Steven Universe Review: "Marble Madness" (Season 1B, Episode 18)

If you're interested in a new and (arguably) improved Review Nebula, you'll find it right here. Well, at least it looks a bit better. Please adjust your bookmarks accordingly.

This is the fight that goes on forever Because it never, ever ends!

"They just keep coming and coming!" - Pearl, as the Crystal Gems beat up the marble pictured above.

Airdate: March 5th, 2015

Written By: Joe Johnston and Jeff Liu

Plot: Steven has to balance two things going on in his life at one moment. The first, is a new book series that Connie introduces him to, The Spirit Morph Saga. He winds up being fantastically wrong when it comes to book order. The second, a series of Robonoids are crashing into the Earth. The Gems defeat them, relax, and fight another one. Lather, rinse, repeat.

Review:

Steven Universe is loved for many reasons. Some cite the animation, which is unrivaled at it's best. Some cite the voice acting - making every single character seem even more real than before. Some cite the show's liberal values, which have probably caused a couple of fans to ship copies of the few SU DVDs to Mar-A-Lago with rants scrawled on the box. (If anybody actually did so, those discs are probably Diet Coke coasters right now.) Some (such as myself) cite the characters - with one or two exceptions, they are all so vibrant, so sympathetic, and so full of life. And, lastly, some cite the second layer that every good piece of literature/film/TV has... a plot.

"Marble Madness" shows Steven Universe return to its plot - one of political separation, of attempts to get old territory back, and the march of history. Still, this plot is driven by its characters - in this episode, the titular one.

About A Review Coming Out Tomorrow

Just a heads up - I have decided to review something that isn't in my normal review schedule.

I have written a review of a work that involves a Steven Universe voiceover artist. It's one of the most famous works in its genre, and it poses several questions as to our everyday life. Their role might not be the biggest, but it sets the plot of the entire work in question.

What is it?

Well, you'll find out tomorrow!

Steven Universe Review: "Maximum Capacity" (Season 1B, Episode 17)

Looks like Greg's storage unit is at... no, not making that joke.

I haven't really cleared this place out since your mom... ahem. - Greg, admitting he just collected 13 years worth of junk. TLC cameras are coming - people have to learn about this insanity!

Airdate: February 26th, 2015
Written By: Hillary Florido, Katie Mitroff, and Rebecca Sugar.
Plot: It's almost New Years, and what better way to celebrate than looking at Greg's storage unit, full of garbage collected over 13 years. As Amethyst comes over to sort through the trash, she discovers old tapes of Lil' Butler, a sitcom that Greg and Amethyst used to watch way back when. The two binge watch, and neglect the world around them.

Review:

Steven Universe is a psychologist's nightmare come true.

Shocking, right?

Yeah, anybody that's watched from "An Indirect Kiss" on can probably generate an undergraduate thesis on this goddamn show and how messed up its characters are. (Gotta get that diploma from State somehow!) Unfortunately, there are no therapists in fiction (and even if there were, I dunno if Steven would afford one), so these characters have to work through their mental anguish/trauma/lost Lenores with each other... and in so doing, wind up screwing up Steven mentally for years to come.

This episode... is another example of the characters' collective descent into madness and despair.

And it all started with Rose Quartz.

Where Did I Go?

...yeah. It's coming up on two and a half weeks since I last posted something. Not the first time I've gone a rather long stretch without an update, but probably the longest in some time.

I am deeply sorry for the radio silence. There are a few things that did go on over the past couple of weeks in my personal life - a couple of projects, some midterms, and a rather wonky schedule. Not helping matters was a small malaise - a cold, I think - that I came down with last week that sapped my energy for a couple of days. (I've rebounded since.)

Also, my next review is looking like that of "Maximum Capacity". And, to be honest here, the last few episodes of Steven Universe have varied considerably in their quality. StevenBomb 5 was "very good, but not as great as the prior StevenBombs", same with "Room for Ruby", "Tiger Philanthropist" was a dud, and "Rocknaldo" irritated me. There have been some great episodes  - "Storm in the Room" was disquieting, for example - but I think SU's been off-balance so far this season, and I think it's quieted my enthusiasm for this thus-far brilliant series a little bit.

Still, that's no excuse. I should've updated a bit earlier as to what is going on, and I am sorry.

