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the way marceline and princess bubblegum's development was set up throughout adventure time was phenomenal.
you get two characters who evidently used to be close but you're not immediately told why they fell out. over the course of the show their individual shortcomings are brought to light, and you're slowly able to piece together how this caused the disconnect in the first place
further into the series, these flaws are overcome, their characters developed independent of each other, and it's clear the way this opens up an avenue back into each other's lives. from there they interact in ways they never have before, presumably not even the first time
they help each other with the very things that initially drove them apart. you can see them TRY. so when they finally come together in this beautiful embodiment of an eternity of love of course it's rewarding. of course it feels rich and full and elaborate.
it's the love that persisted centuries of distance, that driving force of their growth and their mutual support. it's that quality of self-reflection and showing up for people you love as a better person, not solely expecting change in them but holding yourself accountable too
adventure time developed bubbline in this way through only ~120 minutes of episodes centred on them. i've always applauded the show for how it can tell so much with so little but marceline + princess bubblegum's development feels like one of their greatest merits
