So after doing three reviews, Storm In the Room, Rocknaldo, and Tiger Philanthropist, and since it is the Month of Bismuth, (lol)
I thought it would be best to review the first half and hour special, and 100th, (99th) episode of Steven Universe.
I would say that it's kind of cliche to do this, but I haven't actually seen an in-depth review of the titular episode, so let's just jump right into it.
NOTE: I ONLY FINISHED THIS BECAUSE I WANTED TO PRETEND IT'S STILL THE MONTH OF BISMUTH
Plot
(Taken from the Steven Universe Wikia to prevent bias and human error)
Steven is playing a video game while the Gems watch and encourage him. They are interrupted by Lion chewing on one of Steven's shirts. Steven retrieves the shirt from Lion's mouth, and puts it on his drawers, stating about his memories in Funland's Thunder Bird Coaster. Lion starts becoming persistent and continues stealing and chewing the shirt. Steven reaches a decision to put the shirt in Lion's mane so that he can no longer chew it. He puts the shirt on one of the branches of the tree in Lion's dimension, believing it will be safe hanging on the stable tree. Suddenly, the branch breaks and Steven accidentally pops a bubble containing a gemstone and falls out of Lion's mane.
In an attempt to fix the situation, Steven re-enters Lion's mane to try and bubble the gem, but before he gets the chance to, the Gem reforms, recedes in fear like she is in a battle, and sees that there is no one there except Steven. They stare at each other for some time before Steven gets out of Lion's mane. Steven reports to Garnet, Amethyst, and Pearl that there is another Gem inside of Lion's mane. Steven explains her appearance until Garnet requests he bring her out. When Steven enters Lion's mane one last time, the giant Gem appears and tells Steven that they are both alone in some place and that he must help her find a way out. Steven holds out his hand and brings the Gem out.
The Gems look at her and Amethyst says "Wow, a total stranger!" Pearl suddenly cries and runs towards the Gem yelling "Bismuth!", the strange Gem hugs Pearl and says that the Pearl she knew would never come for a hug. She asks whether someone lost one and asks her to whom she belongs to in a friendly yet sarcastic way, and Pearl responds "Nobody!" in a way that suggests it is a friendly dialog they used to share. Garnet reveals to Steven and Amethyst that her name is Bismuth and that she was one of the original Crystal Gems. Bismuth acts very friendly with Garnet and Pearl because she knew them during the war. She greets Amethyst and is surprised to learn that Rose has become Steven. Bismuth points out several things about their new base, such as it being made with wood. Bismuth asks where the other Crystal Gems are and her question is answered shortly in the Strawberry Battlefield.
Garnet and Pearl explain the outcome of the Rebellion to her, prompting her to cry when she realizes many of the Gems she fought beside are gone. She releases her anger and throws an axe towards the ground, believing that she could have stopped the Homeworld Gems if she was around. The others reveal to her that Homeworld Gems still want to take Earth, and Bismuth relishes the opportunity to fight them again. Bismuth decides to take them to the Forge.
The Crystal Gems warp near an active volcano and Bismuth leads them to the entrance of the forge. They go inside where Bismuth begins forging a sword. As Steven watches, Bismuth explains to him that she made all of the material weapons for the Crystal Gems here. She then gives enhancements to Garnet's and Pearl's weapons. As Bismuth talks with them, Amethyst expresses her suspicions to Steven, wondering why the other Gems had never mentioned Bismuth to her before. Bismuth approaches them, asking what weapon Amethyst uses. She gives Bismuth her whip, who upgrades it with an enhancement before handing it back to a surprised and delighted Amethyst.
Later, Bismuth, Garnet, Amethyst, and Pearl are seen sparring on the beach while Steven watches. Bismuth asks Steven to in, explaining to him that it is a ritual of the Crystal Gems to spar before battle. Steven replies by saying that it is too intense for him, and he then shows Bismuth some of his rituals. The Crystal Gems play bton, cards, make and eat pizza, and watch a Lonely Blade movie. At night, Steven tells Bismuth she can sleep in the Beach House if she wants to. Bismuth tells him she is glad to have another chance and asks him if he will show her his combat skills tomorrow. Steven its that most of his weapons are for defense except for Rose's sword, which he pulls out of Lion's mane. He hands the sword to Bismuth who reveals to him that she had made it. She explains to him how Rose had changed her life, and Steven responds by expressing his concern that he will never be able to measure up to his mom. Bismuth comforts him by telling him that he is different, which makes her consider giving him a weapon of his own.
