Review: Steven Universe “Barn Mates”

Is this week’s episode able to hit the broadside of a barn?

Spoilers Below

Lapis Lazuli is now living in a barn with Peridot and she is not very happy about it. Peridot, with the help of Steven, spends the entire episode trying to get Lapis to like her. First, the two friends make a card for Lapis. However, the message didn’t come across properly. Then, knowing that Lapis likes water, Peridot and Steven plug up the hole they dug when they tunneled into the Earth and fill it with water to make a small lake for Lapis. However, this only reminds Lapis of the watery tomb she just escaped. Finally, Steven suggests that Peridot give Lapis something that she, herself, likes in order to bond with the loner gem. The only thing Peridot has is the tape recorder that Steven gave her when she first arrived. However, Lapis rejects the gift, smashing the recorder in her hands. Peridot begs Lapis to tell her what she wants. Lapis tells Peridot to go away. So she does. At this point, Steven asks Lapis why she is being so mean. She isn’t even giving Peridot a chance before decided that she doesn’t like the green gem.

Within seconds of leaving, Peridot comes running back. A Roaming Eye is chasing Peridot, who is convinced that it is there to get her. The trio tries to hide from the Eye, but to no avail. When Steven gets ready to defend Peridot, Lapis steps in front of both of them. The blue gem slaps the Eye into the ground with a watery hand from the little lake. Garnet, Amethyst, and Pearl rush over, only to find that Lapis has saved everyone.

This episode bugged me. I get that Lapis has been through a lot of trauma and she doesn’t trust anyone but this was going a bit too far. No matter what anyone did, Lapis was determined to not like Peridot. It wasn’t until Steven pointed out how awful she was being that she changed her ways. Granted, I’m glad that she changed. Maybe now she’ll give Peridot and the others a chance and actually join the rest of the group.