Even if Season 4’s quality is somewhat debated by the fandom, there can be no denying that it produced a fair share of classic Steven Universe. As I said in my last post, many TV shows wish they had a season that reached the heights of SU‘s fourth installment of episodes. There is a reason why, almost two years after the show ended, after some fans moved to other fandoms or relegated the show to the back of their minds, I remain fascinated with this series. The world has changed in quite a few ways since these episodes aired, but the relevance of the show’s themes has not died. If anything, they might be more poignant now.
And there were six episodes that I would show to demonstrate, “hey, Season 4 was still pretty damn good in the grand scheme of things!” As with the other lists, you probably know what is number one if you look at my episode rankings, and the full reviews will elaborate on my thoughts. This is just more of a summation of my thoughts on those top 6.
…well, that took me longer than I anticipated. Ain’t life weird? But I’ve finally done it – I worked my way through Season 4 of the animated sci-fi dramedy Steven Universe. And I’m not going to bury the lede any further. Season 4 is the weakest season of Steven Universe, relative to expectations.
Shocking? No. Most Steven Universe fans tend to rank either Season 1A or Season 4 as the weakest season. And this is a case where Season 1A gets the advantage of being a show trying to find itself. So that leaves Season 4 as the odd man out.
But is it bad? Oh, far from it. There are just a few things that I felt this season fell a bit short on compared to its compatriates.
Aquamarine: “Let’s get back to Homeworld already.” Jamie: “But I’m already on my home world! I haven’t even delivered all the mail today!” – Well, checks out, gotta release the mailman unless you want to secure your spot atop Steven Universe‘s Evil League of Evil.
Airdate: May 11, 2017
Written By: HIlary Florido and Paul Villeco.
Plot: Steven Universe is in crisis mode – his closest human allies have been captured by two Homeworld Gems. The Crystal Gems wind up on the offensive once again, with Steven’s two worlds crashing together in the worst way possible. However, Aquamarine’s source of information, the source for her capture list, shocks Steven to his core. And while he tries to free his friends, he finds himself contemplating a rather dramatic decision.
Review:
“…that’s exactly what she said… that’s exactly what you said. It is you; isn’t it, Rose?“
That one sentence from “Bismuth”, that moment of rage, has cast a pall over the back half of Steven Universe. It brings to mind a brutal question.
Who the hell is Steven Quartz Universe?
What is his purpose in life? A grand existential question. The grand existential question. But for our titular hero, it’s become a more pressing, urgent issue. His life, the lives of others associated with him, are now on the line. Directly tied to the Homeworld-Earth conflict or not, people are under the microscope. The sins of the mother are being paid for by the son, with interest. 80s-level interest.
Steven Universe is in deep turmoil. His childhood has been chipped away at, then smashed, and then torn to shreds. But that’s only half of the lebensraum. The other half is how he steps into adulthood, prematurely in the eyes of most viewers, but definitively.
And there are several contenders for that particular moment. There’s his comforting of Pearl at the end of “Rose’s Scabbard”, his refusal to shatter Bismuth in her titular episode, his hand being forced shortly after when ejecting Eyeball, staring down a visage of his mother and being brought to his senses, you name it. There are also contenders after this episode – finding out the truth about Rose Quartz, his later staredown with the diamonds, coming to terms with the psychological trauma that has been thrust upon him, you name it.
I can name all of those moments as milestones. But “I Am My Mom” feels particularly striking. It’s a moment of grand self-sacrifice, but one that is less heroic as much as it is tragic and haunting. Hell, it can be taken as the moment that sets the tone not just for Season 5, but for the Future miniseries. It forever shadows Steven’s character, and after a season that appeared to increase standalone outings, brings the show back to heavier serialization which it will generally carry through until the end.
So, here we are. The capper of Steven Universe Season 4.
“Don’t leave me with another enigma!” – Steven. Uh, kid? Bad news – your whole life has been nothing but a series of horrifying enigmas that are now being solved. By you. Good luck!
