The latest episode of Steven Universe is entitled “Reformed.” Steven Universe’s “Reformed” spotlights the relationship between Garnet and Amethyst. Interestingly enough, it also uses gem regeneration as a vehicle for exploring Amethyst’s conception of herself in the most visible of ways.
Gem regeneration as a means for exploring self-actualization? Amethyst’s increasingly more agitated state of mind reflected in her increasingly stranger physical incarnations? Garnet’s repeated criticisms of Amethyst’s choice of body leading to Amethyst purposely manifesting in strange, untoward ways in frustrated attempts to meet demands she doesn’t understand? What kind of intense social commentary in 12 minutes of a kid’s show is this…?
I’m perennially in awe of the way Steven Universe tackles complex issues from a child’s point of view, but “Reformed” is particularly strong. And it’s 100% space babes time, with some bonus psychological exploration of Amethyst. “On The Run” is one of my top 5 favorite episodes of Steven Universe, so “Reformed” is catnip.
It starts with Steven on the beach, watching Pearl and his father working on Greg’s van. Unfortunately for Steven, neither Pearl nor Greg are interested in playing “Which Crying Breakfast Friend Are You?” on his phone. Remember when OK Cupid used to be home base for these types of personality quizzes? They litter Xangas and LiveJournals and your annoying kid cousin’s Facebook even now, like memorials for navel gazers.
Steven finds a vaguely more willing phone quiz partner in Amethyst, who agrees to take the quiz. But every time the questions approach sensitive territory for Amethyst, she flinches. She heads to her room, where she and Steven find Garnet. Garnet is hunting for a corrupted Gem they call “the Slinker.” But it’s Amethyst’s room and she’s super possessive over all of her junk and mess inside, so she follows and Steven tags along.
In a hilarious moment, Amethyst grabs a gas mask off a junk pile and puts it on: “Look Steven, I’m a pachyderm!” she laughs. Then she removes the human skull that’s still inside the gas mask: “And there’s a prize inside!” I honked.
As Garnet searches Amethyst’s room for the Slinker, Steven continues to try to quiz Amethyst, but the personal questions are clearly getting to her. Finally, the Slinker slams Amethyst with its tentacles so hard she retreats into her gem. Teary-eyed, Steven hugs Amethyst’s gem to his chest. Garnet reassures him that their bodies are only a projection, and that Amethyst will return.
We went through this before in “Steven the Sword Fighter,” when Pearl was seriously injured by her own holographic training projection and had to regenerate inside her gem. Then, it took Pearl two weeks before she came back. Now, it takes Amethyst mere eye-blinks to regenerate.
Garnet eyes Amethyst with suspicion: she has rushed her regeneration, and returned with four legs instead of any hands. But Amethyst has a huge complex when it comes to Pearl, especially when it comes to Pearl’s obsessive precision vis-a-vis Amethyst’s own raw and messy style. Garnet’s comment that Pearl took more time and thought on her regeneration annoys Amethyst so much that when the Slinker knocks her back into her gem once more, Amethyst returns as an exaggerated, crude parody of Perfect Pearl.
Garnet is less than pleased as Amethyst continues to clown on Pearl and wears on Garnet’s patience. “I need everyone’s constant approval so I can show off how smart I am!” Amethyst preens, imitating Pearl. But Amethyst needs something from everyone, too: their validation, so she can hold on to how loved she is. “On the Run” showed us that Amethyst really struggles with self-hatred due to her origins in the Kindergarten. The comparison between Amethyst and Pearl is obvious. But as Steven continues to quiz Amethyst, we continue to see her resist this level of introspection.
Garnet is focused on what Amethyst’s choice of form means for the team: she is not an effective fighter with a gigantic sloping head and little scraps of feet. Her decision to waste a regeneration on making fun of Pearl will inhibit their hunt for the creature in Amethyst’s room. But Amethyst takes Garnet’s criticism like a knife to the heart and screams that her form is her own business, even as the Slinker beats her into her gem for the third time.
This time when Amethyst comes back, she emerges as a lopsided brute with one bulky, malformed leg and one massive arm. Garnet is furious: “This form isn’t sustainable, Amethyst!” But Amethyst is equally furious at Garnet’s continued disapproval and charges toward the monster to prove that she and the choice she has made are valid. Garnet charges after her, and Steven runs along as well.
In one giant hand Amethyst has gripped the monster. Veins bulging out of her arm with the effort, Amethyst appears briefly to be winning. But Garnet commands her to let the monster go, to which Amethyst shouts in an agony of frustration, “I’m doing it, I’m being what you want!”
While Amethyst may be trying in her own way to please Garnet, Garnet tells Amethyst that she can’t tell Amethyst what’s the right or the wrong way for her to exist. She can’t do this thinking for Amethyst. Steven comes to a revelation: Amethyst doesn’t want to think about herself.
But it’s deeper than that. Think back to “On the Run,” and Amethyst’s anger and shame at who and what she is: the product of a Bad choice, by Bad Gems, and therefore constantly on the defensive to prove that she isn’t Bad, too. If she does what Garnet wants, she can’t possibly be Bad. Instead of being Bad, she will be validated by someone she respects and admires as Good, a validation she craves as desperately as Pearl craves perfection. And best of all, she won’t be accountable for the result either way because it wasn’t her call.
Suddenly Amethyst’s massive arm deflates, causing her to get smashed into her Gem once again. Four hours later and back at the house, she hasn’t returned. Garnet feels that she may have been too hard on her, but then Amethyst’s gem starts to shimmer. This time, Amethyst looks little different than usual. Only the color of her clothes has changed, and the tanktop strap that used to hang down on one shoulder now stays put.
Garnet says, “It’s perfect.” Even Pearl is effusive. Everyone piles on Amethyst to give her a hug, and she blushes. “Eh, whatevs, it’s just what feels right,” she says. But the last image of the episode is a huge shy grin and her shining eyes. It turns out the form that’s best for the team is the form that’s best for Amethyst. And while she may be resistant to deep thinking, she can do it and do it as well as any Good Gem -- even Pearl.
