Characters who were not just great, but who were deep and hard to categorize.
A post-apocalyptic setting that was mysterious and entertaining, yet tragic at the same time.
Many even got autobiographical songs.
FINN
Ill slay anything thats evil.
But it doesnt matter when Finn is asked.
This truly is his deal, and his main role inAdventure Time.
Hes the hero, and slaying evil is kind of the whole bag.
Runner-up: I cant help it, Man.
Im all about stupid!
At least, he realizes it.
JAKE
Im coming with you… if only to be disruptive and obnoxious.
We cant call Jake out too much.
But Jake also freely admits hes less invested in being a hero than Finn.
This is him owning his part in the hero process.
Runner-up: I didnt know it was wrong.
Jakes running refrain for a while.
Hes a good dude now, but hes still learning.
And in the City of Thieves he still cant resist those red boots.
Song: My Name is Jake
In season 7, Jake literally gets a short auto-bio set to music.
Its current, its snappy, it sounds a lot like a diary entry.
But at least its (largely) happy in a season that often wasnt.
ICE KING
Why dont people like me?
Is it because Im a magic user?
What a gut punch this turned out to be, eh?
When first uttered, in episode three of season one, its pretty ridiculous.
The answer to his question is yes, the magiciswhy no one likes him.
He isnt the shows villain.
Hes its most tragic hero.
Runner-up: I just wanna be loved!
Another kick in the teeth.
And from the episode that probably made you sob ugly tears.
In the beginning, Ice King does all the bad things.
Weird magic that made Ricardio, possiblyAdventure Times least appealing character.
But even before we know who he really is, everything Ice King does comes back to this.
And they capture the essence of who he really is a good man corrupted by magic.
If you hadnt cried yet, this song was written to goose it right out of you.
PRINCESS BUBBLEGUM
Weve got science!
Or even the main thing that she was.
PB was a lot of things, but she was a science nerd first and foremost.
I mean, the show literally began with her performing an experiment.
Bonus for the explosive diarrhea.
Runner-up: The answer was so simple, I was too smart to see it.
On its surface, its a similar line to Weve got science!
MARCELINE
When I became a vampire, I was just a messed-up kid.
Now its a thousand years later and Im still messed up.
I dont want to spend eternity like this, with this emptiness.
I want to grow up.
Of the major characters onAdventure Time, it could be argued Marceline had the most intense character arc.
selfish) a long time.
Runner-up: Ive seen some stuff that would really make you say like what?
Which Marceline does, foreshadowing some of the places and events we have yet to see.
But, in an utterly sublime layering of meaning, this line also recalls the past.
Thats a helluva burden to bear alone.
Song: Journal Song
As the singer-songwriter on the show, nobody gets more introspective songs than Marceline.
But none of them capture the core essence of who she is better than this one.
Its hard to be a thousand-year-old vampire no one understands.
LUMPY SPACE PRINCESS
I guess at the end of the day, its all about the lumps.
Throughout the entire run ofAdventure Time, Lumpy Space Princess had one major interest herself.
She was all about her lumps, and was pretty sure everyone else was about them too.
Spoiler: They werent.
Runner-up: Everybody get ready to pay attention to me.
Girl, LSP was a handful.
She wrote a song about her lumps, and entered a talent show with it.
Because of course she did.
BMO
BMO is so pretty and smart!
BMO is exceptional, and BMO knows it.
Runner-up: Who wants to play video games?
Its on the nose, but thats kind of the point.
BMO is literally a computer, and this is BMOs prime role.
TREE TRUNKS
Im the sexiest adventurer in the world.
During Tree Trunks first major appearance onAdventure Time, Finn describes her as old and bonkers.
Runner-up: If you want a taste of my juicy apple pie you better be nice.
Tree Trunks is Ooos source for apple pie.
Everyones welcome to it.
And very seldom does it sound like Tree Trunks is actually talking about apple pie.
Song: Apple Pie
This is not technically Tree Trunks song, as she neither sings nor writes it.
But its lyrics
Apple pie in the oven
Tell me can you taste lovin?
do capture the euphemistic nature of TTs apple pie.
FLAME PRINCESS
You should not toy with the emotions of a fire elemental.
Flame Princess, am I right?
The girl is hot.
So hot she can set fire to the world if she gets overly emotional.
She really IS a fire elemental who should NOT be toyed with.
Runner-up: The power of destruction.
FP is made of fire, so this is pretty much a given.
Ah,Adventure Timeis just full of happy stories like that.
But, when she does, shes a straight-up baller on the rap battle circuit.
