Lunar Sea Spire

GC13, Sophia, and Hunter discuss Ocean Gem, the second half of Steven Universe’s mid-season finale. While we may not know much about Lapis yet, even after another full season, imagine how much worse it would have been to have the series end on Ocean Gem. Not only would we still be in the dark about a whole lot of questions we now know the answers to (especially about the homeworld), we wouldn’t have any hope of learning more about Lapis. Plus we have to call out how great the music was in this episode. Steven Universe’s music is consistently good, but this episode really had some top-grade tracks.

GC13 discusses the first episode of Steven Universe’s first mid-season pre-finale: Mirror Gem. Ah, to go back to a time when we as a fandom were so young, so innocent. “We didn’t know what we were getting into.” Or at least GC13 didn’t. But how could we have known so early? (Particularly at a time when the show was still in its monster-of-the-week phase.) There was a lot of hype building up to it, and the episode was quite worth the hype. Fans will forever remember it as the first hint of story arc the series would give us, as well as the first new Gem we’d see (if that’s not worthy of hype, then what is?).

Sophia and GC13 discuss the first episode this site was around to post about (and serious contender for Best Funny Faces): An Indirect Kiss. Which was your funny face? Steven?? Steven.? Steven!? And those are only the Connie faces. Steven and Pearl were really on their games as well. It’s alright if you can’t choose a favorite: neither can we. Story frames are fun, and so are new powers for Steven. (Don’t feel left out, Connie: magical destinies have a way of letting everyone in on the fun. Besides, eating that sandwich with so little to drink makes you a hero to us, even this early in the series.)

GC13 and Sophia discuss an old favorite: Monster Buddies. Centipuppy forever! (Eventually…) As the first episode of the (unofficial) Saliva Saga, this is the first inkling we get of Steven as a healer (though it won’t be until next week that we discuss the episode that really delves into it). It’s also a touching story of Steven making a new best friend, though unfortunately that best friend has been sitting in a bubble unmentioned for more than a season now. When could we be getting a centipeetle arc? Sure, we already have a green Crystal Gem now, but we can make this work!

Sophia, GC13, and Ken discuss the episode currently holding the show record for most characters killed off on-screen: Steven and the Stevens. Ken may not be able to get past (an alternate version of) Steven killing off so many alternate versions of himself, but if Steven and the Pompadours wasn’t going to happen, then there probably wasn’t much use in keeping the Time Thingie around anyway. With the rules for time travel presented in the first half of season one though, we have to wonder… What does the homeworld do with the other time travel artifacts that they are certain to have?

GC13, Sophia, and Hunter discuss that wacky episode: Joking Victim. It has fire breathing and a giant bowl of ice cream (but somewhere in Delmarva there’s a bigger bowl), so you know it’s going to be good. After the obligatory beating up on Lars comes a discussion of Steven Universe’s hottest tune: Do or Donut! Mr. Smiley needs to put out his next album soon, because as far as we’re concerned he’s pure gold. (If you haven’t seen the old Wendy’s training video, Hot Drinks, make sure to check it out.) Of course no one is perfect in Steven Universe (even Mayor Dewey has his flaws, however slight). Maybe Greg could help Mr. Smiley promote his hypothetical album by being his band leader…

GC13, Sophia, and Dakota (who is finally back in the real way) get back to the retro episode discussions and discuss our second fusion sighting: Coach Steven. It was a long wait over the summer for Coach Steven, but everyone agrees we got a great episode out of the deal with Nicki Minaj doing a great vocal performance for another impressive fusion. Plus: spontaneous singing. Of course if Sadie is destined to divorce Lars (as determined by Steven’s future vision), the question remains: who is right for her? Sophia is admanant that Ronaldo the Wise isn’t right for anyone, so that rather limits Sadie’s choices.