Thankfully, I have Spring Break this week. Hopefully, I'll be able to focus and finish up my "Maximum Capacity" review by St. Patrick's Day.

Steven Universe Review: "Winter Forecast" (Season 1B, Episode 16)

I have a feeling that somebody's gonna turn this scene into a PSA.

"If we leave Beach City, bad things are gonna happen. I've seen it. Bad things. Several bad things!" - Steven, surprisingly not suffering through hallucinations... well, not exactly.

Airdate: February 19th, 2015
Written By: Lamar Abrams and Hellen Jo
Plot: A blizzard is plowing its way through to Beach City - thus, Steven must get Connie home before they wind up stranded. However, in an attempt to get more time together, they wind up screwing up, Greg winds up crashing his car in a snowbank, and the three have to trek through the tundra. The Maheswarans, surprisingly, aren't too pleased with this turn of events. Thinking that he may have pulled a David Cameron with his friendship with Connie, Steven begins seeing a pattern on the back of his father's suit... only to return at the scene of the crash.

Yes, before leaving, Garnet gave Steven a bit of a look into the future. But how does he use it? Who will live in his mindscape? And who could die with every turn?

Review:

Starting with a personal tangent here - winter is not my favorite season. I dislike the cold, layering up in clothing is an irritating waste of time, snow is a nuisance for the road (although snow days for schools are rather cool), digging out is a nightmare, and any sort of outdoor activities are restricted (granted, I'm not an outdoorsman, but still). Not helping is that, in the New York area (where I live), winter conditions (within a week, like this past one) often vary from "barely present" to "makes New York residents forget the intricacies of global climate change."

Yes, because man-made global climate change always results in unseasonable warmth during the winter. (Fun fact - thanks to this particular New Yorker's newest hobby, this sage advice will be stored by the federal government in perpetuity.)

Still, I will admit that winter tends to stir up some rather passionate and warm feelings. While there's a loud passion about summer, a nostalgia about fall, or a romance about spring, winter gives us a more subdued, warm atmosphere. All I want to do when the snow falls is switch the kettle on and drink a nice cup of tea. In short, while I dislike the technical aspects of winter, I absolutely admire what it symbolizes.

I think that explains part of my warm feelings towards this warm, warm episode of Steven Universe - a fine showcase on one of the most enduring partnerships I've seen in any sort of media, as well as a more positive follow-up to the more dramatic "Future Vision" and a damn fine analysis of leadership presented by Steven and Garnet.

Steven Universe Review: "Horror Club" (Season 1B, Episode 15)

Catch, catch the horror taxi. 

I fell in love with a video nasty! 

Catch, catch the horror train. 

The freeze frame gonna drive you insane!

- "Nasty", The Damned. (From The Young Ones episode "Nasty")

Airdate: February 12th, 2015
Written By: Raven Molisee and Paul Villeco
Plot: Steven and Sadie let Lars tag along to Ronaldo's Horror Club - much to the host's displeasure. While watching Evil Bear II, the lighthouse starts acting up - much like a thriller. Investigations lead to Sadie getting taken hostage by the lighthouse. With Lars and Ronaldo having a rather frosty relationship, the conspiracy nut contemplates giving said lighthouse a snack to satisfy it - Lars, to be exact.

Review:

You are reading a review of an episode of a television show - a TV show that lures it's fans in with cute colors, quasi-lesbian aliens, and brilliant songwriting... and attacks them with emotional resonance, psychological terror, and liberal overtones. In one episode, characters mess around at the arcade. In another, characters expose suicidal self-loathing. In another, a kid and his best friend have a very awkward dinner. What type of adventure are we damned to witness for episode 15 of Season 1B? Find out tonight in Night of The Review Nebula 2: Blogspot Takes Up Space on your Data Plan!

Lars, Ronaldo, Sadie, and Steven are our protagonists of the evening. The first one and the third one are trapped in a rather messed-up relationship, and the second one almost killed the fourth one to fuel his own ego. This can either make for a) juicy drama or b) a trainwreck. Which one is it?

Neither, really - although it is damningly dull.

Steven Universe Review: "On The Run" (Season 1B, Episode 14)

"This is where I was made, dude. One day, just - pop! - right out of this hole!" - Amethyst succulently and briefly describes her horrifying, horrifying genesis. 

