It Could've Been Great

"It Could've Been Great" is the 24th episode of the second season of Steven Universe and the 76th episode overall.

Synopsis
The Gems take a trip to the moon.

Plot
Pearl, Garnet and Amethyst are laying outside the barn, viewing Beach City under sunrise, as Steven lays with Lion making music with his ukulele. Peridot approaches him and expresses her confusion and frustration over the Gems' nonproductive. Steven tries to explain that even though it's important to build the drill and stop the Cluster, it's also important if the team takes a break to feel good. He starts to teach her about music and starts to sing Peace and Love (On Planet Earth). He encourages Peridot to join the song and sing what's on her mind, as a montage of the Gems working on the drill plays and everyone sings. They eventually finish the drill, but Peridot realizes there is a missing crucial component: the Cluster's exact coordinates. Pearl knows that there is a Diamond base on the moon that may have that information. Despite having no connections via Warp Pad, Steven suggests that Lion may be able to warp them there.

After much persuasion, Lion brings the gems along and uses multiple warps within each warp to arrive at the moon. They arrive at the base, and Lion visibly tired. Amethyst opens an airlock and proves that they are on the moon. Steven starts having fun in the low gravity environment, and Amethyst tries to join but fails, as Peridot explains that the gems' bodies automatically adjust their physical forms to match optimal conditions on whichever planetoid they happen to be on. Steven notices a mural of Blue Diamond and Peridot explains that the diamonds are the supreme rulers of the Gem Empire, exerting control over all gems and colonies. She finds a control service that extends a floating staircase to the upper levels of the diamond base, and they ascend the tower. Peridot continues to explain that the upper levels are accessible only to the most elite of upper class gems.

They arrive at the top of the base, appearing to be a control room. Peridot is excited to see the old equipment even though she doesn't know how to operate it. Steven manages to activate the control panel by using a hand scanner on a large chair. Even though Peridot explains that only the most powerful Gems can sit on that chair, Steven convinces her to sit with him and operate the control panel. She accesses the files and finds the coordinates of the cluster - it was inserted in the Beta Kindergarten on Facet Nine, but is currently embedded into the Earth 2,500 units down.

The Gems announce their success and begin to leave, as Steven asks Peridot whether or not the system has any games. She says no, but she mentions that the system was used to plan the creation of the colony. She brings up a map of all original structures that were built on Earth, accounting for 5% of the final result. The Gems stare in shock as the hologram simulates the creation of the colony, tearing massive holes into the crust and emptying the core. Peridot announces the end of the simulation, detailing the result would be 89 Kindergartens, 67 Spires, a Galaxy Warp in each Facet, and efficient usage of all available resources.

Peridot exclaims that shutting down the colonization operation was a foolish mistake, and that it could've been great. This angers the Gems, as they explain that completing the colony would involve the extinction of all life on Earth, and Pearl argues that Rose Quartz taught that all life is worth protecting at all costs. Peridot blames Rose for dooming the planet, as there is no more colony and soon the Earth will be destroyed by the Cluster. Garnet prepares to destroy Peridot in anger, but Steven convinces her to let her go, as it's not worth it. She releases Peridot, but destroys the system. Peridot is confused as to why the Gems are mad at her stating facts, but Steven expresses his disappointment in Peridot not learning the value of life. As Peridot exits the control room and the gems about to leave the moon, Steven notices Peridot holding a diamond-shaped object.

Characters

 * Steven
 * Garnet
 * Amethyst
 * Pearl
 * Peridot
 * Lion
 * Blue Diamond (mentioned)
 * Yellow Diamond (mentioned)
 * White Diamond (pictured)
 * Pink Diamond (pictured)
 * The Cluster (mentioned)
 * Rose Quartz (mentioned)

Objects

 * Steven's Ukulele

Locations

 * Greg's Storage Shed
 * Kindergarten (mentioned)
 * The Moon Diamond Base
 * Facet 9 (mentioned)
 * Lunar Sea Spire (pictured)
 * Ancient Sky Arena (pictured)
 * Sky Spire (pictured)
 * Communication Hub (pictured)
 * Galaxy Warp (pictured)

Songs

 * "Peace and Love (On Planet Earth)"

Instrumental Songs

 * Lion's Ocean

Trivia

 * This is the third episode of the fourth StevenBomb.
 * It is revealed that Blue Diamond and Yellow Diamond were "Gem Matriarchs." Peridot confirms that the Diamonds are at the absolute top of the Gem caste system.
 * Gems automatically adjust to the gravity of whatever planetary body they are on.
 * The global map of Earth observed in the moon base doesn't quite match our real-life Earth, including a conspicuously large crater/indentation of the coastline in Siberia, the African continent being smaller, Australia being nearly split in two, and the horn of South America being larger. Sugar has previously mentioned that the Earth seen in the cartoon has a slightly alternate timeline from real life, to greater and lesser degrees, due to the presence of the Gems affecting history.
 * Peridot assesses that only about 5% of the Gem facilities which were planned to be constructed on Earth were actually constructed before the Rebellion put a halt to it. These included 89 planned Kindergartens, among other structures. This episode establishes that at least two Kindergartens were completed: the "Prime" Kindergarten where high-ranking Quartz-type Gems were made (which Amethyst was made, the one we've seen so far), and another "Beta" Kindergarten, where the Cluster was inserted.
 * Peridot explains that the Cluster wouldn't have been made on Earth at all if Rose hadn't started her rebellion. It is possible that it was some kind of long-term revenge weapon made by the Homeworld Gems.
 * This episode reveals where the cluster is located.
 * Every living creature on earth would have been extinct if Rose Quartz did not start the rebellion.

Cultural References

 * TBA

Continuity

 * The Diamond Authority, first mentioned by Ronaldo in "Keep Beach City Weird" is confirmed to be the rulers of Homeworld.

Errors

 * During Peace and Love (On Planet Earth), Pearl's mouth overlaps her finger when she moves it down.