Monster Reunion (Steven Universe Season 3 Episode 14) - 'Toon Reviews 23

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Monster Reunion

At first, it may seem jarring that we go from light-hearted fun cartoons to cartoons all about Gem lore filled with promise for things to come.  However, the way the tone shifts is ingenious and the lore that follows is great expansion on everything we know. 

We start with Steven doing playing with his favorite bear toy, MC Bear-Bear.  Then, his simple gesture of noticing the bear has a tear and kissing it while promising to fix it, magically heals the tear. A big moment of lore that shapes events to come for the season has come from a simple moment fitting for the current stretch of light-hearted cartoons.   In other words, Steven has regained his special healing spit lost way back under the influence of his dad’s lie.  Some could say that this happening now is convenient, but Steven’s powers have always worked when he showed genuine love for people and things in life. Him caring for his toy bringing this power continues the trend. 

Because of the return of his healing powers, Steven convinces the Crystal Gems to have him try to heal the Gems turned into monsters during the Gem War.  The chosen monster is the first one ever seen in the series and the only one so far Steven has some sort of connection with, Centipeetle.  While Steven’s healing spit does help Centipeetle regain her arms and legs, it doesn’t completely work as she still has a monster-like face and can’t talk.  This leads to huge insights on what’s up with the monsters.  It was mentioned before that the monsters used to be humanoid Gems who became “corrupted and broken.”  At the time, it felt like they meant the same thing even though they were different words.  However, the meaning of the description turned out to be purposefully vague so Steven could get a clearer meaning based on his attempt.  Broken Gems are those with a crack on their gemstones such as those he’s previously healed.  Corrupted Gems are much different.  Their minds became damaged by the Diamonds during the Gem War. 

The reveal of the fascinating information continues when Steven decides to take Centipeetle in since his healing worked part of the way.  She doesn’t seem to remember him, but charming interactions get her to realize her bond from Steven humming the jingle of her favorite chips to communicating with crayon drawings. 

Actually, the use of crayons turns out to be a great and unique way to explain heavy Gem history.  Simple stick figures reveal Centipeetle’s background such as how she was a commander with her own army. She also makes for an effective use out of her simple drawings which depict the Gem War.  Crew members getting crossed out represent those killed in battle.  Ripping a drawing of her and her crew represents how she got separated.  Finally, a big white scribble represents the flashing light that corrupted her and many other Gems who were left behind.  The light was seen in full form in an earlier cartoon, but while these are mere crayon drawings, it’s put into context better here.  It’s a move so primitive revealing huge information, yet it still brings an emotional response. 

While you’re taking in the details of the Gem War’s effects, emotions still ride high as the memory causes Centipeetle to turn back into a monster as she tries to find her old crew.  The reverting goes so fast that it’s a mad dash to get to her old ship.  They eventually make it just as Centipeetle completely reverts, so she ultimately remains a monster and forgets her identity. It’s at least heartwarming that she’s reunited with her crew who are also monsters. 

Through a simple moment of leisure, Gem lore is greatly welcomed back to the forefront in this cartoon. Here though, it stands out for the interesting expansions on what’s known, creative ways of showing it, and especially stronger endearment for the monster characters.

A+

The Ranking

1. Mr. Greg
2. Monster Reunion
3. Gem Drill
4. Super Watermelon Island
5. Too Short to Ride
6. Beach City Drift
7. Barn Mates
8. Hit the Diamond
9. Same Old World
10. Kiki’s Pizza Delivery Service
11. Steven Floats
12. Restaurant Wars
13. The New Lars
14. Drop Beat Dad

Be sure to stay tuned for the review of the next episode where another big Gem lore element is set up for expansion in the rest of the season as Steven and Greg take Lapis for a boat ride.

If you would like to check out other Steven Universe reviews on this blog, click here for the guide made especially for them.

Too Short to Ride (Steven Universe Season 3 Episode 9) - 'Toon Reviews 23

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:

Too Short to Ride

The abilities of Gems are some of the most noteworthy pieces of this show’s lore, and this cartoon shows that they’re the kind you wish you could have. 

The principal characters are the ever short Steven, Amethyst, and Peridot without her limb enhancers.  This team-up is a fitting not just because they’re all small, but they’re the characters Peridot has the best relationship with.  Befriending Steven is a given considering his friendly nature, as shown in the beginning when he offers Peridot a tablet whose features make up for her lost finger screens.  Amethyst, on the other hand, has a previously established connection with Peridot who held her in highest regard based on the customs of Homeworld she used to follow.  Now they have more legit bond as Amethyst invites Peridot to join her and Steven at Beach City’s amusement park Funland. 