Airdate: February 5th, 2015
Written By: Joe Johnston and Jeff Liu
Plot: Steven is enthused by his book series, The No-Home Boys, and begins to romanticize the idea of living away from home, especially when he finds out about the genesis of the Crystal Gems. Amethyst is the only one that responds positively to Steven's newfound enthusiasm - albeit because of her own issues regarding where she came from - and the two run away. Steven finds the life on the road to be less romantic, while Amethyst uses the escape as an excuse to take Steven to her birthplace - the Kindergarten. And thus begins a night of an almost unspeakable heartache.

Review:

The last time I reviewed Steven Universe, we got to see a darker, fallible side to Garnet. Meanwhile, in the real world, the United States of America had just voted to experiment with a real life simulation of Tropico 4* a new wave of populism. This review is being posted just after the experiment was launched, what with the inauguration of President Donald Trump. (I still can't believe I typed those last three words as a fact.) How poetic. So, what better way to come back to Steven Universe than by an episode that shines a darker light on another main character?

When you get down to it, Steven Universe's central characters are all a part of tragedies pulled together, each one dealing with their aftermaths. From the start, it's been established that Greg lost the love of his life. Pearl's mental state is on the verge of a total collapse for various reasons (one of which we'll see in a few episodes). Lapis Lazuli was trapped in a freakin' mirror for years. And Garnet and the others, we'll get to during Season 2 (and 3, and 4).

Here, though, we get a look at Amethyst and what happened to her. And damn, if this episode doesn't prove that Steven Universe toes the line of tragedy, I've got nothing for you.

Steven Universe Review: "Future Vision" (Season 1B, Episode 13)

NO! NO, NOT THE BEES! NOT THE BEES! AAAAHHHH!!!!

"You could just be going on about your business, eating your fry bits, and then suddenly you choke to death!" - Garnet. Hey, dying eating fries ain't a clean way to go, but it could be worse. Far worse.

Airdate: January 29th, 2015
Written By: Lamar Abrams and Hellen Jo
Plot: After saving Steven from an object on the stairs, Garnet informs the kid about her "future vision" - one that allows her to see the paths that the world can take. At first, Steven uses Garnet's power to decipher what path his life will take. Unfortunately, Garnet also notes that he can see possibilities for a more permanent end for our little Stew-ball. Kid goes paranoid, and even contemplates suicide just to fulfill Garnet's predictions.

This airs on a network aimed towards children. Just putting it out there.

Review:

Should we have access to what could happen in the future? Can we change the concepts of causality, or does our knowledge of the future only damn us to it with an increased sense of fear? These concepts have been explored in various science fiction shows and books. Hell, it actually provided the plot of Red Dwarf's second episode - "Future Echoes". In that episode, the Red Dwarf crew (or what's now left of it) experience the titular phenomenon - events in the future that are seen in the present. Lister slowly becomes paranoid after seeing a vision of his death and tries to prevent the future, but when events shown in the echoes start occurring, he prepares himself for the end. (When all is said and done, the only thing that they find out is that Lister will wind up with twins - and that doesn't happen until series 2, thanks to Lister having a drunken one-night stand with a woman who happens to be himself. He has to have a caesarean. Yes. He.)

As you can tell, it's a very fun topic to send up - allowing for cool comedy and delicious drama. Steven Universe adds its own twist to the equation by having a character experience these future echoes all of the time.

Steven Universe Review: "The Test" (Season 1B, Episode 12)

Ow.

"I'm now the owner of the golden can opener. Yes... yes..." - Garnet. Ah, the thrills of opening a can WITH GOLD!

Airdate: January 22nd, 2015
Written By: Hilary Florido and Katie Mitroff
Plot: It's a rainy, miserable day in Beach City. While looking for another board game to play with the Gems, Steven comes across the Moon Goddess Statue. One thing leads to another, and Steven finds out that his trip to the now-destroyed Lunar Sea Spire was a test - and a relatively easy one at that. Demanding a new challenge, the Gems create a module for Steven to avoid high-intensity dangers. As he almost finishes up, he finds out that this test was fixed, as well.

Review:

Dear Cartoon Network schedule builders, thank you for your obsession with Teen Titans Go and "The Answer". Because of that, this episode barely airs on TV. I betcha that Rebecca Sugar probably wrote several letters to this extent, and Cartoon Network simply responded by threatening to go back to the days of November 2015, when Teen Titans Go aired with a borderline illegal frequency on the network. (Yes, we get it. The award for sound design went to Rob. Please shut up.)

