The Suitor

The Suitor
Production code:	1014-130
Airdate:	May 20, 2013
Credits
Director:	Nate Cash (supervising) Nick Jennings (art)
Story:	Patrick McHale Kent Osborne Pendleton Ward Steve Little Jesse Moynihan
Written & storyboarded by:	Jesse Moynihan Thomas Wellmann
Episodes
Previous "Shh!"
Next "The Party's Over, Isla de Señorita"

"The Suitor" is the twenty-first episode in the fifth season of Adventure Time. It's the one hundred and twenty-fifth episode overall.

Synopsis

A suitor named Braco tries to win the heart of Princess Bubblegum with whatever it takes, even as she ignores his feelings.

Plot

The episode begins with Peppermint Butler practicing dark magic inside The Lich's old prison in the tree of the Candy Castle to summon a demon called Ogdoad who holds the key to the Shadow Realm. Peppermint Butler uses Cinnamon Bun, who is tied upside-down above Peppermint Butler, described a willing vessel. Before Peppermint Butler can negotiate with Ogdoad, a Gumball Guardian grabs Peppermint Butler and tells him that he should find a suitor for Princess Bubblegum because she has been working too hard on her lab that she needs to go out and socialize. The Gumball Guardian shows Peppermint Butler all the available suitors. Peppermint Butler refuses, saying that Princess Bubblegum will not date those "old bags." The Gumball Guardian tells him that he must try.

Peppermint Butler is put into the room with the suitors, but all of them are too old (one said that he had waited over 300 years). Peppermint Butler goes along the line and sees a young-looking suitor named Braco, who is sitting on the skeleton and says he was born to court the Princess Bubblegum. Braco says he is 21 and that he inherited his father's place in line after he died. Peppermint Butler then decides to give Braco a shot at courting the princess.

Once they enter the lab, Peppermint Butler introduces Princess Bubblegum to Braco, who asks her for a date, which she declines. Peppermint Butler, who seems cross, says that she needs to get outside and do some research on boys. Princess Bubblegum says that it is "way out of line" and that they are "donking up her research." Suddenly, Braco tells her that he loves her so much that it hurts. She tells him that it is infatuation, that the pain is a product of Braco overvaluing a projected imaginary relationship with her. Braco states that what he feels is real and tells her to meet him at the garden at night then jumps out of the balcony, landing on Mr. Cupcake. Princess Bubblegum accepts, but tells him that it is only for research.

As they were walking that night, Braco gives Princess Bubblegum a rose while she observes her device that she connected on his forehead. She says that she has what she needs "for now" and calls the Morrow, flying her back to the castle.

The next day, Braco tries his grandfather's art of "peacocking," wearing his grandfather's suit and hat, to win the princess' heart. But she only responds by firing an X-ray gun at Braco and then leaving.

At her lab, Princess Bubblegum calls for Finn and Jake and asks them to get her a soul stone which is at the Vapor Swamps and gives them a map of its location. Later, Braco asks them for the map so that he can bring the stone to the princess so that she will love him. Finn gives Braco the map, but states that "the road you're on leads to nowhere."

Braco goes to the Soul Stone's location, encounters monsters and badly burns himself trying to get a key that opens the stone's "chest." He is then asked by The Beast why he stole his treasure, to which Braco replies that it is for the one he loves. The Beast tells him to take the stone.

Back at the lab, Braco gives Princess Bubblegum the Soul Stone but she says that she does not need it anymore as she just finished programming a proper simulation of a soul and that it is much easier to manipulate than a real one. Braco returns to his room. In frustration, he smashes the Soul Stone and shoves his things off of his desk, then asks himself why Princess Bubblegum will not love him. Then, a Gumball Guardian grabs him and brings him to Peppermint Butler, who is demanding Ogdoad to give him the key to the Shadow Realm. Braco decides to give up his pursuit of Bubblegum's love, but Peppermint Butler offers to help him with Shadow Demon magic. In exchange for Ogdoad's freedom, he must turn Braco into a walking "love magnet." Ogdoad agrees but turns Braco into a three-legged monster.

Braco asks Peppermint Butler if he is now a walking "love magnet." Peppermint Butler says that he indeed paid the price and that he wants to have Braco's babies. Gratified, he runs back to the castle and into Princess Bubblegum's lab, who is discovered to have made a robot version of herself. Braco asks her if she loves him now. She explains that she does love him, however, it is the undifferentiated love she feels for all candy citizens and that she could not permit one of her citizens to suffer the way Braco did over her so she made him P-bot. He says he feels that it is wrong. P-bot kisses him and tells him that they should get out of the lab. Satisfied, Braco carries P-bot and jumps off the lab's balcony, thanking Princess Bubblegum. She watches from the window and sheds a tear as they make their way through the Candy Kingdom.