Later, Bismuth takes Steven back to the Forge to show him the Breaking Point, a weapon that shatters Gems on impact. Steven finds out that Bismuth was bubbled inside Lion because she was going to try to shatter Homeworld Gems with the Breaking Point. It is revealed that Rose did not think it was right, and she had ended up bubbling Bismuth and lying to the other Crystal Gems that she had went missing in battle. Steven shows the same point of view, and this angers Bismuth, who thinks that he lied about being a different person from Rose. A showdown ensues between Steven and Bismuth. She accuses Rose of valuing her enemies' gems more than her own army. Bismuth claims that she could have ended Homeworld's tyranny, shattered the Diamonds with the Breaking Point, and liberated everyone.
Steven manages to subdue her for a moment by throwing a statue at her and tells her that this has to stop. Bismuth yells at him to just shatter her, but Steven refuses. He states that even if they do not agree, no one deserves to be shattered. Bismuth takes the Breaking Point from him and raises it, but Steven is quick to grab his sword and jab it through Bismuth. Bismuth tells Steven (Rose) that she should have shattered her before so that she would not have to know how little she mattered to her. Steven promises to tell the others about what happened to her, and Bismuth bitterly laughs, stating that he "really is better than her," and finally poofs. After Steven tells them everything, the Crystal Gems put Bismuth's bubble in the Burning Room. They meet Steven outside on the deck, and the episode ends.
Personal Review
When I first saw this episode. I really liked it. Bismuth was an amazing character that I loved, and the moral dilemma shown here is easily one of the best things the show has ever covered.
That was my opinion then, now?
Well when I first saw it, I thought it was great, but there were many more great episodes.
Now, I do believe it's one of the greatest episode the show has ever turned out.
Everything about this episode is absolutely perfect. There was no song, but there doesn't need to be. This episode was delightfully dark, and easily one of the most tense moments in the show to date, and I want to explain why it is one of the greatest pieces of animation Cartoon Network has ever put out.
(For a 22 minutes episode, this is an extremely short plot. Taken from the Steven Universe Wikia)
Bismuth
Why not start of this review with discussing the character the episode is based around?
I could go on about the moral dilemma that she brings up in the last part of the episode, but that deserves an entire section all to itself. So let's analyse the character.
Bismuth is an extremely determined character who definitely isn't afraid to speak her mind about anything. She is pretty aggressive, but still cares deeply about her friends, enough to bring her to years after learning what had happened while she was bubbled.
Bismuth is an extremely warm welcome for a character to the show. We had already had an aggressive antagonist with Jasper, but we never had an aggressive protagonist.
Bismuth isn't really an anti-hero since she is never portrayed as bad, or even in the wrong. Note how Bismuth, while she did try and harm Steven in the final moments of her being conscious and not poofed, throughout the majority of the episode, Bismuth is NOT the villian, just an ally with a different perspective on how to deal with Homeworld. Now I have covered why she is wrong, (I'll link it later during the part that concerns it)
Bismuth is a protagonist, just with a different opinion, (it's like she's realistic)
That's why I love her character so much. She isn't the villian. She has the same goals as Steven, Rose, and the rest of the Crystal Gems. She is the most loyal of the Crystal Gems.
Back to just her character, Bismuth takes things very seriously, as shown when she previews her pre mission warm up, but what I love about Bismuth, is that she isn't an old crank who has to do everything her way.
She had fun doing what Steven wanted, she enjoys their company, as well as their friendship a lot.
Now she does abandon this in the final moments when she wants to win the war her way, by shattering, but my point is that it's extremely refreshing to see an older character from the past who isn't an extremely conservative and traditional and "EVERYTHING MUST BE DONE MY WAY"
Bismuth is extremely determined and extremely ionate about everything she does. Much more than any other character we have seen in the show, and it's perfect.
I know I've probably repeated myself a couple times here, but in a show like Steven Universe, I love it when I see someone with an aggressive personality as a protagonist. It really does affirm that message about diversity among people and accepting different worldviews.
Enough about the character. How is the episode?
Bismuth the Episode
This was the first of two, (as of the time when there was two) half an hour long episode, the second being Gem Harvest.
Not only was this much better than Gem Harvest, this is one of the best episodes of Steven Universe. It's a cliche but there's a reason it's a cliche.
(MAYBE IT'S BECAUSE IT'S GOOD)
But why is it so good?