So, anyway, "The Test". Whereas "Warp Tour" focused more on driving the plot forward by introducing one of the show's most beloved characters (by featuring her squishing one of her robonoids), this episode focuses more on fleshing out the Crystal Gem Trio, their relationship with Steven, and how the hell they can function as guardians - especially with the specter of Rose lingering over the quartet.

Steven Universe Review: "Warp Tour" (Season 1B, Episode 11)

Whoever thought of this defense mechanism owes Brad Bird some money.

"Sneeze into your anticubital fossa!" - Pearl, giving advice that could very well screw the quartet all over. Or save them...

Airdate: January 8th, 2015
Written By: Raven Molisee and Paul Villeco.
Plot: While in transport between planets, Steven accidentally sneezes his head out of the warp. Whilst there, he catches sight of a foreign object being pulled within a warp. Pulled back in, he becomes convinced that he saw something, while the others insist that they are alone, stuck on Earth. Trying to ease his mind, they take a tour to the various other places they've traveled to in the past, eventually causing Steven to relent.

However, he overhears them reveal their true intent of the trip - just to pacify the kid - and is genuinely offended, especially at Pearl, who's been more arrogant than normal. With the trio thinking that the kid's gone nuts, an exhausted Steven is finally ready just to shut up about the whole thing when he comes across the UFO - one that takes him into the warp pad, puts him on the brink of death, and brings the Crystal Gems within inches of an alien technician...

Review:

Ah, here we are. The final part of what I consider to be the Steven Universe "Imperial Phase" trilogy.

If "Lion 3" was the bedrock for Rose to be placed on, and "Alone Together" the centerpiece for Steven and Connie to transcend notions of friendship and gender, then "Warp Tour" is the episode that formally cemented Steven Universe as a piece of dramatic science fiction - a transition that started with Lapis Lazuli's release in "Mirror Gem" - via its introduction of what would become one of the show's most beloved characters.

Steven Universe Review: "Alone Together" (Season 1B, Episode 10)

"A Gem fusing with a human being? It's impossible - or at the very least, inappropriate!" - Pearl. She probably thought the same thing way back when.

(Note: for those wondering where my review of "Warp Tour" is, I am going off of the order posted by Ian Jones-Quartey in terms of my episodic analysis. This allows for more consistent continuity in a show that thrives off of it.)

Airdate: January 15th, 2015
Written By: Katie Mitroff, Hilary Florido, Rebecca Sugar
Plot: Steven's attempts at fusing with the Crystal Gems haven't been up to snuff. After another failed round, he goes and meets Connie on the beach. There, Connie exposes her unease when it comes to dancing in public. With the two alone, they decide to dance together on the beach. One dance later, the two wake up as a teenager. A teenager. That's singular.

Review:

Y'know, I've been thinking about a witty way to start this review. It's hard, though. I mean, we're talking about "Alone Together" - an episode that manages to be both undeniably sweet and still a bit terrifying. While my last review brought up the concept of the "Steven Universe Imperial Phase", and noted that "Lion 3" was a massive step towards it by introducing Rose as a character, this episode may have very well done more to build the show's cult following than any other so far, or maybe even since.

And it all is wrapped in one of the show's central plot threads, the power of...

...fusion.

Steven Universe Review: "Lion 3: Straight to Video" (Season 1B, Episode 9)

I wonder what kind of lunch my mom would've made me? Maybe actual space cookies! (sighs) I just wish I knew a little more about her. - Steven, unaware that he said the secret phrase...

Airdate: December 4th, 2014

Written By: Joe Johnston, Jeff Liu, and Rebecca Sugar. (Yup, the creator wrote this.)

Plot: Sadie, disenchanted with the fact that her mother kept making her lunches, tosses one of them to Steven. This gets him thinking... what was his mother like? Could he get one more hit at the woman who brought him into the world? Well, thanks to Lion, he can... although it almost results in his suffocation.

Review:

You know, there is a question that often presses into my mind when I think about a certain sci-fi show... when did the Steven Universe Imperial Phase begin?

Or, rather, what is a Steven Universe Imperial Phase?

