Rating: 4/5 stars

The world of “Adventure Time” continues to expand after the end of the original series, as “Fionna and Cake,” a new Max original, seeks to bring new depth to the Land of Ooo. 

This is not the first time Max sought to expand this story universe. “Adventure Time: Distant Lands,” released on the same platform. It was a four-part limited series surrounding the main cast which is set after the events of the original ending.

This new adventure reintroduces the audience to the characters Fionna (Madeline Martin, “Hemlock Grove”) and Cake (Roz Ryan, “A Nashville Legacy”) with a more mature twist that allows the audience to see the characters as more than a gender-bent alternate reality.

That does not mean that the characters are too far apart from their original counterparts. The first episode showcases Marshall Lee (Donald Glover, “Atlanta”) and Gary Prince (Andrew Rannells, “Big Mouth”) to still be similar to their original counterparts, just without the magic.

Simon Petrikov (Tom Kenny, “SpongeBob SquarePants”), formerly Ice King, will also be shown in a new light in this series, with the events of the series ending still very present in the character’s mind years later. The once-happy airhead now lives with a jaded view of the world. 

This new installment brings a newer and more mature feel to the world of “Adventure Time.” The discussion of mean bosses, rent and dealing with grief shows that the Land of Ooo has grown up with its original audience. While the series is not meant for new watchers or young children, it does not shy away from being just as exciting and colorful as the original series. 

This is a smart move on behalf of the creators. They seem to perfectly understand the stronghold this storied universe holds on its audience who have stayed since the beginning. 

With only four episodes out it is still too early to tell where the story is going, but it seems that the series creators have done well in setting up this continuation of the “Adventure Time” universe and will have the audience sitting at the edge of their seat waiting for what comes next. 

Image from Chase Hutchinson via IGN.com