The fifth season of Cartoon Network's cult favorite show "Adventure Time" began with a continuation of a major cliffhanger. At the end of season four, Finn (voiced by Jeremy Shada) and Jake (voiced by John DiMaggio), the main protagonists and post-apocalyptic heroes of the expertly animated show, were finally facing down their ever-present foe, The Lich. Since season one, Finn and Jake have been slowly creeping closer and closer to an encounter with the immortal cloaked skeleton man who is powered by toxic elements left over from the Great Mushroom War.
As season four ended, the fate of Finn and Jake was uncertain, and many fans speculated that the next season would be an entirely different iteration of the series. Fortunately, the beginning of season five shattered any and all expectations. The two-part premiere was riddled with intensely funny, shockingly poignant and bizarrely moving sequences, paving the way for what has been the show's most exciting season to date.
Although "Adventure Time" is a show for kids on a network that focuses on chil?dren's programming, it represents a new cat- egory of animated entertainment. Beginning with patently adult animated shows like "The Simpsons" (1989-present) and "South Park" (1997-present), the landscape of ani- mated shows for both children and adults has been changing drastically over the past decades. These shows, noted for their bit- ing satire and sharp wit, have influenced cartoon programing for kids: creators have become increasingly unafraid to walk the line between adult and youth subject matter, between humor and relationships. Today, this line is more blurred than ever, with the fan base of many animated shows for children tending to be all but dominated by viewers in their mid-twenties.
Cartoon Network has been instrumental in recent years in bringing quality cartoon programing to children and nostalgic adults. Starting with shows like "Chowder" (2007-2010), "The Misadventures of Flapjack" (2008-2010) and culminating today with "Regular Show" (2010-present) and "Adventure Time," Cartoon Network has fearlessly forged forward into this new genre, creating shows that are bizarre and undeni- ably entertaining. Undaunted by critics of their style and dedicated to rewarding bold animators and storytellers like Pendleton Ward - the creator of "Adventure Time" - Cartoon Network has created interesting programming and garnered a massive and loyal following.
This newest season of "Adventure Time" is a testament to this fearless programing. Many episodes of this season, which ends on March 17, are peppered by the tropes that the show is known for - silly jargon and crazy action. However, although these episodes are fun to watch and easy to love, it is installments like "Simon and Marcy" and "Puhoy" - episodes that are bittersweet and heart-wrenching - that make this show so incredible. "Adventure Time" impressively juggles many different sub-plots, touching on various aspects of the lives of children and young adults. Because the show deals with familial rela- tionships and friendships and themes such as popularity and community, it is supremely relatable.
Moreover, season five represents somewhat of a growth period for the main protagonist Finn. Though Finn has always been involved in love-triangles and dangerous quests, now we see him mature into a young man. (The character, now 15 years old, was 12 when the series started.) In what is the longest season to date - with a total of 52 episodes planned - Finn and Jake have forged unbreakable bonds with those around them, which adds a newfound, more adult depth to them as characters. Their growth mirrors the growth of the audience, as many have matured with Finn and Jake as they become young adults.
Time" are undeniable. Individual epi- sodes, which run about eleven minutes, are chock full of incredible and surprising moments.Thisshowis"topsbluebee"and
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about the show's characters and quality, worth a watch. Give it a try - you may just the poignancy and humor of "Adventure end up surprising yourself.
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