans, this isn’t a show for them. However, playing so heavily into this already existing fanbase who grew up with the original show and are now adults has yielded positive results for the Adventure Time crew. The Adventure Time fandom has had a large revival on social media and is now as passionate about the show as ever. The week-to-week discussions and excitement on social media as episodes aired are proof of this. Hopefully, this energetic response to the series will lead to more new Adventure Time projects in the future.
Adventure Time: Fionna and Cake is an all-around well-written show that brings an exciting revival to the franchise. It certainly makes up for what it lacks in pacing and certain story elements with memorable and impressively written characters. The show has grown with the audience with its TV-14 rating and more emotional, serious storytelling, making it a must-watch for any Adventure Time fan. However, if you are a little bit less versed in the Land of Ooo and the characters who inhabit it you should do some catching up before giving the show a watch.
One potential downside of Fionna and Cake is the low level of accessibility, and I’m not just referring to the fact that it’s a MAX exclusive. The show is made purely for Adventure Time fans. There are many instances throughout the series where a side character who only appeared in a few episodes of Adventure Time or maybe one of the Distant Lands specials, comes into the story and plays a crucial role. They do not explain most of the time and expect the audience to know this world already inside and out. So, when it comes to new fans, this isn’t a show for them. However, playing so heavily into this already existing fanbase who grew up with the original show and are now adults has yielded positive results for the Adventure Time crew. The Adventure Time fandom has had a large revival on social media and is now as passionate about the show as ever. The week-to-week discussions and excitement on social media as episodes aired are proof of this. Hopefully, this energetic response to the series will lead to more new Adventure Time projects in the future.
Adventure Time: Fionna and Cake is an all-around well-written show that brings an exciting revival to the franchise. It certainly makes up for what it lacks in pacing and certain story elements with memorable and impressively written characters. The show has grown with the audience with its TV-14 rating and more emotional, serious storytelling, making it a must-watch for any Adventure Time fan. However, if you are a little bit less versed in the Land of Ooo and the characters who inhabit it you should do some catching up before giving the show a watch.
