Steven Universe S03E18, "Crack the Whip"

[kate_nepveu]

"You didn't need me at all," oh no! Jasper was already pushing hard on those buttons and then--thanks to her own good advice--she is rescued instead of being the rescuer. Amethyst, take your own advice, get out of your head and stop worrying about what other people think you should be!

Jasper says she's decided to build an army; she's going all-in on the only thing she knows, fighting. Seems like more flailing for identity?

Stevonnie in combat! On Lion!

Episodes feel so inconclusive when they don't end on the star-and-black (whatever you call that).

Comments

[kiezh]

I think there's an interesting thematic thing going on with Pearl's precision-and-preparation vs Amethyst's impulsive improvisation. What I like (and it's very SU) is that they're both right - we get a lot of examples of both being necessary. So Connie and Steven benefited from Amethyst's advice to improvise, and maybe Amethyst needs a little more preparation for some fights? And to stop letting Jasper's psychological warfare get to her. (Rose said Amethyst was perfect the way she is! <3 )

Connie and Steven echo that theme, too, with Connie wanting to train and prepare for everything (I love Connie and Pearl bonding!) and Steven's spontaneity - he pretty much always does whatever seems like a good idea in the moment, and he doesn't really train for combat without social time with someone he cares about as a motivator.

Stevonnie combines both, and is very effective. So does Garnet, actually, with Sapphire's contemplation of the options and Ruby's push to go-go-go.

I'm so happy we're back to the gems and the sf plot (plus Connie!). I did not enjoy that run of Beach City episodes; I was starting to wonder what the writers were smoking and if they even realized how SU's moral center had derailed. I think The New Lars was the worst episode SU has ever aired.

[kate_nepveu]

Yes, that's nicely put. You need to have the fundamentals down so well that you can use them when you don't have time to think.

This open-ended canon thing makes me reluctant to say anything's the worst, except the Uncle Grandpa crossover since it was obviously standalone; it's still possible they can redeem "The New Lars," just really really hard.