Adventure Time: Fionna and Cake: The Cartoon That Speaks To Me

Holy glob! I forgot Adventure Time: Fionna and Cake premiered, and it is delving into my existential crisis.

Adventure Time: Fionna and Cake is a genderswapped spin-off of Adventure Time, which features a human boy named Finn and his shapeshifting companion, Jake. Targeting young adults and those familiar with the original, Fionna and Cake tells the story of Fionna, a young women is bored of her adult life. She continuously works thankless jobs and often feels alone, all while existing to survive. Honestly, this sounds oddly close to home, and I'm in my thirties.

With familiar faces from Adventure Time, Fionna and Cake dive into a darker storytelling but keeps the nostalgia of its counterpart. After watching the premiere episodes, I felt this was the first cartoon to genuinely resonate with me. Much like Fionna, I want to escape the boring. I want something more from my life than working a job I don't care about. Pretending to care about people's needs and performing mundane tasks for a paycheck is not how I saw my life. I want fun and creativity in my life. I want to enjoy what I do, instead of doing it to survive. Fionna's need to escape reality is something we all can relate to.

In the second episode titled " Simon Petrikov" Simon is now human after being stripped of his powers and freed from the crown's curse that made him Ice King. He spends the episode missing his existence as a princess-obsessed, often crazy, misunderstood wizard because it was easier. Simon knew what his purpose was. He played a role in the Land of Ooo, and it was as a doopy villain.

Now that he's human again, he doesn't feel connected to anyone in the Land of Ooo. With citizens asking about his book "Fionna and Cake" Simon frequently becomes frustrated because Ice King created those characters and adventures. His finance, Betty, is no longer alive after trying to save him from being possessed by the curse of the Ice King. Simon's relationship with Marcelene is distant, if not non-existent. 

Simon's torture is relatable for anyone who has ever felt a loss and has become depressed due to not knowing who they are without someone or having trouble finding a purpose. Being reminded of our positive traits by family and friends and finding solace in the past draws us further into loneliness. Being prepared to let go and accept that you're a different person opens up a new quest in your life. A new purpose.

With Fionna and Cake bringing a new chapter to a story fans love, I can't wait to see what new adventures and how close to reality the series brings. 

** Check out this song from the 1st episode. I swear it hits close to home **