Steven Universe S03E20, "Bismuth"

[kate_nepveu]

Fun fact: I have a bismuth crystal sitting on my desk in front of me.

Less fun fact: I really hate that Cartoon Network's ads contained spoilers for this episode.

Neutral fact: this was a double-length episode. Boo commercials in the middle, yay cute transition images.

Logistical fact: no episode tomorrow.

This was . . . good but not amazing? Nothing about it surprised me: obviously Rose and Bismuth had had some conflict, since Rose bubbled her and left her inside Lion, but told the rest that she'd lost her in a battle. And the militaristic emphasis that was making Steven so uncomfortable was a clear signal where the conflict had been.

There were nice character bits: the different relationships Bismuth had with Garnet and Pearl, which suggested so much history so efficiently; Amethyst's initial (understandable) insecurity and mistrust, turning into enthusiasm. And another war-era Gem refusing to believe that Steven is different from Rose . . . at first, but the ray of hope for Bismuth, and Steven, is that she eventually accepts that they are different and that Steven can and has grown beyond Rose in some aspects.

This episode confirms that bubbling is stasis, that time isn't subjectively experienced for those in a bubble, which means the solution to the Cluster is, alas, nonsensical.

And now what are they going to do about Bismuth? They shouldn't keep her in there forever; can they defeat Homeworld in a way that she'll accept as sufficient short of perma-killing?

Worldbuilding/backstory: Bismuth says Rose was made here, which I would think would be too easily-disproved a lie to bother with? Which puts a stake through the Pink Diamond theory (as does Bismuth's attitude toward upper-class gems; if Rose was originally a Diamond, I'm sure Bismuth would've mentioned it). Other gems mentioned were Snowflake, presumably an obsidian; Crazy Lace, which would be an agate; and Biggs, which has been identified elsewhere as a jasper.

Minor silly notes: the LOOK on Lion's face when Steven was pulling Bismuth out. Amethyst's pizza eating: so amazingly, hilariously gross.

Comments

[kiezh]

Gems are mortal, though. The way Ruby talked about being shattered in The Answer suggested it was routinely in use as a punishment; I doubt any gem alive during the civil war was unaware that they could be permanently killed and very likely would be if they displeased the Diamonds (Homeworld side) or were caught at all (Crystal Gems). I don't think war was a game to them at all.

It does make me wonder what, if anything, Rose and the Crystal Gems considered a sufficient offense for shattering. It wasn't something they did casually, certainly. I suspect the Diamonds' willingness to shatter their own servants was a major factor in Rose being able to assemble an army. "The people who control your entire life might kill you at any time if you make a mistake, and have killed people you know" is likely to move more people to rebellion than "the people in charge want to slaughter this other species you know nothing about and which is nothing like you."

[kate_nepveu]

Oh, absolutely, and I agree with you about the importance of the Diamonds' being willing to use it; but mortality as the default state is I think a pretty different mindset, you know?