In the sixteenth episode of the fourth season of Steven Universe, Connie, Lapis, Peridot, and Pumpkin deal with the absence of the Crystal Gems. Intrigued? Then it’s time for Mark to watch Steven Universe.
Seriously, this show has such a rich character base, and it’s something I’ll always appreciate from Steven Universe. Instead of focusing on the aftermath of Greg’s kidnapping, the writers focus on the other main characters of the show, all of whom have grown a great deal since they were first introduced. That’s actually the main conflict in “The New Crystal Gems,” which features Connie, Lapis, Peridot, and Pumpkin as the temporary Crystal Gems during the events of the last few episodes. If these characters have come into their own, then what happens when they try to be someone else?
Initially, it is goddamn hilarious. I find it consistently funny to watch these gems imitate one another, and there are so many opportunities for that to happen. THE WRITERS USE EVERY SINGLE ONE. Oh, it’s so beautiful! The show pokes fun at the fact that no one wants to be Pearl, despite that if anyone should have been her, it was Peridot. (Actually, there’s a case to be made that Connie could have been Pearl, too. Look no further than the scene where Connie talks about all the chores she did around the house and Pearl nods in approval. THEY’RE TOTALLY SIMILAR. Plus, that’s a huge reason why Connie trains so well with Pearl!) Instead, Peridot tries to be Garnet – complete with the glasses! – by bossing everyone around, despite that this isn’t really what Garnet does.
Of course, that’s the point: each of these characters’ personalities are exaggerated to ridiculous lengths. I know Peridot claims that Lapis needs a better sense of humor, but I find her to be one of the most quietly funny characters on the whole show. Her Amethyst impression was pretty damn good, too! If anything, Pumpkin probably had the most genuine impression. (I really, really like Pumpkin.) Unfortunately, as the group tried to fit into their fake roles, they forgot what makes them unique and special. Cheesy? Sure, but I don’t care. I actually admire this because the show explicitly shows us that these characters are not a replacement for the main four, nor are they relegated to some lower states where they don’t matter to the story.
Instead, through SHENANIGANS and some increasingly intense arguments, “The New Crystal Gems” establishes these four characters as independent of everyone else. For example: we’d never have this episode if Connie had not trained with Pearl OR if she hadn’t worked things out with her parents and earned her independence. That matters! And this episode also could not have occurred if Peridot and Lapis had not grown close as friends and adapted to life on Earth. Those stories are important to the fabric of Steven Universe as a whole. Thus, trying to force them into some “replacement” Crystal Gems was never going to work. They’re too different! Too unique, if you will. They work better when they’re being themselves.
That means that Connie is the best at planning; Peridot is the best at fixing; Lapis is the best as using her water powers and not being compelled to have the same sense of humor as Amethyst. And Pumpkin is a GOOD LITTLE PUMPKIN WHO ALWAYS WANTS TO HELP. Look what they’re able to accomplish when they get to be themselves!
Ah, this was a great episode. And I love the new sign!
The video for “The New Crystal Gems” can be downloaded here for $0.99.
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