It's a pretty surreal feeling when one of the very first things you see in the last Distant Lands special is the murder of one of the show's best minor characters. Pretty shocking to say the least.
I wasn't sure how Adam Muto and the usual crew would handle a 49-minute special to a character that superficially doesn't deserve a lot of screen time due to his "one-trick demon" nature, but BOY did they pull it off with grace and tact. Even if we can't relate to Pep's conflict to unlock the true darkness within him, there are shockingly effective themes at play here, including but not limited to dealing with verbal abuse from superiors and how some people aren't who they seem to be. The titular Wizard City itself is a delight to spend time in after years of the original show only grazing its surface, with new and old characters alike all getting at least one moment to shine. It's telling that the special is so engrossing that not one reference to Finn and Jake is needed to amplify it.
Pep himself slowly warms up to Cadabra, who just so happens to be the daughter of Abracadaniel. Their dynamic is so good and is definitely one of the better representations of a formative friendship I've seen in any kind of media.
All in all, 10/10 special. If the post-credits scene is anything to go by then the Fionna and Cake spin-off that's premiering in a couple of years is going to be one heckuva time.
Also as a side note: Bill Hader's character is HILARIOUS and I don't think I've laughed that hard at ANYTHING of that caliber in a long time.
I wasn't sure how Adam Muto and the usual crew would handle a 49-minute special to a character that superficially doesn't deserve a lot of screen time due to his "one-trick demon" nature, but BOY did they pull it off with grace and tact. Even if we can't relate to Pep's conflict to unlock the true darkness within him, there are shockingly effective themes at play here, including but not limited to dealing with verbal abuse from superiors and how some people aren't who they seem to be. The titular Wizard City itself is a delight to spend time in after years of the original show only grazing its surface, with new and old characters alike all getting at least one moment to shine. It's telling that the special is so engrossing that not one reference to Finn and Jake is needed to amplify it.
Pep himself slowly warms up to Cadabra, who just so happens to be the daughter of Abracadaniel. Their dynamic is so good and is definitely one of the better representations of a formative friendship I've seen in any kind of media.
All in all, 10/10 special. If the post-credits scene is anything to go by then the Fionna and Cake spin-off that's premiering in a couple of years is going to be one heckuva time.
Also as a side note: Bill Hader's character is HILARIOUS and I don't think I've laughed that hard at ANYTHING of that caliber in a long time.