Princess Bubblegum: Adventure Time's Secret Villain?

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Who is the Villain of Adventure time? Some might say it is the Lich. Some might say it is Ice King. Some might say that Adventure Time doesn't even have a villain.
Nay say I. There is a secret villain hiding right under our noses and that is Princess Bonnible Bubblegum of Ooo aka. PB aka. Bonny aka. Bubbles aka. The Most Evil Person in all of Ooo.
PB Art (Saenkang2): www.deviantart.com/saengkang2...
====================
Timestamps
00:00 Intro
01:28 Overview
03:11 Lemongrab
08:45 Lemonhope
12:44 Goliad and Making Problems
17:18 Spying on Everyone
18:26 Treetrunks
21:37 Princess Cookie
23:09 Cinnamon Cun
24:24 PB screwing with Finn's Head
29:20 Marci x PB (No lessons learned)
32:16 Rattleball's Annihilation
34:24 Gumbold did nothing wrong!
36:54 Final Words on Evil
====================
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#cartoonnetwork #princessbubblegum #villain

[@CarlolucaS]

The biggest mistake I made with this video was the following: I never focused on PB's motivation or explained why she thought it was the right thing to do. I am sorry for that. In the overall picture, it doesn't really matter but it would have made it better to understand why she does things.

[@nathanpetrich7309]

She's not any more evil than Finn. She is not a goddess, despite the willful delusions of her people; she makes mistakes all the time. If anything, the problem is that she has too much power; when she makes mistakes they affect a lot of people. Finn has a lot less power, but has shown he'd kill an ant as long as a creepy skeleton guy says it's evil instead of neutral.

[@ALEXGIBSONCMG]

Well thats what part 2 is for

[@ALEXGIBSONCMG]

two videos for one

[@nathanpetrich7309]

I would definitely watch a video that claims Finn is the real villain of Adventure Time, and I would definitely make a similar comment about him merely being flawed and powerful. Flawed + Powerful = Evil very common math error.

[@CarlolucaS]

Genocide is not a flaw. It is a choice.

[@nothingyeteverything6081]

Evil that doesn't know its evil is one of the worst kinds of evil.

[@CarlolucaS]

Yeah, I think she justifies evil deeds cause she thinks it protects everyone. Also she thinks she is smarter than everyone.

[@OmniversalInsect]

@@CarlolucaS She acts like she knows everything about things like magic. But on multiple occasions its shown she doesn't know what she's talking about

[@warwulf1889]

Jojo part 6.

[@nothingyeteverything6081]

@@warwulf1889 blame gravity

[@TheBlueMan117]

The lich king is one of my favourite villains of all time, he has the most cliche motives but it’s so much more unique. He came from nowhere, he just wants to kill, he is inevitable and if he programmed to believe he has killed everyone he shuts down.

[@princessaur]

The scene where Flame Princess just straight up tells PB "you're not a good person" lives in my head rent free.

[@CarlolucaS]

He did indeed say that.

[@qua_xor3348]

​@@CarlolucaS *she. Sorry after 9 months. But I had to.

[@CarlolucaS]

@@qua_xor3348 All part of my plan :)

[@PortalBreaker]

​@@CarlolucaS Aizen???

[@lucasraines]

It’s kind of ironic though, because Flame Princess isn’t really that good of a person either.

[@wiiink]

I really like PB as a character because of how she was originally portrayed as a pretty candy princess and then you learn all the sketchy things she's done and how the pretty princess part takes a backseat to her status as a mad scientist/dictator. I think what makes people dislike her is that the only one that calls her out on her actions is Flame Princess and everyone else just ignores it, even those she seriously messed up like Rattleballs and James.

[@CarlolucaS]

Yeah.

[@lightgivemepower6425]

I'm pretty sure people disliked her before Flame Princess calls her out

[@YegoKroeten]

How'd she wrong James? If I remember correctly she handled and used James in a way I found shockingly ethical as a kid.

[@YegoKroeten]

​@@lightgivemepower6425what they're saying is people dislike her because she gets away with everything she does, with only characters like tree trunks and flame princess being able to look past her sweet exterior

[@lightgivemepower6425]

@@YegoKroeten ah, ok

[@thatperson278]

I think a lot of people failed to realize just how powerful and ancient she is simply because she's pink. Marceline is definitely a good fit for her 💀

[@CarlolucaS]

She is indeed extremely powerful.

[@nimalli]

yes pink is powerful but it obviously comes with its downsides. Why she needs marcie...marcie is dark on the outside but def good in her core. PB is the opposite...hence balance. I am pink...my husband is dark (dark black hair blue eyes) good at the core where i am well... A hot fiery redhead full of really confusing theories that i just have to see out in my head whether it be good or bad is kind of irrelevant. What is bad? What is good? Grey is the only thing i see with PB. She experiments and then draws conclusions and solves problems....maybe not the best problem solver everytime but she LEARNS...that is what is admirable about her character and development in the story.

[@mj91212]

It’s kind of hard to call her a secret villain when her evil is out on display as much as it is.

[@CarlolucaS]

Some of it for sure but it is often taken for laughs in the show. You have to stop for a second and think about what is really going on.

[@lorekeeper685]

It's for the lack of conqusuneces she gets

[@togucvinw7]

@@CarlolucaS She legit threw everyone in jail at Treetrunk wedding just because she was made out as a fool by the king of ooo, ain’t nothing to laugh at here 😅

[@afqwa423]

More to the point, she's not a villain nor a "secret villain" both because I think it was an intended part of her character development to paint her as a ruthless Machiavellian ruler and because she isn't positioned narratively as the direct antagonist. She's not meant to be a Dark Lord you defeat at the climax, because her mundane brand of political evil isn't unique. Slime Princess and Breakfast Princess are also portrayed as behaving more like medieval lords than harmless fairy tale princesses. They often deal with court politics and backstabbing and have the total authority to order your public execution if they wanted to. And you can probably infer that most of the other princesses are like this too. Monarchism is the dominant form of government in Ooo. (And the alternate contenders to PB's throne were: Lemongrab, Uncle Gumbald, an unnamed mob boss that tried to steal her amulet and the King of Ooo. Like in terms of evil and incompetent would-be kings, she's nowhere near the top of the list.) PB also exhibits character growth. She does dial back the _All Shall Love Me and Despair_ thing. As she unplugs her surveillance state and does her try to patch things up with Lemongrab and Uncle Gumbald and shows remorse about how things turned out with FP and eventually settles into a stable relationship with Marceline. She never completely stops being a politician, but she does seem aware of her failings. P.S. Also I find it lowkey funny that she just helps herself to Finn and Jake's treasure periodically because she considers them her subjects. And because both Finn and Jake have no concept of taxes or wealth, this doesn't really bother them.

[@georgiancountryball202]

It's wrong to call her a villain at all evil=villain nor vice versa good people can also be villains as long as they opposes the hero and thair end goal (some villains might even have a real justification for opposing the plot like the plot torturing them or giving the some sort of harm which they can not take like say game theory's video about encanto's marabel being the villain even tho she's not evil)

[@cannedpizza8651]

I still can't believe she almost destroyed the fire kingdom just so she could sabotage their weapons

[@CarlolucaS]

I would say fitting for her character.

[@cannedpizza8651]

@@CarlolucaS yea it is, if I was flame princess I would be beyond pissed at her. I'm honestly surprised Finn and jake even trust her after all she's done

[@idk-ye7ur]

"Destroyed" isn't the right word tho. Even if she ended sabotaging all of the fire kingdom weapons and her plan went with no problems, the kingdom still wouldn't be destroyed, it would still be there, that's not destroying anything, lol.

[@cannedpizza8651]

@@idk-ye7ur the fire kingdom's citizens almost died and the kingdom was literally falling apart. I'd definitely call that almost destroyed

[@dimsthedimwit600]

The best way to prevent war is to not let the aggressors exist -Sun Tzu probably

[@axxlh]

I think she sees herself more like the god of the candy kingdom, not just its ruler. Since she created the entire kingdom from scratch.

[@CarlolucaS]

Probably. Yeah.

[@OmniversalInsect]

I mean she basically is their god, she created and controls every aspect of their existence.

[@rhopumpkin9538]

Not a god but a mother

[@kinglokimrvegas8687]

Nah if you actually finished the show she sees them as her children

[@saint037]

ngl, I'd do the same too if I created a whole kingdom from scratch

[@Garinovitch]

My problem I've had with PB is that she does villainous things, she's never punished or doing evil things, and it's always presented in a way to us that in a way that she's good for doing so. Like, it's part of why I hate that PB is paired with Marceline, because I feel Marceline deserves better.

[@CarlolucaS]

I would be fine with it but the whole relationship needs a bit more work. I am not against it.

[@Garinovitch]

@@CarlolucaS I agree, it needs a bit more work. I feel like PB has never really been called out for her issues and put through a situation where she's forces to grow and it's just casually ignored. Like, I feel if another character had these traits, they'd be treated as an antagonist or harped on by our heroes. Like the thing that gets to me is that PB is still portrayed as a hero, if Marceline was like "Yeah, I like evil girls!" or has this issues where she makes exceptions for one reason or another I'd be cool with that, but Marceline has a clear moral code and this person with morals isn't really addressing the problems their girlfriend has.

