Adventure Time: Distant Lands Hints At The Death Of A Fan-Favorite Character

Adventure Time, a cartoon about a boy named Finn and his magic dog Jake going on adventures in the post-apocalyptic Land of Ooo, has become one of the most recognizable and important animated shows of the 21st century. After 283 episodes, the show ended in 2018, but with such talent behind-the-scenes, it was only a matter of time until it was revived. 

Now, the series has become a cornerstone of HBO Max's animated content with Adventure Time: Distant Lands. This new spinoff series (of sorts) consists of hour-long episodes that provide even more adventures for fans of the show to enjoy. The first special, "BMO," is technically a prequel to the series as a whole, as we see the titular sentient video game console arrive in Ooo and meet with Finn and Jake for the first time. The second special, "Obsidian," recently arrived on the streaming service, and fans will be delighted to see the return of fan-favorite characters, Princess Bubblegum and Marceline the Vampire Queen. Unfortunately, not every beloved character makes a return in the episode, and there's even some evidence to suggest one of the most important heroes from the main series has passed away between the Adventure Time finale and the events of "Obsidian."

Spoilers ahead for the latest episode of Adventure Time: Distant Lands!

Much of "Obsidian" follows Princess Bubblegum and Marceline as they go through ups and downs in their relationship while contending with Glass Boy and See-Thru Princess many years in the future. Eventually, the two women are able to save the day on their own, and it isn't until the plot's already been resolved that reinforcements arrive. This includes Simon, Finn, and Jake's granddaughter Bronwyn. Eagle-eyed viewers may have noticed that while Jake wasn't physically there, he did appear in the form of a chest tattoo on a now-adult Finn. It's strange that Bronwyn would be there and not Jake, unless you assume the dog passed away at some point between the two series. 

The chest tattoo, which shows Jake surrounded by flowers, certainly has all the hallmarks of a memorial, so by all accounts, it seems as though Jake has died at some point before the events of "Obsidian." It's a heartbreaking revelation for fans who were no doubt looking forward to seeing the lovable, stretchable talking dog in more adventures. With more episodes of Adventure Time: Distant Lands coming up, there's always a possibility we could see Jake's demise in what would surely be the most tearjerking Adventure Time episode ever.

Hopefully, Distant Lands tells more stories set immediately after the events of the Adventure Time finale so that we can hear John DiMaggio reprise his iconic role of Jake the Dog just one more time. You can watch the latest episode of Distant Lands, "Obsidian," now on HBO Max.