Airdate: May 11th, 2017
Written By: Raven Molisee and Jesse Zuke (credited as Lauren Zuke)
Plot: Something is terribly afoot in Beach City. Steven’s friends are not in their usual realms, not up to their usual goings-on. Sadie, Lars, Onion, and Jamie have vanished without a trace. On top of this, Steven encounters a mysterious, tiny blue Gem who is looking for “my dad”. He’s convinced that the two are connected. But how?
Review:
The end of Steven Universe.
It’s something that we as fans anticipated, but also dreaded to some extent. But come March 2020, the curtain fell. In fact, if one considers the original series as a separate entity, it took its bow with relatively muted warning in January 2019 – the demise was announced months after the fact, with the announcement of the Future miniseries as the apparent end of the franchise. One could feel forgiven as a fan if they felt blindsided by the show wrapping up relatively quickly. (I wasn’t, necessarily.) I know I’ll be discussing this theory and the impact the show’s cancellation had on the narrative once I reach the back half of Season 5.
But fair play to the writers, we do get clear hints that this show was reaching its denouement across Season 4. It feels like Sugar and Company were aware that the clock was running out and were at least emotionally preparing for the show to be cut down. It was guaranteed to go through at least Season 5 (as per the production order for 52 11-minute blocks), but it was nearing halftime in the away leg of the tie, so to speak.
In short, here we are. Steven finds himself routed on a path back to Homeworld. And it all starts with mass kidnapping from a new character who is about as tall as my preschool-aged nephew!
“Bingo, Bongo!” – Lars, throwing another phrase into the Steven Universe fan lexicon.
Airdate: May 10th, 2017
Written By: Colin Howard and Jeff Liu.
Plot: Lars finds himself invited to a party! Yes, an actual party! Okay, it’s more of a small potluck between a few friends, but these friends are the Cool Kids. Lars might very well have his in. But anxiety has him dead in his tracks. Steven and Sadie help him prepare for the party by assisting in the baking of an Ube roll cake. But are Lars’s psychological issues too complex for his best friends to assuage?
Review:
Lars Barriga.
Lars.
Lars, Lars, Lars, Lars… Lars…
Few characters have had their reputation so dramatically and swiftly rescued as this supporting character from Steven Universe. Those of us who remember the early days of SU fandom probably remember the icy reception that Lars generally received from fandom. He had his fans, of course, but they weren’t particularly prevalent or vocal in the broader SU community. His role as the ornery teenager to balance Steven’s boundless optimism was certainly not a bad idea, but to many fans, it came off as overbearing. Many fans argued that the show made Lars too unlikable, too much of a coward.
An attempt to rescue him came in Season 3’s “The New Lars”. Unfortunately, not only did the attempts there fail to make Lars likable – if anything, it made him even less likable and damaged the attempts to add pathos to the character – but the episode’s execution is generally considered haphazard (unintentionally portraying Steven in a less than positive light), and it rapidly gained a reputation as one of the least liked episodes of the entire series. I know, personally, the odds of me watching it again are not great.
Time was running out to salvage Lars’s reputation. If this episode – or the arc that started with this episode – fell short, one of the show’s inaugural characters, one of Rebecca Sugar’s initial creations, would be permanently condemned as the SU equivalent to Jar Jar Binks or Neelix. A character that was intended to be likable, fans instead want shot out of the canon. Our protagonist du jour was in the last chance saloon.
Thankfully, with this episode, that dubious honor effectively slips into otherhands. For friends, we have… A QUITE GOOD LARS EPISODE!
No, it’s not fighting in the top tier. However, it earns respect for being, in retrospect, the first step in transforming the character into one of the most liked supporting characters of the entire series. And when you’re gunning against Lapis Lazuli and Peridot? Well, let’s see what the Crewniverse did to get this townie to the upper echelons of the SU character rankings.
“Thunder – I wonder A storm will come one day to blow us all away Like dust on the moon. In Luna Park, it can’t be dark too soon.” – “Luna Park”, Pet Shop Boys
Airdate: May 9th, 2017
Written By: Lamar Abrams and Katie Mitroff
Plot: Doug Maheswaran is on the beat! A contract security guard, he’s investigating reports of trespassing at Beach City Funland. In a turn of events, he invites Steven and Connie onto his night shift. However, a deeper look indicates a more sinister turn of events, and Doug winds up comparing himself to his kids. But are they missing a larger mystery that could forever alter their lives?