[@Neganerd]

@@Garinovitch EXACTLY! u get me dude

[@hyperion3145]

​@@GarinovitchThe thing is, we do kind of see another character that has similar traits that is considered an antagonist: the King of Ooo. He isn't as competent or charismatic but he's always shown to be a pretty underhanded and scummy dude and is eventually punished. I don't think he even does things on PB's level either, he's just unlikable.

[@dazzlingdexter5060]

It's not that she is not evil it's just that it sometimes presented what she is doing is a nesscary evil.

[@astropunch7708]

Hey remember when her and Marcy used VR to travel within Ice King's Crown? When she met Simon and Simon ask if she's Betty's assistant, PB went on a full on hissy-fit rant about how smart she is and how she creates life. This pretty much displays how big of an ego she has, almost Doctor Doom levels of ego.

[@CarlolucaS]

There can only be one smartest person in Ooo - PB probably.

[@RenegadeStriker7]

Doom would probably chew her out if he was in Ooo

[@godlymegatron5698]

Even though Dr Dooms methods are a bit much and he's egocentric at times. He does have Morales and really cares about the people under his reign. I've seen it a bunch of times be it a cartoon or comic. He fights his evil self, zombies, or corrupted heroes. He even sacrificed himself at times especially to free his moms soul from hell and play the villain.

[@zenithofall1946]

“About how she created life” God complex.

[@TheGosgosh]

@@CarlolucaS „OOONNNLLLLLLYYYYYYYYY OOOONNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNEE!!!“

[@rhorynotmylastname7781]

Also, her "proof" of the rattle balls being violent is him killing her banana guards as if it wasn't in self-defense.

[@CarlolucaS]

Sorry, I misunderstood your comment. lol

[@rhorynotmylastname7781]

@@CarlolucaS Ik rattle balls didn't kill the banana guards but it would be justified if he did since yknow they attacked him first. kzbin.info/www/bejne/l6iyqq1_ZsRlb5Y She say's it at around the 3:51 mark in this video

[@rhorynotmylastname7781]

@@CarlolucaS ur chill lol

[@Spaced92]

What? It was them going around murdering citizens for minor crimes. Rattleballs himself is shown in the flashback killing someone in the ring for bloodsport. People are so weird with this shit, I know it's just a show but Rattleballs himself literally spells it out for you that they were all psychotic, of course PB thought she killed the guards.

[@ahmedaliyu1495]

Yeah but she didn't excute the Awesome Rattle Ball Loner in that ending but rather gave her stupid Banana Soldier the Furniture that was made out of the Other Rattle Balls apart from him💀

[@elementsfanfics3859]

The funniest thing is, this is literally brought up in another CN show called Villainous. The show focuses on the members of an evil organization that is focused on aiding villains throughout the CN multiverse, led by an eldritch entity of pure evil called Black Hat (who is an absolutely awful person but dang he's freaking hilarious to watch). There are multiple short videos where Black Hat himself basically tears apart the failures of other CN villains and the video focused on Adventure Time, titled "The Lost Cases Of Ooo", focuses on Lemongrab. In it, Black Hat himself states that PB makes a better villain.

[@CarlolucaS]

I've heard about that one.

[@samanthajeffers9339]

You know that feeling you used to get as a kid when you didn’t like someone, but you didn’t know why? I felt that way about PB when later seasons came out, and I’m glad someone finally explained it.

[@CarlolucaS]

It is not even everything but I tried to keep the speculative stuff mostly out of the video.

[@limethewitch.-.727]

What so interesting about bubblegum's villainous character is her high charisma. The fact that the sick shit that she does is always disregarded and characters interact with her like nothing happened makes it so interesting. That's why I like PB, lmfao

[@CarlolucaS]

PB maxed out the Charisma stat. I like her because she is bonkers. It makes for a very interesting character.

[@melelconquistador]

most of the people that she interacts with were made by her.

[@orbboom6119]

In works on even some of the fandom oOo

[@TheKoopaKingBowser]

@@CarlolucaS In the wise words of Finn. "Jakes gone Banununununus!"

[@smcphee8499]

Straight up girl boss

[@jacklau2558]

So bubblegum runs a empire with two known vassals, holds sway over the whole of Ooo, but her uncle couldn't have his dominion. Heck the only reason peace FAILED was because of her own families paranoia about being turned into mindless drones again. Heck her own brother doesn't have it much better since he is hidden away like some kind of shame.

[@CarlolucaS]

There can be only one megalomaniacal ruler in all of Ooo.

[@jacklau2558]

@@CarlolucaS Don't forget child groomer.

[@Kai2quban]

I feel like gumbald is like bubblegum though cause he wanted all the power just like her.

[@Kai2quban]

@@denisenicole8271 literally

[@mauirandall8176]

First off she did not turn anyone into monstrosities at that point, her family were her first, they tried to candy lobotomize her to usurp her, so ironically she was the one who was worried about being turned into a mindless piece of candy, And even then she didn't plot it out she was acting in self-defense in the moment. Peace was never an option. you can see this at the end she is ready to shake hands in treaty and her uncle tries to lobotomize her again. And she doesn't hide her brother away because she's ashamed of him, he has a sensory issue and can't be in public for his own comfort and safety, the walls are to keep others out. he can leave, as we see when someone gets into his room and spooks him.

[@nicxl3035]

I think it makes a lot of sense why she is the way she is. Her existence started as part of the mother gum which was an orderly content collective. When she left it, she faced a lot of uncertainty and her first companion was Neddy, a helpless baby that she needed to protect. The 100s of years made her detached and she projected her initial experience onto everything she does. I.e. everything was so much better as a collective, those around me are helpless without me and I need to use everything in my power to protect them, even from themselves.

[@CarlolucaS]

I think that is a good justification for a villain. "everything was so much better as a collective, those around me are helpless without me and I need to use everything in my power to protect them, even from themselves." Someone that is convinced they know the answer and disregard any input from anyone because what do they know. I know what is best to them and how to protect them.

[@schnoz2372]

She strings Finn along into doing her bidding, that’s the most obvious first thing but also the way she handles her power, her deep need for control and her willingness to quietly cross boundaries. In fact she seems to have almost no concept of boundaries.

[@CarlolucaS]

Boundarie is not a word that exists in PB's mind.

[@ayoutubewatcher2849]

The show just glosses over the fact she's a hardcore technocratic authoritarian. Actually, y'know what, the show kind of promotes it as a good thing. She's literally commited genocide. Her being evil isn't debatable.

[@CarlolucaS]

It will always will depend on how you see the Rattleballs situation but yes. She committed genocide.

[@ayoutubewatcher2849]

@@CarlolucaS I just don't see how someone could view the Rattleball situation as a morally grey issue. She labelled a group of people as undesirable and then exterminated them (completely unremorsefully mind you). All I can say is yikes. Also, side note, I rewatched part of the episode and Finn immediately snitching on Rattleball's position to PB pisses me off so much. It goes in that category of noone acknowledging PB as horrible.

[@mauirandall8176]

@@ayoutubewatcher2849 they were machines built for the singular purpose of violence. That's the difference.

[@ayoutubewatcher2849]

@@mauirandall8176 They clearly have sentience and would refuse to be killed if they realized they were being massacred. They're people. You can't just exterminate a group of people because they're aggressive. Especially since it's your fault in the first place they're so aggressive. We don't even see them do anything heinous. They're shown fighting to the death consensually. It might be barbaric, and that should be worked out, but you can't just kill everyone.

[@janjeikobu5163]

what do you meam they were promoting it? it's clearly shown in a bad light, and pb redeemed herself after flame princess called her out on it. they're people too, they have the capacity to change too. it's just that she wasn't really treated as a villain is the difference, but everyone still despised her actions back then - which led ro her realizing it and changing.

[@DaveyLikesCinema]

Y’all remember that one episode, early into season 1, where PB sends Finn and Jake to find the Enchiridion (where we’re also first introduced to that book) on some mystical mountain? Well, at the beginning of that episode, when PB briefs Finn and Jake on that mission, she takes them through a secret passageway where they walk by chained-up skeletons to walls… insinuating PB kept and tortured people to death there…I guess that was an early sign of the kind of twisted person she is lmao Edit: I just rewatched that particular episode, it wasn’t that one that showed the chained-up skeleton, it was actually the one with the creepy Heart shaped (small) guy that wanted to have sex with PB’s heart (now that I say that out loud HOW DAFUQ WAS THIS A CHILDREN’S SHOW??? 💀). That episode is called “Ricardio the Heart Guy”. And the twisted part was that the mangled skeleton is just nonchalant in the background of an otherwise joyful scene lol

[@CarlolucaS]

I think I missed that one but there are quite a few skeletons around.

[@sabersroommate8293]

Now we know what happened to the bath theme gang in the Shoko episode.

[@mauirandall8176]

It's funny that you wouldn't realize that in the first season because you don't know who founded the candy kingdom. Also those are human skeletons.

[@cristophernunez7786]

she apparently never fought against humans, but against mutant zombies

[@ReginaldSkulls]

Apperantly in a behind the scenes thing in one of the dvds the writers mention that she tortures people as a pass time of sorts. (Paraphrasing cause I saw someone else mention it on another video a couple of days ago.)

[@tonycallme3667]

More like a villain portrayed in a good light.

