Steven Universe Season 5 Episode 7
Anytime Steven Universe focuses on Peridot and Lapis it strikes gold. Peridot’s observation that Lapis doesn’t like surprises and that she needs consistency hit way too close to home. Speaking as someone who’s also been through abuse I instantly identified with that. After sometimes years of being in a volatile situation of course you’d enjoy consistency. You’d enjoy not having things just sprung up on you. Any disruptions to your regular schedule can feel earth shattering. Lapis was forced into doing things she didn’t want to do with Jasper so now, even when characters don’t mean to, she’s easily triggered. I can’t begin to convey how important that is to see portrayed in a TV series let alone one aimed at younger kids. She could stay but… she was forced to stay in mirror for all that time. She was forced to be with Jasper. Steven and Peridot mean well but she can’t be forced to do anything again. While the emotional core of this episode is on Lapis, Peridot also gets a bit of time to shine. We see that Lapis has really taken the more dominant role in their friendship and Peridot is afraid of upsetting her. That might make Peridot sound like a jerk but she has (in the best play on words Steven Universe has ever done) bent over backwards for Lapis. People who have been abused do deserve some leniency but not to the point where those around them feel drained and are losing their sense of self. The final scene with Peridot sleeping in Steven’s bathroom? Not to get too personal, but I’ve pretty much been in that exact situation. While the plot may be about alien gemstones coming to invade Earth, moments like these prove Steven Universe is about something far more relateable. Genuine human expriences. Or would that be GEM-uine? What? I couldn’t end this review on THAT somber a note. “Performance art isn’t bad just misunderstood.” Zingers like this always keep Steven Universe episodes from diving too deep into darkness. Damn right, Peridot. – Pumpkin is the best character on the show don’t @ me. That genre awareness is always a delight. Shamus Kelley may have teared up watching this episode. Follow him on Twitter!
