All of Steven Universe season 3 is dropping every weeknight for the next few weeks, a Stevenbomb the likes of which we’ve never seen before. The “Summer of Steven” started with a “ Steven Floats”/“ Drop Beat Dad" double header that eased us gently back into Steven Universe season 3, followed by the emotional sucker punch of all-musical episode, “Mr. Greg.” Next we met up with the Shorty Squad in “ Too Short to Ride,” then revisited Beach City’s least favorite citizen in “The Real Lars.”
Today’s episode, “Beach City Drift,” takes on a pretty thorny issue. Remember back when Stevonnie first fused and went dancing, only to be accosted by a guy who didn’t seem to understand the word “no,” or even care about it? Steven and Connie both do, and that’s just the fellow who rolls into town in his shiny yellow sports car, snapping at “old man” Greg to clean his car and be careful with the tires.
Kevin doesn’t remember Steven or Connie, but both of them remember him. Steven is more heated and angry than we’ve ever really seen our little ball of sunshine, steeped in loathing like one might steep tea. “I hate him!” Steven yells after Kevin races off into the distance.
Greg tells Steven to watch it -- hate is a strong word. That’s when Connie explains what happens when they were fused, and how Kevin disregarded their feelings in favor of pursuing his own agenda. (“He was a creep!....That’s five letters!”) Greg looks pained. He hadn’t known that happened. But Greg tells them that people like Kevin aren’t even worth the time of day, let alone the energy it might take to think of them.
Greg’s advice doesn’t really take. Steven is still boiling with anger, and while Connie doesn’t seem mad on the surface, she’s “thinking mad.” She wants Kevin to be “thinking mad,” too; she wants to come up with some final cutting witticism to put him in his place and make him understand what he put them through, or at least make him think.
Steven suggests racing him, which Connie instantly, with great regret shoots down. “But we’re kids. Kids can’t drive. That’s against the law.” Then Steven suggests forming Stevonnie, which Connie agrees to.
It turns out there’s an underground Beach City racing scene -- who knew? Kiki emerges from her car, complaining about having lost, and Kevin steps out of his, preening like a peacock. That’s when Stevonnie shows up and dramatically announces that she will race him.
Though Kevin scoffs that he is immune to Stevonnie’s “two kids in a beautiful trench coat” routine (pfft), he is still sly, infuriating and arrogant in his response. “You’ve had a taste of Kevin, and now you’re obsessed. I get it. I have that effect on people. It’s cute,” he sneers. “But aren’t I a little old for you?”
He continues along this vein as he and Stevonnie race, throwing little goads their way every time their cars are neck and neck. Stevonnie’s seething only increases. Kevin’s particular brand of condescension and entitlement is a great stand-in for the kind of guy that accosts a female-presenting individual at a dance despite their lack of interest, but anyone who’s been the subject of such belittling attentions will find his attitude uncomfortably close to life.
In a Fast and the Furious tribute moment, Stevonnie slams the brakes on the car as they head down a hill, drifting down the corners. Not bad for two kids in a beautiful trenchcoat. Kevin is still neck-and-neck with them and grabs their attention by launching into a fake sob story about a nonexistent sick brother. Trusting, gullible Stevonnie falls for it, hook line and sinker. Only when Kevin breaks into laughter and shouts, “I’m like this because I think it’s funny! Ciao-zers,” does Stevonnie realize they’re being played.
Goaded past bearing, the road feels like it’s crumbling both in front of and behind Stevonnie. It’s like one of Steven’s dream sequences, but less arcane than usual. Its meaning is clear: especially when Stevonnie growls, “We have to beat him! He deserves to lose!’ only to see Kevin’s head come barreling down the road towards them, larger than life.
The apparition shocks them into unfusing and they stop the car. While both of them are okay, Connie calls a halt, asking, “What are we even doing? Why do we even have to play his game?” They’re only racing in the first place, and have only fused in the first place, because of Kevin. But Connie doesn’t think Kevin should have any say over how they feel.
Steven realizes with a gasp that he is obsessed with Kevin. So they fuse again, this time ignoring Kevin’s goads, noting the beautiful views of the ocean and the starlit sky, laughing to themselves as they go. Kevin hits the nitrous to pull ahead at the last second, winning the race, but Stevonnie hops out of the car without seeming upset and offers Kevin their hand on a job well done.
Stevonnie’s sudden indifference to Kevin’s snideness and condescension works far more effectively than participating in his little mind games. Though Kevin has won, he still winds up running into the road and yelling like a madman. “Look at you! You’re so obsessed with me, you’re gonna drive away! Obsessed! Obseeeeeeeessed!”
It’s an interesting take on “ignore the bully and they’ll get bored with you.” In this case, the focus is more on the detrimental effect that focusing on Kevin’s behavior and trying to one-up him at his own game is having on Stevonnie. Steven’s loathing consumes him, and Stevonnie is so worked up by Kevin’s jabs that they ultimately hallucinate and have to unfuse. Stevonnie is a being that comes of the loving connection between Steven and Connie, but in using Stevonnie to combat Kevin, they have shifted the focus from their affection for each other to their hatred of an external target.
Not only is that not what Stevonnie has been taught about fusion, Steven and Connie are kids, and Greg’s warning that hate is a strong word rings true by the end of the episode. Hate is a strong word for a strong feeling - one that takes more effort to feel, and more of a toll, than positive strong feelings like love and friendship. Ultimately, Stevonnie doesn’t ignore Kevin. They kill Kevin with kindness, after exploring an alternate hatred-based route and realizing that they don’t wish to pay its cost. Kevin is rendered irrelevant, stomping his feet alone and futile in the middle of the road, a victory just as satisfying as “making him think.”
It turns out some people just don’t want to think.
The "In Too Deep" Steven Universe special event kicked off with “Watermelon Island” and “Gem Drill” back to back and ended with “Hit the Diamond.” Cartoon Network is delivering the "Summer of Steven" in the biggest Stevenbomb yet . Steven Universe will be airing new episodes every single weeknight for over a month, July 18 through Aug. 12, so make sure to check back with iDigitalTimes every weeknight after Steven Universe airs for recaps, analysis and news.
