'Toon Reviews 15: Steven Universe Season 2 Episode 24: It Could've Been Great

It Could’ve Been Great

We’re back focusing on the Cluster after two cartoons that deviated on unrelated, yet interesting matters.  In the process, there's development to the Crystal Gems’ relationship with Peridot.  They’ve gone from rivals to reluctant allies, but allies nonetheless.  Still, it’s not clear if Peridot is really warming up, or if she’s just putting on a façade to help herself get back to Homeworld, and the events of this cartoon address this ambiguity. 

At the start, they get along fine as they put all the fun they had previously to good use when it helps them complete building the drill. 

It’s set to a happy upbeat song Steven performs that aids in Peridot’s growing understandings towards Earth when she joins in, which is especially great since it’s already pleasing to listen to.  It feels like she is a genuine friend to the main protagonists. 

Then things get interesting when they set off to get the coordinates of the Cluster for the drill to follow from a base on the moon.  The additions of the moon base demonstrate the vastness of this world shown in little moments like Steven being the only one to bounce higher since the Gems, being alien rocks, adjust easily to the gravity, as they can with any planet.  The bigger things, are first discovered when attention is brought to murals along the moon base.  They’re of beings called the Diamonds, the most powerful of all Gems others live to serve, which we’ve already gotten a look at from the sight of the Gems following Blue Diamond back in “The Answer.”  The Diamonds’ menace is felt when Peridot starts going crazy just from murals of them, especially over one of the Diamond she serves, Yellow Diamond, who was only name dropped once before.  This implies that maybe Peridot wasn’t really opening up to the Crystal Gems after all, and her loyalties are all for Homeworld. 

The feelings grow even more after they finally access the coordinates of the Cluster from a file and send them to the drill.  In that same file are plans for Earth as a Gem colony, and Peridot shows what the colony would’ve looked like.  There’s a reveal that the Gem structures on Earth seen throughout the series were part of the original colonization.  The whole colonization features even more structures across the planet, and the planet all hollowed out to allow the creations of even more Gems (Thanks Ronaldo!).  The sight of what could’ve happened to the planet they’re devoted to is frightening for the Crystal Gems, but Peridot is ecstatic, delighting in its benefits for Gems despite it wiping out all organic Earth life if it came to be.  After big objections from the Crystal Gems, Peridot fights back by saying that Earth would’ve been safer without the rebellion against Earth being a colony causing the Diamonds to create the Cluster.  This mere insult raises major tensions between the Crystal Gems and Peridot, which is a sorry sight after it seeming like they were finally on good terms. 

It does make for an interesting conflict though.  Peridot holds onto her claims that the Gem War didn’t resolve any issues, and while Earth’s life is fine and well, since Homeworld Gems keep invading and the planet's been in danger of the Cluster this whole time, maybe her statement is more valid than it sounds.  So when she leaves with a communication device from the moon base, you’re guessing if this is good or bad. It does, however, successfully get you excited for what’s to come regarding that matter.  Along with new, interesting, world-building locations, and nice uses of character, this is a great cartoon to leave you guessing things. 9.5/10

The Ranking

1. The Answer
2. Sworn to the Sword
3. Keystone Motel
4. When it Rains
5. Too Far
6. Friend Ship
7. Nightmare Hospital
8. Chille Tid
9. Cry for Help
10. Keeping it Together
11. Full Disclosure
12. It Could’ve Been Great
13. Catch and Release
14. Back to the Barn
15. Steven’s Birthday
16. We Need to Talk
17. Reformed
18. Historical Friction
19. Joy Ride
20. Say Uncle
21. Onion Friend
22. Rising Tides, Crashing Skies
23. Sadie’s Song
24. Love Letters

Be sure to stay tuned for the review of the next episode where Peridot's morality is proven once and for all when she contacts Yellow Diamond.

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