Adventure Time: Why Ice King Is The Most Tragic Character

The trailer for the third episode of Adventure Time: Distant Lands reunites Jake the Dog and Finn the Human as they embark on their "biggest adventure ever." Distant Lands is a four-installment series on HBO Max that follows a different character or set of characters from Cartoon Network's original hit show, Adventure Time, each episode. After the first installment focused on the fan-favorite game console, BMO, and the second detailed Princess Bubblegum and Marceline's future together, "Together Again" will finally give fans another long-awaited look at Adventure Time's central duo.

The 40-second sneak-peak from HBO Max teases an action-packed continuation of Finn and Jake's story. While the trailer reveals little about the episode's plot, it's packed with enough fantastical creatures and whimsical landscapes to excite even the most casual Adventure Time fans. Iconic characters like Ice King and Lumpy Space Princess make brief appearances, but of course Finn and Jake take center stage as they team up against various monsters, including what looks to be a giant sea serpent.

"Together Again"'s official synopsis reads, "After a break from adventuring, a series of mysterious events leads Finn and Jake farther from home than they have ever traveled before. When they find themselves face to face with a monstrous evil, Finn and Jake must unite for the adventure of their lifetimes!” Regardless of the plot specifics, the success of the previous Distant Lands episodes and the focus on Finn and Jake suggests "Together Again" could be the most beloved installment yet. The hour-long episode is set to premiere May 20 on HBO Max.

Despite starting out life as an evil wizard, the Ice King becomes one of Adventure Time's most tragic characters by the end of the show. Thanks to fleshing out his surprisingly complex backstory, the self-proclaimed ruler of the Ice Kingdom, whose real name is revealed to be Simon Petrikov, transforms into a sympathetic figure across Adventure Time's run.

In the first season of Adventure Time, the Ice King was portrayed as the villain who would stop at nothing in his quest to kidnap Princess Bubblegum and gain control over the Candy Kingdom. He was a blue man with a long beard who wore a comically oversized crown and lived in an ice cave with his horde of penguin minions, led by the formidable Gunther. So how does he end up with one of the most redemptive arcs by the end of Adventure Time? The Ice King at first blush is a one-dimensional villain who mainly serves as an excuse for the adventures of the heroes, Finn and Jake. However, given the series’ penchant for memorable characters, the Ice King was not going to stay simple for long.

Perhaps the Ice King’s best episode is from Adventure Time season 5 when his backstory with Marceline is given the spotlight. “Simon & Marcy” shows that the Ice King’s powers come from his crown, but they also come at a cost. Every time Simon puts on the crown to help save Marceline from post-apocalyptic dangers he erases a bit of himself and his memory, becoming lost in the “labyrinth” of his mind. Adventure Time is known for its emotional writing, and the episode really highlights the tragic element of the Ice King’s character: he is the way he is not because of any selfish ambition or inherent evilness but because of his selflessness and fatherly love for Marceline. His arc is so sad because it deals directly with his attempts to find a way out of that labyrinth in his mind.