“ |
My dreams... I was seeing through her eyes. I've been crying her tears. |
” |
—Steven |
"Steven's Dream" is the 11th episode of the fourth season of Steven Universe, the 114th episode overall, and the first episode in the fifth StevenBomb.
Official Synopsis
A strange dream prompts Steven to search for answers.[3]
Plot
The episode opens in a lush, grassy field, with the camera centered on flowers. Greg wakes up Steven, who has tears streaming down his face, revealing it to be a dream. Steven is shown to be in the van with Greg; they were watching a movie before Steven fell asleep. Greg remarks he was going to let Steven sleep until he started crying, which was "less cute." Steven mentions he does not know why he was crying because his dream was not sad. Greg decides to take him home. On the steps of the Beach House, Steven asks Greg if Rose had ever talked to him about Pink Diamond. Greg mentions that there were some things that Rose did not like talking about, and he never pressed her for details. Steven asks why, and Greg tells him that they talked about numerous important stuff, such as feelings. He says they both made a bunch of mistakes when they were young, and Rose felt that she needed to confess everything to him. Greg states that he told her the past was the past; what mattered was who she was in the present: an incredible, loving being. Steven feels better and tells him goodnight. Later in his dream, Steven appears in the field again and looks around until he sees a pink palanquin. Steven abruptly wakes up again, with the tears returning.
The next morning, he calls Connie over, who is excited about his discovery, showing him Buddy's journal from the library. Connie flips to the page with the palanquin drawing, and she corrects Steven's pronunciation of the word. They decide to ask the Gems about it. When the Gems appear, they go over to show them the drawing. While Amethyst does not recognize the drawing, and Pearl hesitates to give a proper answer, Garnet bluntly tells Steven he cannot go there. Steven asks why not, and she is noticeably quiet. Steven says he thought everyone was going to tell him everything from now on. Garnet sternly tells him they are not going because Rose never wanted him to see the place. Steven becomes upset, saying that they are not considering what he wants. Since Rose was his mom, Steven believes he deserves to know the truth the most. Angered, he thanks Connie after asking if he can borrow the book, and storms outside. Garnet follows him and tells Steven he has to trust her. Steven does not understand, as Garnet is usually truthful to him. She wishes to be, but if she tells him why he cannot go, he will only want to go more. Steven is more intrigued and wants to go even more now. Garnet realizes the mistake and says he cannot go because she cannot go with him. Steven asks why, and Garnet replies she is scared and cannot get near her. Steven points out she mentioned "her" and is now more curious to go, but Garnet asks him to stay for her. Steven says he will not, and Garnet sighs, saying she knows. Steven leaves to Greg's van, where he wakes him up.
Steven tells him about the palanquin in his dream and shows him the drawing in Buddwick's journal. After looking it over, Greg says he knows someone who can take them there. Later, they ride in Andy's plane, whom they thank for taking them to Korea, where the palanquin is. Despite establishing the seriousness of the mission, Steven decides to have some fun in Korea after some prompting from Greg. In Korea, the two explore the city, eating some cuisine, and shopping for a bit around the country. Eventually, they get on a bus that takes them to the area where Steven believes the palanquin is located. As they begin walking about, Steven begins tearing up again, prompting Greg to suggest they take a break. Despite his protests, Steven insists they continue going until they appear in front of a fenced area. Steven convinces Greg to help him jump over, and they head over to a field.
They come across a blue palanquin, but Steven tells Greg the one he saw was pink and broken down. Suddenly, behind some bushes they hear a voice express her sorrow and apologize to Pink Diamond, kneeling by her former palanquin with a blue Pearl. She wonders what Pink Diamond would think now, as this was "her planet." Steven realizes it is Blue Diamond mourning and that he has been crying her tears the entire time. They duck when Blue Pearl heads over, who thinks she heard someone. Greg assures Steven he can handle this and makes himself known to Blue Pearl. Blue Pearl tells Blue Diamond she found a native, and Blue Diamond tells her to "bring it here." Greg approaches Blue Diamond who states that Earth is a strange planet, finding it curious how fragile humans can survive here yet a Diamond is not. She also mentions that the location they are at was where Pink Diamond was shattered.
