Steven Universe | S5 | Ep 11-15
Added 2024-06-14 13:00:13 +0000 UTCMY BOY LARS IS ABSOLUTELY THRIVING! My goodness, what a lil treat.
Comments
Your Mother and Mine: The art direction in this one is soooo neat! The segments where Garnet is telling her story of Rose are absolutely stunning, and really set this episode apart from the rest. Very reminiscent of the stylization in some of “The Answer,” back in season 2. I quite like the moments Padparadscha has where her “predictions” of the past actually contribute new information. She’s there to be a funny gimmick most of the time, but she actually is quite observant occasionally. “I predict you’re going to make everyone uncomfortable” provides Garnet with extra context for why everyone reacts in such a reserved, soured way to her compliments, and then there’s of course the moment where she tells Lars that he’s pushing the wrong button. Gosh, she’s such a cute Gem. She does her best, ahah- she just thinks a bit differently to most. - The Big Show: This is actually a huge comfort episode of mine, and one I go to a lot when I want something light and fluffy to watch. While you’re right in that it doesn’t relate immediately to the plotlines with Lars or other Gem stuff, it DOES succeed in continuing three pre established plot threads in one episode, and does so in what I find to be a super charming way. (The found footage gimmick with Steven recording everything is so cute to me!) First, for a small plot thread, you have Steven achieving his roadie dreams, as he has shown interest in back in season 3… and then for the larger plot threads, you have the culmination of arcs for Sadie and Greg, the first of who has finally come out of her shell and found a fulfilling outlet in music, and the second of who is entering the music bizz after years and years away, but as a manager this time. (He may not have made it big as a young adult, but this crew might!) These are major moments for these characters, and so I actually quite like that the show is slowing down on Gem related stuff to show how other important people in Steven’s world are growing and changing- he’s a human too, after all, and these matters are important to him as well. Plus, it makes Lars’ absence feel all the more serious for me- all these events are still happening on Earth while he’s trying to fight his way back. The space in between his focus episodes puts intense weight on that absence, and I personally enjoy that. I agree with you in that Sadie’s concert song is probably written about Lars. I haven’t thought about this too much before, but after listening to the lyrics again it fits, ahah. - Pool Hopping: Man, this show really knows how to make an episode seem very innocent and silly and then slam you with a major character moment, huh. This really is the most lost and most vulnerable we’ve ever seen Garnet. The fact that she now feels comfortable enough in sharing these feelings with Steven speaks volumes to how far she’s come as an individual over the seasons- season 1 Garnet would never! But oof, it’s such a shock to hear her so lost, when she’s usually the one running the ship, so to speak. I like how this episode functions as not only a peek into Garnet’s headspace right now before we head into the second half of the season, but also a nice reflection on the immense character development Steven has experienced this whole time. Aughh he really HAS grown so much, and it makes me so emotional ;w; Such a fun and heartfelt episode. Also, Cat Steven. Lol.
Novantinuum
2024-06-14 20:17:00 +0000 UTCMan, this is such a bangin’ batch. - Lars of the Stars: It was SUCH a wild shock when I first saw space pirate Lars, what a rush! I always super look forward to reactors getting to this point, especially for those who were sour on the character until now. What a wild way to cap off his development as a person. I don’t think anyone could’ve ever predicted the wild journey he went on to reach this point, but it’s so nice to see him so full of energy and life and passion about something. He had a biiiit of an emotional setback for a moment here, but like… that’s understandable. He still has a lot of growing to do, I’m sure— old habits don’t get turned over immediately, of course. I think it speaks volumes that he was able to get over himself and refocus on what was important quickly instead of wallowing in old insecurities, though. Good on him. - Jungle Moon: I love that this entire episode is a Stevonnie solo- notably, this is the first time we’ve spent an entire episode without Steven himself being present. God, it’s also just such a stunning episode. Holy hell. The background artists super popped off with this one. When it comes to Stevonnie growing stubble (but Steven not quite being there, yet), crew intent seemed to be that Steven and Connie fuse to create someone who is a good few years older than either of them. Canon never specifically gives an “age,” but since many of their focus eps involve them hanging out with the Cool Kids and other older teens, it would make sense to me for them to be within that age demographic too. Man, the coolest part of this episode has to be that weird dream, though. I love that the dream itself is like a “fusion-“ mashing Connie’s home life with all of Steven’s Gem related stuff. The way this show does dreams is always neat to me- I like that they are all written to be confusing and often nonsensical in how elements are mashed together, it feels very true to life.
Novantinuum
2024-06-14 20:15:20 +0000 UTCThey did a terrific job at making it sound derogatory, cause it absolutely makes me wince haha It makes sense though. Ahhh, right right. I guess I'm just so use to only seeing Amethyst shift that it's a surprise. Thank you for the clarification! :)
So Everdream
2024-06-14 18:05:28 +0000 UTCOff-color is supposed to sound bad in-universe. We didn't know the actual meaning of the word back then, but the human zoo's strict commander Holly Blue Agate called a unusually short Carnelian and a really skinny non-buff Jasper "hideous off-colors." It's a catch-all degoratory term for any unfitting Gem in Homeworld society, be it some form of disability, significant physical difference from the norm, "incorrect" thinking/behavior, probably also including a Gem literally not having the expected colors. But the Off-Color group has reclaimed the term, like people sometimes do with offensive words. All Gems can shapeshift (well, Peridot can't because of her defect.) Most of them just do it pretty rarely and only when some specific situation requires it. For example, Garnet once shapeshifted a super long arm to catch Steven. Amethyst does it much more than your average Gem, since as a Gem "raised" on Earth she generally does stuff just for fun...and it was also probably a reflection of her self-image issues earlier in the show.
Vilmu
2024-06-14 15:37:54 +0000 UTCWooo!! Excited to watch these later!
Novantinuum
2024-06-14 14:01:18 +0000 UTC
