Adventure Time: Tree Trunks   Rewatch 
May 18, 2015 5:00 AM - Season 1, Episode 4 - Subscribe

Tree Trunks joins Finn and Jake on an adventure through the Evil Forest in search for the legendary Crystal Gem Apple.
posted by drezdn (17 comments total) 2 users marked this as a favorite
 
Storyboard for the episode.
posted by drezdn at 5:02 AM on May 18, 2015


CRYSTAL GEM APPLE? And Rebecca Sugar didn't write it, huh.
posted by JHarris at 5:20 AM on May 18, 2015 [1 favorite]


I had the same thought. I'm convinced that the AT universe and the Steven Universe Universe are connected, though.
posted by drezdn at 5:58 AM on May 18, 2015


The ending of this episode may have been the final thing I needed to know I was going to love this show.
posted by Atreides at 6:00 AM on May 18, 2015 [6 favorites]


Seriously, this episode might have the best ending in all of television (it's up there, at least.)
posted by Navelgazer at 9:46 AM on May 18, 2015 [1 favorite]


Which version are y'all saying is the best ending, because it's my understanding that there are two versions of the ending.
posted by drezdn at 10:00 AM on May 18, 2015


Oh, tree trunks.
posted by Going To Maine at 11:16 AM on May 18, 2015


Well, either version, with or without the 2 second coda of Tree Trunks trotting happily through the crystal dimension, is still shockingly abrupt.

Abrupt or seemingly arbitrarily-timed endings become a big part of the show's aesthetic as it develops, and in some ways I think it's enabled by the fact that they got away with it here. I suppose there's an argument to be made that showing Tree Trunks still alive mitigated the shock somewhat, but in addition to reassuring younger viewings, I also think that the coda was sort of necessary because at this point in the show's history, nobody could know how much continuity there was going to be from one episode to the next, or which characters exactly were going to be recurrent. At this point we haven't met Marceline yet!

Without the coda, the show was at risk not just of implying that Tree Trunks had straight up exploded, but also of suggesting that it was the kind of show where a character explodes and the incident is never mentioned again.
posted by Ipsifendus at 11:17 AM on May 18, 2015 [5 favorites]


suggesting that it was the kind of show where a character explodes and the incident is never mentioned again.

As we now know, it's more the sort of show where some characters explode repeatedly, and are scolded for it.

(Cute King from Conquest of Cuteness: "How will we ever splash around in the brains of our enemies if you guys can't take two steps without exploding?! Bliblob, I'm lookin' at you!" [Bliblob explodes.] )
posted by martinrebas at 12:04 PM on May 18, 2015 [3 favorites]


Wow, I didn't even know there was a second ending which showed Tree Trunks alive! That changes not only the mood of the ending I saw, but also the reveal later on that Tree Trunks is still alive. I'm pretty happy with my version!

Abrupt or seemingly arbitrarily-timed endings become a big part of the show's aesthetic as it develops, and in some ways I think it's enabled by the fact that they got away with it here.

For me, this is a signature of the show, a forced resolution for the viewer. Or rather, perhaps I should call it a minimalist approach to a conclusion compared to what viewers are accustomed to seeing when their episodes end. It definitely makes me think of the phrase, "Always leave them wanting more." More in this case being unanswered questions which would not necessarily detract were they answered, but they're not required to be answered for the enjoyment of the episode. The result being I want to keep watching and begin to prize any time I get to spend with Finn the Human and Jake the Dog.
posted by Atreides at 1:44 PM on May 18, 2015 [2 favorites]


I'm a fan of the abrupt endings, though it can be a bit disconcerting in torrented episodes that cut off the closing credits.
posted by drezdn at 1:54 PM on May 18, 2015


Ohhh I am so relieved to know I didn't imagine it originally ending the way it did! I vividly remember rewinding it over and over again, thinking "Did Tree Trunks just die?! That can't be the end. But those are the credits!" Then when I saw it again later with the added bit, I was horribly confused.
posted by Sibrax at 4:27 PM on May 18, 2015 [2 favorites]


I can't believe this was episode 4. In my mind it happens sometime in season 2 maybe. Weird.
posted by curious nu at 7:34 PM on May 18, 2015 [1 favorite]


I still have trouble accepting that there are fans who don't like Tree Trunks. Sure, some of her episodes are on the slow side but just listen to her.

But then apparently there are folks who don't like LSP, which, just... what.
posted by ocular shenanigans at 3:44 AM on May 19, 2015 [4 favorites]


Oh my Glob!

LSP had to grow on me, admittedly.
posted by Atreides at 6:55 AM on May 19, 2015


Tree Trunks and LSP are the best. The best, y'all.
posted by fiercecupcake at 2:39 PM on May 19, 2015


This is episode is so crazy and adorable. One thing I love about Adventure Time is how sweet everyone is to each other. I mean, sure, they get into cartoonish scrapes but Finn and Jake always want to be nice to their friends.

Also, with my giant swollen pregnancy ankles, I'm calling myself Tree Trunks, so thanks for that, show.
posted by Aquifer at 6:48 PM on May 19, 2015 [3 favorites]


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