Adventure Time: Season 1 (Part 1)
When exploring a new show, especially a show with multiple seasons available, I find it helpful to break each season down into two halves and consider them independently. I just finished watching the first half of the first season of Adventure Time, and I have to say, I can really understand why this show is popular.
One thing I particularly like about it is that although the protagonists (Finn and Jake) are both male, there are a lot of female characters on the show as well. And though the female characters often find themselves in a position of being rescued by Finn and Jake, the show doesn't position them as Finn's reward for being brave.
In most cases, when you have a damsel in distress, her affection is the hero's reward. Free the princess; get a kiss. You get the feeling most heroes don't spend a lot of time rescuing ugly damsels. But in the case of Adventure Time, Finn rescues the damsels because that's what he does: help people. His reward is A) feeling good about himself, and B) sometimes a fun party.
The show's vocal talent is particularly good for a children's show. John DiMaggio's talents, of course, are unassailable. But I also love the ancillary characters, particularly Lumpy Space Princess.
The show uses vivid if sometimes off-putting color palettes, with each realm having its own distinctive look and feel. The artwork is fun and fluid, which works well with the content.
One thing I keep wondering is, where are Finn's parents? In fact, where are all the other humans? A group of zombie businessmen wash up on the shore frozen in an ice berg at one point (and by the way, the hilarity of this episode is something only a grown adult can really appreciate). And in episode 10 we get a glimpse into the forces that drive Finn to rescue people: when he was a baby, he was alone in the forest, and no one would help him. My God, that is sad.
In the first half of Season 1, basically the show has spent its time introducing all the characters, one by one, in each episode. They haven't received much development yet, but that's to be expected. Overall, I am really enjoying this show!
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