The third season of Adventure Time really starts to stretch the creative boundaries of how far the makers are willing to push the envelope. I like the chances they take this season and I think that fans will be very satisfied with what is delivered to them. Below is a few of my favorite parts of season three.
Conquest of Cuteness: This is the best way to start off an odd season. Jack and Finn go up against some of the greatest, most fierce, most vile warriors in the Land of Ooo, the Cuties. They are a small race of creatures that are absolutely adorable and, while vicious, pose no harm to our favorite duo. Feeling guilty and not wanting the Cuties to hurt themselves, the duo helps them complete their conquest. This episode is so darn cute and funny as heck. Definitely a good beginning for the season and sets the tone for what’s to come.
{media load=media,id=2442,width=720,align=center,display=inline}
Too Young: The Earl of Lemongrab is the best. When I yell at our editors, I usually take on his persona to do so. It’s a simple episode about a young Princess Bubblegum putting up with a promise she made the Earl of Lemongrab, where he could control the kingdom until she is 18. Not wanting to turn 18 (she turned her own clock backwards), because she wants to have fun with Finn and not burden herself with ruling the kingdom, she and Finn decide to pester Lemongrab until he runs his way out of the kingdom. It’s a fun episode and it really comes together at the end. A little bit of drama at the end to boot.
No One Can Hear You: I don’t even know where to begin with this one. When Finn and Jake go up against a deer in a fight, they both get bopped in the head. When Finn wakes up, he finds that everyone in the land is gone, with exception to Jake, who is out of his mind believing he’s waiting for a surprise birthday party from Lady Rainicorn. It’s just an odd episode that ends in the most warped way. I won’t give it away, but there is an animated gif file made of the antagonist.
Thank You: This is by far my favorite episode of the bunch. With little dialogue, it’s a touching story about a snow golem and a fire wolf pup. It’s definitely one of the better ones in the season, if not the best one.
These episodes are my favorite in the bunch, but the overall season is as strong as ever. You get a solid 25 episodes in this season and they never let up. What’s better is that no episode is similar to the last, which is what really makes the show last have lasting flavor. I really enjoy how the show takes chances and pushes the boundaries of creativity. Season three really shows its creative muscle with its variety.
Also, this is a show where you (the adult) can sit down with a son/daughter and just absolutely take it all in. That also is what makes the overall show a lasting experience for everyone. I feel fortunate to have a son and daughter(s) (TONS of them) to watch these episodes with, and more importantly feel very fortunate we can all share in the humor. When the world of cartoons either swings towards ‘not interesting for adults’ and ‘not safe for kids’, it’s definitely nice to see a show like Adventure Time fall right in the middle.
I digress, though. Adventure Time: Season Three is everything you wanted in the show and it’s one of the strongest season releases to date. If you have the other two seasons then you might as well open that wallet and clear some space on the Blu-ray shelf because this one is definitely worth your time and money.
As for the Blu-ray portion of this show, if you want the best possible picture then you’ll want to go the Blu-ray route. Not only does Adventure Time: Season Three look gorgeous and flawless, but this is the medium to make everything in the show look brighter and scarier; in short, the Blu-ray enhances the cartoon viewing experience. You get no compression issues with this season, no graininess or artifacts. Whoever Cartoon Network uses to transfer their material, it’s done really well. You get the full spectrum of colors in this show that really lend well to the format. So the blues, reds, yellows, blacks and whites look superb in HD. Again, you are only robbing yourself of quality if you go anything less than Blu-ray for this release.
As for features, you get some fantastic commentary on each episode as well as a great featurette called ‘How an Idea Becomes Adventure Time’. What I really appreciated about this featurette is that it’s not wacky or off-the-beaten-path, rather it’s just a good sit down with the creators and their opinions of the process, cartoon network and fans. It offers a bit more substance than what you had on the previous releases. In addition to these two features, you also get an alternate intro to the show. It’s a pretty cool intro, so I won’t ruin it for you.
While I would prefer a bit more beef in the special features department of this release, maybe some storyboards or art, it’s still a nice set of features for a good release like this that is geared towards a younger audience. A solid compliment to a great season.