First of all, as I stated before, Bismuth is just an amazing character. Making the first half hour special about her such an amazing decision by the crewniverse. She is the first Crystal Gem that we've seen that was one of the originals outside of the modern lineup.
Bismuth, as I've repeatedly stated above, is just a wonderful character, and agree with her or not, you have to it, what the crewniverse did with her arc in this episode is amazing.
Unlike Gem Harvest, Bismuth relics in the fact that it is a half an hour special. Bismuth uses all 22 minutes developing story, character, and overall just using everything to its advantage.
Gem Harvest just feels like a dragged out 22 minutes that could be a regular episode. It doesn't use the fact that it's double the length of episodes like Mr. Greg and Mindful Education.
Bismuth does. Every moment in Bismuth is necessary to the story. From the way Steven actually finds Bismuth, which is pretty hilarious, to one of the most emotional moments in the show with one of the best climaxes in the entire show. (Take notes Storm in the Room)
Why does this episode work the best though? It's story.
Plot Heavy Plot
"Bismuth" was one of The first episodes to go into detail of the history of the Crystal Gems. We get to see one of the original Crystal Gems and we also see a glimpse of what the gems used to be like.
The episode nails the history of the Crystal Gems is such a way where we know what happened, but it doesn't give us any specifics so we can still theorize about the specifics.
It's also really great from a writing perspective. The writers didn't force themselves into a corner, and the way the episode presents its story leaves many possibilities with what they want to do with Bismuth is later episodes.
So not only does the episode work as a great as story telling episode, it also gives both the viewers and the writers a building block to create so many storylines off of. The writers nailed the presentation, but how is the actual plot?
In one word: Amazing.
The whole concept of Bismuth may be a bit cliche, but like The Last of Us, it is just different enough and executed so well that the clichéness, (a word), doesn't even make it aware.
I'm going to go through the Climax of the episode, and disect every thing I like, just to show you how this episode really pulls off storytelling.
The Climax
Let's start off with the aesthetics of the forge first of all.
Steven Universe has this extremely interesting colour scheme in episodes like Laser Light Canon and The Return, where the colour pallet changes due to the environment to invoke certain emotions in you.
This is a brilliant animation decision by the crewniverse. These minor, but extremely noticeable changes help invoke a very tense environment and it works extremely well here.
The best thing about these changes are that they never feel forced. In Laser Light Canon, there was a giant Red Eye right next to the Earth, in The Return, there was a giant Green Hand next to the Earth. In "Bismuth" the orange that takes over the colour pallet is reminiscent of the fact that THEY ARE IN A VOLCANO. (that is just awesome)
So enough regarding aesthetics. Why is this such a great climax?
Well we are introduced to the ever so infamous moral dilemma. Is violence O.K. if it's being used for good. Basically do the ends justify the means. Personally, and I have a long lost theory I'm not going to bother finding that I'm not so proud of explaining my answer, which is no. In my personal opinion, the ends do not justify the means. That's just my opinion however, and the genius of this climax is that in a tense atmosphere, it still manages to make you think about who's right. Full pacifism, or not full pacifism.
Initially, you would side with Steven, but after a little though, would you instead try and sympathize and reason with your friends killer, or go John Cena on their ass. The entire point is to cause a gray area where there is no real winner or loser. It isn't a battle between good and evil, it's a battle of ideas where both have their pros and cons and this part of the episode presents this in such a way I have no seen some as well as it has here is such a long time.
I love how this section doesn't have a fight scene. It keeps its intimidating moments few, but high in magnitude. Just watch Bismuth shatter those statues, or how she speaks with such authority. Then, look at Steven, how he is shown and shot to be much smaller than Bismuth, showing how weak he really is. How in over his head he is. This is all amazing.
I could go on about the sound design, the atmosphere, more about the animation, how the episode concludes with Steven staying true to his morals, but accepting how his way won't always work.
I think I've pointed out many of the best parts about this episode, as well as some gripes I do have, specially with Bismuth herself and how one dimensional she does seem when we first see her in the forge, but other than that, this episode is near perfect.
My Verdict
Bismuth is one of the best episodes of Steven Universe, but it isn't perfect. Honestly, I would give it a 9/10, because while it is great, it could of been better. I don't know how, I'm not a screenwriter, but with some pieces of media that I do consider 10/10, they go above and beyond what's considered above and beyond, and this just isn't there yet. Great episode however, highly recommend. One of the best in the series.
Boo
I'm Scary (it's true because this was 7 months in the making)
Comments (3)
Isn't it Month of sapphire?
(That's the joke)