While the biggest Stevenbomb ever may be over, new Steven Universe episodes will continue to air once a week through into September, starting with tonight’s new Steven Universe episode, “Buddy’s Book.” The “Summer of Steven” began July 18 and gave us six new episodes , while Week 2 gave us time with Beach City citizenry before Jasper’s return. In Week 3, Jasper got up to shenanigans while Amethyst broke our hearts and Bismuth broke them harder. The final week of “Steven’s Summer Adventures” began with “Beta” and “Earthling” (among others) rocking our minds, ending on a loving note in “Know Your Fusion.”
Today's Steven Universe episode, "Buddy's Book," starts off with Steven, Connie and Lion flying through one of Lion’s portals into a parking lot. Connie is taking Steven to a library and is excited to show him around, while Steven is just as happy to be in a building full of books. As Steven explores, he finds a book with a blank cover that turns out to be the journal of first mate Buddy Budwick, who helped Mayor Dewey’s distant ancestor discover Beach City. Steven and Connie take a look through its pages.
Starring Jamie as Buddy Budwick, Buddy’s journal recalls him wondering about his legacy after assuring that of “Duey.” He decides to comb the world in search of greatness, exploring the previously unexplored. In a familiar field of giant strawberries and even more giant swords, he encounters Garnet and Pearl, whom he recognizes as the Crystal Gems. (Steven and Connie correct their imagination so that Garnet and Pearl are wearing hilarious old-timey outfits.)
Pearl warns Buddy away from the fields, then sketches out on a map all the places Buddy should not visit at all. “Only the bravest, most courageous, most memorable explorers would dare to visit these fascinating places,” says Garnet.
Immediately Buddy decides to explore all of these places, taking notes in his journal the whole time and drawing pictures of what he’s seen. Sparkling slugs, the great inverted pyramid, a mystical mural, The Palanquin (which Steven doesn’t know once carried Blue Diamond), many hole’d place… but something feels off.
Buddy investigates a tiny hole at the Kindergarten, which rouses Amethyst, who tells him to get lost. It turns out Amethyst roams around the Kindergarten to spend time with the rocks there… oh, Amethyst… and demands to know why Buddy is there. Buddy explains that he’s trying to discover places nobody has been, but Amethyst points out that Pearl marked every location on that map. Buddy’s just following someone else’s footsteps. Buddy is distraught, to Amethyst’s bewilderment, throwing a complete Jamie-style tantrum. As Connie would say: “The Drama Zone.”
Thrown off by Buddy’s fit of emotion, Amethyst suggests trying to find the Sand Castle and points to a general sandy area where the castle is rebuilding itself all over the desert, never in the same place twice. Buddy heads out (“Come back any time, but not too much!” Amethyst calls out) and wanders the desert for ten days. As he loses hope of surviving in the desert, he sees “an angel and several lions here for my soul.” The angel is Rose Quartz, and, bafflingly, she really is surrounded by a whole pride of lions. She asks if he’s okay, promises that the lions mean him no harm and asks what brings him here.
He hands Rose his journal to explain his journey. Rose points out the Sand Castle in the distance, and at first Buddy is excited, but then he realizes that it doesn’t count as an original discovery because Rose saw it first. So Buddy sticks his head in the lion’s mouth: “Eat me, that’s all I’m good for.” Rose encourages him to continue on his quest, however, noting that he has a special take on all of these places, his drawings lend a special touch, and his detailed record of his discoveries is unique. Inspired, Buddy becomes an author, changing the face of the world in at least one way: the library Steven and Connie are sitting in is named after him. He achieved his dream of leaving a legacy. End of episode.
After the drama and sturm und drang of our last Stevenbomb, this calm, cute episode was a welcome break. No heavy emotions necessary, even with Jamie/Buddy’s dramatic tantrums: instead we got an interesting look at Gem locations a few centuries back, the wild card of Rose wandering the desert with a pack of lions, and images of Pearl in a prim colonial wig that will last me a lifetime. (I only wish Garnet were wearing one too.)
Rose’s speech encouraging Buddy to pursue his passion was definitely directed at the audience (Rose was staring straight at the camera), and I have a surpassing fondness for any show that devotes time to the joy of reading and the fun of imagination. These are important to encourage in a show that is directed to young kids. We might not have learned too many new things (at least until the fandom scours each Gem location frame by frame for new Easter eggs), but watching “Buddy’s Book” was a stress-free and pleasant experience without being too goofy, too boring or too far from the plot.
Make sure to check back with iDigitalTimes for upcoming news, analysis and hot takes as they happen, with new Steven Universe episode “Mindful Education” next Thursday at 7 PM.
