I grew up with only the first few episodes on disc, so while this show is part of my childhood it also isn't at the same time, so my reviews are unaffected by nostalgia (outside of this one).
And damn, did I forget how abridged & rushed the pacing is in this show. It's like they wanted to quicky adapt several popular comic runs without giving them the time needed to properly flesh out the story - something that still rings true for the other episodes.
And while I haven't read said comics, the show is still great after over 2 decades.
The characterization is done really well, the designs & artstyle are great, the animation is solid, some of the dialogue is raw af (J'onn's line of "You hide underground and shun the light! Why? Does it burn your pale, putrid skin?!" is so damn great that I gotta start referencing it more) while the rest is solid, etc.
It's a good adaptation of the characters, but I do wish they spent more time on each story arc. For example , the next arc - Blackest Night - is so rushed it kinda undermined the point of the story.
Still, it's a great watch. Even as an adult, you'll be able to enjoy this.
I also love the design of the white martians ("invaders", as the show calls them). It looks incredibly alien while also being intriguing, and the Imperium takes the cake. His design is damn good.
But still, it is quite rushed and kinda skips out on things. I feel like it was meant to continue the established lore of previous series (like the Batman and Superman ones), but I haven't seen those so I can't be entirely sure (but even then, the "staple villains" of each character don't really appear).
The intro feels like a parody of something I haven't seen, but other than that this episode is just... kinda there.
I am curious about how the hell biology works in this universe since Charlotte has a human and deer child.
The few boner "jokes" it had were unfunny af though. Kinda surprised the show wrote them tbh.
Also, holy shit BoJack is gonna get a ton of lawsuits & shit - and Jesus Christ penny, what in the actual fuck?! Very glad BoJack shut her down fast.
...and then he immediately fucked it up big time. Holy shit.
Everyone's saying this episode is bad, but I think it perfectly encapsulates what the show started with: BoJack is a pretty shitty person who always makes shitty decisions, dragging down everyone alongside him.
This episode hammers home that core theme doubly so with its ending (and his desperation to have a normal life by pleading with Charlotte to just up & leave with him).
I do hope we get to check back in on how said ending impacts her family later on in the series, but this episode is kind of a perfect package of the show's central theme & BoJack's characterization.
It's deeply uncomfortable and makes you question what the hell is happening - and anything that does that in today's media landscape is a massive breathe of fresh air.
Goddamn, that was also amazing.
I do rank episode 2 slightly higher - but this one's about Finn & Jake, so you can't not love it lmao.
The fake-out intro setting up the fact that they've already been dead for years was a great subversion of expectations. It seems like this entire series takes place after the show ends (although the fiest episode seems like it goes over how BMO met Finn & Jake? Unless that was a parallel dimension or something...)
But anyway, this episode covers their bond and how it can transcend death itself - and it does a great job at that while also bringing back characters we've seen before. Even has a good message that's kinda meant to make you reflect on your own life & what it means to you.
We also get to see Life for the first time, and having the twist be that the snake guy is her & death's son was great (and it even brought back the Lich!).
And seeing Peppermint Butler again was fun too. I always wondered what his deal was (and still don't know lol). Also seems like Bubblegum finally died, and he took over the kingdom? I wonder what happened to Marceline....
As I said at the start, I do think episode 2 is just a tad better - but I'm biased since I like Marceline and Bubblegum's characters more.
Still though, this is another easy 10/10 for me.
Holy shit, that was amazing!
Marceline has been one of my favourite characters for a while now (though it did take a few episodes), and I'd always wondered what exactly made her and Princess Bubblegum stop talking - and this episode answers that.
It's got a great story, 2 more great songs (but all of Marceline's songs are great tbh), and answers questions you probably had but didn't expect an answer too (like how Bubblegum got that shirt, why she kept it for so long after they stopped talking, and why they've got a history that the main series doesn't really explore until near the end (but even then it's vague at best)).
It's also got a good message about being yourself and acknowledging that people grow & change over time.
I'm definitely gonna rewatch this in the future, but I do wonder why Bubblegum didn't make a new arm for Finn (although it was pretty cool to see him again, and I'm pretty sure one of Jake's kids is with him - but I don't really remember any of them lmao).
I doubt the other 2 episodes will top this (although I'm biased since I like Marceline & Bubblegum and their dynamic quite a bit lol), but it'd be a pleasant surprise if so.
I do wonder why older Finn doesn't have an arm though. I figured Princess Bubblegum would've made him a new one.
