Steven meets someone new while visiting the barn.
SPOILER ALERT
Steven Universe finally decides to answer one of the biggest questions the fan base has been curious about for a long time. Does Steven have any family from his father’s side? The answer to this question is yes and they are introduced in this episode.
Uncle Andy (actually Greg’s cousin, so Steven’s cousin-once removed) flies in and gets to know the Gems. This doesn’t go very well at first, especially with Peridot and Lapis still using the family barn as a studio apartment for them to experiment with all their weird art projects. From their, the rest of the crystal gems arrive and Steven suggest to have a family dinner. This is where the episode really takes off.
This episode perfectly captures what it’s like to be in a family, especially when it’s a dinner with people you don’t see on a regular basis. Every little element of awkwardness which comes into play, such as jokes no one else gets, references you had to be there to understand, and a family member walking off in frustration. It’s an episode which feels real and makes you almost miss the feelings which comes from such an event because despite how uncomfortable they can be, a lot of good can come out of a family dinner.
The only real downside is once again how the Crystal Gems are portrayed. The excuse of them being aliens from another planet really can only so far to explain their unfamiliarity with human culture. Pearl, Garnet, and Amethyst have lived on the planet for hundreds of years. Why would they think buying wedding, funeral, and birthday supplies would be a good idea for a simply family dinner? The joke is getting a little old and outdated but still it doesn’t detract from what is an otherwise very heartfelt episode of Steven Demayo. Yes, it is his real name.