Greg asks if they were close, and sympathizes, apologizing. He says he knows how hard it is to move on when you lose someone, to Blue Diamond's surprise. He says he lost someone important to him, too; he misses her and thinks about her every day, but she is never coming back, and that feeling can be hard to be okay with. Blue Diamond is surprised a human being is capable of understanding how she feels, and it is a shame because there is a geo-weapon ready to emerge soon and destroy the Earth, but she realizes Greg does not deserve it. She says she is not supposed to be here, but she is glad she is one last time because she can save one last piece of Pink Diamond's legacy. She grabs Greg and summons her ship.
Steven watches in shock as Greg struggles in Blue Diamond's grip and pleads for her to let him go. Blue Diamond goes into her palanquin with Pearl, and it floats up, entering the palm of her ship. Steven tries to give chase, using his floating powers until the ship blasts away at warp speed, causing him to start falling in the air. Garnet arrives from behind and catches him, apologizing to Steven, saying she saw Blue Diamond come here and find all of them (through her future vision), so she could not be there with him. Steven tells Garnet Blue Diamond took Greg and that he should have listened to her. Steven asks her what they are going to do, and Garnet replies they are going to space to recover Greg.
Features
Characters
- Steven
- Greg Universe
- Garnet
- Amethyst
- Pearl
- Blue Diamond (official debut)
- Blue Pearl (official debut)
- Connie Maheswaran
- Andy DeMayo
- Rose Quartz/Pink Diamond (mentioned)
- Yellow Diamond (mentioned)
- The Cluster (mentioned)
Objects
- Greg's Van
- Buddy Buddwick's Journal
- Diamond Palanquins
- Diamond Ships (debut)
- Blue Diamond's Ship (debut)
Locations
- Beach City
- Korean Peninsula (debut)
Music
Instrumental Songs
- "STOP"
- "Blue Diamond"
Trivia
- All episodes from the Out of This World event were released on Cartoon Network's website and app on January 2, 2017, before the official air date of January 30, 2017. The episodes, except for "Steven's Dream", were later removed until they had aired on television.
- The writing on the warning sign (위험) is Korean for 'danger'.
- This is the first episode to air in 2017.
- The movie which Steven and Greg are watching at the beginning of the episode, depicts a blue alien with a spaceship bearing three diamond symbols, abducting a cow. This is most likely foreshadowing the way Blue Diamond abducts Greg later in the episode.
- Blue Diamond's ship bears resemblance to the Gem Warship used by Peridot, Lapis, and Jasper in "The Return". While that ship took the shape of a giant hand, Blue Diamond's is shaped like an entire arm.
- When Steven and Greg enter a Korean development building, the episode breaks the fourth wall by showing how Greg and Steven are drawn.
Cultural References
- During Greg's and Steven's tour through Korea, the various montages would make it seem that Korea has not changed much with regards to the Gems' activities. It is still unknown if the peninsula is politically split like its real-life counterpart, as most of the action seems to take place where South Korea would be, as well as it simply being called Korea and not North or South Korea.
- A palace resembling Gyeongbokgung Palace (경복궁) is seen. Constructed during the Joseon Dynasty (1392–1910), it was the main royal palace.
- The area passed by Steven and Greg resembles Heungnyemun Gate (흥례문), where (before 2006) its front open area served as tourist parking as well as a backdrop for souvenir photos.
- In this scene, a structure is seen in the distance through the gaps in the gate. In the real-life palace, the first gate is Gwanghwamun Gate (광화문), followed by Heungnyemun Gate and its walls, then by Geunjeongmun Gate (근정문) with its walls as well; this then opens to a vast courtyard centrally flanked by Geunjeongjeon Hall (근정전), the palace's ceremonial throne hall (which somehow resembles the "structure" in question).
- Among the tourists posing is a girl wearing hanbok (한복), the traditional Korean attire. Visitors/tourists wearing hanbok in certain areas (such as Gyeongbokgung Palace) are granted free admission to boost tourism as well as promote hanbok.
- The area passed by Steven and Greg resembles Heungnyemun Gate (흥례문), where (before 2006) its front open area served as tourist parking as well as a backdrop for souvenir photos.