Review:
First off, might I just say that it’s good to be back reviewing Steven Universe. It’s been a bit of a sabbatical – intentional but a bit longer than anticipated. (Let’s just say that this summer, I attempted to touch some grass. My trusty face covering and vaccine has kept me from touching COVID-Delta thus far, but it did scuttle a small vacation plan.) I really, really love writing about this show. Even a year and a half after it ended, I still think it’s one of the most fascinating animated programs of the past decade, even if I don’t find it the best overall. Even the shortcomings and “what-ifs” inspire some fascinating analysis and debate.
With that out of the way?
Mr. and Mrs. Maheswaran didn’t exactly have the best of intros, at least as far as Steven Universe characters go. And that’s both in terms of impression and episode quality.
Their first episode, “Fusion Cuisine”, had them depicted as disturbingly stern and apparently somewhat bigoted. With the specter of them bouncing around locations due to Mr. Maheswaran’s ever-changing job and the duo’s hinted stern attitudes, what followed in this episode was a rather coarse portrayal of these two characters, one that made it hard to endear the audience towards them. It also doesn’t help that this episode is disliked in certain sections of the fandom, this writer included, due to the awkward application of comedy and peculiar characterization of the core protagonists. It is one of a select few Steven Universe episodes I can go without watching ever again.
Thankfully, the writers have attempted to, at the very least, give the duo some depth, explore the methods of their madness. They succeeded, to the point where I would argue that Mr. and Mrs. Maheswaran are no longer on my shortlist of hated SU characters. “Nightmare Hospital” alone was more than enough to rescue the good doctor in my eyes, deconstructing and reconstructing her character and motives and granting a fresh start to her relationship with Connie. It’s a great episode, a rather decent reason why I consider Season 2 to be the show’s best.
Now, we get to see the aftermath. Enter one Douglas Maheswaran, in his largest role in the series, “Doug Out”. And though the episode is not exactly mingling with the emperors of the SU canon, with Doug’s zenith, the show kicks off a new storyline – one whose effects will reverberate into Season 5, and will arguably carry through the rest of the original series.
Oh, yeah. We’re getting close to the endgame, and a Maheswaran is helping us segue into Act III of Steven Universe.
“I put together the first letter of the first word of every sentence. It spells ‘ittaisiaby’. It might not sound like much, but if you rearrange those letters, it says “Bait it I say,” or “I stay a bit,” or “I bitty Asia.” … well, “I bitty Asia” could mean something. Maybe I’m supposed to go back to Asia… and bite something?” – Steven. You’re not correct on any front, but hey, I can at least give you a consolation prize – 80s rock that might be vaguely connected to something that Rose endured… or set at someone’s feet. Well, at least the song’s great.
Airdate: May 8th, 2017
Written By: Hilary Florido and Paul Villeco.
Plot:Steven’s psychological turmoil is reaching new heights as he pores over the words his late mother said. Was he just a pawn in her game? Did she intend to leave a deeper message? Well, Lion prepares to point him to at least one answer. For he spits up a key that is clearly large and pink enough to belong to one Rose Quartz. But what does the key open? And what will be revealed?
Okay, if you saw the screenshot above, it involves a tape. But for what?
Review:
Well, here we are. The last of the Lion tetralogy, with possible other “side episodes” that have Lion as a major actor. A series of episodes that stretch from the show’s earliest episodes all the way through near the end of Season 4.
How poignant, a stretch of episodes that demonstrates how the show has evolved. “Steven’s Lion” is a silly episode that only faintly hints at a larger arc, and it debut when the show was still seen as episodic and silly science fantasy. “Lion 2: The Movie” added new dimensions to the Crystal Gem arsenal and Lion’s power suite, just as the series was beginning to explore some more complex emotions and themes, with fans responding in kind and beginning to dissect the series. “Lion 3: Straight to Video” is one of the show’s most (in)famous tearjerkers, and I’ve argued that while it isn’t the moment the show grew the beard (the end of 1A), it does signal the launch of the show’s “imperial phase”, that moment when the series garnered almost universal critical acclaim and wide cultural recognition. By this point, fans were getting increasingly invested in the worldbuilding and character dynamics, and were starting to dissect Rose Quartz as a character.
