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Together
Alone
Some might say that with Blue and Yellow Diamond helping
Steven with his cause, those dictators who destroyed planets for eons are
instantly good. However, if them and the
Crystal Gems still being on tense terms with each other wasn’t enough to
convince otherwise, this cartoon is big on the hard truth. In addition, it also starts revealing things
about what Pink’s relationship with them was like with Steven being
seen as her.
Right at the start, we get
that in an elaborate dream sequence of him having fun with her Pearl, bearing a
strong resemblance to White’s Pearl except for the color. However, after pretending to be strict and
authoritative with it when Yellow looks in, Pink Pearl is suddenly taken into
the shadows as Steven gets intimidated by White Diamond. It’s a highly creative way of showing some of
Pink’s background with Steven in her place, and more importantly the origins
White’s Pearl apart from why she’s missing an eye.
Anyway, going off of Steven’s idea at the end
of the previous cartoon, plans are soon made to arrange a ball to bring all of
Homeworld together, including White Diamond.
Blue and Yellow see this as a grand way to bring in Era 3, and Steven finds
the perfect opportunity to talk to White and get her to help cure the corrupted Gems on Earth. When arranging for the ball
though, Homeworld’s strict customs get in the way of his efforts for something
grand. In addition to his amenities
being denied, he’s only required to sit on his throne and look over
everyone. He does get close to getting
through to Yellow Pearl and Blue Pearl by playing to the things they enjoy
doing like modeling and drawing respectively.
Later on, the other Diamonds disapprove of what Steven has in
mind for the ball given that White expects perfection, suggesting that she’s
been driving their misdeeds all along.
Their biggest disapproval is directed towards the Crystal Gems. They see Pearl as a servant and nothing more
and Connie as an organic human pet which isn’t a big shock given what’s been
seen of their ways of thinking. They also make Amethyst meet a height requirement with limb enhancers and
suggest that Garnet unfuse, and don’t even consider her a Garnet. That’s the biggest sign that despite
everything, Homeworld’s biases are still intact in the Diamonds, though Steven
stands to put up with it for the sake of the corrupted Gems.
However, not only does the ball end up being
incredibly dull, but all the efforts are put to waste when White Diamond ends
up not showing up. Along with shots of
stiff mechanical dancing from the present Gems, it’s a pretty sorry sight for a
party.
It’s here though where the first
steps towards true revolution are planted.
As Steven looks depressed, Connie, proving to be far more active at a dance than before, convinces him to dance with her. As he eventually accepts the offer, they have
their fun, but accidentally fuse into Stevonnie in front of the Diamonds who
are known to detest it. This is too much
even for the other Crystal Gems as Garnet, Pearl and Amethyst fused as Opal,
and even random Gems in the crowd fuse to stand up for them. Sadly through this act, all these Gems are
poofed instantly, and while the Crystal Gems have experienced this before, it’s
kind of scary that it happens to them at once.
It’s just a good thing that future events make all of this worth
it.
For now, with the cartoon ending
with Stevonnie thrown in a tower, this turns out to be an intensely insightful cartoon of
someone used to being free living in a prejudiced world.
A+
Season 4 Ranking
- I Am My Mom
- Storm in the Room
- Mindful Education
- That Will Be All
- Steven’s Dream
- Last One Out of Beach City
- Are You My Dad?
- The Zoo
- The Good Lars
- Gem Heist
- Gem Harvest
- Three Gems and a Baby
- Adventures in Light Distortion
- Buddy’s Book
- Know Your Fusion
- The New Crystal Gems
- Lion 4: Alternate Ending
- Doug Out
- Kindergarten Kid
- Room for Ruby
- Future Boy Zoltron
- Tiger Philanthropist
- Rocknaldo
- Onion Gang
Season 5 Ranking
- Reunited
- A Single Pale Rose
- The Trial
- Jungle Moon
- Together Alone
- Off Colors
- Familiar
- Stuck Together
- The Question
- Pool Hopping
- Can’t Go Back
- Now We’re Only Falling Apart
- Legs From Here to Homeworld
- Lars’ Head
- Made of Honor
- What’s Your Problem?
- Letters to Lars
- Lars of the Stars
- Your Mother and Mine
- Raising the Barn
- Sadie Killer
- Back to the Kindergarten
- The Big Show
- Gemcation
- Kevin Party
- Dewey Wins
The next Steven Universe review shows Steven try to call for help with unexpected results.
Next time on MC Toon Reviews is Episode 71 of Animaniacs.
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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