[@CarlolucaS]

So like it is being covered up? Like a secret? :)

[@thatonkgau5221]

When I saw that episode I thought Lemonhope was a selfish, ungrateful brat but now I realize he was just a kid trying to be a kid and enjoy his freedom. PB created lemongrabe and his twin and thought giving a depressed psychopath a kingdom to rule would be a good thing. This is her fault, her responsibility and instead of fixing it she puts the fate of the lemon people and the responsibility of helping them in the hands of a child.

[@CarlolucaS]

Well... yeah.

[@RJ-kb3qf]

She also does this with Finn. Sure, Finn has Jake and a very heroic heart, but he’s still a child protecting everyone and being ordered around by PB

[@OmniversalInsect]

While I think lemonhope was also selfish, as you said he was a child and it was more of bubblegum manipulating him to fulfill some prophecy she thought of despite being able to handle it herself

[@jaydenc367]

She did try to fix things though and she did try to patch things up with Lemongrab, and it did seem to work at first too. She didn't put all of that in the hands of a child.

[@jaydenc367]

@@RJ-kb3qf FInn wasn't put in charge of a kingdom though.

[@Chyguy]

While the Lich might be a force of evil, something that seeks death and misery unending, Princess Bubblegum is what I would consider True Evil. While the Lich is inherently a true kind of evil by design, he doesn't do what he does for selfish goals - he just does it because it is what his nature is. PB on the other hand actively chooses to be a horrible person. There is no way you can be a thousand years old and not understand to some degree the consequences of the things you do.

[@CarlolucaS]

That's what I came to realize basically.

[@DigitalPand3mic]

@@CarlolucaS What if the lich is trying to undo everything cause by the bomb? Hence why it looks like he just wants to kill everything. Both Pb and the lich came into existence at the same time, but only PB is actively doing awful things to the land of Ooo, and beyond. Only pb actively pursues necromancy as well, knew every secret possible to contain/defeat the lich. As well as NEVER helping Billy stay young if hes the hero that save the kingdom.

[@jrr7031]

Lawful evil vs Neutral evil?

[@NathanTarantlawriter]

@@jrr7031 That's my guess.

[@jrr7031]

@@NathanTarantlawriter lmfao yo, its so funny. You'd look at me and would think i would know nothing about D&d, or adventure time. Extra hilarious cuz of my sometimes "hood" accent.

[@jkjack0742]

Before: Pb is strange, but she's a good person Years later after taking time to think on it: ...yeah, she's insane, psycho, and a secret evil lady in disguse as a side character. I had no idea why I thought she's a good person

[@CarlolucaS]

She has her moments.

[@simisolapopoola5097]

For me it always felt almost like her episodes were being written by her. Like that friend that doesn’t realise they’re the problem when telling a dramatic story.

[@CarlolucaS]

Bruv how do you tell a friend they are the drama?

[@chaotic6zero647]

Given the fact that she was literal piece of gum from the fallout of the war or something, and the fact the family she created as a child due to her loneliness since her brother wasn’t what she needed, they literally turned on her I think that’s the key moment of her control issues surfacing. She felt she couldn’t have lifeforms who could decide for themselves or else she and others could be at harm so she took that core memory as a child and went downhill. The series of her and Marcy shows more on it. I don’t think she’s necessarily evil but she’s not good or a saint either. I would say she was too set in her toxic ways and handle shit bad just to keep control. She felt she had to be responsible for everyone. Which also was due to her superiority complex and ambitions to leave a legacy. Adventure time characters aren’t one dimensional so there’s always more to them like how there’s more to us in real life.

[@chaotic6zero647]

Also she raised herself and had no parental figure to help guide her moral compass. But again these are all explanations to why she is the way she it and will never be justifications to all those actions she wrongfully did

[@CarlolucaS]

Now that is a good theory. Still hear me out: Rattleball genocide and the weird relationship with Fin. It is interesting though that her control issues are probably rooted in a problem she created.

[@idnilu]

Exactly. I sometimes think people forget how trauma or childhood wounds work. 😅

[@Christian-ml8lg]

@@idnilu lol, So no one with childhood trama can ever be evil.

[@idnilu]

@@Christian-ml8lg Excuse me, buddy. Where did I say that?

[@wrathsosdovah1828]

the one thing that will always erk me about PB is that she broke into Finn & Jake's house and stoles some of their money and claimed it to be "Tax Collection" like they don't live anywhere within the Candy Kingdom and yet she has the gall to break into said home and steal from the 2 people who almost always fixes her shit.

[@CarlolucaS]

Actually, now that you mention that they don't live in the Candy Kingdom. There is more and more stuff I am finding out.

[@cassiedion4144]

Tbh her and Mr Krabs are very similar at times…

[@ragergamer3111]

Technically they do live in the Candy Kingdom, just outside the walls around the edge of it

[@teoadventures2564]

@@ragergamer3111 Still it doesn't justify her breaking into their house. Makes me wonder if she used those instances to install the cameras. Creepy.

[@astilcodex6930]

This is why I love PB tbh. Most complex character in the series, and she still has her own charm and personality that you either hate or love. But its such a strong presence you can't ignore.

[@CarlolucaS]

I like PB as well because she is so villainous.

[@eumorphavonobscura2753]

Cinnamon Bun was half baked, that's why he was mentally stunted. It's after he was hit by a fire ball that he starts acting mature and intelligent. Now it could be said that a control freak like PB might have purposely not baked him long enough to keep him infantile. Or that he is just that way due to the careless nature in which she handles her experiments.

[@CarlolucaS]

No matter what drove her to do it the outcome is the same and since she has the tools and knowledge to fix it she is neglecting the problem.

[@OmniversalInsect]

I think after the incident of her first creations turning on her, she decided to only make unintelligent beings with the exception of peppermint butler.

[@krumpnug9181]

one theory i have about cinna bun maturing is that early in the show PB describes him as "he's kinda half baked" implying he wasnt fully cooked upon creation. if we take this literally then while he is alongside FP a literal fire elemental AND now living within the fire kingdom, we could come to think that all that time around the heat would slowly cook him. albeit he has a flame shield on him but lets assume the shield is meant to make you both flame retardant and extremely resistant to heat. either way im sure the temp itself would still permeate to a degree allowing for a VERY slow simmer. hence why after he becomes more competent in general and way more comprehensive of things happening around him. the way i see it the fire kingdom and FP acted like a giant oven over time completing his creation and bringing out his full potential. what do you guys think?

[@strawbert879]

That makes total sense, cause if CB was half baked, wouldn't have been hard for PB to make him fully cooked. I like to think that FP gave him his shield cause she didn't want him to be overcooked and burnt to the point where he wasn't thriving :)

[@CarlolucaS]

Yeah, another person brought this up which of course begs the questions why PB just didn't back him to completion.

[@OmniversalInsect]

It was definitely at least symbolically intended but knowing adventure time it could very well be literal. After a while I think he even gets overbaked and starts acting too serious and uptight.

[@sadlobster1]

This doesn't really surprise me, to be quite frank with everyone. Given the amount of shady, duplicitous, underhanded, manipulative, prideful and arrogant actions PB has committed in the name of what SHE considers to be "keeping the world safe;" her being a villain seems legit

[@CarlolucaS]

Yeah, there is a lot. It's not even all the stuff I gathered but there were some things that I would consider stretches' and left out. The Elements thing for example.

[@sadlobster1]

@@CarlolucaS What would you say, though to anyone out there who might argue in saying "this is just PB doing what's necessary to be an effective leader"? These are the same people who might call Batman's contingency plans against the League to be "acceptable," plans that PB herself has used against the people of Ooo many times over

[@CarlolucaS]

@@sadlobster1 There is a point to be made that PB is just doing what is necessary to protect Ooo but in context, certain things seem to go overboard like the whole Lemonhope situation or her weird relationship with Finn. Singular acts that she does might actually be beneficial to all of Ooo.

[@sadlobster1]

@@CarlolucaS How does microchiping everyone via tooth fillings benefit anyone

[@CarlolucaS]

@@sadlobster1 Well, I wouldn't defend the microchipping but if you wanted to you could make the case that PB can persecute crime faster and keep saving people more effectively. Of course that the microchipping also is breaking personal space which is not that great.

[@-valmetal-]

one thing that always made me uncomfortable was the episode where PB tried to manipulate finn into liking her again while learning he had been seeing FP. her saying, “i thought i’d be ready for this!” ready for a relationship with a boy that you have been negatively pushing away for years knowing how he felt about you? finn said it best, “NOW you like me??”. that episode really disturbed me because at the time it seemed that finn finally found his other half and PB tried sabotaging his own happiness..

[@CarlolucaS]

She hides a lot of her actions that are driven by emotion behind "the greater good"

[@wthistreasureisummon]

Really? i interpreted that as PB thinking she would be ready for when FP starts to lose control of herself as her emotions are unstable and dangerous, since she recognised FP's potential dangerous state from when she was a baby, leading her to be locked up. I don't think PB was trying to manipulate Finn into liking her, she more so tried to make him understand that being with FP would cause danger to himself and everyone around them (proven by how Finn almost sacrificed himself for FP in that ep). I think Finn misinterpreted PB for being jealous when she was really trying to have him understand the situation with FP (as Finn wasn't aware of FP's situation), which makes sense as the other characters like jake misunderstood PB for being jealous too, and the writers were definitely trying to bait the ep as PB possibly having feelings for Finn after a long time, only for the twist to be it was not that at all.

