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Mindful
Education
Season 4 may not have started off with a match in the tone of
the previous season’s major events, but its emotional effects do show up here,
and to great therapeutic effect too. Its
subject matter also gives development to how fusions work which can also hit
home with people of all ages watching.
The way to the greatness stems from a simple matter with Steven and
Connie preparing for sword training with Connie clearly having something on her
mind. Making this training session stand
out is that they’re learning to fight as their fusion, Stevonnie. This may not seem like too much of a break
from the norm, but at one point, the Connie part of the fusion is reminded of
something, and Stevonnie fails to strike the a blow. As it turns out, Connie is too ashamed of
accidentally attacking someone at school to give combat practice her full
attention. This is an especially big
drawback when it comes to fusing, and she and Steven learn that from the closest
Gem who’s well-versed in fusion, Garnet.
She explains to the kids that a major way for components of a fusion to
work together is to be honest and understanding of how they really feel and
confront them. Out of this comes the
therapeutic part of the cartoon which also specializes in the show’s strength
of crafting wholesome atmospheres you can’t find anywhere else. Through Stevonnie closing their eyes and
breathing, their transported to a barren yet serene version of the mindscape
with Garnet as their guide. Her lessons
are highlighted by a moving musical number “Here Comes a Thought” and
visualized by a flock of white butterflies representing problems and bad
thoughts. It’s a stunning animation
sequence as well, constructed by guest animator Takafumi Hori of Japanese Studio Trigger for that matter. Combined with the moving song, the sequence really makes its point
by connecting to a few unhealthy yet common ways problems are handled. We have Garnet’s two components dealing with
the butterflies differently. Ruby is
bothered by one while Sapphire keeps a lot of them hidden and is eventually
surrounded by them. They seem set to
fall apart because of how they react to the problems, which once happened
before. Then through opening up about them, they realize they’re here for each
other and properly confront the problems, causing the butterflies to fly
off.
This visionary way of showing
helpful advice can easily leave a strong impact on the audience. It works
for Connie as well who’s in a much better mood for the next training session having done something about injuring that kid.
However, one butterfly near Steven suggests he has some problems this time.
Considering he’s the one who felt like
keeping bad feelings hidden earlier, it leaves quite a sting when he’s reminded
of the bad things he did near the end of Season 3. It’s understandable he’d be broken up by this
too since poofing Bismuth, letting Jasper get corrupted, getting rid of Eyeball, and still not living up to his mom are pretty huge. Luckily his great relationship with Connie
wins out as she reminds him to be honest about these problems so he can move on
all while they’re falling. In the end,
for the moment at least, Steven is calm about matters enough to fuse with
Connie, and we get a serene moment of Stevonnie landing in a field.
It says a lot about Steven’s mindset with
bearing the toll of so many painful memories while trying to live a happy Earth
life. It makes you think differently of
him even when he’s just out having fun.
In fact this cartoon leaves a lot to think about with its messages,
featured relationships, and creative ways of showing them. For that, I call it one of the best.
A++
Season 4 Ranking
1. Mindful Education
2. Buddy’s Book
3. Know Your Fusion
4. Kindergarten Kid
The next Steven Universe review is on an emotional step down as it follows Steven spending the day as a future-telling robot at Funland.
Next time on MC Toon Reviews, it's "Roadie to Nowhere" and "A Fridge Too Far" from The Loud House.
If you would like to check out other Steven Universe reviews on this blog, click here for the guide made especially for them.
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