Thursday, May 10, 2018

'Toon Reviews 15: Steven Universe Season 2 Episode 3: Say Uncle


Say Uncle










This cartoon has an interesting background.  It’s a crossover with another Cartoon Network show, Uncle Grandpa. I’ve never seen it, but just from images of that show, it’s clear this is very different from Steven Universe.  While the main show is wholesome and fantasy-driven, Uncle Grandpa feels like it’s all random craziness without a point to anything.  Putting these shows together does not feel like a good combination, but for what we have, it’s a pretty entertaining break from the norm. The whole cartoon is meant to be taken as a joke right down to saying that what happens isn’t canon, so you can easily enjoy the craziness. 
The crossover happens as Steven tries to use his gem to activate his shield.  Him activating his shield during two of the show’s biggest events shouldn’t make this action that hard at this point, but with the cartoon not being canon, it’s acceptable that this is the moment that brings on Uncle Grandpa.  He has potential as a great comedic character with his creative entrance, visual gags, and how he light-heartedly approaches Steven’s problem.  However, he has an annoying voice and his attempts to help Steven are ineffective and dangerous.  He’s all right for a short one-off appearance, but not a whole show, so this cartoon doesn't make me interested to check the show out. 
While he’s mildly amusing here, the cartoon really picks up in entertainment when the Crystal Gems get involved.  Their confused reactions to Uncle Grandpa’s antics and panic when he comes close to hurting Steven each have their touch of hilarity, especially Pearl’s who is more prone to outbursts than usual.  The Crystal Gems’ role also moves the plot forward when they come to the conclusion that Uncle Grandpa must be destroyed, and when he and Steven run away and bring out something called a “plot hole,” the further moments of the cartoon are divided amongst the characters. 
The moments of Steven and Uncle Grandpa exploring the Uncle Grandpa Recreation Vehicle are fun in their own right, but end up going nowhere.  Even when we get somewhere about Steven’s shield problem, it stops to crack an unneeded joke.  As for the Crystal Gems stuck in a barren white area, this moment is much more humorously entertaining through Pearl freaking out and running around because of the situation, Amethyst eating Pizza Steve who casually walks in, and Garnet simply getting them out with a single stomp.  They have stronger displays of character and actually lead to something. 
Just as they’re about to attack Uncle Grandpa again, Steven finally summons his shield to protect him due to his strong emotional connection to him, just like the other times this happened.  Out of this we do get a message on how you should listen to people you don’t understand instead of attacking them.  Now, it makes sense to get to know others before deciding you don’t like them, but the message’s execution makes it feel like you should listen to all people you don’t understand even if they’re dangerous.  That alone weakens its power, but I can’t complain too much since this cartoon is mostly a joke. 

Speaking of joke, we close with the most unique joke of the crossover as Uncle Grandpa checks Steven off a list of other Cartoon Network kids, sure to elicit nostalgia and cleverness of bringing all shows of this network together. 
This cartoon may not be required to view at all, but as a non-canon cartoon, it’s worthy of a watch if you’re in the mood for a laugh. 9/10
The Ranking
  1. Full Disclosure
  2. Joy Ride
  3. Say Uncle
The next Steven Universe review covers a cartoon highlighting Garnet's status as a fusion made of love in which Jamie the mailman falls in love with her...or so he thinks.
Next time on MC Toon Reviews, we'll be covering Hey Arnold Season 3 Episode 3.

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