[@-valmetal-]

@@wthistreasureisummon that’s a good point and i didn’t really think of it like that, but i feel like she still feels butthurt about it (going back to the ending of the episode where jake teases her about being jealous) but at least she has marcy now.

[@Kevin-jb2pv]

@@wthistreasureisummon This. When PB says "I thought I would be ready for this" that is supposed to mislead the _AUDIENCE_ (and Jake) into thinking that she's talking about her "feelings for Finn," but then the end of the episode reveals that the whole time she was really talking about the existential danger that Flame Princess's very existence poses to the world. Remember, Flame Princess _WOULD_ have destroyed the entire Earth if Finn had not been able to calm her down at the last possible moments, so PB's fears were _ENTIRELY_ justified. I think that her actions were still _VERY_ questionable, in that she had FP imprisoned basically since birth and wanted Jake to asphyxiate both her and Finn is also _VERY_ questionable, but we do have to remember that she is dealing with an apocalyptic crisis, and the second time she is dealing with and active crisis and being forced to make snap decisions. My point is that the whole thing with her "manipulating" Finn are actually a bait and switch by the writers. In this episode, at least. She definitely teases him and gets him to do things for her earlier on, but my interpretation is that she was OK with this when he was young and she thought it was just a childhood crush, but when Finn got older she realized more and more that his feelings were more serious than she thought and backed off. It bugs me that so many people point to this episode as evidence that she was manipulating the feelings of Finn when the _WHOLE POINT_ of the episode is that both Finn and Jake are also making this assumption, but in reality their assumption that PB is just jealous and their subsequence ignoring of what she has to say almost has disastrous consequences because they actively decide not to listen to her (very legitimate) concerns about the situation. They end on a joke where Jake accuses her of being jealous, but I don't really take this very seriously considering both the situation she was dealing with as well as her later actions. _MAYBE_ there was a little lingering jealousy from her time with Finn when she was "13", but I don't think there was ever any real jealousy there that was ever impacting her decision making in a serious way. If she was "jealous" of FP, then I doubt that she would have been willing to suffocate Finn along with FP. I think the gravity of the situation is illustrated by the fact that she is willing to sacrifice Finn in that situation in order to save the world. It's a shitty decision that turns out to be unnecessary, but she didn't know that in the moment. As much as her actions throughout the show are often portrayed as morally grey or outright amoral, I don't buy the idea that she doesn't care about Finn as anything more than a tool. Many times she has saved Finn's ass and done very kind things for him with almost no benefit to herself. She can be callous toward him, but she can be callous toward basically everyone in the show at one point or another. Despite her perky exterior, she's emotionally distant and cold. But this seems to come from her being ultra-logical and having zero chill. Which, again, when you look at what she was up against when she built her kingdom, her extreme vigilance kind of makes sense. That doesn't make is _right,_ but it does, at least, make it understandable. I think that a better assessment of PB's character is that she has severe control issues. Marceline has even called her a control freak, and she would know better than anyone. The whole arc where PB lost control of the Candy Kingdom is _ABOUT_ her learning to give up control over everyone and everything around her. What I see is that PB created her kingdom in an Ooo that was very different from the Ooo we see in the time period that AT is set in. It was much more hostile and dangerous, and her determination to protect her kingdom and her candy people was both necessary, and it also caused her to slowly become more and more obsessive and willing to make questionable or even destructive and reckless decisions to try and maintain this level of "safety" for her people. To be clear, the "current" Candy Kingdom still faces existential threats pretty regularly, which would only further fuel her paranoia, though her determination to "save" her people is so extreme that she regularly _causes_ (or exacerbates) the very problems she desperately wants to prevent.

[@ninjdraw8305]

​@@Kevin-jb2pv I absolutely ADORED this analysis. Especially a lot more than the "Princess Bubblegum the VILLAIN?!" narrative thats been spun around the fandom for years now. I mean its got reason, but it never goes deeper than surface level. Love it 👍

[@Dragonlover553]

There was also that one time she illegally entered another kingdom's sovereign territory under a false identity, after beating up one of its senile senior citizens for information on how to do so. Once she got there, she tried to bully a craftsman out of trade secrets, disturbed the peace, resisted arrest, and when the locals agreed to let her off as long as she issued a formal apology, she refused, insulted them and their whole way of life. Once she was imprisoned for her crimes, she escaped confinement, and engaged in what probably has an actual name, but I'm just going to describe as malpractice and medical fraud. "Wizard Only, Fools" may be an allegory, but whatever side you agree with, PB was definitely in the wrong on a personal level.

[@CarlolucaS]

Discrimination is definitely part of PB's character.

[@Inspiration_Date]

Another creepy thing to consider about erasing Lemongrab's memories: She gave them a LITERAL LOBOTOMY. The show doesn't call it that (CN's censors would probably get antsy with that term), but this is a kid-friendly version of that procedure.

[@CarlolucaS]

Yeah, it is certainly a form of lobotomy. It depends on if you think erasing certain memories could be considered one or not.

[@Laff700]

It's not a lobotomy as all brain function is preserved. Only some data was removed.

[@whatsup2318]

I don't think you know what a lobotomy is

[@Enter54623]

to y’all saying he doesn’t know what a lobotomy is he’s not saying “bubblegum is animated removing portions of the lemons brains” he’s saying “erasing their memories is a lobotomy allegory” which works very well with everything that’s been laid out

[@hadbetterdays8118]

You know I always thought Lemongrab Earl and PB were actually a foil to one another Control issues Leadership Experimentation, etc. But PB is such a control freak that she can't have someone on her level. Like she'd a dictator in disguise and someone competing with her is too much

[@eriklazo5499]

I feel like the way PB was written she should have been the final villain. A unchecked ego, a god complex, the need to keep others beneath her in intelligence and power. Example A) most if not all the candy citizens are dumb and example b) sabotaging the flame kingdom defense system while putting there lives in danger A to perfect setup for a series finally villain Honestly if they made her final villain would have been amazing have finn defeating her in a one on one battle freeing the candy kingdoms citizens and allowing them to live in other parts of the world I mean we saw how well cinnamon bun someone who was as dumb as any other candy citizen become a pretty amazing guard after leaving the candy kingdom and from PB influence

[@CarlolucaS]

A friend and I were talking about Obsidian lately and I thought about how it would have been incredible if they actually broke up PB and Marci cause she realized how PB is still as toxic as in the past which could lead her down the spiral. The finale of the show is very underwhelming.

[@Samuel152]

I'm probably going to write a fanfic dedicated to these comments.

[@CarlolucaS]

@@Samuel152 Send me that on Twitter or something. I want to read it.

[@Samuel152]

@@CarlolucaS I'll probably drop the link in this thread, so one click will instantly take you there. I don't use Twitter much honestly.

[@orrorsaness5942]

Indeed

[@kingofcards9516]

It's amazing how pb can do so many terrible things that would put real dictators to shame but is treated like a hero, faces no repercussions or legal punishment for her crimes but also gets a vampire goth gf. The land of ooo looks like a nightmare if people like pb can just get away with what she's done.

[@CarlolucaS]

Motherland: Fort Salem (I also did videos on that) has a similar problem with the main pair. One of them is a literal mass murderer that shows barely any remorse and even after the story specifically tells us that the partner has found out that they have done horrible things they just get back together. I think if PB wa male or male presenting we would see way more push back on her.

[@TheGosgosh]

As someone who has rather difficulties to fit in, I could relate a lot to lemongrab. But unlike my own inabilities, lemongrab‘s inabilities can be traced back easily to bubblegum. I cannot fathom why anyone would see her as anything but a villain with all the stuff she pulls. Yes, Finn is immature and does pranks. But even if that backfires, it’s nowhere as frigged up as what bubblegum does.

[@CarlolucaS]

Finn also apologizes for things he does.

[@Bgh583]

Have you tried stopping being weird?

[@miimemester123]

Wow. I used to admire bubblegum at times, but now I want her as the surprise main antagonist in Multiverse’s story mode with all these qualities and concepts taken to consideration and mentioned as well.

[@CarlolucaS]

Well I like her... as a villain.

[@ShineDark]

I always wondered if the show creators realize how awful they wrote PB to be. Because she never really gets a comeuppance for her actions and the show usually still frames her as a good guy. Even watching this show growing up, there were numerous times where I thought about how, if I were in Finn's shoes I would have abandoned serving BP or just straight-up turned on her.

[@CarlolucaS]

I think it was intentional but I don't know. The thing about PB is that she is very manipulative.

[@JohnSmith-wx9wj]

I think they were going for some mad scientist trope. After that, I think she reflects the mentality of the creators.

[@hydrophilicchristopher9874]

@@JohnSmith-wx9wj >I think she reflects the mentality of the creators They’re terminally online Redditors. Fucking knew it

[@jonathanpilcher337]

It's obviously purposeful, she does blatantly messed up and creepy stuff after all. I think a good sum up of her character is that on a more personal level she's chill n nice but otherwise it's evident she has a mad scientist's/dictator's mind, although ultimately she does try to do good and usually takes into account other people's feelings and opinions. One thing I think the video gets really wrong is that MOST of the time she's not malicious or super manipulative with the qustionable things she says and does, she's just oblivious and socially inept, in turn it's kinda hard to blame her for many of the examples shown in the vid

[@ShineDark]

@@jonathanpilcher337 Eh… I mean, yeah, I get that she’s socially inept in a lot of ways, but I don’t think that’s an excuse the majority of the horrible and inhumane things she’s done. Like, if her actions were offensive but didn’t hurt anyone, then that would be one thing. But PB is responsible for a lot of death and suffering that can’t be ignored. Her increased levels of spying on everyone throughout the series even after she seemingly chose to stop doing that, her extermination of the Rattleballs, and her near-destruction of the Flame Kingdom for having the Fire Giants even though the Candy Kingdom has the Gumball Guardians who are arguably of equal or greater power to the Fire Giants.

