SPOILER WARNING:

Steven Universe Future

Little Graduation

…I’m going to be honest, I was really disappointed with this episode. Where to begin?

First: Lars and Sadie. I realise I was just offering a sort of begrudging praise for off-screen development in my last review, but that was related to sparing the audience the redundancy of an arc we’d already pursued before. This, on the other hand, came a bit out of left field for me. The show had languished valuable episodes in previous seasons developing the ornery, insecure Lars and the shy, self-deprecating Sadie into a couple that were ready for a relationship with each other. Now it seems that was all for nothing?

Now, I understand that’s part of the point. We’re meant to feel Steven’s sense of disappointment and realize as he does that some relationships are ephemeral. No one is “destined” for someone else and some partnerships might only serve to prepare us for other ones. However, if this was the direction the writers were planning on going, they should have settled on it earlier rather than stringing it out as long as they did, letting it intrude on other more important arcs (*cough* Diamonds *cough*) and souring our sense of payoff for following it. A writer’s job is to tell an engaging and satisfying story first, and impart a lesson second. When doing the latter, it needs to be contingent on the former. This move, however, I hate to say is more redolent of the “subverting expectations” mentality that’s become so annoyingly prevalent in media today.

At this point in the show, I don’t think we needed yet another aesop about healthy relationships. We needed to see why this one was so important, why it was worth getting over my hatred of this little jerk and feeling sorry for this little doormat enough to cheer when they finally got together in the end. I just think they could have gone in so many other more productive directions with this…Perhaps “Sadie Killer and the Suspects” could’ve joined the Off-Colors and gone on a tour of the cosmos to help spread Steven’s message of freedom through music, much like Lars actually suggested in the episode. If nothing else, Sadie’s band going the way of The Beatles could have left her open to tagging along on Lars’ epic space adventures herself. Instead…

Alright, now it’s time to talk about Shep. Shep is a fairly standard one-off character, not unlikable but seems to garner a lot of the spotlight in this episode, imparting Steven the life-lessons he needs to re-assume control over his powers. I found this amount of attention a bit curious, given that this seems like The Cool Kids’ last hurrah and that its likely we won’t be seeing much more of Shep either. Frankly, I think the show overall has hemorrhaged enough new characters and should buckle down on the ones they already have.

Now, just one final note on the episode, this one pertaining to The Cool Kids. So, Sour-Cream’s got a steady gig as a DJ. Good for him. Makes sense. But Buck Dewey wants to be a doctor?! Our Buck Dewey? The phlegmatic, edgy anarchist we all know and love wants to sell himself into decades of student-loan debt?! Really?! Where did that come from?! And Jenny wants to sell little jackets for phones…? As a former business major, I just don’t think the idea’s going to take off. Yes they’re cute, but you have to remove and stash them somewhere to actually use the screen. And what if you have tight pockets that keep wanting to pull off the little jacket whenever you take your phone out? These are the real questions, people! Totally relevant story analysis going on right here!

Overall: 6/10

Prickly Pair

Now, I actually like this episode. On the surface it looks like just another “be honest with your emotions” aesop, but it grew more layered as it progressed. Steven’s dialogue (or rather, monologue) with the cactus, took on undertones of Pink Diamond/Rose Quartz’s mentality. It’s easy to draw parallels between Steven’s treatment of his plants and his mother’s relationship with many other characters on the show. This could be an analogue for her arc with the Crystal Gems, Spinel, Pink Pearl (“Volleyball”) or even Steven himself. Pink/Rose is gaining greater characterization not just from the CG’s reminiscing and exposition, not just from her video-tapes and flashbacks, but from the ways Steven is subconsciously aping her mindset. It’s a poignant reminder of how much her charade continues to haunt the cast and influence Steven’s life despite her best intentions. I think Prickly Pair is another example of how this show can cleverly handle subtext, foreshadowing and double meaning…as well as deeply disturbing horror tropes.

Another thing worth noting is, towards the end of the episode, Steven forgoes the usual sappy confession of repressed feelings and reflection on the episode’s lesson, instead letting well enough lie. The writer in me sees the artistry in the line, “I think I’ve said enough”, saving us the rehash of what we’ve already inferred. But it’s also bittersweet, showing how much of his innocence he’s sacrificed for his maturity.

That’s about all I have to say about it. I think evidence is stacking up for the theory that Spinel mind-wiped Pink Diamond and her immature tendencies are bubbling to the surface of Steven’s consciousness. It’s high time we got Pink/Rose’s story in her own words and if this episode is any proof of that occuring, then it whets my anticipation…

Overall: 8/10