Monday, April 29, 2019

Mindful Education (Steven Universe Season 4 Episode 4) - 'Toon Reviews 29

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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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