Adventure Time has always zigzagged in terms of quality. There are good episodes like "Holly Jolly Secrets" and bad episodes like "Jake Suit" or "Breezy". I have mixed feelings about Adventure Time's final season and finale, because while it changes some characters, three feel like they are trapped in the status quo
In the finale, Finn fights Fern, a villain built up to be the final villain, but never really feels in-depth like some of the previous antagonists. Whereas the Lich was the anti-thesis to everything Finn embodied as a hero and Martin was Finn's worst traits personified, Fern feels like a bunch of evil twin tropes cobbled together wrapped up with magic. Really, the whole conflict is meant to distract viewers from the fact Finn mostly unimportant in the finale of Adventure Time. The larger and more important conflict is resolved by PB and Finn is swallowed by GOLB, quickly upon arrival. This seems like a microcosm of Finn's decreased presence in general. Compared to the development of some of the side characters. Finn still seems to lack long term goals, unique talents and passions, or chemistry in relationships. Steven Universe is a show that puts a greater emphasis on crying and selling songs to iTunes, yet the titular character seems much farther in all these areas. Which of these was supposed to be the WA equivalent of shonen again?
Jake is involved in the final conflict, but lacks any major change in development. Since this is the finale of the show, why not change the dynamic? Life isn’t stagnant, when relationships get serious, people move out and prioritize the development of family. I was hoping some of what his son, Kim, said would sink in and Jake would try to be more responsible.
Simon's resolution at the end of Adventure Time is probably the most disappointing. Simon loses the power of the Ice King and gains enough sanity and intelligence to realize how irrelevant an antiquarian is in a land where magic exists and science extends far beyond what can be constituted as physics. The show gives the chance for him and Betty to reunite one final time before practically destroying any chance of ever seeing her again, as if the writers can’t write Simon if he’s not lovelorn and depressed.
The conclusion properly concludes the the personal story of PB, and to a lesser extent, BMO and Marceline. However, it leaves the above characters dead in the water in terms of personal development. I realize the story will continue in comics but considering the mixed reception of ATLA comics that might not be a good thing. Whatever the case this is the finale most people will recognize as the ending of the show, and to me it feels incomplete.
A Grand Finale For All But Three Of Its Most Important Characters
Spoilers below.
Adventure Time has always zigzagged in terms of quality. There are good episodes like "Holly Jolly Secrets" and bad episodes like "Jake Suit" or "Breezy". I have mixed feelings about Adventure Time's final season and finale, because while it changes some characters, three feel like they are trapped in the status quo
In the finale, Finn fights Fern, a villain built up to be the final villain, but never really feels in-depth like some of the previous antagonists. Whereas the Lich was the anti-thesis to everything Finn embodied as a hero and Martin was Finn's worst traits personified, Fern feels like a bunch of evil twin tropes cobbled together wrapped up with magic. Really, the whole conflict is meant to distract viewers from the fact Finn mostly unimportant in the finale of Adventure Time. The larger and more important conflict is resolved by PB and Finn is swallowed by GOLB, quickly upon arrival. This seems like a microcosm of Finn's decreased presence in general. Compared to the development of some of the side characters. Finn still seems to lack long term goals, unique talents and passions, or chemistry in relationships. Steven Universe is a show that puts a greater emphasis on crying and selling songs to iTunes, yet the titular character seems much farther in all these areas. Which of these was supposed to be the WA equivalent of shonen again?
Jake is involved in the final conflict, but lacks any major change in development. Since this is the finale of the show, why not change the dynamic? Life isn’t stagnant, when relationships get serious, people move out and prioritize the development of family. I was hoping some of what his son, Kim, said would sink in and Jake would try to be more responsible.
Simon's resolution at the end of Adventure Time is probably the most disappointing. Simon loses the power of the Ice King and gains enough sanity and intelligence to realize how irrelevant an antiquarian is in a land where magic exists and science extends far beyond what can be constituted as physics. The show gives the chance for him and Betty to reunite one final time before practically destroying any chance of ever seeing her again, as if the writers can’t write Simon if he’s not lovelorn and depressed.
The conclusion properly concludes the the personal story of PB, and to a lesser extent, BMO and Marceline. However, it leaves the above characters dead in the water in terms of personal development. I realize the story will continue in comics but considering the mixed reception of ATLA comics that might not be a good thing. Whatever the case this is the finale most people will recognize as the ending of the show, and to me it feels incomplete.