Adventure Time Distant Lands How BMO Teaches Self-Worth (VIDEO SCRIPT)

So I know BMO was created to Be MORE, but can we say the same thing about his HBO Max special? Let’s find out.

_______

Readers, one of the first bit of HBO Max exclusives from Cartoon Network is currently out in the form of Adventure Time Distant Lands

/It’s the first of four 40+ minute specials by the team that created Adventure time exclusively for HBO Max, telling a solo story of one of everyone’s favorite side characters, BMO./

And while I won’t be sharing spoilers for it, I will say that it’s definitely worth your time if you have the service.

Now, I know what you’re thinking

But La’Ron, what if you’ve never really watched Adventure Time like that? Wouldn’t it make less sense unless you’ve watched the original series first?

So I’m gonna let you in on a little secret, Readers

Yes, I’ve watched Adventure Time. But, unlike what I’ve recently done with the entirety of the Steven Universe series, I have not watched Adventure Time COMPLETELY.

I’m that dude who always watched Adventure Time on and off.

I didn’t watch the series from beginning to end, and at least 80% of the episodes I DID watch were out of order.

I am...on the low tier of a casual watcher of the show at best.

With that being said, I assure you that won’t get in the way of you being able to enjoy the BMO special. Hell, given how it ends, you can’t even use that as an excuse.

/I really like the fact that it’s so accessible out the gate to anyone whether you’ve seen Adventure Time or not. While at the same time, it doesn’t completely alienate and ignore the people who grew up with the show. It’s at a pretty perfect medium of accessibility that can reward longtime fans of more stories in the universe, and get new eyes interested in the original show/

Y’know, as long as you have access to an HBO Max account

Because of that, there are a lot of things in the special that’ll be a welcome return for long-time fans of the series, and a unique first time experience for newcomers

/Like the various forms of humor that the original series is known for, for example/ (Clip)

Me, personally, I was someone who always appreciated how the show incorporated humor in the character dialogue and visual delivery, and BMO’s special doesn’t disappoint

There’s also a VERY random-ass Fraiser reference in the special that I’ll admit, not EVERYONE will get.

And that’s mostly due to the fact...that it’s a Fraiser reference. And that’s fine. I’ll just chalk it up to mean they KNEW I would watch this EVENTUALLY and just put that in there for little old me

But outside of it being a well-done 40+ minute Adventure Time special that tells a solo BMO story, there’s also a very well done narrative inside the special that shares a valuable lesson kids can learn about change, being your own person, and standing up for yourself. And it’s all done thanks to the new character the special introduces, named Y5

/She’s an anthropomorphic humanoid rabbit that meets and befriends BMO through a series of happenstance/

And over the course of their journey together, we see her go from a timid teen scientist that constantly let other people push her around -- including her own parents -- to a teen scientist that knows herself, stands up for herself and what she believes in.

Personally, one of the first things that tipped me off that this was going to be Y5’s arc in this special was how we see her first real conversation with BMO

/We’re told that her birth name is actually Y4, but she never really liked it. Then after a VERY BMO gag, she chooses a name for herself/

(Y5 bit)

Now some might look at that scene and find it funny because of how simple the change and how quickly BMO was to accept it was.

Some probably went like, “Oh, wow. She went from Y4 to Y5; a whole-ass number”

(The Devil Wears Prada, Groundbreaking)

But in order for you to understand how powerful that is for Y5, you have to look at it in a different light

Yes, her new name is one number greater, and as a result, isn’t that different than her original name. But the reason why BMO loved it, was because SHE CHOSE IT.

/And her seeing that admiration in making that decision planted a seed in Y5 that, while didn’t necessarily come to bloom in time to help BMO in probably one of his most trying situations over the course of Adventure Time, definitely came to bloom in time to not only help stop the main antagonist, but to show her parents exactly who she truly is./

(My name is Y5)

This has to be one of the best examples of this type of self-discovery journey I’ve seen in animation meant for children and young adults on this side of the world in a long time

And considering how the special plays out as a whole, the main thing I can come myself to compare it to is how Mad Max Fury Road played out. Especially when in this case, BMO is the Mad Max in this situation

Which is...a sentence I never would’ve guessed I would ever say in a MILLION YEARS

So, is Adventure Time: Distant Lands: BMO worth watching? Yes.

There’s things for everyone in it, regardless if you’ve watched the original series from beginning to end, sporadically like I did, or have never seen an episode a day in your life.

And if for nothing else than for what Y5’s journey can teach young kids -- and some adults who may need it, as well -- I’d say give this a watch if you have HBO Max

/I can’t say the same thing for the other 3 specials yet to come for Adventure Time: Distant Lands. But if the other three are as high in its quality of storytelling and character development as BMO has shown, I think these Distant Lands are gonna be in good hands./

But, I digress, Readers. Your Homework assignment for the day: If you’ve seen the BMO special for Adventure Time: Distant Lands, write in the comment section below what you thought about it.

Or, if you feel like sharing with the rest of the class, write in the comment section below another animated series aimed for either children or young adults that does a good job at promoting self-worth.

Whichever you decide to answer, I’d love to know your thoughts.