[@nezka8650]

She's just an entity that claims to have feelings When she actually does feel something, she doesn't know what to do,and just solves it with either doing science, or letting other people solve it.

[@CarlolucaS]

She copes a lot :)

[@Neganerd]

This.

[@wirelessriver7]

You forgot to mention that her second in command, Peppermint Butler, is literally know for being the most evil wizard that casually perforns dark magic, kidnapps children, and is best friends with death and Husto.

[@CarlolucaS]

I could have but evil by association is not a thing I believe in and I am pretty sure the show makes it clear that she either ignores Peppermint's actions or is just not aware of it.

[@courtiusmaximus5150]

Bonnibel is evil and I personally don't mess with her, but she does make for a formidable villain. I do love this show though, its my favorite Cartoon Network Series. P.S. All hail Queen Pheobe 🔥

[@CarlolucaS]

I like it a lot. Funny how the world-building in this show is more consistent than in Marvel movies.

[@jakobbeelar]

@@CarlolucaS damn that's the best marvel burn I've seen in a minute

[@CarlolucaS]

@@jakobbeelar Funny you mention that cause I literally have a whole video on the MCU world-building as well. You guys are giving me too much power.

[@jakobbeelar]

@@CarlolucaS time to go check that out then lmao

[@billshears6062]

THE VIDEO WE ALL NEEDED! FINALLY THIS QUESTION WILL BE ANSWERED!!

[@CarlolucaS]

Indeed.

[@suenoslucidos3899]

I love how tree trunks is agreeably one of the most greatest characters they have created and to think they didn’t really have that in plan considering she was supposed to die when she ate the crystal apple. Wow!

[@CarlolucaS]

Tree Trunks is a cool character. I dread the day I make a video on her because I really like her but I feel like she is very inconsistent.

[@suenoslucidos3899]

@@CarlolucaS I’ma have to see that video because to me tree trunks has always been a rebellious badass women!

[@Neganerd]

I don't like Tree Trunks cuz she's a grown ass woman flirting with 12 yrs old, constantly sexual harasses ppl and forcibly added her husband to a poly relationship without his consent and clearly uncomfortability

[@anthonysnow-young427]

I recently rewatched & specifically looked out for PB being the Villian and- -at first I agreed with her being a villain but after seeing everything over she’s so misunderstood and lied on by the while fanbase it’s crazy, on S8E17 at 9:40 of AT( High Strangeness), she explains exactly why she is the way she is. Like when Jake assumed she was jealous even though she wasn’t lying about Flame Princess burning a hole through earth from the kiss, she didn’t show any signs of being jealous, Finn & Jake got hostile and started forgetting their job & she ofc got angry that they were being distracted by girls and trying to petty. After Finn accepted it would never work, she started treating him so much better and more friendly and close then she did when he had a crush on her, like when they were supposedly to be playing 7 minutes in heaven , she ditched the party and asked Finn to walk & talk with her and we get to hear (again) her explain her POV & they just had a genuine,mature conversation . PB wasn’t bad for not entertaining Finn or sometimes making hard decisions to keep Ooo in check. I will admit she’s extremely entitled and does have a god complex but she works on it throughout the show. Rewatch around after Season 4

[@CarlolucaS]

Yeah, no. I watched it more than once and while it appears that she might change she still goes back to her old self. Just because we understand her motivations now doesn't make it better. Nobody is being lied to. I will say though this is the most unique defense I've seen of her character. Although I've heard the "you didn't explain her motivation" thing like 100 times before. Actions define you not your ideas. And PB acts constantly as if the world belonged to her. And I would really go back to the whole thing about Flame Princess. I'll explain everything pretty much in detail. Her being correct and being jealous can both be correct at the same time and everything points to that being the case.

[@anthonysnow-young427]

@@CarlolucaS in the end of “High Strangeness”, after apologizing to Tree Trunks PB explains that people wouldn’t think she was crazy if they knew how easy it was for everything to go wrong, the WORST thing PB has ever done was create the lemon species and treat them that way. Then again she explains everything has a reason, balance maybe? Not trying to make excuses for her or anything.

[@Neganerd]

​@@anthonysnow-young427 She literally almost killed a child and gave her to her father to imprison her, lied about being her friend and stole all her religious artifacts almost killing a whole race without remorse cuz "they're too dangerous and will harm others". All that paranoid behavior for nothing.

[@anthonysnow-young427]

@@Neganerd She explained in the same episode where Finn & Jake (who idk when people started pretending they’re always 100% rational and logical) implied she was jealous then Jake figured out at the end that FP DID burn through the earth and PB said she’s too dangerous & her powers are based on emotion, her own father called her pure evil , FP NEEDED to be locked up (before Finn softened her up) and Yes , I agree PB stealing from her was wrong but once again it’s like Batman , she does what needs to be done to ensure the safety of Ooo. The worst thing PB has ever done was create a mentally disabled offspring just to torment him, then again after the rewatch I realized Finn did the same EXACT thing to Neptr & unfortunately Lemongrab didn’t WANT any help

[@ihatepower4580]

@@anthonysnow-young427 candy virus zombies twice, almost massacred the flame kingdom, created two pink dictators.

[@coolgamer3646]

she's immortal her morals has gone down for all her years also she's gotten a God complex

[@CarlolucaS]

God complex sounds about right.

[@anothertarnishedone5960]

Well, she creates life, after all

[@theresivy]

i mean, same goes for marcy but she actually had character development instead. so we cant rlly blame it on their immortality

[@benzur3503]

The lich’s scheming seems to be conducted with planning. It agreeing with his nature doesn’t make it any less harmful

[@CarlolucaS]

Well, sure.

[@TheManBehindTheSlaughter6669]

you are correct, but when the lich is not "corrupted" by the life giving waters from the celestial sentinels it is simply a function of the universe personified, that being entropy and the end of all that is. when the lich finally makes it into prismo's wish chamber and gets his wish swapped around to something else he can no longer perform his function and thus shuts down or goes into sleep mode like a computer.

[@benzur3503]

@@TheManBehindTheSlaughter6669 possession and manipulation aren’t actions aspects of nature perform, and aren’t specifically connected to death. Death ends life, it does not take posses it. Those are planned evil acts which exist outside the natural existence of death, thus its nature is no excuse

[@brokenbiscuit3609]

The amount of times I nodded my head in agreement, gasped, and even got mad at PB is amazing.

[@CarlolucaS]

:) Well, there are a lot of hateable things.

[@rachele.3229]

12:44 literally made me think of how Rose Quartz is the cause of so many issues in SU. PB "creating her own problems" reminds me of how Rose essentially got bored and kickstarted a lot of what happened.

[@CarlolucaS]

Never really watched Steven Universe. Not really interested either but I've heard this a few times.

[@firemaster9293]

To me, her character sounds cool on paper but in practice, it's a very frustrating experience. I want to make thing clear: I really like the idea (I repeat, the idea) of a leader who committed atrocities to protect his/her people that he/she cares about and i think she would make a great anti-villain kind of character (aka do bad things for good reasons). If we have Bubblegum that cared about her people, cared about her friends, and cared about being able to live through their own life but still ruthless and cold hearted in her tactics on top of that like Sylvanas from World of Warcraft and that playable Sith Lord from Star Wars: The Old Republic, I would be on board with it. But my biggest problem is they considered PB to be a "good person,” and they don't bother to address her actions, have PB learn anything from her past mistakes, or face any of the consequences.

[@CarlolucaS]

I think they never pulled the trigger on the idea.

[@mauirandall8176]

In the last episode of the series she forgives gumbald and attempts to shake his hand in treaty. Like my only issue with this video is that it's completely divorced from her development and makes it seem like all this stuff is just her character from start to finish.

[@CarlolucaS]

I never claimed Gumbald was the good guy. In fact I call him an Anarcho Capitalist and that should tell you pretty much everything.

[@rickthebrick200]

@@CarlolucaS Anarcho Capitalism is not evil or bad!! It is the manliest thing ever and you need to get over yourself!!!!!!

[@dngernoodle]

@@rickthebrick200 Who pissed in your coffee?

