Why So Blue?
The prospect of more Steven Universe gave the suggestion of seeing much more of other Gems outside of the main ones. However, even in this epilogue series that’s open for more fan service, the main Crystal Gems remain the most prominently featured. That said, this series does still provide noteworthy closure for the character arcs of certain supporting Crystal Gems. One of them, the focus of this cartoon, is Lapis Lazuli, a popular Gem with a troubled past who blossomed into a true powerful force near the original series’ end. Along the way, this cartoon shows a lot of benefits of showing how she’s changed as well as where she’s come from.
In accordance with the new Gem order, she and Steven head to a planet that other Gems are destroying and terraforming. As a lyric in an earlier song suggested, it turns out that this is just what our Lapis used to do on a regular basis. These days, she’s much more appreciative of nature and organic life and would never want to destroy it. That’s only the first demonstration of her change and growth. It contrasts greatly with the true terraforming culprits, two other Lapis Lazulis who know destroying planets isn’t allowed anymore, but do it because they like it. As an aside, while these Lapises are the same, they stand out with things like physical characteristics and personalities. One is aggressive and closed-minded to finding new things to do, while the other is more innocent and open, but still follows her partner’s push for destruction.
Speaking of change, Steven and our Lapis go with a peaceful approach promoting creative forms of self-expression as substitutes for destroying. Art or meep-morp offers impressive craftsmanship our Lapis has grown to own, while the two Lapises still use it to get on with destruction.
Then after expressing through dance doesn’t work, our Lapis shows her growth in the pleasing form of song which in classic Steven Universe fashion is moving and poetic. It nicely shows where her dark past came from as well as how she’s now all about exploring what other planets have to offer. That’s a stark contrast to her other song about her past constantly holding her back, and the fact that what she’s learned is sticking now is refreshing and rewarding.
When even this doesn’t move the two Lapises from their mannerisms, our Lapis decides it’s time to get aggressive like she always planned. That quality is arguably what led to her development sticking looking back, so it’s fitting that unleashing all her water power intimidates the other Lapises to listen to her. Still, our Lapis feels that the powers she showed were not strength, but weakness as they went against things like restraint and patience. When you think about it, she kind of has a point in a time where strength is always measured physically.
In the end though, things feel accomplished when Steven openly acknowledges Lapis’ growth, and one of the two Lapises comes to enroll in Little Homeschool. That said, questions are also raised on what happened to the other Lapis, and we never see what this one does at the school later on. Also, the whole cartoon turns out to be an outlier to the rest of the series with little connection to Steven’s arc of losing his touch in helping others and questioning his purpose. I guess it counts with Lapis solving the problem instead of him, but maybe there could’ve been more focus on how he’s personally effected.
While these are
drawbacks, this cartoon is still a strong character driven work, especially for
Lapis fans.
A-
The Ranking
1. Volleyball
2. Little Homeschool
3. Bluebird
4. Why So Blue?
5. Snow Day
6. Rose Buds
7. Guidance
8. A Very Special Episode
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