Before, Funland was a backdrop for a few mostly lesser cartoons, but for what it brings for the characters, this cartoon is the best use of the location.  The time at Funland is enhanced by the special Gem abilities, at least from two of the three characters.  The ability on display is shapeshifting, something Amethyst does a lot, and it’s what helps her and Steven enjoy themselves. They stretch themselves to be tall enough to ride a roller coaster, enjoy funhouse mirrors, and win a rigged ring toss. 

As for Peridot, something’s clearly up with her when she doesn’t come along and shapeshift with Steven and Amethyst, especially since we’ve been led to believe that all Gems can do it.  She stands around and uses her new tablet until the sight of a big alien doll as a prize at the ring toss convinces her to join the fun.  When Amethyst’s shapeshifting landing one ring isn’t enough for the doll, the truth comes out that Peridot is so negative about shapeshifting because she can’t do it herself.  Her depressed way of admitting this is an interesting change of pace.  Peridot mostly makes herself look like the best and smartest Gem of all, but lamenting about what she can’t do makes her feel the opposite way, making herself better-rounded. 

Following some enjoyable attempts to help Peridot shapeshift, there’s interesting depth to why she can’t do it that also adds to the lore and history of the show.  Relating to the need for Gem colonies, resources on Homeworld are dwindling, so when Peridot was created for the second era of Gems, she didn’t come with shapeshifting.  This small tidbit alone makes the cartoon stand out.  We didn’t have to go this deep with Peridot’s inability, but we did, and it says a lot about her and Homeworld. 

Through it all, Amethyst is mature and tries to get it through Peridot that she’s fine the way she is.  However, when she takes Peridot’s tablet and throws it away, Peridot ends up saving it by controlling the metal it’s made of.  There’s something inspiring about this where you might not be able to do one thing, but you can still surprise yourself with a new great ability.  Would it have been stronger if Peridot ended the cartoon fine with who she is without discovering she has this power?  Yes, but since controlling metal is much like how she controlled her old limb enhancers and we continue to see this ability, the ending works as it is. 

That’s not even accounting for that adorable hug when Peridot finally wins that alien. 

The cartoon turns out to be a great one to develop Peridot’s character and the nature of this show all unfolding in a place as fun as an amusement park called Funland.

A

The Ranking

1. Mr. Greg
2. Gem Drill
3. Super Watermelon Island
4. Too Short to Ride
5. Barn Mates
6. Hit the Diamond
7. Same Old World
8. Steven Floats
9. Drop Beat Dad

The next Steven Universe review gets a little disturbing when Steven helps Lars be a better person by taking over his body.

Next time on MC Toon Reviews is Animaniacs Episode 42.

If you would like to check out other Steven Universe reviews on this blog, click here for the guide made especially for them.

'Toon Reviews 15: Steven Universe Season 2 Episode 18: Catch and Release

Catch and Release

This is where Peridot officially becomes a profound addition to the cast with new depths to her character and major reveals for what’s to come. 

Bringing on Peridot’s great display of character is the turning point of the Crystal Gems’ attempts to catch her.  When she captures Steven to make him repair the galaxy warp so she can finally escape Earth, she laments about how the planet is going to face destruction with little to no menace, further showing that there’s more to her than a simple antagonist.  As her frets about Earth raise questions, the Crystal Gems save Steven and promptly poof and bubble Peridot away, not bothering to listen to what she has to say. 

Even without Peridot’s meaning for panic, the moment still brings interesting information about her.  When she’s poofed, her limbs don’t poof back to her gemstone with the rest of her body.  They’ve always looked artificial from the beginning yet added to the overall mystery of Peridot, and the Crystal Gems retrieving her foot back in “Friend Ship” gave an impression that her limbs were fake.  I find this reveal fascinating for showing that, in addition to getting easily annoyed and scared, Peridot needing artificial arms and legs, i.e. limb enhancers, shows that there truly is humanity within her villainous exterior. 

What’s even better is that while the Crystal Gems don’t see it, Steven does, so he releases her from her bubble to find the reasons for her being worried about Earth and why she said the Crystal Gems need her.  As he tries to talk to Peridot, we see how much of an outsider she is to this planet, not just that she’s from Homeworld.  For how smart and collected she was in many appearances, she doesn’t have a good understanding of the simplest of things, like how simply slapping others can bring them pain.  Considering how much trouble the Crystal Gems have given her, of course she’d feel like inflicting a lot of it, and it’s a funny to see her act like she’s getting the upper hand by simply slapping Steven. 

It’s through this comedic interaction that Steven gets some information Peridot is withholding, namely what she was really sent to Earth for.  Rather than conquering the planet for Homeworld, she was simply coming to check progress on something called the Cluster.  This was something she only mentioned in passing back in “Jailbreak” leaving one to wonder what she was talking about.  Now it’s known by the main protagonists, and Peridot is terrified of it eventually emerging and destroying the planet she’s stuck on.  However, learning more about the Cluster is difficult as we see in even more hilarious moments of Peridot’s lack of knowledge of Earth as she refuses to tell the Crystal Gems anything, culminating in her locking herself in the bathroom. 

