Feb 25, 2014

Steven Universe" Compilation: Giant Woman

"Giant Woman" script and storyboard by Joe Johnston and Jeff Liu.

Last week Steven put garnets on a pedestal, but soon learned that she had her flaws. This week in "Giant Woman," he fixated on the idea of what would happen if amethyst and pearl were fused into a "super-powerful being" known as an opal.

In the opening scene, it is clear that Stephen does not know the character Opal. She is new to him, as she is to us. All we know, thanks to Pearl's sand animation, is that she and Amethyst have to do a little dance to create Opal.

Meanwhile, Garnet is on a solo mission and returns home to tell the others to retrieve Heaven Beetle. Garnet is the strongest of the gang, and she learned last week that she is usually on her own. She tells Steven to keep the peace between Amethyst and Pearl, who continue to tussle.

Steven doesn't seem to care about keeping the peace between the two gems or the beetles. He is so obsessed with meeting Opal that he sings songs about her. He may not have been able to maintain harmony between his mission partners, but he definitely had it in his voice. Before and after the song comes a persistent chain of questions that he calls "extremely important." They are all variations on "Who is Opal?", "Who controls which side?", "Do they share a stomach?", etc. [Why does Stephen want to meet Opal? Is this fascination a symbol of a boy undergoing certain changes while growing up? Suddenly the thing they are obsessed with becomes the most interesting thing in the world, and they feel compelled to turn their attention to this much talked about, yet somewhat forbidden fruit.

Returning to the action, the gems meet a mountain goat whom Stephen quickly dubs Stephen Jr. Before approaching their final destination, they are hit with a predicament: rows of strategically placed floating rocks similar to those you would face in a Super Mario Bros. game. Pearl and Amethyst take on the battle and end up nearly killing Stephen.

They eventually come across a mini beetle temple. It is literally like a dollhouse, but too cute for the beetles. The heavenly beetles are nowhere to be found, but instead a giant faceless bird with a jagged beak appears. Normally, "Steven Universe" doesn't make me laugh out loud, but when the bird swallows Steven Jr. and a tearful Steven says, "That's my boy!" was the highlight of the week.

Earlier Pearl and Amethyst didn't think that Steven nearly falling to his death would be reason enough to turn into Opal, but since the bird is out of control and both Steven and Steven Jr. are inside, they have no choice. After Opal saves Stevens, she is revealed in all her glory: a blonde warrior with four long arms like a Hindu god, wielding a bow and arrow in a rough yet comforting voice.

Back home, Garnet is unimpressed, not caring that Opal stands before her. Realizing they failed in their mission they undo the opal and the amethyst and pearl return. Thankfully, Stephen and Stephen Jr. were not the only ones swallowed by the big bird. In the belly of the beast, Stephen grabbed a beetle. Garnett is not only impressed with Stephen's catch, but also with his help in fusing the amethyst with the pearl.

Just when you think that's it, Garnet drops the bomb. She said that one day Steven will be able to fuse like Amethyst and Pearl. Furthermore, he is still unsure about Steven's other gemstone talent.