Well, to put it simply, the Imperial Phase a term Neil Tennant (of Pet Shop Boys fame) coined to note an era when a production or producer (in this case, the show) is judged to have done no harm. In the case of Steven Universe, this entails emitting critically beloved episode after critically beloved episode, being hailed as something so awesome that one has to wonder if the show is being written by super-humans.

The second question is - has it ended yet? Sure, there have been incidents in the fandom that have left them fighting off a stereotype of overzealous SJWs who constantly post on Tumblr that Hillary Clinton is the second coming of all major religious prophets combined. And of course, this could lead to a prejudice that the show is a hotbed of quasi-progressive SJW groupthink*. Still, the show's critical standing remains strong - ratings on The AV Club haven't dipped below a B yet, and "The Answer" even got nominated for an Emmy. (Then again, given that "Jurassic Bark" lost to "Three Gays of the Condo", the Emmys aren't exactly paragons of what is good.)

The third is, of course, when did it start? Opinions in the fandom in terms of "first great episode" range from "Mirror Gem" to "Jailbreak" - so, generally, Season 1B can be deciphered as the general start of the show's Renaissance.

I've mentioned this idea before - mainly concerning the two-parter "Mirror Gem/Ocean Gem". Still, I don't think we've reached that point yet. Sure, "Mirror Gem/Ocean Gem" stretched the show's boundaries from silly "monster of the week" into a myth arc that stretches through the galaxy. But after that, we had some inconsistent episodes, including two of my least favorite - "House Guest" and "Fusion Cuisine".

Personally, I don't think the Imperial Phase was truly confirmed yet with "Lion 3", but it is not only a huge step towards the start, but it served as part one of a three-part link that cemented the show's critical acclaim.

Steven Universe Review: "Watermelon Steven" (Season 1B, Episode 8)

The Cat: Think of all the glorious, beautiful, wondrous things about having children.

Lister: Like?

Cat: Like when they grow up and leave home!

- Red Dwarf, "Parallel Universe". 

Airdate: November 20th, 2014

Written By: Lamar Abrams and Hellen Jo.

Plot: Steven and Greg spend one evening holding a watermelon seed spitting contest. Steven wins by a mile. The next morning, he wakes up surrounded by a bunch of humanoid watermelons. Stunned, he learns that Rose grew plants as a form of defense. Not seeing them move, he decides to sell them. It's only thanks to Onion's daily high misdemeanor that Steven realizes that they can move. And, indeed, anybody that wrongs Steven even slightly - even lays a finger on them - faces an ass kicking. And, no, the Crystal Gems are not spared.

Review:

I seriously can't believe I have to type these words out... Steven has sired an entire species of watermelons. By spitting out seeds.

Yes. Steven is effectively a father. And God. James Kirk and Benjamin Sisko, eat your heart out - Steven has usurped both of you. One can only laugh.

How the hell do I review this? "Watermelon Steven" has one of those "high concept" plots that should make for epic episodes. Hey, characters creating species gave us "Godfellas", often considered one of the most thought provoking and best Futurama episodes of all time. The last time I reviewed something that directly dealt with God, though, it had Kirk and his friends sing "Row, Row, Row Your Boat" and Uhura fan-dancing, before they met a version of God that looked like an effect from The Wizard of Oz.

Not helping is that this episode was written by Lamar Abrams and Hellen Jo, who contributed to the relative mess that was "Fusion Cuisine". My expectations are lowered thus - if this episode turns out to be worse, I'll ask Paddy Ashdown how to best prepare a hat for consumption.

Steven Universe Review: "Garnet's Universe" (Season 1B, Episode 7)

"What did you do today?" "Tell me what you think I did." - Steven and Garnet, the latter painfully unaware of the story that she is about to hear.

Airdate: November 13th, 2014

Written By: Joe Johnston and Jeff Liu

Plot: As Garnet comes back from a mission, Steven inquires as to what she did with her time out. Garnet wonders what Steven thought she did.

Thus begins Garnet's Universe.

Warping into a goofy, cartoonish universe, Garnet meets her animal friends, Hopper (Deedee Mango-Hall) and Hoppy (Michaela Dietz). During the middle of training, the three are interrupted by a humanoid stranger, Ringo (Zach Steele), who wants revenge on the Foxman (Matthew Moy) for stealing his habitat protecting the Gem of Ultimate Power. After Garnet's first meeting with the Foxman proves less than exemplarily, she winds up training her way into higher power. However, Ringo has played a cruel trick on all of them.