This is easily where her outsider nature is at its most interesting and entertaining with memorable moments of her trying to escape by flushing herself down the toilet, and thinking harmless bathroom objects are weapons. 

As enjoyable as she is and as insightful her reveals are, what makes everything work is the payoff.  After tense confrontations with all the Crystal Gems, Peridot opens up to Steven and lets him in the bathroom after he offers the foot they caught from her as a peace offering.  The cartoon ends when Peridot accepts Steven’s help to stop the Cluster, leading to something to look forward to in other cartoons. 

Even if this cartoon exists to lead into the bigger things, it’s still notable for its promise, and the last scene of Peridot warming up to Steven solidifies the appeal.  Along with the first bits of her greatness as a character and memorable moments from everyone else involved, this is a great start to a new beginning for the series. 9.5/10

The Ranking

1. Sworn to the Sword
2. Keystone Motel
3. Friend Ship
4. Nightmare Hospital
5. Chille Tid
6. Cry for Help
7. Keeping it Together
8. Full Disclosure
9. Catch and Release
10. We Need to Talk
11. Reformed
12. Historical Friction
13. Joy Ride
14. Say Uncle
15. Onion Friend
16. Rising Tides, Crashing Skies
17. Sadie’s Song
18. Love Letters

The next Steven Universe review will cover a more endearing take on Peridot learning about what Earth has to offer, including things as simple as rain.

Next time on MC Toon Reviews, we'll start a new set of reviews. For the first time on this blog, we'll be covering Rocko's Modern Life.

If you want to stay updated for more reviews, become a follower of this blog, click here to like the official Facebook page, and click here to follow me on Twitter.

If you would like to check out other Steven Universe reviews on this blog, click here for the guide made especially for them.

'Toon Reviews 15: Steven Universe Season 2 Episode 5: Reformed

Reformed

One of the most interesting thing about Gems is how they don’t apply to things that destroy humans and other mortals like aging and getting hurt, so long as the pain is on their bodies and never their gemstones.  On the subject of getting hurt, their response is to poof into the physical gem that projects their appearances and spend as much time as they need to fix their bodies sometimes with new features.  This is one of the most creative approaches towards life for Gems, so it’s completely welcome to see cartoons dedicated to this concept. 

So far, we’ve seen Pearl reform after getting her body damaged, and Garnet got a slightly new appearance when Ruby and Sapphire reformed.  In this cartoon, Amethyst, the most slobby and accident-prone Crystal Gem, goes through the reform motions.  It happens when a corrupted Gem simply known as a “Slinker” gets loose in the temple, and Steven and Amethyst join Garnet to try and catch it in Amethyst’s room.  Every time they come across the Slinker, it attacks Amethyst so hard, she poofs to her gem, forcing herself to reform.  However, since she’s not as patient as other Gems, she comes back from her reforms very quickly.  As a result, her appearances are very ridiculous and provide very little productivity. 

When you take the task out of consideration, there’s some mild enjoyment out of the many reforms Amethyst takes on.  One has all her limbs become feet, one has her look as much like Pearl as she can, and one is unsustainable with all limbs varying in size.  They’re visually appealing in their own way and fascinate with how Gems are able to go this far when altering their forms. 

The big thing to take from all these forms is how they have an effect on Amethyst’s general character.  She’s been a reckless, easygoing troublemaker from the beginning, and has the added baggage of her creation being part of Homeworld’s devastation on Earth which makes her easily agitated when others judge her.  For this cartoon, she feels especially agitated whenever Garnet criticizes how she reforms, and when Steven keeps pestering her to take an online quiz, some questions relating to her internal trauma.  At times, all these characters can get overbearing with their drawbacks, especially Amethyst’s tense responses to judgements and the fact that talking about the quiz and freaking out at Amethyst getting poofed being all Steven does here, but they do their part to move the conflict along. 

In the end, it becomes clear to everyone that Amethyst keeps changing her form because she wants everyone to think well of her, even if what she wants to be is something she has to figure out herself.  During another Slinker attack, she gets poofed just as Steven discovers she doesn’t WANT to think about herself.  This only makes the following scene where she finally reforms with a perfectly suitable design, which is basically a modified version of her old form, an appropriate and pleasing end to her conflict where she satisfies her peers, and herself. 

