After 10 long seasons, Cartoon Network concluded one of its most beloved animated series, Adventure Time. As fans worldwide bid farewell to characters they'd grown to love over nearly a decade, the Adventure Time ending left many wondering about the fates of Finn, Jake, and the entire Land of Ooo.
Let's explore how this iconic show wrapped up its remarkable journey.
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Understanding Adventure Time’s Ending
The emotional finale took place in the 4-part episode "Come Along With Me," which uniquely frames the story 1,000 years into the future. Two new adventurers — Beth (Willow Smith) and Shermy (Sean Giambrone) — discover Finn's mechanical arm, setting off a quest to learn about the legendary heroes of old.
With the history of the Candy Kingdom obscured by time, they seek out the king of the Land of Ooo, revealed to be BMO, who serves as narrator for the epic tales of Finn (Jeremy Shada) and Jake (John DiMaggio), Princess Bubblegum, and Marceline. BMO recounts the great Gum War between Princess Bubblegum and her uncle Gumbald, as well as the ominous emergence of GOLB, an ancient entity of chaos.
Things That Happened In The End
Gum War Ended
Though Uncle Gumbald was briefly mentioned in Season 2, he didn't emerge as a major antagonist until Season 8. The Adventure Time ending was filled with confrontations as the Gum War reached its climax between Princess Bubblegum and her candy-uncle.
Through Jake's nightmare juice, Princess Bubblegum, Finn, Fern, and Gumbald confront their inner conflicts in a shared dream realm. Despite protests from Marceline and Finn, Princess Bubblegum remains determined to face Gumbald in battle.
Witnessing the devastating potential of their war, the uncle and niece rivals ultimately decide to resolve their conflict diplomatically. While Princess Bubblegum shows genuine sincerity in her peace offering, Gumbald attempts deception but is thwarted when Aunt Lolly douses him with a Dum Dum solution, reverting him back to the harmless Punchy.
GOLB's Arrival & Defeat
The fragile peace is shattered by the sudden appearance of Normal Man and GOLB, an Adventure Time entity described as existing in every crevasse where chaos lurks. Ice King, Betty, and Finn become trapped within GOLB's mouth while Flame Princess, Princess Bubblegum, and Marceline battle the chaotic entity and its army.
Jake's tree house suffers heavy damage during the chaos, and BMO is severely affected. In a pivotal moment, BMO sings "Time Adventure," which creates a protective force field against GOLB's army. The combined voices of Ooo's residents burst into "Island Song," ultimately sending GOLB through a portal. Betty makes the ultimate sacrifice, Gunter transforms into the new Ice King (now called Ice Thing), and the immediate crisis is resolved.
Confirmed Couples
The Adventure Time ending served as the culmination of romantic storylines built throughout the animated series. During the battle with GOLB, Lumpy Space Princess and Lemongrab share a passionate kiss, suggesting their potential relationship.
Betty (Felicia Day) and Simon (Tom Kenny) experience a bittersweet reunion when GOLB reverts them to their essential forms. Though Betty ultimately sacrifices herself to neutralize GOLB, she uses her final wish to ensure Simon's safety, demonstrating their enduring love despite centuries of separation.
The most anticipated romantic moment occurs between Princess Bubblegum and Marceline the Vampire Queen, who share a passionate kiss after Marceline saves Princess Bubblegum during the finale battle, confirming their relationship that fans had long hoped to see.
Fern's Redemptive Arc
Fern served as a major character in Season 8, the main antagonist in Season 9, and a secondary antagonist in the final season. However, the show's writers provided him with a meaningful redemptive conclusion.
While in the nightmare realm, Finn and Fern resolve their conflict upon realizing they represent two sides of the same coin. The Grass Demon appears, and Fern kills it, finally freeing himself from its corrupting influence.
Upon gaining his freedom, Fern disintegrates in the real world, transforming into a seed shaped like the Finn Sword — a poetic end that promises new beginnings.
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Characters & Their Ending
Jake
While the mainstream entertainment series concluded on a positive note, Jake's ultimate fate is revealed in HBO's Adventure Time: Distant Lands specials.
In the "Obsidian" episode, we see an older Finn sporting a Jake tattoo on his chest, with his shape-shifting companion nowhere to be found, suggesting Jake's passing occurred between the series finale and the Distant Lands timeline.
The "Together Again" special further explores their afterlife reunion and eternal bond. But how old is Jake in Adventure Time?
Finn
As BMO narrates their story, he describes how Finn and Jake lived full lives after the events of the finale. While trapped in GOLB's belly, Finn accepts that he might die saving others, but thankfully survives thanks to the "Time Adventure" song.