GC13 and Sophia recap #StevenBomb4. It was definitely one heck of a way to end a three-month-long hiatus, and dropped some pretty big plot bombs on us. Two Diamonds, a drawing of a third, two Pearls, many Gem silhouettes, some new Gem installations… It was very good as a late present to the fandom. It’s a lot to take in, but it sure was one heck of a ride. Where do we go from here? Onto a break, but for how long? #StevenBomb2.0 had us go on break for about a month then right back into #StevenBomb3. We’d really prefer weekly episodes, but if the new episodes are in #StevenBomb5 then we’ll be there.

GC13 and Sophia discuss the final episode of #StevenBomb4: Log Date 7 15 2. We needed an episode like this after all of the lore, good and character-focused. Sure there’s a bit of what looks like foreshadowing, but we’re here for the fun! It’s tough to pick an MVP between Opal, Camp Pining Hearts, or the great and lovable Peridot. The green Canadian flag was also interesting to see (though somehow managed to pass by without comment). So Peridot’s actions in Message Received seem a bit more reasonable to any of her doubters after the flashback episode, which lasted at the very least for weeks of time, wherein Peridot learned lessons like a reverse-Little Butler. And she’s a shipper too. Crew have mercy.

Sophia, GC13, and Ken discuss the fourth episode of #StevenBomb4: Message Received. Definitely quite a big one (in more ways than one!). Whether you think Peridot’s journey through this episode was strangely charted or not, you have to agree it took us to a very good place (both lore-wise and comically). We talk to such interesting people when Peridot is around. So we’ve finally seen a Diamond in the flesh (so to speak), and heard her speak with her own voice. I can see the stakes rising from here! Get ready fanbase, this is going to be intense! Not all of us may survive the rest of the season, but at least this podcast can’t be remotely detonated.

GC13 and Ken discuss the third episode of It Could’ve Been Great and we both agree with Peridot: it really could have been great! We’re too awestruck by Ronaldo getting two huge points correct to mention it in the podcast: the Great Diamond Authority being named just that, and the plan to (mostly) hollow out the Earth. But really, why should we be surprised that another of the prophet’s predictions has come to pass? Rose’s potential identity as Pink Diamond is still hanging in there, thanks in part to the portrait of White Diamond and another of Ronaldo’s teachings, but only time will tell who the real Pink Diamond was. The identity of Pink Diamond is certainly a big deal, whoever she is, or we probably would have seen her portrait during the episode. Tomorrow we’ll be doing a podcast about Message Received. It sounds juicy!

Ken, GC13, and Hunter discuss the second episode of #StevenBomb4: Steven’s Birthday. Join us in hopaling for more Opaling. Yes, it’s true, Amethyst and Pearl have the moves, and Pearl seems to be dancing in a more Amethyst-compatible style now. Then Garnet puts on a slow dance just for Steven and Connie? She can’t get enough of that fusion. So baby Steven is cute, and there’s a big step up in the romance between Steven and Connie. Plus: Greg is confirmed for Best Dad. We’ll continue making new episodes daily during this #StevenBomb, so make sure to check back tomorrow for our episode on It Could’ve Been Great.

Sophia, GC13, and Ken start off #StevenBomb4 with a discussion of The Answer. Well the episode certainly more than lived up to its name: not only did it bring us multiple answers (including the one it specifically references: love, but we already knew that), but it brought us plenty of questions as well. This episode has everything: war, romance, and cotton candy. And fate. And answers. Pink Diamond Theory is in an interesting place right now. It doesn’t matter how large you estimate Blue Diamond to be, she’s obviously much larger than Rose.

GC13, Sophia, and Hunter discuss the pilot episode of Steven Universe. A real blast from the past with some very different character designs, but all of the magic we’ve come to love the show for. With the hiatus finally ending it’s time to look back to where it all began. We don’t understand time travel (or hydrodynamic spatulas), but we can see what changed and what stayed the same. (And seriously, have you heard about this Lakewood Plaza Turbo thing?)

Host GC13, and contestants Ken, Sophia, and Hunter have the podcast’s first trivia night. It was a… Rough night. Thank you to everyone who submitted a question for trivia night, and thank you to everyone for being good sport! Those of you who played along: how did you do?