Photo courtesy of Animation World Network

The final episode of “Adventure Time: Distant Lands” premiered on HBO Max on Thursday, Sept. 2. This marks the second time the beloved series has come to an end, but this final hour-long special didn’t deliver in the way previous episodes did.

The episode, titled “Wizard City,” follows a new version of Peppermint Butler, who appears in a child-like form. Viewers later learn this was a result of being doused in “Dum Dum Juice” during the final season of the original series. The episode focuses on Peppermint Butler’s desire to get back to who he once was, an expert of dark magic, by attending Wizard School where characters old and new make this task far from easy. 

 Though “Wizard City” is fun enough, it seems wrong for it to have been the final episode of “Distant Lands.” Initially, the series was meant to end with “Together Again,” which centers Finn and Jake’s reunion in the afterlife. This episode was more compelling conceptually and offered a stronger sense of closure for longtime fans. “Wizard City” left a lot to be desired, but its shortcomings were likely a result of trailing the highs of “Together Again.” This finale would have been even more disappointing if HBO Max had not recently announced plans for another Adventure Time spin-off series based on Fionna and Cake, the gender-swapped versions of Finn and Jake. 

“Wizard City” did not provide the most satisfying departure from the limited series, but the episode itself was not bad.  It still had all the charm of the original series and brought back minor characters that viewers had likely never expected to see again. New characters like Pep (yes, he’s a reincarnated version of Peppermint Butler, but he still counts) and Cadebra drive the story that feels somewhat reminiscent of both Harry Potter and “Monsters University.” It’s a fun romp that gives characters that were usually on the sidelines a moment to shine.

 “Adventure Time” has always been an amusing show with goofy character designs and dialogue. In “Distant Lands,” it feels like the creators have leaned even further into the playfulness of the animation and design, breathing new life into the already vibrant show. Through each episode of “Distant Lands,” images on the screen only became more visually stunning, which was a notable aspect in the original series as well. 

With the success of the first episodes of “Distant Lands,” it’s understandable why the creators ordered this for a final episode. Peppermint Butler was an excellent character in the original series, so getting a special highlighting him excited many. “Wizard City” had some strong moments; however, the weakness of this episode boils down to when it was released. Had it been planned for sooner or released ahead of “Together Again,” the series would have felt more cohesive. The ending of “Wizard City” just sort of peters to a close, leaving viewers unfulfilled. All in all, “Wizard City” is an entertaining visit to The Land of Ooo, but it falls short in comparison to previous episodes.