Matthew Jacobson

mjacobson@thespectrum.com

"Adventure Time," the award-winning Cartoon Network series about the human boy Finn and his often psychedelic adventures in the Land of Ooo, has been the go-to program for not only children, but many adults as well since its premiere in 2010.

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It's not your typical cartoon. Instead of the standard weekly format – a template that remains, at its base, unchanging – "Adventure Time" tells an ongoing and comprehensive story. It's humorous and trippy, yes, and sometimes confusing, but it's also deep. Although its colorful characters and fairy tale setting make it look like a kids show on the surface, the truth is it tells a far more advanced story.

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It's no wonder it's so popular across such a spectrum of audiences.

The chronicles of Finn the Human (Jeremy Shada) and his shapeshifting dog Jake (John DiMaggio) have taken them through fantastical worlds and adventures. But in the show's nearly 7-year run, there's never been a definitive answer to two questions: Where did Finn come from, and what happened to the rest of humankind? On Jan. 30, Cartoon Network will be providing the answers to both those questions with the eight-part miniseries, "Adventure Time: Islands."

THE SHOW

It's just another day in the Land of Ooo, when a strange device ascends from the ocean in search of a human. The robot flying machine begins neutralizing Finn's friends (identifying them as dangerous mutants), and it's about to do the same to Finn when it scans him and realizes he's a human.

The ship recognizes him and invites him to climb aboard – destination to be revealed. Could this be a clue to Finn's mysterious origins? And if it recognizes him as a human, does that mean it came from a place where more humans exist? And could this mysterious flying ship hold the key to Finn's friend Susan Strong's (Jackie Buscarino). past as well?

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While there have been various "Adventure Time" episodes that hint at Finn's beginnings, there have been just too many questions. The wait is officially over, though. You'll find the answers in "Adventure Time: Islands."

"Islands" introduces us to a boatload of new characters, including one of my new favorites: an annoying sea monster with some pretty amazing ideas. But most importantly, this miniseries left me feeling extremely satisfied. As "Adventure Time" draws closer to its final episode next year, it's a given that loose ends will begin to be tied up. I hadn't expected to get resolutions on some of these plots so soon in the year, but the story is masterful and imaginative.

WATCH IT EARLY

If you can't wait for the entire miniseries to wrap up on Feb. 2, you can snag it on DVD, iTunes, Amazon Video and Google Play on Jan. 24. And for those of you picking up the physical copy, you'll have some extras to add to your "Adventure Time" experience. My personal favorite was watching the show's creators story board the miniseries.

"Islands" is definitely a must-watch. And if you're an "Adventure Time" fan, it's worth the $14.97 to own your own physical copy. I'll be sad to see this series go, but if "Islands" is a litmus test, then the final season should be one heck of an adventure.

Follow Matthew on Twitter and Instagram, @MatthewJGeek; like him at Facebook.com/MatthewJacobsonGeek; email him at MJacobson@TheSpectrum.com; call him at 435-674-6234.