Review:

Well, after the boring bit of awkwardness that was "Fusion Cuisine", I needed a bit of a cleanser to get the bad taste out of my mouth. Thankfully, we got one - and this time, we have an example of the show breaking the format while still feeling like a Steven Universe episode, and being a very good episode at that.

And, believe me. "Garnet's Universe" is, quite possibly, the single most unusual episode of the show. Which, considering what this show is about, says a lot.

Review Nebula Announcements: September 2016

Hello, everybody. With September 2016 right here, I just want to make a couple of announcements regarding what this month - and, to a lesser extent, this year - holds for The Review Nebula.

First off, let's back to the boys in the Small Rouge One.

The trailer for Red Dwarf XI came out less than a week ago - premiering on Dave and rapidly getting posted to YouTube through official and unofficial channels.

Needless to say, I was not disappointed.

Steven Universe Review: "Fusion Cuisine" (Season 1B, Episode 6)

"All comedy is derived from fear." - Garnet. It's as close to a description of this episode as I can come up with.

Airdate: November 6th, 2014

Written By: Lamar Abrams and Hellen Jo

Plot: Garnet screws up royally while on the phone with Connie's mother. Incensed, she requests to see Steven's mom and dad for dinner. Funny thing, though - Steven's mom is sorta dead, and all of the Crystal Gems have flaws that could screw up a potential dinner. Steven, however, has a trick up his sleeve - have the trio fuse into Alexandrite. Hilarity ensues... and by hilarity, I mean a dinner that makes the ones attended by Frank Reynolds look professional in comparison.

Review:

There's a thin, fine line between "characters engaging in momentary idiocy" and "characters becoming around as naive as Ralph Wiggum". Remember back when I reviewed "Keep Beach City Weird", a few days ago? Well, no need - I just reviewed it a few days ago. One of my chief complaints about that episode was that at least two of the characters were turned quite stupid in order to aid the climax - crossing the line, or at least, toeing it.

Which brings us to "Fusion Cuisine", the episode on tonight's menu.

Opinions on this episode range the gamut from "ingenious comic romp" to "waste of 11 minutes, who wrote this crap" (Lamar Abrams and Hellen Jo, for those wondering). A lot of this deals in the more "awkward" comedy found in this episode - a good chunk of it, frankly, based on the characters being dumbasses or otherwise irritating.

Steven Universe Review: "Keep Beach City Weird!" (Season 1B, Episode 5)

"Snake people, or sneeple, control our government at the highest level!" - Ronaldo Fryman. If this man took a government course in high school, he must've been very disappointed at the curriculum. Or satisfied.

Airdate: October 30th, 2014

Written By: Raven Molisee and Paul Villeco.

Plot: Steven stumbles across Ronaldo, in the hunt to validate his own conspiracy theory. He has compiled the various strange events going around across Beach City, and has come to his ultimate conclusion... the world is ruled by otherworldly snake people! Unfortunately for him, a pretty valid counterargument comes up - there are these three aliens who happen to live in the town, and get on to various misadventures. Once Steven disproves Ronaldo's theory, he suffers an emotional collapse. Steven, feeling bad, tries to fix what went wrong... only to see Ronaldo at his most insane.

Review (SPOILERS):

We all know the reason for Steven Universe's existence, right? Well, it's the result of Rebecca Sugar's deal with the Illuminati, a group of freemasons led by Preston Manning and Bill Shorten, who power the megabanks that engineered the Allen Gregory false flag, to power the sale of propane and propane accessories, all to line their pockets so that they can financially appease their sentient god, the Great Computer.

"He gets all his information on astronomy, phenomenology, and physics from a single reference book - The Junior Encyclopedia of Space. It's the only one he could find with pictures." - Queeg, Red Dwarf.

Yeah, that makes no sense, right?

Conspiracy theorists generally have stretched things really far to determine that certain world events are all part of this idea to start a new world order - whether it be the September 11th attacks, the election of Barack Obama as President, the rise of Donald Trump to the GOP nomination, even the Sandy Hook Elementary School Shootings. (Really? Arguing that an incident where children got shot was fake in your attempt to prove that the world is controlled by bankers? What the hell?)

While Steven Universe largely takes it's social commentary on a larger level (analyzing authoritarian governments and the role of "eye for an eye"), this episode decides to take a targeted look at the conspiracy theorists - what makes them tick?

