Review: Steven Universe “Future Boy Zoltron”

Fyoootch Zoltron.

Spoilers Below

Steven comes across Mr. Smiley installing a fortune telling machine at the Funland Arcade. Unfortunately, the machine doesn’t work very well. Zoltron, the robot boy inside, actually explodes when Steven gives him a pat on the back. In order to repay Mr. Smiley for breaking the ancient machine, Steven becomes Zoltron himself. With his intimate knowledge of the residents of Beach City, Steven-Zoltron makes a ton of money telling fortunes. It isn’t until a sad, old man appears in front of him that Steven fails to give a proper fortune. Wanting to make the stranger happy, Steven borrows Garnet’s future vision. However, all of the futures he sees result in the man being sad.

Eventually, Steven finds out that the man is Mr. Frowny, Mr. Smiley’s comedy partner. Mr. Frowny wanted to talk to Mr. Smiley but was afraid of what Smiley would say to him. After Frowny leaves to catch a bus, Steven tells Smiley about the encounter. Together, Steven and Smiley go to talk to Frowny before he leaves. It takes a little while for the two old friends to get on the same page but, thanks to Steven, they are able to smile together again. But Steven still has to work off his debt.

While this episode didn’t progress the season’s storyline, it was an adorable stand alone story. Steven, who always wants to help everyone and make them happy, was actually able to everyone that came to his machine. They may not have heard the fortunes they wanted to hear but they heard the ones they needed to hear. It was also cool to see the constantly working Mr. Smiley doing something completely different. I wonder what his life would have been like if they hadn’t broken up the act. Also, Garnet has the best cameos.