And why's he got a tattoo of Jake?
Goddamn, what an ending.
The first 2/3-ish is a bit wonky since Gumbald was barely set up as a villain and as such doesn't really work as one, but everything else is pretty damn good.
Although the aunt is just kinda there. She could've been removed or dum-ified again and nothing would really change (maybe they had plans in the future?)
A ton of one-off characters return, the Bubblegum & Marceline ship finally becomes canonical, and the actual ending is really open - just like the theme of the show: A life of unexpected adventure, encompassing everything too can imagine & more.
Betty's sacrifice completes her character arc, finally letting go of the man she was so desperate to save.
I also like the ending being a homage to the show's intro. In a way, Finn passed the torch of Adventure Time to a new pair of friends.
My only real complaint is BMO not remembering Finn's name. I dunno, it just bothers me. Dude was there for Finn's entire life and couldn't even remember his name, but he remembered Bubblegum's despite only meeting her a few times (if at all)?
Hearing the full outro song over a montage of where everyone is was good too. Reminds me of Regular Show's ending. Also like the implication that the Music Hole is singing it after every episode.
But alas, the opening has lied to us the entire time - for the fun does end, and here is where the train stops.
It was a good ride though, and I'll probably revisit a few episodes every so often in the future.
It's been 6 years, so I doubt there's gonna be a revival - but if so, I would like to see what Bubblegum and Marceline are up to. They're 2 of the handful of immortal characters, and I wonder how things panned out after the ending.
It's easy to forget that Princess Bubblegum is about as old as Ooo itself, and these occasional episodes that fill in her backstory are always welcome.
I do wonder how she got her name though. Did she name herself, or did the "mother gum" do it?
Good origin for some of the candy helpers we've seen since the start of the series, and it really plays into her original characterization as a paranoid ruler with a bit of narcissism (perhaps that stems from these events? I'd imagine it'd be a bit traumatizing to have your own creations turn against you).
Honestly, the main flaw Is Gumbald having no set up due to how short the last 2 seasons are. He just kinda shows up, randomly becomes evil after being created, and that's it.
Granted, the Lich does have a similar setup - but it works better due to the time it was given (and it wasn't done after the Lich had been introduced).
But, the pun in the cousin's name adds at least half a star (if you don't know, his name is a pun on "chicle" - which is a type of sap used to make gum. I think it's not used that much anymore though).
Goddamn, what a great ending. Makes me sad there's no season 3....
Given the ending, I think it was planned but the show got cancelled before it could ever be made.
However, what we got is still damn good though. The final battle with the Thanagarians is great, Lantern vs. Hawkman is an epic fight, and the final scene is poignant & impactful.
I'd also thought J'onn wasn't able to read their minds because of their helmets (thinking said helmets were made of Nth Metal or something), but it seems like it was either thought up as some foreboding foreshadowing and/or required much more focus due to their mental shielding. Doesn't explain how he got injuries in the real world though.
Although Unlimited is technically the sequel to this, I don't think it really counts as one. It barely continues these plots and focuses on other characters, so while it is a good show it's not a great Justice League show - ya know?
Anyway, this series is still great after all these years, and I'm sad to see it go. Really wish they'd be able to finish off whatever plans the writers had in the future, but I also doubt it'll happen...
This is my favourite episode of the show.
While everything's been good so far, I've always loved it when shows kinda pause the main plot to focus on the characters (like the Tales of Ba Sing Se from Avatar).
Superman inviting J'onn to his house for Christmas is the strongest of the 3, giving us yet more insight into J'onn's loneliness and neutrality on humanity as a whole (though not as much as the episode with Morgan Le Fey). We see him explore the town a bit to get a feel for how different everything is on christmas, and I love his interaction with the Kents.
Lantern and Hawkgirl's story is also good, giving us more insight as to how rowdy Thanagarians are and how John still enjoys something like snowboarding, even though he can travel faster than light (which Hawkgirl even points out). There's not really a resolution to the bar fight she starts, but ending it on a cute scene of her kissing John and wishing him merry christmas is the best way to end it imo.
And finally, The Flash trying to retrieve a present for some kids (which are the same ones we saw when grodd mind controlled him that one time, suggesting that he visits often - which gets confirmed by the dialogue from the woman who runs the place).
His story is good, but I just don't care about Ultra-Humanite as much (though he is great) due to him not appearing very often.