- Greg is shown speaking common Korean phrases (albeit with a foreign accent), such as Kamsahamnida (감사합니다), the most common (yet formal) way to say thank you in Korea, and Annyeonghaseyo (안녕하세요), a term usually used (informally) as a greeting (e.g. "Hello").
- Greg's "Red!" shirt design is a reference to Be the Reds, a term popularized on T-shirts during the 2002 FIFA World Cup by supporters of the Korea Republic national football team.
- The Diamonds' personal palanquins reflect Korea's historical past: people within the high-ranking social classes can only ride palanquins. During the Joseon Dynasty, palanquins (generically termed 가마 "gama" and consists of 6 types) were reserved mostly for females of the aristocracy/nobility, the kisaeng (기생), and the royal family.
- Greg and Steven are seen eating kimbap (김밥), Korean food similar to sushi, whose norimaki variant was introduced during Japan's colonial rule over the Korean peninsula. Kimbap is usually packed and eaten during outings/picnics, similar to the father-and-son's tour.
- A palace resembling Gyeongbokgung Palace (경복궁) is seen. Constructed during the Joseon Dynasty (1392–1910), it was the main royal palace.
- Greg's and Steven's tour also passes through an animation studio, where Greg notices a character working on his design for this episode and model sheets. This is a reference to the series itself, as the final animation for the show is done in Korea.
- Amethyst eating the popcorn during Steven's argument with Garnet is a common TV trope.
- This is the second canonical episode to feature a fourth-wall break. The first is "Know Your Fusion."
Continuity
- Amethyst has her hair tied in a ponytail like in "Steven vs. Amethyst".
- Similar to "We Need to Talk", Amethyst chooses to eat in the midst of an argument between her friends.
- Steven's empathic telepathy resurfaces, this time being shown to have mind-linking capabilities. His own mind is able to link with Blue Diamond's, resulting in feeling her emotions and crying her tears.
- Blue Diamond mentions that the Cluster is close to emerging, showing that the Homeworld Gems do not know of its bubbling in "Gem Drill".
- The sign on the fence is similar to the one on the fence in front of the Crystal Temple in "Story for Steven".
- Greg saying that he is unable to hop a fence as he used to is a reference to when he hopped the Crystal Gems' fence in "Story for Steven".
- Model sheets from "Mr. Greg" can be seen in the studio.
- When Blue Diamond grabs Greg, the same tune from Lapis Lazuli's warning video in "The Message" plays.
- Similar to a scene in "Buddy's Book", Connie abruptly clears the table to make room for Buddy Buddwick's Journal.
- Steven mentioned the events of this episode in "Your Mother and Mine".
Errors
- Note: Time is displayed in [mm:ss]; [00:00] refers to the point after the title card is displayed and before the episode's start.
Plot
- [01:06] When Steven talks to Greg on the stairs in front of the Beach House, they are three steps apart. However, when Greg walks up the stairs, he is more than three steps away from Steven's initial position.
Design
- [TBA] When Blue Diamond says "...while a being as powerful as a Diamond, perish?" her sleeves are fingerless gloves.
- Since this is the first time Blue Diamond's hands are seen (aside from the flashback in "The Answer" in which she did not have her current design) it is unclear whether she is supposed to have fingerless gloves or not. The change between sleeves and gloves is a common mistake in scenes featuring Blue Diamond, so the answer is unclear. However, since she does not have gloves for most of her screentime, the gloves are assumed to be a mistake.
- [TBA] When Steven borrows the book from Connie, there are crystals on rocks behind her in the background. After Steven walks past her and Garnet places a hand on her shoulder, one crystal hasn't been entirely drawn onto its rock.
- [08:10] After Blue Diamond says "Bring it here," Greg's right arm is uncolored when he is still in the bowing position.
- [TBA] When Greg was telling Blue Diamond about how hard it was for him to accept the fact that Rose was gone, Blue Pearl's arms were on both sides of her hips. After Blue Diamond was surprised as to how a human could understand how she felt, Blue Pearl's hands were back on her chest.
- [10:09] When Blue Diamond enters her ship, it resembles a right arm instead of a left one.
- [10:34] When Garnet says "I couldn't be here with you," her left glove is colored black instead of purple.
Transcript
View the episode's transcript here.