The series conclusion shows this human boy relaxing by a lake with Jake, no longer wearing his robotic arm, perhaps symbolizing his transition from his perilous adventuring lifestyle.
He's greeted by arriving humans, including his mother, suggesting he reconnects with his human heritage and lives a fulfilling life. [2]
How old is Finn in the series?
Fern
Despite his role as an antagonist, Fern receives one of the most touching redemptive arcs in the Adventure Time ending. His conflict with Finn represents themes of self-acceptance and identity.
After destroying the Grass Demon controlling him, Fern's physical form dissolves, but he transforms into a seed that Finn plants. This seed grows into a mighty tree, symbolizing renewal and the potential for growth from sacrifice.
Simon & Betty
Ice King and Betty revert to their original human forms during the finale. While Simon and Finn escape GOLB's influence, Betty remains behind and uses the Ice Crown to attempt to banish GOLB from existence.
When this proves impossible, she instead wishes for Simon's safety, causing herself and GOLB to merge into a singular entity that's banished from their dimension. This sacrifice finally frees Simon from centuries of madness while demonstrating love's ultimate power.
Gunter
When the Ice Crown falls, Gunter secures it for himself. Contrary to Jake's expectations, Gunter doesn't transform into the cosmic entity Orgalorg but instead becomes a new being called Ice Thing. He marries Turtle Princess and becomes the ruler of the Ice Kingdom, now renamed the Ice Thingdom.
Princess Bubblegum & Marceline
After years of a complicated history, Princess Bubblegum (Hynden Walch) and Marceline (Olivia Olson) finally come to terms with their relationship. The Distant Lands' special, "Obsidian," showcases their continued partnership, where they exchange "I love you's" and dance together to "Eternity With You."
Sweet P
During the finale's closing montage featuring "Come Along With Me," we see Sweet P graduating from school alongside Tree Trunks, with Mr. Pig cheering them on. As Beth and Shermy leave King BMO's presence, an adult Sweet P passes by carrying the Night Sword, suggesting he's grown into a heroic figure in his own right.
Lemongrab and Lumpy Space Princess
These two characters share a passionate kiss during the final battle in the Land of Ooo, suggesting a potential romantic relationship. The finale shows Lumpy Space Princess becoming the Lumpy Space Queen, while Lemongrab's ceiling hole is finally repaired. Meanwhile, Peppermint Butler is seen reading a book on Dark Arts, hinting at his continued mysterious interests.
Beth & Shermy’s New Adventures & Lineage
Adventure Time's creators, including Pendleton Ward and Rebecca Sugar, designed the series with a cyclical nature that is evident in characters like Beth the Pup Princess and Shermy. Shermy resembles young Finn's adventurous spirit, while Beth shares characteristics with Jake.
Whether they represent reincarnations, distant descendants, or spiritual successors remains deliberately ambiguous, allowing fans to interpret their connection to the original heroes in their way. Their discovery of Finn's arm and the new Finn Sword suggests that adventure and heroism continue to be passed down across generations.[3]
FAQs
Does anyone die at Adventure Time’s ending?
Yes. In the end, we bid farewell to Fern, the grass alter-ego of Finn. Betty Groff also made a noble sacrifice to merge with GLOB, and the grass demon was killed by Fern. After the great Gum War, some sacrifices had to be made to see the world-building again in the Land of Ooo.
Who did Finn end up with in the end?
There is no confirmation on who became Finn’s partner, so that’s up for fans to imagine. From Princess Bubblegum to Flame Princess, up until Huntress Wizard, Adventure Time created countless potential tandems with Finn. However, the final events of Come Along with Me made his relationship status quite ambiguous.
How Adventure Time Ended
Adventure Time stands as one of the most innovative animated series ever created, featuring memorable characters like Finn and Jake, boundary-pushing storylines that challenge conservative boundaries, and themes that resonate with both children and adults. The series concluded with hope and continuity rather than definitive endings.
The final moments show our heroes living peacefully, as Music Hole mentions practicing a new song. Music Hole sings the show's iconic theme song while a montage displays the main characters in their post-adventure lives, suggesting that while their epic quests have ended, life itself continues.
The adventure time ending succeeds because it honors the show's themes of growth, friendship, and the cyclical nature of existence. By setting the frame story 1,000 years in the future with new heroes discovering remnants of the past, it suggests that while individual adventurers may fade, the spirit of adventure itself is eternal.
Grab your favorite Adventure Time merchandise at Toynk today!
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References:
- https://www.looper.com/283675/adventure-time-distant-lands-hints-at-the-death-of-a-fan-favorite-character/
- https://www.forbes.com/sites/danidiplacido/2018/09/04/the-ambiguous-ending-to-adventure-time-explained/
- https://screenrant.com/adventure-time-come-along-with-me-details-triviad/
