“Pool Hopping” is the 15th episode of the fifth season of Steven Universe and the 143rd episode overall.
Official synopsis
Garnet and Steven investigate the most unlikely timelines in Beach City.[4]
Conspiracy
Steven, riding Lion, view of Beach City from Beacon Hill. Thinking back on how so much has changed recently, she guesses that because of all the kidnappings Aquamarine and Topaz had done before, things couldn’t go back to normal. Steven and Lion are walking around town. They pass by the Beach Citywalk Fries; near Nanefua informs citizens about the evacuation route. After waving to Sadie, Buck, and Sour Cream, Steven mentions that he can’t have his regular snack at the Big Donut because it’s closed because Sadie left to focus on his band and Lars is still in space. He whines about what he’s going to make for breakfast now, before sullenly leaning against Lion’s Mane and groaning.
Lion drops Steven off near the Big Donut, where he observes two customers leaving with their food. Surprised to see an open store, he enters Big Donut and is shocked to see Garnet standing behind the counter wearing a Big Donut uniform. Steven goes to the counter and tells Garnet that he has so many questions; Garnet tells Steven that he will have to wait his turn. He then completes the transaction with the customer and greets Steven. He tells Garnet that he never thought he’d see her working here and asks if they’ve fallen on hard times. Garnet tells Steven that this isn’t about making money and that it’s about being random.
To help Steven understand, she pours coffee into a cup and then pours the coffee in the cup onto the counter. She uses streams of spilled coffee to explain that her vision of the future allows her to see rivers of possibility, saying that it allows her to glimpse the possible realities our actions lead us to, but that it doesn’t mean she can predict. everything and that she is interested in these extremely improbable facts, so disconnected from the natural course of events that she cannot detect them. Garnet then points to a pool disconnected from the rest of the escape, saying that when they act in unnatural ways, they create new, unforeseen paths and reach these pools of improbability; he runs his finger through the spilled water and connects the stream with the pond.
Steven asks Garnet if she wants to do things she doesn’t usually do just to see what happens. Garnet smiles and gives him a thumbs up saying that she didn’t foresee him understanding that. Steven asks if they are cleaning up the coffee. Garnet says that’s what they would normally do and that they should see what happens to the world if they don’t. They both then watch as a drop of coffee falls from the counter onto the floor. Garnet says that they now reside in a whole new pool of improbability and that her future vision is useless here. Garnet turns across the counter, says she’s quitting, and grows muscles that tear her uniform, and she and Steven leave, leaving the remaining customers confused.
Steven asks Garnet what they should do now. Garnet says they should order some food instead of selling it and suggests they make pizza. Steven says that Garnet is speaking his language now and pulls out his phone and says that he is ordering now. Steven calls Fish Stew Pizza and Kiki answers. Steven says he wants to order a pizza. Garnet yells that they should order 10 pizzas, but Steven ups it to 20 and tells her to surprise him with toppings, then suggests some random, wacky places to deliver them to before going for Fish Stew Pizza, so they Kiki asks. if it’s for pickup. Later, in front of Beach Citywalk Fries, Steven and Garnet are walking along the boardwalk, each carrying several boxes of pizza. Garnet tells Steven to think about what he usually does when he gets pizza. Steven says he would eat it. Garnet says they’re doing the opposite of that in this timeline. Garnet yells at a passerby and throws a pizza box at him. He swoops down, grabs the pizza, and thanks her. Steven and Garnet hand out pizza to various people such as Peedee, Mr. Smiley and the seagulls.
Near the Onion’s House, Garnet says they have one more pizza to deliver. Steven says Vidalia’s house is here and they should bring her the last pie. Garnet says that would be nice because she must be upset that her son was taken into space by those Homeworld gems. Steven asks if he means the Onion and that he’s not in space and that he’s right over there. He points to Onion, who has a large sack slung over her shoulder; then he jumps over the fence. Garnet apologizes and says he must be thinking of a different timeline. Steven suggests they still hang out. Steven and Garnet arrive at the front door of Vidalia. Garnet knocks and tells “Mother Onion” to open the door. Vidalia yells that she is in the garage. The two then make a dramatic entrance into the garage, nearly scaring Vidalia to death before she realizes who is there.
