Review: Adventure Time “Beyond the Grotto” (S7Ep29)

In the new Adventure Time episode, “Beyond the Grotto”, Finn awakes with a Sea Lard in his bed, and he and Jake take it outside to set it free. Finn drops the Lard into water that is fresh water as he finds out, as the Lard needs salt water. So, they follow after it, and end up having an amazing, visually stunning adventure, as the two enter the world ‘beyond the grotto’, which is a strange, jittery style of animation– this half-finished world is like their own, but much different.

Along the way, Finn and Jake meet representations of many of the people they know in Ooo, but in much different forms. Princess Bubblegum is a pink pond, and we see rabbit and tadpole representations of Finn and Jake drink from it (her)? Ice King is a princess, Marceline is a flower, BMO is a bee, and Tree Trunks is an anteater. All of these strange things happen in this otherworldly place, from which I definitely felt Alice in Wonderland and Wizard of Oz vibes.

Finn and Jake go on a strange, almost chemical type trip after touching purple stuff they were warned about– very cool stuff to see animated– and the dialog is hilarious (they keep questioning everything and forget their names, and devolve to calling themselves first Jinn and Fake, and then boy and dog).

“Beyond the Grotto” was one of the most enjoyable Adventure Time episodes in a while– after Finn and Jake find the portal out of the strange world beyond, they have a new appreciation for the Sea Lard, and things are right again in there world.

The art is so cool and different in this episode, thanks to guest directors/animators Lindsay and Alex Small-Butera. It really puts a great spin on things from the land of Ooo. It almost reminded me of the art from weird adult swim shows or from Ren and Stimpy. The odd colors, and wiggly lines. What a long, strange trip it all was.