While many people call Steven Universe just another cartoon, longtime viewers know it is far more than that. Steven Universe is a generally light-hearted cartoon about a boy named Steven and his friends/family — many of whom are alien, gem-like beings aptly called "Gems." I say generally, because many of episodes have darker themes that explore harsher truths. Almost anything is fair game in this show, and it does a remarkable job of helping kids understand a scary world and helps us older people make sense of things that even we have trouble looking at. Here are just five episodes that help put our scary world in perspective.
5. Jailbreak (Season One, Episode 52)
Although LGBT+ was hinted at several times throughout season one, this is the first time it is blatantly addressed.
When Steven is kidnapped by Jasper and Peridot, two evil Gems, he escapes to find two other Gems named Ruby and Sapphire. He helps them, and when the two meet up again, they hug and kiss each other, overjoyed. Soon, the two fuse to form Garnet, a main character. Fusion is when two Gems bond together to create a new Gem which is a mix of both of their powers. While fusion is shown only a few times in season one, it represents a close friendship and is hinted to represent romantic and even sexual intimacy. When two Gems combine, their compassion for each other helps create a strong force to fight off any attackers. Garnet was only revealed to be a fusion here, and this is the first time we see fusion as a romantic gesture, and from here it is often viewed as such, as with Rainbow Quartz (Pearl and Rose Quartz's fusion) and possibly Stevonnie (Steven and Connie's fusion). Garnet then goes on to fight Jasper, using her strength from Ruby and Sapphire's love to save her friends. During this fight, one of the most well known songs, "Stronger Than You," makes it's debut.
4. Mindful Education (Season 4, Episode 107)
Another episode highlighting the aspects of fusion, Steven and Connie cannot fuse without falling apart due to Connie's guilt for accidentally hurting a classmate. Steven's advice of "not to think about" it obviously does not work, so they go to Garnet for help. In another great song ("Here Comes A Thought"), she helps Connie work through her anxiety. In a thinly veiled example of anxiety and PTSD, the advice of simply seeking out those who love you for comfort when you are panicking and scared resonates well with the audience, and they even show the harmful side effects of simply ignoring your fears and struggles, as Steven does.
3. On The Run (Season One, Episode 40)
In a surprisingly tear-jerking episode, we learn how Gems are made and about Amethyst's past. Amethyst is the class clown of the group, usually Steven's partner in crime or the one causing trouble. Up until now, she had very little character development. In this episode, she goes on a surprise road trip with Steven and takes him to Kindergarten where Gems are created when they are drilled into the ground. She becomes more and more upset as she explains that Gems originally came to Earth to take it over, harvesting resources to create Gems like herself, though she disguises it with self-deprecating jokes. She breaks down in tears, sobbing that she "didn't ask to be made or to be part of this." She tells Pearl (another Gem) "you only see me as a mistake." Many people with depression easily get distorted views of themselves and feel that others hate them for who they are, or they aren't good enough or even that they have to hide who they really are. All of Amethyst's fears are upturned when Pearl tells her nothing that happened is her fault, and the group loves her no matter what. While these fears pop up later, she overcomes them with help from her family and friends.
2. Bismuth (Season Three, Episode 98/99)
In an unexpected turn of events, a Gem that was part of the original revolution led by Rose Quartz, Steven's dead mother, is found to be alive. While this new Gem, Bismuth, does not explain why she was trapped for so long, she immediately endears herself to the group once again, even winning over Amethyst, who is suspicious. For most of the episode, it seems all well and good. But then Bismuth privately shows Steven her newest invention: the Breaking Point, capable of killing any Gem, even the almighty Diamonds, the evil rulers of the Gems. Steven objects, saying his mother wouldn't want to become like the Diamonds, who killed every single rebel except for Rose, Pearl, Garnet and Bismuth. (Amethyst was not around for the Gem revolution.) But this enrages Bismuth, who screams "what kind of soldier doesn't protect her own?!" at Steven before attempting to kill him.
Steven subdues Bismuth, who pushes the Breaking Point to her chest and begs Steven to kill her. He refuses, imprisoning her, promising to tell the Gems what really happened instead of lying and saying she was dead, as Rose did. Bismuth admits he is better than Rose, and is then imprisoned. Such a scene is unprecedented in a children's show, but it helps show the reality. Bismuth watched all her friends die, and in desperation, she sought revenge, and it took a harsh toll on her sanity. Though many children will not understand the trauma, PTSD and depression depicted, many older viewers will, and sometimes, all they need is someone to identify with.
1. Alone At Sea (Season Three, Episode 93)
This is one of the only instances we see fusion as something harmful that doesn't have be made from mutual compassion. At the end of season one, Lapis Lazuli fuses with the villainous Jasper to keep Steven safe from her and her counterpart. They form Malachite, an unstable, violent fusion that nearly destroys an island. While they are eventually separated, Lapis harbors fear over it and guilt that even after her experience, she misses Jasper. It's easy to see that this represents an abusive relationship, and for several episodes, Lapis struggles to move on, even lashing out at Steven and the redeemed Peridot who simply want to help her.
In "Alone at Sea," Steven and his father rent a boat and take Lapis sailing in order to take her mind off everything. This backfires, as Jasper ambushes them. Jasper attacks Steven and grabs Lapis, begging her to fuse again. Lapis refuses, saying she never wants to feel what she felt when they were together, despite Jasper's promises that it will be better this time. Jasper then attacks Steven in retribution, and Lapis saves him. This episode not only realistically shows an abusive relationship but the harsh and scary aftermath of one. Even after this, Lapis struggles, but instead of keeping it to herself and believing it was her fault, she asks for help from Steven, or more often, Peridot. It is implied that Peridot and Lapis with start their own relationship in the future — a far healthier one for both of them.
