Bismuth (Steven Universe Season 3 Episode 20) - 'Toon Reviews 23

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Bismuth

You get a good feeling that this cartoon will be huge when you notice it’s longer than usual.  This proves true, as what we see shakes up this show’s aesthetic. 

For starters, inside of Lion’s mane, there’s been a single bubbled Gem.  Steven accidentally lets it loose, and it turns out to be an original Crystal Gem, Bismuth.  The mere idea of seeing an original Crystal Gem is incredibly welcome, giving a glimpse of what the team's like beyond just Garnet, Amethyst, and Pearl.  What we get from this newly introduced Gem really lives up to the promise.  From Bismuth’s interactions with the Crystal Gems she knows and those new to her, her status and group devotion is clear.  A bigger example of this is when she learns what became of the other Crystal Gems.  She’s enraged that Homeworld wiped them out, and vows to avenge them upon hearing that Gems from Homeworld keep coming back to Earth. 

In the process, we learn Bismuth’s background as she takes everyone to her forge.  It was where she built towers for Homeworld elites, but Rose Quartz inspired her to make weapons for rebels there.  It shows how prized artifacts like Rose’s famed sword came to be and demonstrates Bismuth’s great talents.  Bismuth is also good for emotional support.  When Steven explains how he’s constantly trying to be like Rose, Bismuth gives the most meaningful advice he needs about how he should be his own Gem. 

Bismuth has a lot of appeal from her established traits, but what makes her truly great is her moral compass.  At one point, Amethyst tells Steven how it’s weird that Garnet and Pearl didn’t know that Bismuth was bubbled in Lion’s mane all along.  In addition, Rose never told Amethyst about Bismuth, suggesting something’s up about her.  These points prove true after Bismuth’s talk with Steven. 

Since Steven can be his own Gem, Bismuth believes he’ll want to use a weapon Rose disapproved of.  Her idea of settling Earth’s conflict with Homeworld is with violence via her own invention, the Breaking Point.  It’s designed to shatter Gems with a single blow which Rose’s sword can’t do, and Bismuth’s original plan was to use it on the Gem leaders, the Diamonds.  Bismuth is well-intended to avenge her friends and planet while believing that only violence can resolve, meaning for all her charm, she’s still deeply misguided.

Now, since shattering a Gem basically means killing a Gem, good-natured Steven is horrified by this idea and understandably doesn't want to succumb to the dire practices of the enemy.  Refusing the Breaking Point like Rose did, Bismuth is enraged that Steven may be just like Rose after all.  As she attacks him aggressively, she calls Steven a liar, believing he’s Rose lying about her “new form” just as she lied to the others about what she did with her.  This battle is investing for how Bismuth speaks from the heart of how hurt she is by Rose’s lies as she fights.  It makes her one of the show’s most emotionally-gripping characters.  

All throughout, Steven tries to settle the matter with pacifism with a good point that no matter should be settled with violence.  This plan doesn't stick though when Steven ends up poofing her with Rose’s sword, by accident yes, but it leaves an impact since he got it out on his own accord. Before Bismuth disappears though, only a promise that he’ll tell the other Gems what happened lets her know that Steven is different from Rose after all.  While this is pretty emotional, it's also fascinating that this is all she needs for relief.  The last scene where everyone decides to put Bismuth with the other bubbled Gems brings a somber tone with the truth of who seemed like a great Gem now known.  Their stance on this decision would change in time though, especially with the fact that Rose’s morals were questionable becoming more apparent from here. 

As a longer cartoon, this is very outstanding and thought-provoking.  Through the usual strong play on emotions and reveals of complexities for characters old and new, it’s a deep, poignant, greatly-staged animated work.

A+

The Ranking

1. Mr. Greg
2. Bismuth
3. Monster Reunion
4. Crack the Whip
5. Gem Hunt
6. Greg the Babysitter
7. Alone at Sea
8. Gem Drill
9. Super Watermelon Island
10. Too Short to Ride
11. Beach City Drift
12. Steven vs Amethyst
13. Barn Mates
14. Hit the Diamond
15. Same Old World
16. Kiki’s Pizza Delivery Service
17. Steven Floats
18. Restaurant Wars
19. The New Lars
20. Drop Beat Dad

Be sure to stay tuned for the review of the next episode that mostly exists to just introduce Lapis and Peridot's general life together as well as Jasper's origin place, the Beta Kindergarten.

If you would like to check out other Steven Universe reviews on this blog, click here for the guide made especially for them.