If you were to wonder what TV show currently has the most complex mythology, you’d likely not suspect a show that airs Monday nights on Cartoon Network. And yet, that’s just what has transpired; Adventure Time has quietly become not only one of the best shows currently airing on television but easily the most dense in terms of mythology. With this episode, which starts a two-episode arc, which deals with Finn and Jake attempting to get the Ice King a new friend to hang out with, the show at first seems to be using it’s many myths and legends for only humorous effect, but it soon escalates into, well, something genuinely disturbing.

Abracadaniel (a meek wizard) isn’t a character I expected to be returning to Adventure Time, but considering the amount of laughs he brought in this episode, I’m actually glad he did. His interactions with the Ice King (who, as usual, got many of the shows best moments) were hilarious, with the two’s distinctly different personalities providing not only a nice contrast but also some sublime opportunities for humor.

Now, this whole episode seemed to be a classic self contained adventure of madcap antics similar to the recent classic episode We Fixed A Truck. Ah, but these guys had one major trick up their sleeve; remember that demon I mentioned earlier? Well, it wants the blood sword that Jake The Dog’s dad made for Finn and Jake (like Abracadaniel, this blood sword appeared in an earlier episode) and won’t leave the four folks alone until it’s got it back. Upon giving the weapon back to the beast, the show throws one last twist at the audience; the demon takes Jake with him as he exits reality. In a cliffhanger moment that is both harrowing and exhilarating, Finn is left in shambles over the loss of his best buddy. While this situation will be resolved in the next episode, it still makes for a remarkable and unexpected ending.

The show’s reliance on past events might be a storytelling crutch if used improperly, but this season has shown how well Adventure Time can handle continuity. Not only is it leading to more potent dramatic situations, it’s also leading to some very effective instances of comedy. The land of Ooo and its many inhabitants has always been fascinating, but this episode proves how, by not underestimating the audience’s intelligence and utilizing characters and events from past episodes, Adventure Time is using them to create some of the best stories on television.