Peppermint Butler shows up and asks where Braco is. Princess Bubblegum explains that she knew Braco could not be happy without her so she built him a robo-wife. Peppermint Butler responded angrily, saying "you should have given him to me!" before slapping her.

Characters

Major characters

• Princess Bubblegum
• Peppermint Butler
• Braco

Minor characters

• Finn
• Jake (cameo)
• Snail
• Phil
• Guardian Angel
• Princess Bubblegum Bot
• The Morrow
• Ogdoad
• Candy People
  • Cinnamon Bun
  • Suitors
  • Mr. Cupcake
  • Gumball Guardian
  • Candy Corn rats
  • Loghan
  • Hobus
  • Chet
  • Lollipop Girl
  • Chocoberry
  • Green Gumdrop Dude
  • Starchy
  • Candy Trimmer 1
  • Candy Trimmer 2
• Lion
• Peppermint Butler's Bird
• Bull
• Vapor Swamp Monsters
  • Giant Ant Monster
  • The Beast
• Cart Guy
• Cart Creature

Music

• Braco Don't Go

Trivia

• Phil is in the cage behind Princess Bubblegum.

Phil in the cage

• The Amber Prison has decreased in size as the tree starts to regrow.
• The figures carved into the wall behind Braco's Grandfather's coffin appear similar to Princess Bubblegum.
• One of the Guardians refer to Peppermint Butler as "dark one," showing that they are aware of his actions.
• The balcony PB was standing on at the end looked like a teacup.

Cultural references

Boba Fett helmet on the shelf

• The four creatures used in Peppermint Butler's ritual likely allude to Ezekiel 1:10, in which Ezekiel sees a chariot drawn by four creatures each with four faces (that of a human, ox, lion, and eagle). It is interesting to note the position of these creatures is inverted in the ritual: the eagle is held in front of Peppermint Butler, the human/angel is behind him, the lion is on his left, and the ox is on his right.
  • This may also allude to the symbols of the four evangelists (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John) of the Christian Bible. However, the use of these symbols for the evangelists occurred much later, and is thought to have been taken from the Book of Ezekiel.
• Ogdoad is a word originating in Ancient Greek meaning "eight," or "eighth." The word was used in Gnosticism to refer to the eighth celestial sphere: the sphere of fixed stars. This was thought to be the realm of Yaldabaoth, king of demons.
  • Peppermint Butler also refers to Ogdoad the character as "master of level eight shadow world."
• Braco appears to have a helmet resembling the one Boba Fett from the Star Wars saga wears. It is placed on a shelf in his room.
• There is an Item Called the Soul stone in the Game "Grand Chase" which has the same color but different shape which is a rock or crystal.

Episode connections

The ritual is held in the Lich's prison.

• Princess Bubblegum seems to be wearing the same glasses as seen in "Goliad."
• The Guardian Angel from the episode "Dungeon" and a lion which is similar to the one in "The Silent King" reappears near Peppermint Butler while he is summoning the demon.
• The amber prison the Lich is trapped in returns from "Mortal Folly" and the hole he made remains in the tree in this episode.
• The book Mind Games returns; it is written by Jay T. Doggzone.

Errors

• When Braco said that he is the son of Loghan, and the part when he asked PB to go on a date with him, the line on his shirt disappeared.
• The position of Braco's teapot changes.
• The balcony that Braco jumps off at the very end of the episode is just outside of Princess Bubblegum's lab. However, during the final shot, it appears to be outside a hallway.

Production notes

• This episode was originally named "PB is Working Too Hard." This title appears on Xfinity On Demand.
• At the end, the ending theme was changed to a song written by Jesse Moynihan which was intended to be put in the episode.

Storyline analysis

• The oldest suitor mentioned that he has been waiting for Princess Bubblegum for 300 years, indicating that she is much older than she looks. This is possible because she can modify her age by adding or taking away candy mass. It could also be possible that the suitors were exaggerating. However, in "The Vault," it is revealed that Bubblegum only appears her current age and is way older than she had previously let on to Finn and Jake.

Video

Adventure Time - The Suitor (long preview)

Long preview

Gallery

Official art

Background art

Screenshots

Dark One!

"What about you?"

The snail

"That's cool. You're dating. That's cooool."

"Hurry, man, get off!"

"Hey, I see you!"

The Beast

"You're welcome, my love."

"You should have given him to me!"

Peppermint Butler slaps Princess Bubblegum.

Bubblegum was working on the clone the whole time before Braco.