When It Rains

"When It Rains" is the 19th episode on season 2, and the 71st episode overall.

Synopsis
Steven helps a friend who is afraid of thunderstorms.

Plot
The episode begins with the Crystal Gems outside of Steven's bathroom demanding Peridot to reveal information on the cluster. She angrily denies them the information. Pearl offers to trade with Peridot, asking her what she wants in exchange for the information. She demands her limb enhancements and her screen back, but then exclaims that it's impossible because the gems destroyed them. Steven leaves the bathroom, leaving Peridot behind. Pearl says that Peridot will crack eventually, but she denies that, making Pearl angry. Garnet calms her down, and says that they should rather investigate the cluster on their own. Steven wants to come with the gems, but Garnet tells him that they need him to stay behind and watch over Peridot. Before the gems warp away, Garnet tells Steven that she loves him.

As Steven is boiling something, there is a heavy storm outside. He tells Peridot that the gems left, so she can come out of the bathroom, but she refuses to leave. After hearing thunder, Peridot storms out of the bathroom, exclaiming, "It's happening!" Steven asks her what's going on, and she says that only the cluster can make a noise like that. Steven says that it's simply thunder, which happens when it rains. He explains what rain is to Peridot using what he is boiling as an analogy. Steven shows that rain is harmless by running outside and playing in the rain. Initially, Peridot is scared to go outside, but after feeling the rain with her fingers, she steps out. Back inside, Peridot thanks Steven for providing information on how rain works. She explains that he is a much more intelligent being than what she had initially thought, and decides that she is ready to share information about the cluster with Steven. Steven says that she should tell the information to the gems, but she refuses, saying that she only needs Steven's help. She offers to escort Steven to the Kindergarten where all her logs on the cluster and gem experiments are. Steven reluctantly agrees to go, only in the condition that he holds Peridot's hand the entire way.

They warp to Kindergarten and fall down the warp pad. Steven states that the Kindergarten gets worse every time he goes there, and Peridot says that it was poorly managed, and it must have been much better when Steven was first "emerged." Steven questions her, and she explains that he seems to be a type of quartz, so he must have been made here. Steven explains that he came from his mom, who was a gem, and his dad, who is a human. The idea of a hybrid gem confuses Peridot, but they move on to Facet 5. Steven asks Peridot what the fusion monsters were all about when they last were in Kindergarten. She explains that after Homeworld decided that Earth is no longer a suitable colony, the gems decided to use the planet for a series of experiments on forced fusions for use as a gem geoweapon. She had no existed when Homeworld began the experiments, but Peridot read over a few hundred years' worth of reports. They arrive at the control room, and Peridot tries to restore power to the control panel using Steven's help. She shows Steven all the attempts at artificial fusion, and explains that they were all prototypes for the final product, the cluster, a fusion of millions of gems capable of destroying the planet immediately after it emerges in its physical form. Since the prototypes have begun emerging, the cluster is next, and if they can't get off the planet then their only choice is to stop it before it emerges.

On the way back to the warp pad, Peridot explains to Steven that he is all the help that she will need in stopping the cluster due to his "vast knowledge" on the Earth and its behavior. He attribute's Peridot's misunderstanding to lack of clarity, and explains that the only reason why he knows how rain works is because Greg told him how it works. He used to be afraid of thunderstorms, just like Peridot, and after learning the mechanics of it, he was no longer scared. His offer is that she share the knowledge to the crystal gems, who are vastly more capable of stopping the cluster than Steven alone is. Gem mutants emerge around the warp pad, and Steven immediately puts a bubble shield around himself and Peridot. The mutants chase them until they are cornered, at which point the crystal gems come to help. They poof all the mutants and save Steven and Peridot. He tells her than they need the help of the gems if they are to have any chance of stopping the cluster, and after emerging from the bubble shield, Peridot confronts the gems and agrees to share with them her information about the cluster.

Characters

 * Steven
 * Peridot
 * Garnet
 * Amethyst
 * Pearl
 * Cluster Gems
 * Rose Quartz (mentioned)
 * Greg (mentioned)

Objects

 * Warp Pad

Locations

 * Kindergarten
 * Facet Five
 * Beach City
 * Beach House
 * Steven's Bathroom

Songs

 * TBA

Instrumental Songs

 * Gem Shards
 * Little Peridot
 * Peridot and Steven

Trivia

 * This is the first time Peridot is seen in a promo. This is also the first time any Homeworld Gem is seen in a promo.
 * Peridot starts cooperating with the gems in this episode, and finally calls them the Crystal Gems instead of clods.
 * Peridot now says Steven's name without thinking of him as a separate species.
 * She does, however, still seem to have a strong dislike for the Crystal Gems.
 * This is the third time Steven is seen using the stove. The first was in "House Guest", and the second was in "Onion Friend".
 * Peridot indirectly says that the Kindergarten grows mostly quartz. This probably means that Jasper must actually come from the Kindergarten instead of Homeworld.
 * This may mean Rose Quartz is from the Kindergarten too, but this is not likely.
 * This episode contains one of Katie Mitroff's favorite scenes she has ever drawn for the show.
 * The Cluster is revealed to actually be at the core of the Earth.
 * The episode ends without an iris close.
 * Peridot's weakness without her Limb Enhancers is further shown as Steven could easily remove a panel she could barely budge.
 * Or Steven has some sort of super strength.
 * This is the first episode where Peridot expresses gratitude, although grudgingly.

Cultural References

 * The title is most likely a reference to the phrase "when it rains, it pours."
 * Garnet forming a heart with her hands is a popular social hand gesture.
 * Steven's asking Peridot "What's up, Dot?" Is a reference to Bugs Bunny.

Continuity

 * Peridot is still living in Steven's bathroom, as of "Catch and Release".
 * Peridot's surprise at Steven being a hybrid reinforces the concept that Steven is the first gem hybrid.
 * This is the second time  Garnet  tells Steven she loves him. The first was in " Jail Break ".


 * However, this time she says "I love you" instead of "we [already] love you".

Errors

 * When Steven turns towards Peridot when she kicks the bathroom door open, the star on his shirt goes over the pot lid he's holding.

Videos
When It Rains