It is concerning that we never see what happens with the Slinker afterwards, but since there are so many strong points to the cartoon already, this factor doesn’t have a huge effect.  It’s still a solid watch with further looks into Amethyst’s character, and one of the most creative aspects of Gems. 9/10

The Ranking

1. Full Disclosure
2. Reformed
3. Joy Ride
4. Say Uncle
5. Love Letters

The next Steven Universe review will be on one of the most beautifully crafted cartoons of the series with a new beginning for Steven's friend Connie, Pearl character development, a beautiful song, and an adorable friendship at the center.

Next time on MC Toon Reviews is Hey Arnold Season 3 Episode 5 featuring "Helga Blabs it All" and "Harold the Butcher."

If you want to stay updated for more reviews, become a follower of this blog, click here to like the official Facebook page, and click here to follow me on Twitter.

If you would like to check out other Steven Universe reviews on this blog, click here for the guide made especially for them.

'Toon Reviews 6: Steven Universe Season 1 Episode 51

The Return

With this penultimate cartoon comes the inevitable arrival of Homeworld Gems on Earth, and once their ship in the form of a giant green hand is spotted coming in, we’re in for some nonstop excitement that lasts for the entire runtime.  Usually, it takes the entire first half of a story to build up intensity, but here, we see how big the invasion’s threat is in a short span of time when nothing, not even a laser light cannon, can stop the ship, which forces all of Bach City to evacuate.  Even Steven has to evacuate with the residents while the Crystal Gems stay behind to face the invaders.  While this seems to undermine the Gems being aware of Steven’s apparent growth, it’s great that they genuinely want to protect him and that their actions lead to a major information reveal.  We already know that the Crystal Gems started a war against Homeworld who were destroying Earth by making new Gems in Kindergartens, but during the evacuation, Greg reluctantly reveals the depths of the Crystal Gems.  Apparently, they were going along with Homeworld’s horrible plans for Earth and rebelled when Rose Quartz couldn’t stand the heinous act anymore meaning that the Crystal Gems are seen as traitors to Homeworld which increases the threat at hand.  It’s also revealed that it was Rose’s shield that saved the Crystal Gems still around today.  Since Steven is the only one who can access her shield, he takes it upon himself to bravely go back and help, but not before Greg tells him to not make him run out of family which speaks volumes of how much his son means to him.  The biggest moment comes in when Steven arrives just in time for the Crystal Gems to face the Homeworld Gems.  As was revealed in “The Message,” Peridot has backup with her with Lapis as her informant, placing her back in the planet she was imprisoned on for so long, and a newly revealed Gem, Jasper, easily the most brutish and threatening Homeworld Gem seen so far.  It’s easy to see the moment she looks over the opponents Peridot claims keep destroying her things.  Even when Jasper sees them as no real threat, dropping spiteful descriptions that speak a lot on how their status is viewed, she still orders them to be destroyed.  Her threat gets even stronger after Steven protects the Crystal Gems by summoning his shield, and Jasper sees him as Rose Quartz because of this.  She ends the cartoon in a brutal manner by shooting down the intended mission despite Peridot’s resistance, uses a weapon called a Gem Destabilizer to reduce the mighty Garnet down to the two gemstones projecting her body, and at the very end, knocks Steven out with the intent of bringing “Rose Quartz” to Homeworld to pay for her crimes.  It’s been foreshadowed frequently that the Homeworld Gems would be a serious threat, and here, all that was heard really delivers.  It all unfolds in a story with big reveals, character development, and suspense that builds all throughout and straight into the next and last cartoon of the season. 10/10

The Ranking

1. Rose’s Scabbard
2. Ocean Gem
3. The Return
4. Lion 3: Straight to Video
5. Alone Together
6. Coach Steven
7. On the Run
8. Story for Steven
9. Maximum Capacity
10. Mirror Gem
11. An Indirect Kiss
12. Space Race
13. So Many Birthdays
14. Steven the Sword Fighter
15. Lion 2: The Movie
16. Bubble Buddies
17. Monster Buddies
18. Laser Light Cannon
19. Winter Forecast
20. Giant Woman
21. Lars and the Cool Kids
22. The Test
23. The Message
24. Steven’s Lion
25. Horror Club
26. Watermelon Steven
27. Gem Glow
28. Steven and the Stevens
29. Marble Madness
30. Warp Tour
31. Open Book
32. Island Adventure
33. Rose’s Room
34. Cheeseburger Backpack
35. Future Vision
36. Political Power
37. Secret Team
38. House Guest
39. Serious Steven
40. Joking Victim
41. Beach Party
42. Cat Fingers
43. Tiger Millionaire
44. Together Breakfast
45. Fusion Cuisine
46. Frybo
47. Shirt Club
48. Onion Trade
49. Arcade Mania
50. Garnet’s Universe
51. Keep Beach City Weird

Be sure to stay tuned for the review of the last episode of the season, the thrilling and revealing conclusion, "Jailbreak."

If you would like to check out other reviews on this blog, click here for the guide to all the reviews posted so far.