If you grew up watching Adventure Time, you probably remember the absolute chaos that was the "Fionna and Cake" episodes. They were these weird, gender-swapped fanfics written by the Ice King that everyone—and I mean everyone—obsessed over. But things got real in a whole new way when the Fionna and Cake spin-off dropped on Max. Suddenly, we weren't just looking at sketches in a crazy old man's notebook. We were looking at a living, breathing, and very "normal" human world.
The breakout stars of this new reality? Marshall Lee and Gary.
They aren't just gender-swapped versions of Marceline and Princess Bubblegum anymore. Honestly, they’ve become their own thing entirely. While the original "Bubbline" ship took about a decade to actually go anywhere, Marshall and Gary basically hit the ground running, and fans have a lot of feelings about it.
The "Human" Reset: Who Are They Now?
In the original show, Marshall Lee was the Vampire King. He was cool, floating, and voiced by Donald Glover. Gary Prince was Prince Gumball—pink, royal, and voiced by Neil Patrick Harris. But when the magic got sucked out of Fionna’s world, they didn't just lose their powers. They lost their history.
Basically, they became just two guys living in a city that looks a lot like a grimey, 20-something version of Brooklyn.
Marshall Lee is a struggling musician now. He doesn't have the "Vampire King" title to hide behind. Instead, he’s dealing with a very real, very overbearing mother, Hanna Abadeer, who wants him to join the family real estate business. He’s aimless. He’s a bit of a rebel. But without the immortality, there’s this vulnerability to him that we never saw in the "Bad Little Boy" days.
Gary Prince is a baker. He’s obsessed with his "Pastry Menschen"—these little baked goods with personalities. He’s the classic overachiever, trying to get funding for his shop while working a job that doesn't appreciate him. Andrew Rannells voiced him in the first season (though voice actor shifts have been a hot topic lately), and he brought this sweet, anxious energy that perfectly mirrors Princess Bubblegum’s perfectionism without the "cold scientist" baggage.
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Why the Marshall and Gary Connection Hits Different
A lot of people keep asking: do they have the same toxic history as Marceline and Bubblegum?
Short answer: No.
Long answer: In the main Adventure Time timeline, Marceline and PB had centuries of baggage. They dated, they broke up, they spent hundreds of years being passive-aggressive. It was "enemies to lovers" in the longest way possible.
With Marshall Lee and Gary, we get to see what happens when those two personalities meet for the first time without the weight of the world on their shoulders. They met in the "real" world as adults. Gary was trying to sell his cookies, and Marshall was just... there.
There's this scene in Episode 7 that basically broke the internet (or at least the Adventure Time subreddit). Marshall takes Gary to his mom’s fancy charity ball. He’s trying to help Gary get investors for his bakery, but it turns into this high-pressure situation where Marshall’s mom is trying to force him into a life he hates.
When they leave that party and head into the elevator, Gary doesn't care about the lost investment. He cares about Marshall. That’s where the kiss happens. It wasn't a series finale "at long last" moment. It was a "hey, I really like you" moment.
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The "Voice Actor Curse" and Season 2
If you've been following the news for 2026, you've probably heard about the casting shakeups for Fionna and Cake Season 2. It's been a bit of a rollercoaster.
The production has faced what fans are calling the "voice actor curse." While Donald Glover and Andrew Rannells were iconic, the new season has seen some shifts. According to showrunners, retaining high-profile talent for an indie-feeling spin-off is tough. We’ve seen Kris Kollins step into the role of Marshall Lee, and Harvey Guillén (from What We Do in the Shadows) take over as Gary.
Change is scary, sure. But honestly? Harvey Guillén brings a specific kind of warmth to Gary that really works for the "struggling baker" vibe.
Key Differences Between the Pairs
- Status: PB was a literal ruler; Gary is a guy with a dream and a rolling pin.
- Conflict: Marcy and PB fought over kingdoms and immortality; Marshall and Gary fight over career paths and family expectations.
- Pace: Bubbline took 10 seasons; Gumlee (or whatever the kids are calling it now) was canon by episode 7.
Is This Relationship "Too Perfect"?
Some fans argue that Marshall and Gary are a bit "boring" compared to the original duo. They don't have the "toxic yaoi" energy people expected. They’re actually... healthy?
They communicate. They support each other’s hobbies. When Gary realizes Marshall is making sacrifices to help his bakery, he shuts it down because he wants Marshall to be happy too. It’s a very modern, grounded take on a relationship.
The showrunners, including Adam Muto, seem to be doing this on purpose. They’re contrasting the dark, multiversal chaos of Simon Petrikov’s life with the simple, domestic happiness of Fionna’s friends. It serves as a reminder of what’s at stake. If the world gets reset to its "magical" state, do Marshall and Gary lose this version of themselves? Do they become the bitter, immortal rivals again?
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The Future of Marshall Lee and Gary
As we move deeper into the Fionna and Cake lore, the big question is whether this world stays "human" or goes back to being "Ooo."
In the Season 1 finale, Fionna chooses her mundane world. She chooses the world where Gary is a baker and Marshall is a guy with a guitar. That choice was huge. It wasn't just about her; it was about letting her friends live lives where they aren't defined by magic or destiny.
If you’re looking to dive deeper into the Marshall and Gary rabbit hole, here is what you should actually do:
- Watch Episode 7 ("The Star"): This is the peak of their arc. It contrasts them with a version of Marceline and PB that stayed in a "broken" world. It’s brutal, but it makes the Marshall/Gary bond look even stronger.
- Look for the "Pastry Menschen" Easter Eggs: Throughout the series, Gary's little dough-people actually mirror the characters in the Land of Ooo. It’s a genius bit of world-building that shows he’s still "creative" even without the "Candy Kingdom" science.
- Check out the "Obsidian" Special: If you haven't seen the Marceline/PB special from Distant Lands, watch it. It gives the necessary context for why seeing Marshall and Gary be happy is such a big deal for the fandom.
The beauty of Marshall Lee and Gary isn't that they are perfect copies of the originals. It’s that they got a second chance to do things right. No wars, no vampire hunters, just a guy, another guy, and some really good cookies.
Next Steps for Fans:
Keep an eye on the official Max social channels for the Season 2 release date. With the new voice cast settled in, the focus is shifting toward how Fionna's world will evolve now that it's "canonized" in the multiverse. You might also want to revisit Natasha Allegri's original character sheets to see how much of the human design was hinted at years ago.