[@andrewsanusi8462]

Let’s not forget the events in elements cause lord I think that special really showed her true colours and shows she really is the villain and I will explain why now this might get really long so I will try to make it as short as possible. The thing that I found so creepy and twisted in elements is the fact that when it comes to all the people who were turned into candy elementals. They all literally act the exact the same way the regular candy kingdom citizens acted before overly happy, naive, stupid and showing no signs of thinking for themselves but unlike the regular candy kingdom citizens who overtime were showing signs of thinking for themselves and actually acting smart it seems the candy elementals show no signs of having free will and they definitely never would have if lumpy princess never revered the spell not only that but it also seems like all the people who were turned candy elemental don’t have any memories of who they used to be before they were turned sound familiar? Of course let’s talking about miss Bubblegum herself. When we first see her she’s this giant gum tower and acts genuinely sweet to Finn and Jake but we soon learn that her “sweet” attitude was just an distraction for her to slowly turn the two which luckily they managed to escape from and of course when we come back to her when the fire elementals attacked her and turned them into candy elementals themselves too it was almost like she knew that would happen and was just waiting for her moment to strike and of course there was the “let me call you sweetheart scene” following soon after with all the candy elementals singing joyfully in unison while walking towards Finn. The thing that I found so creepy about that scene is the fact that I was getting major Hive-mind vibes from it since all the candy elementals looked so disgustingly in sync with each other and some outside force was just controlling them like they were just puppets on a string which of course was PB and what does PB do immediately after taking over an entire elemental group? She immediately wants to spread her candy element all over Ooo to finally have the “perfect “Candy Kingdom” she always wanted where she would be controlling everything and no one can ever go against her since no one would have free will ever again. But of course some might say the way she acted in the whole element special wasn’t her fault and it was the elements power itself was affecting her behaviour and making her act that way but like that’s not true she literally still acts like her usual self the only that really changed is that she acts overbearingly sweet in her own twisted way and her desires had been enhanced than ever before and that’s why I find Bubblegum to be if not the biggest and most scariest person in Adventure Time cause she was actually so close to becoming a full on dictator if Lsp hadn’t stopped her.

[@CarlolucaS]

I wanted to talk about the Elementals but I felt like it was a big stretch. I do agree with most things you said though.

[@andrewsanusi8462]

@@CarlolucaS Yeah same I was thinking it was lowkey kinda is a stretch but I just couldn’t get it off my mind loved your btw keep up the great work.

[@jaydenc367]

That is true though, she still acts different to a degree and is more twisted. The true PB wouldn't really become a dictator.

[@wander1139]

@@jaydenc367 she already is a dictator she regularly executes and or removes people she finds subversive or a threat to her rule she also spy's on ever person in her kingdom while regularly directly interfering with other kingdoms through direct military action or through more subtle means while using a 12 year old to fight threats her guards cant fight for her also low key her own people where so terrified of her they ripped out there own teeth just to get a moment of privacy

[@jaydenc367]

@@wander1139 She isn't a dictator though. She usually only removes or executes people who are a threat to her kingdom...not who are subversive. She does do that but that doesn't make her a dictator, after all governments already do that. Those things also don't make her a dictator though like Military action isn't something that only dictators do, also she doesn't have Finn do everything. When did that ever happen?

[@fredbloxworth5272]

What a well thought out analysis of PB and her morally gray actions! I always knew something was off about PB, but this video really gave me more insight why I had those thoughts to begin with. One event with PB I always thought was weird was the entire “The Cooler” episode. While I understand why PB was trying to weaken the Fire Kingdom if they attacked the Candy Kingdom ( something Flame Princess and her brother discuss to my remembrance ) I found her way about going about it to be strange. Basically, what I mean is that she had no problem trusting the Ice king to help her when he had at that point had kidnapped her on multiple occasions, caused the Freezer Burn Flu incident against her Kingdom (albeit unintentionally), and dropping her into a vat of mushroom bomb waste which allowed the Lich to possess her (also unintentionally). She was more afraid of the Fire Kingdom (and by extension Flame Princess) who hasn’t actually posed any threat to her yet compared to someone who has.

[@CarlolucaS]

PB does some really villainous stuff.

[@mrbongalong2788]

The moment I saw her use parts of candy people to make herself grow up I knew damn well she was a villain. The candy people basically ripped out their flesh for her to absorb, if they were regular people that would be on some dark blood magic territory.

[@CarlolucaS]

She does run her state similarly to a cult.

[@strawbert879]

I remember I met the voice actress for PB at a convention a few years back and I said to her I feel that PB is actually kinda evil and she said no she doesn't see it that way, I left feeling like an ass but I feel I was kinda justified now. But it's implied in the future when Lemonhope comes back to OOO, there has been some sort of tyrannical takeover by PB and the subsequent demise of the candy kingdom probably due to her waging war. She was irredeemable to me after she almost massacred Flame Princess and her entire kingdom because she 'feared' they were 'evil' or had too much power.

[@CarlolucaS]

Nobody wants their character to be evil and by intents and purposes the show tries to hide it as much as possible. It is only when you put all the puzzle pieces together that you can see the full picture. Also cool that you met her voice actress. Recently found out that she plays Starfire in Teen Titans.

[@tre1o184]

That or she was just being in character, because PB obviously doesn't she herself as evil, if anything I think that's what PB would say

[@BesIsSatan]

I know we're talking about how bad PB is and all but damn, that art in the thumbnail and beginning is just so magnificent. ✨️🖤

[@CarlolucaS]

Indeed it is.

[@mrchauncy8832]

Cinnamon Bun was half baked until he went to the fire kingdom and became fully baked. This explains his character progression

[@CarlolucaS]

Which just makes PB look worse.

[@alfredogaribay5376]

I always believed Cinnamon Bun’s intelligence increasing after hanging around Flame Princess/the Fire Kingdom was because (as PB puts it) he was “half baked” literally. And being exposed to the heat finished him up. Or it could be a metaphor for that process and it wasn’t actually literal.

[@CarlolucaS]

That's a common theory which makes it even worse cause PB basically kept him dumb even though she know what was "wrong" with him.

[@killrcupcake2994]

I've been trying to pinpoint what exactly is an antivillain, the antithesis to the antihero While I'm not sure if she's what I'm looking for I also think she might be, as she does horrible awful things but she makes sure to (almost) never step on the toes of the hero(es) and makes sure to always leave them alone or directly benefit them while also getting them on her good side She makes sure to fight against things that look like awful and horrible threats to everyone and everything bad she does she's done to her own creations or makes sure to make them look like they're for the greater good, thus ensuring that she always gets any little amount of the benefit of the doubt and keeps the heroes on her good side

[@CarlolucaS]

It depends on how you want to align her. Some might put her in chaotic good or neutral. I think a Hidden Villain is a good term for it because her evil deeds are more hidden and often enough she justifies the things she does to herself. Only when looking at everything she has done it is possible to uncover everything.

[@nimloc1670]

I'm glad I've been seeing others talk about how cruel PB was. As a kid, I really didn't like her, and trust me, I've tried too. Mainly because the main good guys liked her and as a kid, my brain thought,"Well, if Finn and Jake like her, along with the candy people, she can't be that bad?". But as I got older and more seasons come out, I just couldn't take it. Even now, it's hard to like her. She's a funny character for sure and I like her relationship with Marceline, but even before they got together, she called her "Monster Trash"? I'd really like to know if it's intentionally or not.

[@CarlolucaS]

I am 50/50 on if the writers intended it or not but given that there is so much stuff it might be.

[@jborrego2406]

Thank u never likes her

[@atticusherring4584]

i dont think this is ever touched on, but cinnamon bun wasnt just stupid. He was under-baked and his being around the flame princess and the fire kingdom finally cooked him giving him the proper brain functions of other characters. However, i will say that his maturity does also come from being trained by flame princess and not being treated like a child.

[@Neganerd]

Exactly, PB herself said he was "undercooked" and didn't do nothing about it unlike FP who used time and patience to treat him like an adult and we see how he became a warrior/her right hand after that.

[@CarlolucaS]

Yeah, that kinda makes it worse. That means she purposefully kept CB that way.

[@lb50x22]

In her defense, she was literally born with Nelly in a wasteland. She had to keep nelly safe from the world, and shield nelly from threats. In the episode where we learn about bubble gums family, we learn that she also had to create her family purely from the inspiration and imagination of bubble when she sees the picture of a family in diner. She may be super evil, but at least shes hot

[@CarlolucaS]

True. PB do be kinda hot.

[@lauracerqueiramachado8979]

I don’t think it makes much sense saying she became a paranoid control freak because of those things because well it all happened at least hundreds of years before when the e show started so it was more than enough time for her to move on but also because she CHOSE to make the Candy Kingdom and the candy-citizens and make herself their “princess”, it’s not like responsibility was given to her and she dealt with it the only way she knew she gave that responsibility to herself, she made the people she controls, and we can see that maybe because of the trauma her “family” caused her she started to make the candy-people to be her subjects instead of her family as if they are beneath her, more like pets because we see many times how she doesn’t respect them as individuals and that’s why she believes she has the right to spy on them and control them as she pleases

[@dolanisanimated991]

its also unclear how much influence PB had on restoring a broken baron planet. She arguable is keeping the land of OOO safe or safer.

[@HPRshredder]

She is pure evil. One of my least favorite characters in the show. I cannot with PB. Marceline deserves so much better. It's about how she treats people. She's a control freak and a borderline psychopath. She constantly lies. She is the WORST.

[@TLSauce]

Spitting fax right now

[@CarlolucaS]

She is my favorite character but for the same reasons, you hate her. Still, she is is very bad and Marci does deserve better.

[@HPRshredder]

@@CarlolucaS I can respect that.