But all 3 are solid, and I love this episode for giving us a bit more characterization about most of the league. It's a solid 9/10 from me.
I dunno, this arc just doesn't do it for me.
We get a bit more lore about Thanagar and Atlantis (as well as Grundy's origin story), but I've never really cared about Grundy so him being killed off doesn't really do anything.
Plus it doesn't make sense as to why Hawkgirl would be so distraught over it, while the other league members are a bit sad.
They constantly fought him and he didn't really do much to win them over (other than take out a few minions in the old one's realm).
Icthultu is also just an anagram of Cthulhu and basically is Cthulhu (I thought the shot of an old Atlantis was R'lyeh, lol).
If you're into spiritualism and/or Grundy's character you'll probably get more out of this, but even as a fan of lovecraftian lore I just see a slight rewording of the old ones.
The creature designs are cool and the fight scenes are good, but the main plot focuses on spiritualism - and I've never been interested in that.
I must say though, this show stepping away from the constant reincarnation of Hawkgirl is quite nice. I never liked that aspect of her established lore. Always felt like any hint at a romance plot would be nullified due to it existing, so why bother trying to write them?
I think the show ends up doing that anyway in Unlimited though.... ah well.
Read my review of part 1 first as this picks up from there.
So, superman and J'onn find out the planet is intact, and hatch a plan to reveal it. They do so and start the final act - and that's where this falls apart.
I haven't read the comic, but know that it's a pretty chonky story that takes quite some time to get through - but this show very quickly squishes it all into a single sequence at the end of the episode and kinda ruins the main arc while also destroying the pacing.
We get to see a bit of the guardian's home planet, the league destroys all the manhunters (who apparently deleted their "easily destroy the justice league" files), and John absorbs the power from the core and stops the "main" manhunter about 5 seconds after he gains all the power.
That nullifies any stakes there could've been, and really drags down an otherwise decent episode. It sets up this big threat that should've taken an episode to dispatch, but for whatever reason it ends here in a quick 5-minute scene.
It's still got the qualities of the show - good writing and characters - but you feel like you kinda wasted your time by the end since the big threat was dealt with so swiftly.
Thankfully, the rest of the show doesn't follow this pattern - but this episode is still disappointing on every rewatch.
I'll go into more details in my review for part 2, but the second half of this feels extremely rushed - especially in the third act.
However, the first part is a great setup and gives us more insight about John, who we've only been vaguely aware of up until this point.
The episode has a cold open on the courtroom as they discuss the prime suspect and prepare to catch him, only for it to be revealed as John. Anyone who's even vaguely aware of the franchise knows he's a hero, so why would he be on trial? It makes you question things from the get-go.
We then see John take a stroll down his home neighborhood (while not caring about his secret identity) until the manhunters show up to spoil things.
They quickly detain him while easily dispatching half of the league, and then the plot begins. We're given a basic overview of what happened (and some side characters we won't remember).
Hawkgirl, Flash, and J'onn get a bit more characterization too - but this episode is all about John, the green lantern. We also get a bit of foreshadowing when the manhunters bumps into one of the lanterns who retorts with "ow! Stupid robot", to which said manhunters prepares to attack before being stopped by the "main" one.
It then ends on a cliffhanger shortly after superman discovers that the entire affair is a lie - the planet is definitely intact (due to the moon's orbit), but hidden by an impressive hologram projector.
It's a great setup for the last part - but alas, said last part kinda falls apart near the end.
However, it's still a good watch, so I'd say to check it out.
I kinda liked this one.
Always hated the concept of the price directive - moreso when it was a plotpoint rather than backdressing - and this episode just proves how dumb it is for it to be a 100% unchanging & ironclad rule.
It's not really morally right to sacrifice an entire civilization (unless they're all nasi murders or some shit) just because of "da rulez".
Nikolai is a fun character, and although he hasn't so much as been mentioned before, this show aired on cable. You just made shit up every week or so back then, and basically never had a central lore book to follow.
And they wrote him out of the show pretty well. They can have worf go back and find him if need (since they pulled the planet from the central database), or just never address his character again.
The dude suiciding because of his existential crises is also kinda pointless. I even thought they'd replicate him a new grand history book since he lost the one they had.
But, we didn't know much about his character, and they could've just not written in the "oh memory erasing doesn't work because reasons" line.
But, it's not terrible overall. As with all prime directive episodes, it's a bit of a drag and makes me go "ohmygod fix these damn rules already ffs", but it's acceptable.
