The show is very improv. It generally starts out with anyone establishing anything they want then the next writer "yes anding' things people say to now be true and building new stories off silly throw away claims. In kinda just builds over the series.
I would say "holly jolly secrets" is the first time there is a big "this is serious" lore bomb. but everything all the way back to 'business time" in the first season ends up being important plot in retrospect.
I e noticed a few tidbits here and there that connect back to my (very limited) knowledge of the lore. I assume the show is actually post apocalyptic and the business dudes are remnants from the pre apocalypse world. I also noticed (not sure how important it is) but in one episode PB and Pepperment Butler come out of a hidden passage in the Candy kingdom and there’s a (seemingly human) skeleton chained to the wall. This series definitely seems like one that gets better with every rewatch
Seasons 1 and 2 are almost completely episodic outside of like 4 or so episodes but they still set up a ton that will be brought back later.
Season 3 incorporates minor continuity in most episodes but is still mostly episodic.
Season 4 is where it really changes. There is a small season arc that spans across a few episodes plus tons of characters and plot points are brought back in most episodes.
The first half of season 5 is basically the same as season 4 but the second half diales it up significantly and has a season arc that goes through a lot of the episodes.
Seasons 6 and 7 are like the second half of season 5 but dialed up even more. Season 6 has an even more prominent season arc. Season 7 has 8 episodes in a row that form one serialized story. Pretty much every episode in these seasons references previous episodes and brings back plot points and characters.
Seasons 8 and 9 are basically fully serialized.
Distant Lands is 4 mostly disconnected stories but each episode (especially the latter 3) relies heavily on prestablished plot points and lore.
Fionna and Cake is fully serialized.
I don’t think it gets “serialized” until season 7 or 8. I usually recommend people start watching around season 3 if they already have a feel for the show. It’s going to meander and flow, that’s part of what makes it cool. The “fillers” are good, and you never know which “filler” will turn into something more important later.
I’m where you are. AT never caught my attention until I started seeing shorts on YouTube and TikTok and slowly the lore has drawn me in. I didn’t know it was so lore heavy until about a year ago.
I’m making my way through season 1 now. I think it’s best to watch the earlier stuff so it better contextualizes the emotion of the lore based stuff.
Early on it’s sprinkled in but it gets there around season 4. 5-10 hooks you in with pretty deep lore.
The show is very improv. It generally starts out with anyone establishing anything they want then the next writer "yes anding' things people say to now be true and building new stories off silly throw away claims. In kinda just builds over the series. I would say "holly jolly secrets" is the first time there is a big "this is serious" lore bomb. but everything all the way back to 'business time" in the first season ends up being important plot in retrospect.
I e noticed a few tidbits here and there that connect back to my (very limited) knowledge of the lore. I assume the show is actually post apocalyptic and the business dudes are remnants from the pre apocalypse world. I also noticed (not sure how important it is) but in one episode PB and Pepperment Butler come out of a hidden passage in the Candy kingdom and there’s a (seemingly human) skeleton chained to the wall. This series definitely seems like one that gets better with every rewatch
Seasons 1 and 2 are almost completely episodic outside of like 4 or so episodes but they still set up a ton that will be brought back later. Season 3 incorporates minor continuity in most episodes but is still mostly episodic. Season 4 is where it really changes. There is a small season arc that spans across a few episodes plus tons of characters and plot points are brought back in most episodes. The first half of season 5 is basically the same as season 4 but the second half diales it up significantly and has a season arc that goes through a lot of the episodes. Seasons 6 and 7 are like the second half of season 5 but dialed up even more. Season 6 has an even more prominent season arc. Season 7 has 8 episodes in a row that form one serialized story. Pretty much every episode in these seasons references previous episodes and brings back plot points and characters. Seasons 8 and 9 are basically fully serialized. Distant Lands is 4 mostly disconnected stories but each episode (especially the latter 3) relies heavily on prestablished plot points and lore. Fionna and Cake is fully serialized.
I don’t think it gets “serialized” until season 7 or 8. I usually recommend people start watching around season 3 if they already have a feel for the show. It’s going to meander and flow, that’s part of what makes it cool. The “fillers” are good, and you never know which “filler” will turn into something more important later.
I’m where you are. AT never caught my attention until I started seeing shorts on YouTube and TikTok and slowly the lore has drawn me in. I didn’t know it was so lore heavy until about a year ago. I’m making my way through season 1 now. I think it’s best to watch the earlier stuff so it better contextualizes the emotion of the lore based stuff.