[@Chalastor146]

I feel like Marceline should be with Finn I know y'all are gonna say oh She's too old for him. Marceline does care about Finn They both love Adventures and Fighting monsters I think Marceline did secretly have a Crush on him back then but doesn't want to admit it She had kiss Finn on the cheek 2 Times

[@emmanuelmondesir1314]

@@Chalastor146 facts

[@randomgaming8007]

she's a good representation of how a real authoritarian leader acts

[@CarlolucaS]

Pretty much. Especially when you have such god-like powers as her.

[@AdaTheWatcher]

@@CarlolucaS she's pretty good at it too, I never noticed how much of a monster she was while watching..

[@orrorsaness5942]

@@AdaTheWatcher Indeed man

[@jwwilliams5407]

Oh, she's a straight up villain

[@CarlolucaS]

Yup.

[@fellipedasilva99]

Everyone talks about Finn growing up and leaving behind his immature ways. Which of course is true and a major theme in the story. But everyone glosses over the fact that Finn unfortunately liking Princess Bubblegum was a recipe for disaster. How this man wasn’t severely damaged and traumatized by that unhinged self absorbed women is a straight up miracle.

[@CarlolucaS]

I think Finn managed to get enough damage without PB :) The whole arm thing, you know?

[@jeambeam3173]

It's crazy I almost feel like PB wanted Lemon hope to lead the earldom but realizing she can't control him turns back to fascism

[@CarlolucaS]

Yeah. She realized Lemonhope is not gonna lead the lemon people and just remakes Lemongrab.

[@amalgamfrostpink5030]

Literally how America treats countries in the South Americas and the Middle East. *Literally.*

[@danieldsantiagorodriguez4955]

Yes, my sister did an anlysis on different aspects of Adventure Time when she rewatched it. She concluded, PB is a Big Brother/Autoritarian (or as she comically put it "Gaslight, Gatekeep, Girlboss). Tree Trunks is a s*x criminal and Jake is the true antagonist to Finn and himself. The most blatant episode of Jake's antagonist role being when Finn got abducted by the gnomes.

[@CarlolucaS]

You have that analysis somewhere? I would like to see it.

[@Bluemilk92]

I'd like to hear more about this as well. Who knows, if your sister kept notes, she could either make a video, or give Carl permission to do so and he can give her a shout-out. Though if she did all the hard work, I'd help her with uploading her own video. Or at least asking for compensation.

[@evakjordan]

I think the episode where magic man turns finn into a foot and Jake urges him to give up on bringing back his human body is more indicative of his kind of like selfish passiveness… in party animal Jake has the revelation to ultimately check up on Finn but in the foot episode he demoralizes Finn until he’s found his own way back into his body and then Jake just plays it off as like a “you’ll understand when you’re older” kind of situation … or in egress when he forces Finn’s eyes open countless times

[@thegreypilgrim2849]

How is that episode supposed to show his "antagonist role"? He was simply distracted.

[@danieldsantiagorodriguez4955]

@@thegreypilgrim2849 it's more of a silly example, but there's episodes like the one with the maze and the hot dogs where he messes it up both for Finn and himself. There's the one where they're in a fallen warrior colliseum where Finn purposefully leaves him in the lower part so he doesn't mess up his plan. We could aslo talk about Jake's relationship to his kids and such but yeah, there's plenty of examples of Jake servings as a foil to Finn at times and even himself.

[@momoriewuvbub]

princess bubblegum is like makima fr

[@CarlolucaS]

Want to make a video at some point.

[@soliel5680]

I think the entire reason for lemongrab's creation is to defeat Mathew. She even puts the Mathew tapestry above lemon mix's bed to remind him.

[@CarlolucaS]

That is insane and also I wouldn't rule it out :)

[@Kai2quban]

I was agreeing until the last part because gumbald was the one who initially made the potion and turned half their family he basically just got a taste of his own medicine. He also was going to turn Bonnie even after she apologized to him and he likely would have kept them like that a lot longer because the only reason that they were turned back was because of lumpy space princess and Patience

[@CarlolucaS]

In this case, it is more who is worse than the other. Imprisonment in your own mind or exile. PB could just exile her family somewhere which btw she created. I don't know if you missed it but Gumbold was going to create his own kingdom and it was her that purposefully sabotage his plans. That doesn't justify what Gumbold did but it seems that like the situation was constantly escalating.

[@Kai2quban]

@@CarlolucaS ah I did miss that actually but yeah I understand

[@witchypoo7353]

I think that Marceline & PB are a good couple, at least story wise. This is because Marceline has a reputation for being being evil, but she’s kind & compassionate with a tough & scary exterior. Whereas PB is the exact opposite.

[@bobbuild2417]

Pb just got in a relationship to manipulate her as a bodyguard, or resource. They make a cute couple cause of how exploitable marcy Is with this new relationship

[@DrTimes99]

I honestly don't know if PB is capable of loving another being considering how selfish she is. I think her relationship with Marcy is less on of love and more a realization that Marcy is the only other seemingly ageless being in Ooo with rational thought.

[@eeveeofalltrades4780]

They say opposites attract but this is ridiculous

[@jaydenc367]

@@DrTimes99 Nah she is capable of loving and she did get less selfish as time went on...things just changed.

[@wildfire9280]

@@DrTimes99 This. It’s much more logical for Marceline than Finn to be her chosen suitor.

[@notthefbi7015]

I’ve seen a few comments about how Finn then is just as evil as PB because he acts impulsively and is easily manipulated. But there are a few problems with that. 1 Finn often learns from his mistakes and when he majorly fucks up he usually does everything within his power to set things right. Whereas let’s us PB and her part in FP and Finn’s break up does nothing to actually try to make things right. It falls on Finn to fix a mistake that wasn’t entirely his fault. 2 Finn is a literal child, of course he isn’t a perfect being and no one expects PB too be but Finn despite being far younger than her shows far more maturity. He owns up to his mistakes and tried to be the best person he can be. Rarely does Finn intentionally act maliciously towards others whereas PB shows no qualms in doing that.

[@CarlolucaS]

Finn definitely has flaws. galuable being one of them. Maybe he jumps the gun often but nothing comes close to what PB did and still does.

[@notthefbi7015]

@@CarlolucaS Yeah that’s my stance on it as well. And with the major difference in age/life experience you would expect PB to be more mature than Finn, but a lot of time its the opposite

[@MendocinoHorror]

I mean, yeah. She literally starts the series hiding an apocalypse level threat

[@CarlolucaS]

Yeah... :)

[@thunderspark1536]

Sounds like a ruler in a post apocalyptic world with magic and candy monsters. I'm surprised she even held a kingdom together under such circumstances, let alone had her own vassles and created life. I guess somehow she ended up both loved and feared, playing god while also getting kidnapped a lot.

[@CarlolucaS]

I always wondered how she got kidnapped that often.

[@isaacinkwell]

@@CarlolucaS I mean it’s not like she was set up to have any kind of magical powers, doesn’t matter how cruel of a sociopathic authoritarian you are if you can’t even defend yourself, you’re probably gonna be kidnapped a fair bit or it could be her guards/soldiers are just incompetent

[@lauracerqueiramachado8979]

I think the whole “created life” thing was actually a huge redflag, the fact that instead of trying to help the natural living creatures that already existed in Ooo with her knowledge she rather just making people to be their subjects for her to rule, she was the one who told them to call her “princess”, kind of feels like a kid playing with her toys but they are alive

[@Plxlinixy]

The real irony that was missed in the video is what does get revealed at the end of the Lemonhope story. When we see the flash forwards with Lemonhope wandering around in the future, we see that the Candy Kingdom is all but in ruins, and Bonnibel is nowhere to be found. In fact in just about all of the really big flash forwards that happen in adventure time, Bonnibel's Kingdom is shown to be all but destroyed with nobody remembering a thing about it. And if anything most of the Candy people seem to not have survived without her around. In fact Jake's descendants in the long run have built better lasting civilizations than anything Bonnibel ever created. As an immortal all she has is Marceline for company and nobody else, which might explain why in the long maybe she just kinda gives up being a control freak when Jake returns to the remaining humans and he's not fighting for her as much anymore maybe playing Dr. Doom just gets boring.

[@CarlolucaS]

The candy people are in the giant Gumball Guardian as you can see in one of the Grayballs.

[@azula4786]

One thing that ick me abt pb is that she never gets karma I need atleast one episode where all the fuckups she made in her life all the bad decisions came back and haunt her

[@CarlolucaS]

Even her own miniseries would be welcomed.

[@reeseh7998]

Im new to your channel and was NOT expecting your look, it was like getting jumpscared by an old god masquerading as a weed smoking piano teacher

[@CarlolucaS]

I need to learn to play the piano

[@Meep_kun]

you forgot to mention she is directly responsible for freeing the lich, taking out the enchiridion from it's resting place, enabling the lich to do all the mayhem he wants, she refused to offer help to the Ice king and didn't at all offered to help in all the problems Magic man caused until the very end why? cause it was none of her business. is the wellbeing of the whole world not her business? not unless it affects her. she had the means and the oportunity to prevent a lot of disasters and decided not to take action. remember that episode when the lich escaped? OH I KNOW LET'S SEND FINN WITHOUT ANY SUPPORT! she's the cause behind Most of OOO's problems

[@CarlolucaS]

True.

[@tylernale2717]

Same with Celestia in MLP.

[@fraydizs7302]

About 2 years ago I decided to just binge watch Adventure Time from start to finish. And yeah towards the later seasons I found myself hating PB becuase of what a blatant narcissist and horribly manipulative person she was.

