If you like this review and want to stay updated for what else I have in store, become a follower of this blog, click here to like the official Facebook page, and click here to follow me on Twitter. Now on with today's review:
Raising the
Barn
If there’s one good thing about the show taking its time to
answer big lingering questions, it’s that it gives believable insight to how
heavy things have gotten following recent events.
In addition to Steven and Connie’s fallout, a few cartoons show better
staged and more engaging after effects with this one testing the dynamic of
Peridot and Lapis.
Throughout Season 4,
it’s been pretty disappointing that they were largely out of the action and
were mostly used for light-hearted plots and comic relief. It’s even revealed here that Peridot was
spending more time comforting Lapis while Steven was on Homeworld instead of
helping the rest of the team try to get him back. For the main plot here, Lapis panicking over
the prospect of Homeworld is the main topic.
When they call Steven and he talks about his experience mainly of how he
escaped the trial held by Blue and Yellow Diamond, Lapis immediately says that
they must leave Earth.
Through it all,
it’s very apparent how Lapis is driven by her traumatic experiences when she
first arrived on Earth. She’s given the
planet a chance, and Seasons 3 and 4 have shown her legitimately enjoying its
customs as if she’s been putting her past behind her. Now it’s caught up with her and it’s enough
to make her forget the good of Earth and believe the Diamonds will come for
another rampage. It’s in her worries
that Steven gives one believable reason why he let his thoughts on Connie
prioritize over the Diamonds in the last cartoon. Since they’re looking for him on Homeworld
and don’t know he made it back to Earth, he legitimately believes they’re
safe. Peridot sides with his mindset and
is constantly pointing out reasons why they shouldn’t leave Earth mostly
regarding leaving valuable goods behind.
Lapis is constantly brushing off her concerns with harsh desperations,
but does come up with a good plan to leave while still bring everything Peridot
treasures. With her water powers, she lifts
up the entire barn to carry while she flies.
She may have a very unpleasing demeanor, but it shows she’s trying to be
good to her barn mate.
Then when Pumpkin
suddenly goes missing, time is taken to subtly hint that Peridot doesn’t want
to go. She thinks of ways to help when trouble comes and recounts her past
accomplishments. When they eventually
find Pumpkin in a field and Peridot has to pull her to join Lapis and “do
things you don’t want to do” the truth becomes known. The thing is, Peridot
believes she has no choice when dealing with Lapis.
However, when everything is all set, the
dramatic staging is at its highest when Peridot is pushed to be open with her
feelings. For all her comedic antics,
Peridot lets out a passionate speech of her devotion to her new home Earth and
how she’d rather stay and protect it than leave it behind. It’s heartfelt devotion against her eccentric
exterior, but Lapis’ bad memories don’t change her mind. She accepts Peridot’s opinion and lets her
stay, but she leaves with the entire barn in her watery grip, the music and
atmosphere selling the emotion of her departure. It’s capped off by one sad look at her
friends, showing that for her big push to get away from Earth, Lapis is going
to miss them. As for Peridot, she ends
the cartoon with believable emptiness of losing the life she’s attached herself
to as Steven sets her up in his bathroom again with nothing to
do.
Through showing how hard it is to be
honest with feelings around close ones and buildup to an emotional conclusion,
this is an impactful effect on a major character dynamic.
A
Season 4 Ranking
1. I Am My Mom
2. Storm in the Room
3. Mindful Education
4. That Will Be All
5. Steven’s Dream
6. Last One Out of Beach City
7. Are You My Dad?
8. The Zoo
9. The Good Lars
10. Gem Heist
11. Gem Harvest
12. Three Gems and a Baby
13. Adventures in Light Distortion
14. Buddy’s Book
15. Know Your Fusion
16. The New Crystal Gems
17. Lion 4: Alternate Ending
18. Doug Out
19. Kindergarten Kid
20. Room for Ruby
21. Future Boy Zoltron
22. Tiger Philanthropist
23. Rocknaldo
24. Onion Gang
Season 5 Ranking
1. The Trial
2. Off Colors
3. Stuck Together
4. Lars’ Head
5. Raising the Barn
6. Gemcation
7. Dewey Wins
The next Steven Universe review directly does something about Peridot's funk over Lapis' departure as Steven and Amethyst convince her that they can bring life back to the Gem Kindergartens.
Next time on MC Toon Reviews is "The Write Stuff" and "Racing Hearts" 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.
No comments:
Post a Comment