I have two words for you: "Steven Universe." These two words have changed my life, forced me to think, threw me into a world of speculation, and broke my heart, all in one episode. All in every episode, in fact. I don't have any doubts at all when I say, in my opinion, "Steven Universe" is one of the most clever cartoons of our time. Sure, 90's kids had "Rugrats" and "Rocko's Modern Life," but what really set those cartoons apart? What made them so special that our nostalgia holds them in such high regards? Rebecca Sugar's "Steven Universe" is completely different than every 90's cartoon, and not even nostalgia can tell me that it isn't special.
First of all, look at the diversity in the show's cast. Not only are we shown multiple women, (in the forefront, I may add), but we are shown multiple races as well as multiple body types. Though the Gems, Garnet, Amethyst, Pearl and Rose Quartz, are technically the embodiment of gems from another universe, they are portrayals of different Earth women. No longer do we see only the "attractive" (read as: white and skinny) token female character - in "Steven Universe," our women run the show.
"Steven Universe" never ceases to take classic TV and fantasy tropes and turn them on their heads. One of the most notable examples is the roles of each of the Crystal Gems in a fight. The trio, with the addition of Steven, often has to engage in combat with evildoers from the Gem Homeworld. Garnet fights with a super version of brass knuckles. Amethyst fights with a gem whip. Pearl uses her speed and agility to engage in combat with a saber. Steven, on the other hand, has inherited Rose Quartz's powers of healing. He is able to heal corruptions and impurities with his saliva, and summon a shield in combat. In typical fantasy fighting media, a woman's place and role is the healer and mage. In "Steven Universe," the women have the front on the battlefield, while Steven must stay back, heal, and protect. The show does not question this role, either, as Steven is content. He is a lover, not a fighter.
Shown above: Rose's Scabbard (in Connie's possession), Amethyst's whip, Sapphire and Ruby's gloves, and Pearl's saber.
"Steven Universe" also portrays relationships in an interesting way, through the means of fusion. Gems are able to merge together to form an entirely new Gem. So far, some of the fusions we have seen are Opal (Pearl and Amethyst), Sardonyx (Pearl and Garnet), Sugilite (Amethyst and Garnet), and Rainbow Quartz (Pearl and Rose Quartz).
We have seen many portrayals of different relationships, and different reasons to form relationships. We can see the views on these relationships through the individual members of it. The audience is shown that a relationship is not simply just two people. As Garnet famously said in "Alone Together," "You are not one person. You are not two people. You are an experience." There are always good experiences and bad experiences; it is the perspective of the individual that matters.
Rebecca Sugar's "Steven Universe" has changed my life, and the lives of many. Since the main target audience of the cartoon is young children, it is incredibly important that the impressionable audience is shown that women are rough and tough, and not reduced to the background. So keep your "Ed, Edd, n Eddy," you nostalgic 90's kids! I'll continue to appreciate the cartoons of today.