[@CarlolucaS]

She is definitely not the greatest.

[@jaykubisanidiot8657]

She's a royal... Of course she's a villain

[@CarlolucaS]

Can't a monarch commit crimes in peace, am I right?

[@hiddenartist5987]

at least the Lich acknowledged his evil prowess

[@CarlolucaS]

The Lich is just evil and reveals in it.

[@macpatterson9750]

I do think she ended up growing as a person and toning down her evilness as the show progressed. It's even hinted that she gave up the candy kingdom to peb butt in distant lands.

[@CarlolucaS]

If that is the case it is interesting but given that there is a giant Gumball Guardian walking around in the future I assume she just went back to taking full control.

[@TheKoopaKingBowser]

@@CarlolucaS She 100% did, no Candy Citizen is smart enough to make an entire city, she did. After realizing she needed the daily dose of control.

[@Neganerd]

​@@TheKoopaKingBowser which is weird cuz she just...disappeared??? We don't see here anywhere in the finale of the series

[@Kyss111]

​@@CarlolucaS I don't think she took control, the giant gumball guardian is more like a safety measure, peb butt can easily asked for pb's help or that pb seeing how the incoming danger create the safety measure

[@downbeatdialga1341]

Wow. This video was very enlightening honestly. It really is something when you compare all of this to Ice King/Simon, the initial “villain,” who as we eventually learn made noble sacrifices to protect Marceline wanting nothing in return, looks out for the penguins-His own people-like Gunther, and when PB physically and emotionally reverted to that of a child he stopped trying to pursue her. Not a good luck for PB after you stated that she usually expects things from others, uses her subjects and even those of other kingdoms as her experiments, refuses to admit faults even after thousands of years, and manipulated a minor into an abusive relationship on and off for 5 years. Ice King/Simon was by no means a saint, but after this video, is comparatively better than PB in nearly EVERY way.

[@CarlolucaS]

I might do an Ice King video where it might or might be something completely different.

[@nihilsnake4017]

“Wait, Princess Bubblegum is horrible.” Me: “always have been”

[@CarlolucaS]

Ma pal :) I still like the character a lot.

[@nihilsnake4017]

@@CarlolucaS She’s very interesting

[@lovecraftianwalrus4490]

The whole peace master thing was so ridiculously messed up. Like, you could summarise the whole thing as “a dedicated and loving father goes up against an Orwellian dictatorship in order to end the constant surveillance and genocide. The dictator sends her servant to stop him, and instead of just imprisoning him or like anything else, the servant mutilates the guys kids, and despite the fact that he had submitted and given up, the servant still forces him to humiliate himself. Eating dirt, impersonating a chicken” like, wtf????? I get that Bubblegum is not viewed favourably for her actions here, but she is still considered a good guy and faces zero consequences. I got genuinely uncomfortable watching that episode and, to me it went beyond redemption, but even if it did, it’s not like any effort to redeem her would’ve occurred in the first place. Also, WHY IN HELL IS SHE PUTTING SO MUCH RESPONSIBILITY INTO THE HANDS OF AN INCREDIBLY STUPID YOUNG KID AND HIS STUPIDLY IRRESPONSIBLE DOG

[@CarlolucaS]

I think they set up the whole "PB is kinda fucked up" thing but than never pulled the trigger on it.

[@ganymede8257]

I feel like Princess Bubblegum knows what she's doing is wrong but she does it anyway by justifying it with "for the good of my kingdom". After losing the candy kingdom, she becomes a lot less "evil" to say the least

[@CarlolucaS]

Less evil is definitely better than more evil.

[@pouncelygrin6699]

She's one of those characters where I never really saw as one of the protagonist's group, like even when I was young and saw the shiit she has done I was always unnerved by it I never pass it off as "haha what a joke" I had a mature understanding of what she was doing and I thought of it as disturbing, she's an egotistical megalomaniac 38:36 Have fun in the dungeon! 🙂

[@CarlolucaS]

Banana Guards are not the smartest so gladfully I could escape.

[@pouncelygrin6699]

@@CarlolucaS Hahaha xD

[@caesumisrude]

"and the fact that she speaks german" == EVIL. I am SCREAMING SKSKSKSK

[@CarlolucaS]

I am German as you can tell from my accent :)

[@caesumisrude]

@@CarlolucaS I didn't notice the German accent at all but then again my knowledge of it comes from 'Allo 'Allo

[@acat1167]

Reasons why PB is evil: •Massacaring the Rattleballs. •Keeps constant surveilance on everyone. •Sociopath with a God Complex • *Speaks German*

[@CarlolucaS]

Correct.

[@raymoirai]

Lemon john was the mvp in the lemon kingdom situation

[@CarlolucaS]

Facts. A true hero.

[@danielfialaatwork8652]

i don't watch the show i'm just here to show my support

[@CarlolucaS]

Praise the sun.

[@123100ozzy]

She condemned a creature to eternal struggle so she could fix her own mistakes. Poor Stormo.

[@CarlolucaS]

Stormo probably doesn't mind but still...

[@tifeoladokun1067]

Dudeee, I salute your dedication to read and comment almost all the comments of this video 👍

[@CarlolucaS]

I feel like over time Content creators got lazy with trying to communicate with people. To a certain point, it is understandable. For example when someone just says: "Good video" but a simple "Thx mate" is I think more than enough and it reminds you that there are people that like your stuff. You took the time to watch a 40-minute video. The least I can do is answer your comment.

[@tifeoladokun1067]

@@CarlolucaS I agree with you sir, need more content creators that go the extra mile to communicate with their followers.

[@somedudedoingcoak]

These are all great points but I just don’t like her because she has a very overpowered military yet used a child to do the most dangerous and dirty work and was clearly smart enough to know what she was clearly psychotic

[@CarlolucaS]

There are probably something wrong in her head.

[@Kyss111]

Overpowered military? Where?? The incompetent banana guards? The easily defeated gumball guardians? The old candy corn?

[@somedudedoingcoak]

@@Kyss111 basically I mean in comparison to all the other kingdoms at least. Also you best put respect on colonial candy corns name he fought in their Equivalent of nam.

[@TLSauce]

Ah dude what a banger, this video went by so fast as well! Wish we could’ve collaborated on this. The video was a lot of fun

[@CarlolucaS]

Would you say I am reaching my potential, huh? :)

[@TLSauce]

@@CarlolucaS no lol

[@CarlolucaS]

@@TLSauce You mom gay.

[@sk8te436]

yo

[@TLSauce]

@@sk8te436 sup skate

[@metademetra]

The way I described later seasons of Adventure Time was basically "The creators stopped playing Dungeons and Dragons and started playing Warhammer." It was mostly because of Golb, but PB's creepy exaltation by the banana guards felt like someone turned the Emperor of Mankind into a cute cartoon character.

[@CarlolucaS]

The Big E comparisons are indeed very interesting.

[@MakiTVJP]

Thank you!! I have been saying this for YEARS and my friends used to always tease and rag on me because Bubblegum is so 'sweet'. But there are/were SO many examples of her being cruel, mean, rude, and or a little sociopathic. I can't remember the exact episode, but she said something offhanded and I was so put off by her, I started going back and noticing her treatment of others. It was in season 2-3 I think, but I stopped liking her entirely from that episode onward

[@CarlolucaS]

There is a lot. I had a lot of more but I cut off a bunch of stuff because it was more speculative.

[@mizu8375]

I love PB, one of my fav characters. I'm also glad that despite everything she doesn't fix her "mistakes" but lets them grow/change, I get that she had the power to change Lemongrab, but it also shows that she wasn't a perfectionist 100%, she was still ok with weird quirky candypeople roaming the place, she could easily make a utopia with the most intelligent and obedient robot-like creatures, but decided on giving life to cute kinda obedient? candy creatures that do whatever they want. She also grows a lot in the end, and it felt nice seeing her and Marcy resolve each other issues despite being both very broken in completely different ways. It's hard to call her evil in a wolrd where moral rules are different from ours, she seems evil but in adventure time universe she's just a sentient gum that grew up on her own, having to fix everything by herself and surounding herself with people(?) that only proved her right, that she is the person that NEEDS to control everything in order for things to go well for her and her candypeople, but as we know she grows out of it and learns that it isn't an answer.

[@CarlolucaS]

I can see you perspective to a certain extent.

[@theresivy]

This is one of the, if not only, reasons why i cant vibe with Bubbline. Since in my eyes, all this time is mostly Marcy regretting her break up with a clearly egotistical sociopath whos Princess Bubblegum. Meanwhile we see Marcy have character development in a good way and itd entirely just unhealthy imo Also, just a PS - Marcy and Bonnie are at least 200 yrs apart in age and their first meeting was when PB is shown considerably younger so take that as you will lol

[@CarlolucaS]

Not like PB cares about age that much.

[@jamesgrissom9803]

@@CarlolucaS Unless finn is involed. In which case, age is extremely important.

[@SynoNAck]

It's funny PB doesn't believe in magic cuz she's a wicked witch.

[@CarlolucaS]

lol

[@ChampionAnalysis]

This is the first video of yours I've seen. I haven't watched adventure time, but you kept my attention the whole way through. I like your style. Subbed 💪

[@CarlolucaS]

Thank you very much. I am working my way through the characters. Hope to cover all the major characters at some point.