Review: Steven Universe “Bubbled”

We blab about bubbled.

Spoilers Below

Steven and the Rubies have been jettisoned into space. Instinctively, Steven bubbled himself so he wouldn’t die immediately. Somehow, one of the Rubies ended up nearby. She jumped on Steven’s bubble, trying to get to him. Eventually, the two decided to just float through space until they die.

While they silently spin through space, Ruby starts talking to herself. She can’t believe that there are still Crystal Gems on Earth; she wonders where Rose Quartz is; and she wonders why Jasper hasn’t returned. Steven, overhearing Ruby’s conversation with herself, reveals that he is Rose Quartz. Ruby doesn’t believe him.

Suddenly, an asteroid field appears around them. They mostly manage to avoid the asteroids, until the very end when one slams into Ruby’s face. The asteroid cracks her gem, making her unstable. Steven brings her into his bubble so he can heal her. With Ruby’s gem healed, the two have a small moment of friendship before Ruby pulls out her dagger and tries to kill Steven. Steven ejects Ruby from his bubble, floating on into space alone.

At least until a mysterious ship with a yellow light shows up to save him. Garnet, Amethyst, and Pearl snagged the Rubies’s ship. Once Steven is safe, the four friends cry and hug each other.

Steven asks Garnet if Rose Quartz really shattered Pink Diamond. Garnet tells him that Rose didn’t always do what was best for her but she always did what was best for the Earth. If Rose hadn’t shattered Pink Diamond, Amethyst wouldn’t have been created, Pearl wouldn’t be free, Ruby and Sapphire wouldn’t have been able to be together as Garnet, and Steven wouldn’t have existed. Steven accepts Garnet’s answer and thanks her for telling him the truth.

While this episode had some good moments, it was rather boring for the most part. It might have been better if Steven had been stuck with one of the more contemplative Rubies instead of the angry one. Nothing really got accomplished during their journey through space. It wasn’t until Steven was saved by the Crystal Gems that anything interesting happened. I would have preferred to hear the whole story of how Rose shattered Pink Diamond instead of a couple of lines about Rose basically sacrificing herself for the betterment of others. But I suppose this was a decent ending for the third season. Thankfully, we don’t have to wait too long for the fourth.