And now we’re here. Season 4 of Steven Universe. The show’s reputation is not quite what it was even a year ago – still fairly strong, but cracks had formed in the fandom. Namely, the question of Rose Quartz… heroine? Antagonist? Anti-heroine? What was her goal, her endgame, her past? I can’t think of any other character in any other fandom that has divided fans to such varying degrees. Rebecca Sugar created a lightning rod, and I bet that was her intent. The character was deconstructed every which way, and every moment was interpreted time and time again.
Up to and including the famous monologue in “Lion 3: Straight to Video”. Once one of the show’s most heartsearing moments, it’s emotional MO was brought into question as time went on. However, there is a question that was left out… are we diving too deep in?
I don’t believe so. After all, great art lends itself to multiple interpretations. But “Lion 4: Alternate Ending” does help us understand that maybe what exists on the surface can be the intent or valid, even if the messenger has some suspect characteristics.
“I love the dirt!” – Navy. Well, give her a plot of land in the midwest, a couple of home decoration ideas, and some cameras; she’ll have an HGTV show up and running in four weeks.
Airdate: March 10th, 2017
Written By: Jesse Zuke (credited as Lauren Zuke) and Raven Molisee
Plot: One of the Ruby Squad that had been ejected from space falls out of the sky… straight in front of the Beach House. She so badly wants to go and join the Crystal Gems, feeling intense remorse over her treatment of Steven. For his troubles, Steven is very eager to let her be one of the gang. But while Peridot is eager to let her into the clique of Homeworld refugees, Lapis is quite a ways more skeptical.
Review:
Molisee and Zuke.
Molisee. And Zuke.
Jesse Zuke. Raven Molisee.
The former is probably the most famous, if somewhat controversial (or at least excessively maligned), writer to ever be associated with Steven Universe. The latter is one of three pens that gave the world “Rose’s Scabbard” – not just the episode that sealed my fandom, but one of my personal favorite episodes of any television show that I’ve ever seen. One is generally in tune with more relaxed and comedic episodes, albeit not exclusively so; the other helped stomp on my heart multiple times, penning some of the most acclaimed episodes ever. Conversely, one’s lightness has been accused (wrongly or otherwise) of slowing plot progression and impacting character development as per the show’s aura; the other contributed to “The New Lars” and “Horror Club”, two of my least favorite episodes of the series.
An episode penned by these two, on paper, is either going to be quite good… or we’re facing a mismatch on Two the Hard Way levels.
Thankfully, it’s the former. I quite like “Room for Ruby”; even though I wouldn’t rank it in my Top 40-something episodes, that’s partially due to sheer competition. It’s a generally charming episode with some plot progression, all topped off with some interesting insight into one of the show’s most pivotal characters – one Lapis Lazuli.
Already, given the prior two episodes focusing on more controversial characters in relatively low-stakes issues, this episode has already piqued my interest.
“It’s like the sequel nobody wanted!” – Lars. Look, I made a “Saddlesore Galactica” reference in my last review, so…
Airdate: March 3rd, 2017
Written By: Lamar Abrams and Katie Mitroff
Plot: Amethyst hangs up her belt and departs her wrestling career at the height of her power. With that, the tag team of Purple Puma and Tiger Millionaire appears to be no more. This comes to the dismay of one Lars Barriga, a mega-fan of Tiger Millionaire. Disillusioned at the fact that he upset his sorta-friend, Steven steps back into the ring as one Tiger Philanthropist. But does it appeal to the dismayed fan? Here’s a hint – no.
Review:
Well, I’ll be damned. Are we watching Steven Universe on… something of a cold streak?
