Review: Steven Universe “The Zoo”

Fucking zoo’s closed.

Spoilers Below

Now that Steven has reunited with his father inside Pink Diamond’s human zoo, they have to figure out how to escape. However, Greg has made friends with the people still living in the zoo. These are the descendants of the humans Pink Diamond captured years ago. They have always lived in the zoo, which is rather beautiful, and know no other way of life. Needless to say, they are all rather attracted to Greg since he can tell them stories about Earth.

Steven and Greg go through the day’s ritual of eating, playing, and bathing until it is time to go to sleep. That is when Steven convinces Greg that they need to find the door that Pearl couldn’t open. They find the door after a short search. After Steven noisily tries to smash the door open, two of the zoo natives pop out of a bush to see what is going on. Steven tries to explain doors to them but they don’t really understand. Though the girl has heard a story about a wall that opens. It only opened when someone was hurt. So Steven and Greg agree that Steven will punch Greg in order to get the zoo’s Gems to open the door. But the plan doesn’t work.

Instead, it is time for the “Choosening”. This is a ritual where the voice of the zoo pairs up the members of the tribe into romantic couples. Greg freaks out when he is Choosened. He tells them how, on Earth, people get to Choosen their own mates. Steven tries to explain that his mother and father Choosened each other on their own because they loved each other; not because someone told them to. The entire tribe decides to Choosen Greg. Greg tells them that he is free to tell them all no. This makes the entire tribe cry. Steven and Greg run away, which causes the tribe to freak out. As a result, the zoo’s Amethysts run in to calm everyone down. With the door still open, Steven and Greg try to make a break for it. But they get captured by an Amethyst.

Once again, I’m wishing these episodes were longer. I thought it was pretty obvious that Greg was enjoying living in the zoo, up until the computer or whatever tried to pair him off with someone. Steven was so focused on getting his dad back that he never even noticed how happy Greg was. Now that they are captured, I wonder if Greg will tell Steven that he wants to stay in the zoo. Or was he so scared off by the Choosening that he’ll agree to go back to Earth? Greg has always been kinda sad back home. He’s not a rock star anymore, he lost the love of his life (Rose Quartz), and he’s sorta lost his son to the Crystal Gems. Here in the zoo, he can be popular and adored. Though it would make Steven sad.