| “ |
Oh, so you want to do stuff you usually don't just to see what happens? |
” |
| —Steven | ||
"Pool Hopping" is the 15th episode of the fifth season of Steven Universe and the 143rd episode overall.
Official Synopsis
Garnet and Steven explore the most unlikely timelines in Beach City.[4]
Plot
Steven, riding atop Lion, views Beach City from the Lighthouse's hill. He reminices on how so much has changed lately, guessing that because of all the abductions previously committed by Aquamarine and Topaz, things couldn't just return to normal. Steven and Lion walk about the town. They pass by Beach Citywalk Fries; nearby, Nanefua is informing citizens about an evacuation route. After waving to Sadie, Buck, and Sour Cream, Steven mentions that he can't enjoy his regular snack at the Big Donut due to it being closed because of Sadie quitting to focus on her band and Lars still being out in space. He whines over what he's going to do for breakfast now before gloomily leaning on Lion's mane and groaning.
Lion drops Steven off near the Big Donut, where he observes two customers leaving with food. Surprised to see the store open, he enters the Big Donut and is shocked to see Garnet standing behind counter in a Big Donut uniform. Steven walks to the counter and tells Garnet that he has so many questions; Garnet tells Steven he'll have to wait his turn. She then completes a transaction with a customer, and then greets Steven. He tells Garnet that he never thought he'd see her working here, and asks her if they have fallen on hard times. Garnet tells Steve that this isn't about making ends meet, and that it's about being random.
To help Steven understand, she pours coffee into a cup and then pours the coffee in the cup onto the counter. She uses the streams o the spilled coffee to explain that her Future Vision allows her to see down the rivers of possibility. saying that it grants her insight into the possible realities our actions move us towards, but that it doesn't mean she can predict everything, and that she's interested in these extremely unlikely realities, so disconnected from the natural course of events that she can't detect them. Garnet then points at a pool disconnected from the rest of the spill, saying that when they act in unnatural ways, they create new, unforeseen paths, and arrive at these pools of improbability; she drags her finger through spill, linking a stream with the pool.
Steven asks Garnet if she wants to do stuff she usually doesn't just to see what happens. Garnet smiles and gives him a thumbs up, saying that she didn't foresee him understanding that. Steven asks if they are gonna clean up the coffee. Garnet says that it's what they'd normally do, and that they should see what happens to the world when they don't. The two then watch a drop of coffee fall off the counter onto the floor. Garnet says that they are now dwelling in a totally new pool of improbability, and that her future vision is useless here. Garnet flips over the counter, says that she quits, and enlarges her muscles, which burst apart her uniform, and she and Steven leave, leaving the remaining customers puzzled.
Steven asks Garnet what they should do now. Garnet says that they should order some food instead of selling it, suggesting that they should do pizza. Steven says that Garnet is now talking his language, pulls out his phone, and says that he's ordering now. Steven calls Fish Stew Pizza, and Kiki answers. Steven tells that he wants to order a pizza. Garnet yells that they should order 10 pizzas, but Steven increases it to 20, and tells her to surprise him with the toppings, then suggests multiple random, wacky places for them to be delivered, before settling on Fish Stew Pizza, causing Kiki to ask if it's for pick-up.
Later, in front of Beach Citywalk Fries, Steven and Garnet are walking along the boardwalk, each carrying several boxes of pizza. Garnet tells Steven to think about what he typically does when he obtains pizza. Steven says that he would eat it. Garnet says that, in this timeline, they do the opposite of that. Garnet yells at a passerby and throws a pizza box at him. He falls over catching the pizza, and thanks her. Steven and Garnet give out pizza to various people, such as Peedee, Mr. Smiley and seagulls.
Near Onion's House, Garnet says that they have one more pizza to deliver. Steven says that Vidalia's house is around here, and that they should bring her the last pie. Garnet says this would be nice since she must be upset that her son was taken into space by those Homeworld Gems. Steven asks if she means Onion, and that he isn't in space, and that he's right over there. He points out Onion, who has a large sack slung over his shoulder; he then jumps over a fence. Garnet apologizes, saying that she must be thinking of a different timeline. Steven suggests that they still swing by. Steven and Garnet arrive at Vidalia's front door. Garnet knocks and tells "Mother Onion" to open up. Vidalia yells that she's in the garage. The two then dramatically enter the garage, nearly scaring Vidalia to death before she realizes who's there.
Steven apologizes and says they were just trying to bring her a pizza in the most unlikely way possible, before asking her if she wants a slice. Vidalia says that she does, and that she could use a break, as she's been working on this "still life of a stepstool", but doesn't feel inspired. Garnet hands the pizza to Steven, poses on the stepstool, and tells Vidalia to paint her like one of her Amethysts. Steven poses near Garnet and tells Vidalia to paint him too. Vidalia asks them if they want to be her muse. Steven says that they do if it's not too much trouble. He changes pose and promises to be very inspiring. Seemingly inspired, Vidalia picks up a pencil and tells them to strike a pose, which they do. Telling them to not move, so that she can capture their essence, Vidalia draws them for some time.
As Steven starts to groan and sweat from holding still for so long, Garnet says that the odds of them remaining there are slim. She interrupted upon hearing a clanging noise and notices a one-eyed kitten sifting through a fallen garbage can outside. Steven notices the cat, who sees them and runs away. Steven asks if it's possible that they can chase the cat, at which Garnet says that it's up to him. Steven asks again, but Garnet, sweating, tells Steven not to ask her, but to tell her. Steven yells yes and the two dash after the cat, with Steven apologizing to Vidalia as they leave.
