The fifth season of Adventure Time begins with a special two-parter. Episodes entitled Finn the Human and Jake the Dog pick up where season four left off. Finn (Jeremy Shada) and Jake (John DiMaggio) leave the land of Ooo through a portal opened by the Lich (Ron Perlman). The duo makes quick progress in their pursuit, but it’s too late. The all-powerful Wishmaster Prismo (Kumail Nanjiani) has granted the Lich a wish but reveals that through their own wishes Finn and Jake can defeat the Lich.
This season rambles, spending time in several lands simply mentioned in previous seasons and focusing on many characters beyond Finn and Jake. Marceline the Vampire Queen (Olivia Olson), Ice King (Tom Kenny), The Earls of Lemongrab and Lemonhope (Justin Roliand), and the elephant Tree Trunks (Polly Lou Livingston) all receive special attention in the form of expanded plot arcs and the occasional two-part special.
At 52 episodes in length, season five of Adventure Time is the longest season of the entire series. This makes it an excellent choice for collection development-seeking content. Fans of the series will tear through this season to piece together the story of the boy adventurer and his dog roommate, but younger children will enjoy this season as they do other adventure cartoons. The post-apocalyptic themes of the show are unavoidable this season, creating an interesting interplay between the science fiction and fantasy elements of the show. Marceline and the Ice King’s past become key to understanding the history of the land of Ooo and the return of magic to the world.
This season pairs well with other Cartoon Network shows like Chowder or The Marvelous Misadventures of Flapjack as there are some stretches of very serious episodes. While not without humor, season five of Adventure Time eschews much of the show’s childish energy for tense rising action and Finn’s confrontations with his limitations, fears, and fearsome enemies. Those looking for a laugh should be directed to earlier seasons. Teens especially will love the heavy focus on action and adventure in this season. Highly Recommended.
What collection does this title belong in?
Adventure Time’s 5th season belongs in any cartoon collection in public libraries. It belongs on juvenile library shelves.
What ages would this title be suitable for?
All Ages. Tweens and Teens will enjoy the intense action in this season. Younger children will find enjoyment in the more comic episodes and fantastic adventure elements. Adults will enjoy the development of the storyline and its more complex twists than in previous seasons.