The cuteness of Marshall Lee and Gary Prince would be clogging out Tumblr feeds if it were 2012. But that was back when Adventure Time was airing, fan theories ran amuck, and people passionately ‘shipped’ characters. To ‘ship’ a set of characters means you are rooting for them to get together. In the Adventure Time main series, fans rejoiced in the show’s finale after the iconic Marceline the Vampire Queen and Princess Bubblegum finally went from frenemies to lovers. Their romantic relationship was hinted at in the seasons leading up to the show’s end but confirmed canon when the two kissed on-screen at the end of season ten. Their tumultuous past was explored in earlier episodes, especially in this incredible queer-coded song ‘I’m Just Your Problem.' 

There is also a musically awesome spinoff special 'Adventure Time: Distant Lands' where Marceline , really unleashing resentment toward her perfectionist GF Bonnibel Bubblegum. Through their many ups and downs, Marceline and Princess Bubblegum prove to be a wonderful couple. But what do they have to do with Marshall Lee and Gary Prince? As it turns out, Marceline and PB’s love as a couple has transcended the multiverse. Marshall Lee and Gary are just a different-dimensional version of Marceline and PB inevitably falling for one another. Finding each other in any lifetime, such couple goals. 

What's 'Fionna and Cake'?

The spinoff series following the Ice King’s return to sanity is called ‘Fiona and Cake.’ Fans of Adventure Time may recognize those names, they’re the gender-bent versions of Finn and Jake from Ice King’s fan-fiction stories. However, this new show follows Fiona and Cake living in a boring city with friends like Gary and Marshall Lee, annoying jobs, and existential dread. Cake can’t talk in her world and is just a normal cat. Fiona’s world, imagined by the Ice King and turned real by Prismo the Wish Master, is filled with human-fied versions of all our favorite AT characters, making the show nostalgic and new at the same time. When her dread coincides with the now-cured Ice King’s demonic magic, Fiona and Cake find their way to magically escape their monotony to the Adventure Time world.

While Fiona and Cake are off fighting monsters and exploring the multiverse with Simon Petrikov, the Ice King’s sane self, her two friends Marshall Lee and Gary Prince have a meet-cute in Boring World. After Fiona is transported through Simon’s head to the ‘Adventure Time’ universe (long story), her two human friends Marshall Lee and Gary meet up and search for her. 

Meet Gary Prince and Marshall Lee

Now, while Gary Prince is totally new, we’ve actually seen Marshall Lee before. In past episodes of Adventure Time that featured Fiona and Cake, the gender-swapped version of Marceline, Marshall Lee, was an awesome addition. Donald Glover voiced him and even sang to songs, including the ‘AT’ classic episode Bad Little Boy. This Marshall Lee is different, he’s human, Black, and not a vampire. A montage of Fiona’s shenanigans around the city showcases playing music with Marshall Lee on the street and them laughing over video games. 

Gary Prince is a variant of Princess Bubblegum of the original ‘Adventure Time’ series. A different universe makes the characters we know (and love) dissimilar, but their core traits are usually the same. Gary is an ambitious and bright baker who works extra hours after closing to perfect his own quirky recipes. Voiced by an emphatic Andrew Rannals, Gary Prince comes to life as an adorable worrier who loves his friends, baking, and dying his hair pink. 

The episode follows an impromptu date between Gary Prince and Marshall Lee. Gary gets worried when Fiona hasn’t answered his texts and visits her apartment- where he meets a shirtless Marshall Lee exiting Fiona’s shower. Marshall explains he’s just crashing, Fiona texts that she’s okay, and Gary chills out. When leaving for errands, Marshall Lee unexpectedly tags along and the flirting begins.

Opposites Attract 

“I think it’s cool. You’re just so passionate. It’s impressive, to me.” Marshall Lee says after Gary shows him his favorite underground candy supply store. The moment is made sweeter when Gary hands Marshall a delicious honey stick. Following that, a visit to a flea market under a light snowfall and string lights gives us a romantic and lo-fi vibe that set the internet ablaze a few weeks back. Here we see their connection play out, oh how we love to see opposites attract! At one booth, they excitedly swipe through a catalog of rock records and cookbooks, clutching tote bags, shopping locally- so gay and lovely. The two end their walk sharing lattes, black and pink reflecting their vibes, when Marshall says “So, where to next’?” This date is never ending and we’re so here for it. 

Gary sneaks them into his work’s kitchen after the boss goes home, excited to show Marshall Lee his original baking idea. Gary the baker is more than meets the eye and Marshall Lee, who is famously reluctant when it comes to helping Fiona, is infatuated by Gary’s passion. So impressed he reaches out to his toxic mom to help make an introduction for Gary’s baking career. Marshall Lee steps out to make a phone call, landing Gary a meeting with a prestigious (and familiar lemony-looking) pair of food investors. When they show up at the bakery at Marshall Lee’s Mom’s request, Gary takes the surprise in stride and shows his creations! Much like Princess Bubblegum from the original ‘Adventure Time’, Gary Prince has created a candy kingdom of his very own. Gary offers the LemonCarb investors ‘Pastrymenschen’- a huge cake surrounded by candy citizens with stories all their own, romances between the edible characters, and lore as delicious as the treats themselves. “Food with a story!” He explains excitedly and it’s honestly adorable. It was a good pitch and ‘Shark Tank’ should invest in Gary Prince. 

But the Lemoncarbs inevitably grow angry and leave unsatisfied, crushing Gary. Marshall Lee apologizes for trying to land him the deal by surprise and realizes he rushed it. Gary handles it surprisingly well and is self-assured his creation just hasn’t met the right audience yet. Marshall pledges to make things right. After the Lemoncarbs go, the two sit together overlooking Gary’s candy kingdom. Picking up a chocolate-covered strawberry, Marshall Lee asks “So where does a chocolate-dipped strawberry go to meet a cupcake” and Gary dives into a sweet story. 

What We Do For Love

In the next episode, Marshall Lee sells his soul to his devilish mother so Gary can meet baking investors. Gary catches on to his sacrifice, calls out Marshall Lee’s mom for being terrible, and the two escape the fancy party by sharing a smooch in the elevator. While the mom wasn’t exactly homophobic, it definitely is reminiscent of defying expectations placed on us by heteronormative parents and adults. Also, boyfriends standing up to their partner’s parents is always a great scene in TV and movies.

Queer people are always drawn to weird characters, the ones who may stand out for odd reasons. This is why Birdo, the obscure pink dinosaur from the Mario series, has a mini-yet-mighty army riding for her/them. We play as Birdo and Toad and even queer-coded Luigi because it gives us that extra relatability into the character’s shoes. Tons of queer game players faced this growing up, whether forced to hardline define their gender by choosing the BOY or GIRL character. Now we live with shows that don’t harp on labeling gender or sexuality, like ‘Adventure Time’ and ‘Fiona and Cake.’ A mystical mix of strange and goofy, ‘Fiona and Cake’ is released weekly on (HBO) Max starting August 31, 2023. Season 1 concluded September 28th and we aren’t sure if there will be a season 2!