Alright, that’s hyperbolic, and it’s not unprecedented. After all, “Restaurant Wars” and “The New Lars” were two low points in three episodes and that was back in Season 3. And Season 1A featured the series trying to find its feet. But I have to be honest… I think we’re in a possible low-point here. The show’s overally plot feels like it’s stalled in favor of rather light bits that feel redundants, potential threads are currently being left on the table, “Rocknaldo” was too annoying to enjoy… and this episode isn’t particularly hot, itself. “Tiger Philanthropist” is somewhat mediocre in execution. There are some mildly interesting elements when it comes to meta-commentary on characterization, but overall, it’s a rather milquetoast episode of a show that, to my eyes, rarely felt as such.
And it’s kind of odd. Because while this episode is better than several others, it also hits that weird spot. A bad episode, I can possibly tear to shreds and dissect where it comes short. And even though Steven Universe‘s bad episodes aren’t “enjoyably bad” the way other notoriously bad episodes of other shows are, they still merit quite a bit of discussion in how they fall short of the high standards this series sets.
This time around, I don’t have much to say. “Tiger Philanthropist” exists. It aired, I watched it, and now it’s time for me to review it. I guess.
And I will admit that a second viewing did make this episode somewhat more interesting. Somewhat. It’s still not what I would consider a particularly “good” Steven Universe episode, but it’s interesting enough.
“It’s not the strangest house guest we’ve had.” – Pearl. I’m going to counter that despite almost flushing herself down the bowl and almost beating Pearl up with a robot, Peridot was far saner than Ronaldo.
Airdate: February 24th, 2017
Written By: Hilary Florido and Jesse Zuke (Credited as Lauren Zuke)
Plot: Steven takes a tad bit of offense when he reads one of Ronaldo’s pamphlets concerning the Crystal Gems. Said pamphlets contain lies and libel, and Steven sets the record straight to the conspiracy theorist. Unfortunately, this backfires, as Ronaldo decides to express his remorse… by joining the Crystal Gems!
Review:
“Rocknaldo”…
…oh, “Rocknaldo”.
I don’t think any installment of Steven Universe has attracted as much vitriol from the fandom as “Rocknaldo” has. It has arguably displaced “The New Lars” as the least liked episode of the series. That outing, admittedly, has gotten some reappraisal after the start of Season 5 re-contextualized Lars’s arc. (Even my sentiment on it improved slightly over the years, albeit not quite enough to keep it out of my personal bottom tier.) “Rocknaldo”, though, hasn’t been so fortunate. It is the lowest-rated installment of the show on IMDB by a healthy margin, is probably the largest factor in Season 4 being the only season to decline in fan ratings as it progressed, and even fans tend to be sour on this episode.
But there is something, well, a bit peculiar to my eyes. In some fandoms, there are episodes whose mere mention will evoke revulsion. Speak of “Saddlesore Galactica”, “Profit and Lace”, “Threshold” or “Dimensions in Time”, and you’ll track down scores of forum posts, blogs, and videos tearing these episodes to shreds, with very few defenders to rescue them. Eventually, a broad consensus comes around to regard these episodes as warnings for future installments or fan concepts.
I don’t see that with Steven Universe in quite the same way. The most analyzed and divisive episodes tend to have as many adherents as they do detractors. The most hated episodes… well, they’re often ignored, earning mild grumblings of discomfort more than anything. And I think that’s because, at least in my opinion, Steven Universe‘s weakest episodes don’t have that enjoyability factor – the show never quite hits “so bad, it’s good”. One can find plenty to perversely laugh at regarding lizard evolution, Jockey Elves, or a Time Lord running through Albert Square*. Not so much with Lars getting spit on by society or “Onion Gang”. Steven Universe generally has a high batting average, and I would argue for my top 5 episodes of the show (all together) being among my favorite TV installments of all time. But that makes the show’s substandard outings that much more painful.
With that in mind, it is worth noting that even “Rocknaldo” has a fair few defenders, some of whom appreciate what they see as a broad and appropriate social commentary. And those defenses do have merit, not coming from an aura of contrarianism but from an analysis of the show’s themes and how reviewers see them applicable to the episode overall.
I don’t consider myself one of those defenders. “Rocknaldo” is the most irritating episode of Steven Universe I can recall.
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