The NewDugWood Daily Titbit

artemispanthar:

OK, so VERY scattered thoughts about the ep because it was an hour long, very exciting, and I’m old and forgetful lol

I really loved this episode, it was so exciting and had such crowd-pleasing moments (all the Steven-Crystal Gem Fusions were quite a highlight for me). The callbacks to old episodes, in particular the Gems landing from a jump echoing the scene from “Serious Steven” (except this time Steven sticks the landing too!), and the opening were just so satisfying to see. Loved it!

I have to say, while I know it’s not everyone’s thing Steven’s desire and insistence on a peaceful resolution is something I really admire (easier done in cartoons, of course, but I think it’s a good instinct to instill in kids). Being able to convince Blue and Yellow of the damage they’ve done and how they too have been hurt and ultimately being able to convince White, it was really a very Steven thing to do.

I did like seeing Blue and Yellow acknowledge what they’d done in the past was bad and try to help Steven, even offering to distract White while Steven escapes with his friends.

Man, like, finding out what exactly happened to Pink Pearl, the whole puppeteering (the “white-washing”, if you will) by seeing it happen to Yellow and Blue Diamond and then the Crystal Gems was dang eerie. Like, I knew what happened was pretty chilling but it is definitely extra creepy to see it happen to character you know.

Bismuth and Lapis and Peridot swooping in as the cavalry was amazing! I can’t really elaborate on that, it was just such a heck yeah moment (love you, Bismuth!!)

Gosh, the new outfits, everyone’s new outfit!! I loved them all, Pearl’s especially, of course, because you know how much I love Pearl, but everyone looked so dang stylish and perfect. Lapis’ sweats and sandals, Peridot’s rad glasses, Garnet’s rad glasses and bi-color coattail thingies, Pearl’s jacket, Amethyst’s jean shorts. All of it perfect.

Loved loved loved seeing all the Fusions! Really just fantastic! As I’ve mentioned many many times, I’ve been dying to see if Steven and Pearl would form Rainbow Quartz and they do!! And I gotta say, I love them, so theatrical with that cool parasol. And Sunstone, man, Sunstone is just precious, exactly what I’d expect from a Steven and Garnet Fusion, a super supportive ray of near-literal sunshine (the fourth wall breaking PSA announcements were just excellent. Stay in school, kids!). Oh, and Obsidian, man, just, like, amazing. Wow.

And so I don’t forget to mention it I’ll put it here, I absolutely adored Connie in this episode. She was so supportive and strong and awesome. imo she really shined in this episode that had a heck of a lot of competition. Connie’s the best, man!

Gotta say, I knew Steven wasn’t going to die (because it’s a cartoon, you know) but seeing him get his Gem taken out was brutal. The whole scene after that, Steven growing weak, his Gem reforming into him (confirming that Steven has ALWAYS been Steven), reconnecting, the really beautiful and adorable fluid animation of them laughing and spinning around. Just, wow.

The music, gosh, the music was just stellar. A+ job by Aivi and Surasshu yet again!

That ending, though. All the corrupted Gems cured, Jasper’s back, Lars and the Off-Colors are on Earth, Steven and Greg and the Crystal Gems are one big happy family. The absolutely precious and lovely bookending sort of thing echoing the opening with them sitting on the beach just made my heart happy. I love these guys so much.

I’m gonna echo like everyone else in saying this episode really felt like a series finale. I know it’s not but it seems like it may’ve been designed to serve as one. I’m curious where the series will go from this, aside from the upcoming movie. Like, I know a lot of stuff wrapped up but I personally would be interested in seeing where all the Gems settle and how that impacts humanity. Plus, you know, I’m not ready to part with my fave precious Gem family yet. And, like, we gotta see how everyone reacts to each other, see Peridot and Lapis fuse, see how Homeworld reforms, see if they make amends for the planets they’ve disrupted, etc etc. I feel like there’s more in this show’s universe that could be explored before it’s done. But, I mean, I know that could just be my love for the show and not wanting it to end soon talkin’, but hey, I’m still curious about those things.

Anyways, I’m definitely, definitely forgetting some important stuff. This episode was so jampacked with moments and it’s really hard to think back and remember everything but man was it such an awesome ride. Love this show, love its crew, and I love all you guys, I hope you all enjoyed the episode as much as I did!