Steven Universe Review: "Island Adventure" (Season 1B, Episode 4)

It could be worse. You could be trapped on a shuttle that crashed on an ice planet.

"I'm the warp master!" "That's nice, Steven." - Steven and Sadie, the latter starting to sound like she knows where her life is going, and ain't liking it.

Airdate: October 23rd, 2014

Written By: Raven Molisee and Paul Villeco

Plot: While bragging about his ability to warp to Lars and Sadie, Steven realizes that the two's relationship is down in the dumps... to say the very least. He suggests the trio go to the island that he and the Crystal Gems were on just before. Lars doesn't want to stay, but the Warp Pad goes missing, thus stranding them on the island. There, Lars's emotional defenses begin breaking down, leaving him vulnerable, and bringing him closer to Sadie.

Review (SPOILERS):

Last we left the tragic saga that was the relationship of Lars and Sadie, the former was breathing fire as a result of the latter's act of revenge. Said revenge was caused by Lars betraying Sadie's trust, after (apparently) they slept with each other. Yeah, those two get on like water and oil, and still work together. Get these two to Corrie already.

Personally, while not as interesting as the sci-fi antics of the Crystal Gems, I do like these two characters. They serve as Steven's connection to the human world that the other Gems have a tenuous grasp on. And as the Gem sphere of Steven's little life prepares to catch fire, the sparks are flying at the Big Donut.

Steven Universe Review: "Secret Team" (Season 1B, Episode 3)

Loudly shouting out "secret team" might do the exact opposite to your team, kid.

"We gotta come up with a name for our secret-keeping team. Something cool, like... a Secret Team." - Steven, showing this show's aversion to proper nouns for objects or places.

Airdate: October 16th, 2014

Written By: Hilary Florido and Katie Mitroff

Plot: Steven and Amethyst's exercise of "diving into puddles of water in the latter's room" sends them into Pearl's room. There, a series of bickering between the two gems causes a bubble (formed by Rose) full of broken gem shards to pop, letting loose a lot of limbs. Since the bubbles are stored in Garnet's room, the Gems fear death at the hands of Square Mom. Thus, the trio form an alliance - a "Secret Team", if you prefer, in order to get the gem shards back into a bubble.

Review:

Going from epic episodes to silly little quasi-vignettes appears to be par for the course for Steven Universe right now. We've had an episode about Steven lamenting the death of his mother followed by a kid who might not even be human trying to kill him over a toy, Connie and Steven taking down a robot followed by a beach party, and Steven's band trouble followed by a quartet of episodes that showed him learning that there was a lot of drama involving Gem culture. A lot of drama.

Here, after episodes focusing on Steven's father lamenting his lack of communication and Pearl's tragic desire to reach a utopia, we get... Steven forming alliances within the Crystal Gems over a popped bubble.

Epic, eh?

Steven Universe Review: "Space Race" (Season 1B, Episode 2)

"I like to dream
Yes, yes, right between my sound machine.
On a cloud of sound, I drift in the night
Any place it goes is right
Goes far, flies near
To the stars away from here..."
- "Magic Carpet Ride", Steppenwolf.

"The idea is ludicrous. It would never work - although, several humans, a monkey, and a dog did make it into space..." - Pearl, talking about building a spaceship out of spare parts... and also effectively writing every American's letter to their representative on why we should increase funding to NASA.

Airdate: October 9th, 2014

Written By: Joe Johnston and Jeff Liu

Plot: A trip to a bunch of broken warp pads leaves Pearl nostalgic for the ability for interstellar travel - particularly, the ability to know what is going on back at Homeworld. Steven and Greg are inspired to make their own silly little space shuttle. Pearl sees this, gets involved, and takes it's construction to the furthest possible limit.

Review (SPOILERS):

Three episodes ago, we watched as the world of Steven Quartz Universe went from the tiny sea town of Beach City, Delmarva, all the way into the deepest corners of outer space. So, why don't we explore these new limitations ASAP?

Yeah, funny little thing about space travel - it's rather complex and stuff. Can't slap it together. I would make a comparison to this episode, but I can't. Because this episode was put together like a Westminister Abbey model in a bottle - carefully assembled.

"Edward the Confessor himself could not have done better. Now to set the clocks to Greenwich Mean Time..."
(Unfortunately, the clocks never get adjusted properly.)