Steven and Garnet catch up to the cat. It notices them and runs ahead, prompting the two to sprint after it. They follow it to the edge of the forest, through some shrubs, into a new clearing, and into another bush. They part the bush and see the kitten along with four others. Seeing how hungry and helpless they are, Steven picks up each kitten one by one, and hands them to Garnet. He then says that they have to stop being random and figure out what they can do for these kittens asking Garnet to use her future vision to figure out what they should do next. Garnet, sweating, breaks down that she doesn't know, and that she doesn't know anything anymore. Thunder is heard overhead as it begins to rain. Steven asks Garnet if she's okay. Garnet admits that, lately, she's felt so lost:
| “ |
Oh, it's not just that. It's you. You've made so any decisions I didn't expect -- giving yourself up to Homeworld, coming back through Lion's mane. The future that you created was so improbable that I didn't see it coming at all, and now I can't understand where this timeline is going. We're on the outskirts of the possible, following trickles to who knows where. Everyone's looking to me for answers. I can't stand it! It's so hard for me to just exist in the first place, Steven. I want to love being alive. I want to love that there are so many possibilities, but I'm the one with this ability, so I've got to be our guide. I thought, if I could use my future vision to jump into improbable futures, I could get out ahead of the next big, unexpected change, but I don't know what I'm doing here! I can't tell what's probable anymore! Anything could happen! Anything could happen to these cats! |
” |
| —Garnet | ||
Steven admits this to be true, but also suggests that instead of thinking of all the things that could happen, they should just pick and do the thing they want to happen, and asks her what she wants to happen next. Garnet replies that she wants to get the cats out of the rain, causing Steven to summon his shield above them as an umbrella. He then asks what she wants next, causing her to smile Garnet smiles.
Later on, inside Vidalia's garage, Steven is speaking with someone on the phone, Garnet is sitting by a box with the kittens, and Vidalia is standing nearby watching. Steven hangs up shortly after, and gives them the news: the animal shelter he was speaking to before has a foster program, and they said they can pick up the cats the following day. Garnet and Vidalia are both glad to hear this. As Vidalia walks way, Steven dotes over the kittens, telling them they are gonna be just fine.
Seeing this, Garnet finally realizes why her future vision has been so off: she has to change the way she thinks about Steven. She explains to a confused Steven that she that she's been looking into probable futures where he acts like a child, and expects him to run from responsibility, and to turn to her for help, but he no longer does that, and as such, those futures aren't probable at all. She realizes that neither the timeline nor her future vision have anything wrong with them; she just needs to factor in that Steven has grown up. Steven agrees, but states that it's only because he's trying to be more like her; she always knows what to do. Garnet denies this, but then slightly confirms it when she catches the one-eyed cat when it jumps off a table.
Garnet then says that she wants to adopt the cat, citing that there's "something about her", and that she's missed having someone cute and vulnerable to take care of. Garnet strokes the cat, deciding to call her "Steven." When Steven asks if that'll get confusing, Garnet decides to change it to "Cat Steven"; Steven is happy with this. Vidalia returns with the painting, saying that it's too bad she couldn't get their new cat in their portrait, which she managed to finish. Steven gasps, and asks about their essence. Vidalia says that she fudged it, but thinks she got it. She then shows them their portrait, and they gasp in delight.
Later, at the Beach House, Cat Steven sleeps atop the sleeping Lion in Steven's room, and Steven and Garnet's portrait is shown leaning against the bed.
Features
Characters
- Steven Universe
- Garnet
- Vidalia
- Lion
- Cat Steven (debut)
- Cat Steven's siblings (debuts)
- Kiki Pizza
- Onion
- Amethyst (pictured)
- Nanefua Pizza (cameo)
- Sadie Miller (cameo)
- Buck Dewey (cameo)
- Sour Cream (cameo)
- Lars Barriga (mentioned)
- Peedee Fryman (cameo)
- Harold Smiley (cameo)
- Aquamarine (indirectly mentioned)[5]
- Topaz (indirectly mentioned)[5]
Objects
- TBA
Locations
Music
Instrumental Songs
- TBA
Trivia
- TBA
Cultural References
- One of Vidalia's paintings looks like one of Edvard Munch's famous paintings, The Scream.
- Garnet's line "Paint me like one of your Amethysts" may be a reference to the movie Titanic, in which one of the characters says a similar line: "Draw me like one of your French girls."
- Garnet naming her adopted cat "Cat Steven" may be a reference to popular British singer/songwriter Cat Stevens.
Continuity
- Garnet mentions the events of "I Am My Mom" and "Lars' Head".
- Vidalia's painting hobby is seen once again since "Onion Gang".
Errors
- TBA
Transcript
View the episode's transcript here.
Gallery
Videos
References
- ↑ "Watch them before ANYONE else on the CN app starting March 26." – Cartoon Network on Twitter
- ↑ "Pool Hopping" on The Futon Critic
- ↑ http://www.showbuzzdaily.com/articles/showbuzzdailys-top-150-monday-cable-originals-network-finals-4-23-2018.html
- ↑ "Pool Hopping" on CartoonNetwork.com
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Garnet: Now, that would be nice. She must be upset that her son was taken into space by those Homeworld Gems.