It’s not quite peak Adventure Time, but Fionna and Cake is shaping up to be a worthy continuation of the legendary cartoon. The animation’s as fun as ever, and the voice cast is a mix of reliable returning talent and a few welcome new voices.

This is the triumphant return to the world of Adventure Time fans have been waiting for, and it sets the stage for one of the most interesting concepts the show has seen in some time. Whether you’re holding out to see where your favorite heroes are in this timeline or how things will shake out for our new heroines, it’s well worth settling into every week as it hits Max.

Despite not being the exact versions viewers are familiar with, these characters are a joy to watch, delightfully bobbing in and out of the narrative.

While it doesn’t rise to the same heights as its predecessor, it finds something invigorating in exploring expansive, self-reflexive territory of its own. Rather than trying to re-bottle the original series’ lightning, it is a mirthful yet melancholic reflection wrapped in a multiverse story that transcends any nostalgic trappings, tapping into something far more incisive about the meta nature of its own storytelling and growing beyond what once was.

While Fionna and Cake might seem like easy money, the show is far from the nostalgia-baiting cash grabs audiences are used to suffering, Though its world-building might prove too abstract for totally new viewers, it’s a genuine surprise for longtime fans and any curious cartoon enthusiasts alike.