“Adventure Time”
is in that new category of animation on the cartoon network which I find
confounding, albeit remarkably entertaining. It seems as though this is a
straightforward kid’s show, but it gets remarkably close to being edgy enough
for adults at moments. There is always a ripcord to pull, quickly pulling the
narrative back to safety in time for the episode’s close, but watching this
show with children present often makes me nervous. Perhaps this is partly due
to the high octane, bizarre, and often psychedelic nature of the show which
makes me feel as though I’m on drugs.
The story
follows the adventures and misadventures of a human boy named Finn and his
brother, a dog named Jake. Finn was adopted by Jake’s parents and they roam the
magical land looking for adventures. Along the way they come across a number of
regular supporting characters, both good and evil. The villains include
Marceline the vampire and the Ice King, and their main ally and adventure
companion is Princess Bubblegum. Understanding who these characters are or what
they want is unnecessary for the enjoyment of the show, as they are ten minute
segments likely to feel fast-paced by even the most attention deficient viewers.
I could talk
about the specifics in the plot development of season four, but nothing much
really seems to change in the world of “Adventure Time.” The one difference
from season to season is the introduction of new characters, which there is
plenty of in the fourth season, beginning with the introduction of Flame
Princess. Fans love to tout this season as one of the show’s best, because of
the character development in the show. I think this may be a stretch and mostly
only apparent when comparing to the narratives of earlier seasons. Even in
episodes that seem to strive for more than irreverence, such as “I Remember
You,” ten minutes is hardly enough to do more than briefly touch upon
sentimentality.
All twenty-six
season four episode are included on the single-disc Blu-ray, along with a few
special features. There is a featurette about the music in the show, as well as
commentaries on episodes.
Entertainment Value:
7/10
Quality of
Filmmaking: 7/10
Historical
Significance: 7/10
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