Steven apologizes and says they were just trying to get her pizza in the most improbable way possible before asking her if she wanted a slice. Vidalia says yes, and that she might take a break because she’s working on this “footstool still life,” but she’s not feeling inspired. Garnet serves pizza to Steven, poses on a stool, and tells Vidalia to paint her as one of her amethysts. Steven poses near Garnet and tells Vidalia to paint him as well. Vidalia asks them if they want to be her muse. Steven says yes, as long as it’s not too much trouble. He will change the pose and promises to be very inspiring. Seemingly inspired, Vidalia picks up a pencil and tells them to pose, which they do. Vidalia tells them not to move so she can capture their essence and draws them for some time.
As Steven begins to moan and sweat from not moving for so long, Garnet says the chances of them staying there are slim. She’s interrupted when she hears a clatter and notices a one-eyed kitten sifting through a fallen trash can outside. Steven notices a cat that sees them and runs away. Steven asks if it’s possible they can chase the cat, to which Garnet says that’s up to him. Steven asks again, but Garnet, sweating, tells Steven not to ask her, but to tell her. Steven shouts yes and the two rush after the cat, with Steven apologizing to Vidalia as they leave.
Steven and Garnet catch up with the cat. He notices them and runs forward, prompting them to sprint after him. They follow it to the edge of the forest, through some bushes, to a new clearing and into more bushes. He splits the bush and sees the kitten along with four others. Seeing how hungry and helpless Steven is, he picks up each kitten one by one and hands them to Garnet.
Details
This is the second time one of the Crystal Gems has worked at Big Donut, the first being Steven in “Funny Sacrifice”.
While working at the Big Donut, instead of asking a customer “How may I serve you?”, Garnet instead says “Tell me how I may serve you”, which calls back to “The Answer”, in which Rose advises her to already they didn’t question things because she is the answer.
Cultural references
One of Vidalia’s paintings looks like one of Edvard Munch’s famous paintings, The Scream.
Garnet’s line “Paint me like one of your amethysts” may be a reference to the movie Titanic, in which one of the characters says a similar line: “Paint me like one of your French girls.”
The tunnel in the thicket through which Steven and Garnet chase Cat Steven is almost identical to the tunnel through which Mai follows Little Totoro in My Neighbor Totoro.
Garnet named her adopted cat “Cat Steven” may be a reference to the popular British singer and songwriter Cat Stevens.
Three of the cats are Aristocats references, one is an homage to Yuki’s script revisionist Maya Petersen’s late bobtail, and Cat Steven is a Calico specifically for the fusion theme and is (almost) always female.
Continuity
Garnet mentions the events of “I Am My Mom” ​​and “Lars’ Head”.
Garnet also suggests that the alternate timeline she envisioned involved either Sour Cream or Onion (stating Vidalia’s “son”) being taken into space instead of Lars.
Vidalia’s penchant for painting can be seen again from “The Onion Gang”.
Garnet says she doesn’t know anymore after Steven tells her to focus on Cat Steven’s future. In “Now We’re Only Falling Apart”, Sapphire says that after learning about Rose Quartz’s true identity, she clearly knows nothing. Both Garnet and Sapphire say this because they are unable to predict anything.
Mistakes
Steven’s mouth didn’t move as he and Lion passed the Beach Citywalk Fries and Sadie Killer and the suspects.
Buck Dewey is seen walking in the opposite direction of Steven in the first minute of the episode, but seconds later he is ahead of Steven in line inside The Big Donut.
When Garnet says “Welcome to the Big Donut” to Steven, there’s a line behind him. But after a few shots, no one is behind him.
When Kiki picks up the phone, the picture of the pizza slice on Kiki’s apron is missing.
When Steven summons his shield over himself, Garnet, and the kittens, his center symbol is missing.
