The biggest Stevenbomb ever ends with new episode “Know Your Fusion,” our final taste of Steven Universe before we move off of the “Stevenbomb” to a weekly format. The “Summer of Steven” began July 18 and gave us six new episodes , while Week 2 of “Steven’s Summer Adventures” gave us some time with Beach City citizenry before Jasper’s malevolent return. Last week, Jasper got up to shenanigans in “Gem Hunt” and “Crack the Whip,” while Amethyst broke our hearts and Bismuth broke them harder. This week, “Beta,” “Earthling” ( among others ) have given us a lot to think about. So what note will Steven Universe end its Stevenbomb on?
“Know Your Fusion” starts with Steven and Amethyst discussing how they want to introduce Smokey Quartz to Pearl and Garnet. Once they fuse, Pearl and Garnet sit in shock: Garnet squeals with delight for what feels like five minutes straight, while Pearl shrieks that she wants to know everything . Smokey Quartz runs through how they beat Jasper just as Garnet and Pearl fuse on the basis of their shared excitement.
Sardonyx stops Smokey from destroying the whole house with a yo-yo and ushers Smokey into her own room in the Temple, a room which exists as long as Sardonyx does. Her room is, of course, a huge stage lit up with the sign “Sardonyx Tonight.” She quizzes Smokey in talk show format. Smokey is a touch shy under the attention, but is game with jokes and comebacks.
But Sardonyx is intensely interested in the details of being Smokey, leaning over confidentially to press Smokey on who they really are. Smokey doesn’t quite know what to do in response, so they do a yo-yo trick, but Sardonyx wants to know, fusion-to-fusion, what lies at the core of Smokey’s being. Every fusion gets something new, whether it be a new power or a new weapon, but Sardonyx dismisses Smokey’s yo-yo and continues to investigate.
Sardonyx introduces a new segment where she puts Smokey through the paces of previous Amethyst fusions. Opal’s bow, Sugilite’s hammer, even Alexandrite’s fire breath are part of Sardonyx’s testing. Smokey is uncertain, but goes through with all of Sardonyx’s segments. (There’s a hilarious joke during the Sugilite segment about how yes, they do still have to pay Nicki Minaj if Sugilite’s not in the episode. Kickstarter to bring Nicki back, please.)
Sardonyx is intensely focused on discovering what the common thread between Steven and Amethyst must be that is highlighted by their fusion. But Smokey’s jokes start to take a dark, self-denigrating turn. Sardonyx realizes to her horror that Smokey has been trying hard to impress her this whole time, and that she’s made it about herself when it needed to be about Smokey. Sardonyx unfuses, and the room begins to fall apart. Smokey comes through and saves the day, swinging Garnet and Pearl safely back through into the Temple.
Once back in the Temple, Pearl and Garnet start gushing about how amazing Smokey is. Pearl praises Amethyst for being a good influence on Steven, and both Pearl and Garnet start engaging Amethyst and Steve on all the details of being Smokey Quartz. Turns out the yo-yo isn’t just a lasso or a flail, it’s even better, it’s a toy! Garnet asks for a play-by-play, and Amethyst excitedly starts to give it. End of episode.
“Know Your Fusion” was a really fun episode. It’s always a delight to see the fusions, so spending more time with Smokey Quartz, and the unexpected return of the marvelous Sardonyx, were vastly entertaining. Going through the gallery of Amethyst’s previous fusions was a fun trip down memory lane (and that “yep we gotta pay Nicki joke” may be one of the show’s best yet).
It was uncomfortable watching Sardonyx pressure Smokey into being someone else instead of truly reveling in Smokey’s self-disclosed description of themself, or waiting for them to just reveal the details of themself in their own time. So the quick resolution, with Sardonyx’s horrified realization that she’s made Smokey about Sardonyx and not about Smokey, was really welcome. Garnet is mature enough for herself and Pearl (and even Pearl wises up when it comes to deeply wounding the people she loves), and watching them give Amethyst and Steven the time to explain being Smokey in their own words was validating.
But stop cracking jokes on Jasper. They don’t love her like I love her. (I’m kidding. Mostly.)
The "In Too Deep" Steven Universe special event for season 3 kicked off with “ Watermelon Island ” and “ Gem Drill ,” while season 3 closed with shocking revelations in “Beta,” “Earthlings” and “Bubbled.” Make sure to check back with iDigitalTimes for upcoming news, analysis and hot takes as they happen, with a new Steven Universe episode next Thursday at 7 PM.
