“The Question”[2] is the 21st episode of the fifth season of Steven Universe, the 149th episode overall, and the third episode of the seventh StevenBomb.
Official synopsis
Steven shows some urban gems of how cowboys lived.[3]
Conspiracy
Amethyst and Steven arrive at the cliff where Ruby and Greg were eating pizza. Greg tells them that Ruby told him about Rose’s true identity, and jokes that he similarly never told Rose that “Mr. Universe” used to be Gregory DeMayo. Steven asks Ruby how she’s doing and Ruby assures him she’s fine and offers him a slice of pizza. Steven is confused as to how he can be in such a good mood right now, and Ruby explains that she and Greg talked it out and that what Sapphire said was true. She claims that she can have a better life herself, shocking Steven. He tries to change her mind, but Ruby still insists on being alone.
Greg tells Steven that being apart from Sapphire might be what Ruby needs, and that if Ruby and Sapphire being together isn’t what Ruby wants, then it’s not what Garnet wants. Amethyst asks Ruby what she intends to do, and Ruby says that she will live free, just like the main character in the dolphin comic she was holding. Steven picks up another cowboy comic, and Ruby, so dazzled by the idea (and possibly the appearance of the cowboy’s partner “Sally Mae”, who looks like Sapphire), changes her mind and decides to become a cowboy herself. Steven tells Greg that he will support her.
Greg takes them outside and Ruby dresses up as a cowboy. Steven remembers that he needs a horse and Amethyst transforms into said being. Ruby is riding Amethyst around the outdoor area when Steven remembers that they are missing a map. However, Ruby says she doesn’t need one. They come across a bush and Ruby goes inside while remembering that she doesn’t have Sapphira’s future vision to warn of a possible future. He suddenly falls, but luckily hits a nearby rock sticking out of the cliff face. Ruby jumped back, excited to pick her own. That night, the group goes camping, where Ruby plays guitar around a campfire. Greg is surprised because she picked it up in just ten minutes. The song Ruby sings is about how happy she is with her new single life.
As everyone prepares to go to bed, Steven tells Ruby that after seeing her having fun, he now realizes that he shouldn’t have tried to push her back into being Garnet. Ruby then says that the words she sang weren’t true and that she was having fun, but that she would have had more fun if Sapphire was there with her. She’s frustrated that she’s still thinking about Sapphire, and Steven tells her that she’s still the same Ruby even if she’s thinking about someone. Steven points out that the cowboy in the comics is also missing someone, even if he is alone. Ruby decides to stay with Sapphire, but expresses a wish for things to change this time, to not be exactly the same as before. Steven shows Ruby a page in a comic that gives her an idea.
Back at the temple, Pearl is comforting Sapphire when Steven walks in and says that Ruby is out. Sapphire runs outside to find Ruby riding Amethyst. She apologizes for the horrible things she said, and Ruby says that Sapphire was right and that she won’t believe they’re really the answer until she hears it from Sapphire herself. Ruby dismounts Amethyst and approaches Sapphire and asks for her hand in marriage. Ruby tells her that they can be together even if they are apart and that being Garnet this time would be their own decision. Sapphire accepts and the two hug and spin as Pearl, Amethyst’s horse, and Steven look on. Steven looks at the comic and reveals a wedding page.
Details
This is the fifth Steven Universe episode to air on a national holiday — Independence Day (or more commonly known as “July 4th”) — with the first four being “Stuck Together,” “The Trial,” “Off Colors” and ” Lars’ Head” on Memorial Day in 2017.
In this episode, which aired on Independence Day, Ruby appropriately tries to be an independent gem.
The title of this episode is a parallel to the second season episode “The Answer”, as well as a reference to the old idiom “pop the question”,[5] meaning to ask a person for their hand in marriage.
When Ruby popped the question, Sapphire agreed to marry Ruby and decided to become Garnet; who, Rose said, was the answer.
For the first time since Season 4, a new version of the title card showing the hand of the Crystal Temple is shown.
Ruby learning to play an instrument was a box on Cartoon Network’s official bingo sheet for StevenBomb 7. Likewise, Ruby moved in with Greg, which she doesn’t mention officially doing, but the two of them and Steven are at least shown together they live. up to a few days in this episode.
The episode was based on a trip Rebecca Sugar took with her brother Steven Sugar for her 29th birthday to Joshua Tree, a national park in Southern California known for its desert landscape.[6]
The scene where Ruby falls off the cliff was inspired when Rebecca drove her car into a ditch in the desert during this trip.[7]
Cultural references
The logo for the “Dolphin Tail” comic is based on the logo for Disney’s DuckTales.
“Lonesome Lasso” may be a parody of The Lone Ranger.Clarify
Continuity
This episode begins immediately after “What’s Your Problem”.
Sapphire, using her future vision, sees Ruby as a cowgirl and questions why she should be. This episode shows her vision coming true.
Ruby mentioned the occurrence of “Reply” events.
The title of the episode itself coincides with “The Answer”.
This episode confirmed that Greg was unaware of Rose’s past identity as Pink Diamond.
Greg brings up his former surname of DeMayo, which was revealed in “Gem Harvest”. He reveals that he never told Rose that DeMayo was his real last name.
While it wasn’t very clear, there’s a chance that when Ruby was stargazing alone, it could be a callback to “Log Date 7 15 2” when Peridot told Garnet she could stargaze alone.
Greg teaches Ruby how to play the guitar in this episode using his musical knowledge previously shown in episodes like “Shirt Club”.
Ruby is shown to learn an instrument very quickly (after only “10 minutes”), similar to how Peridot learns the basics of music in mere minutes in “It Could’ve Been Great”.
Mistakes
Cartoon Network screen error not showing the “new episode” banner when this episode first premiered.
It also happened with “Now We’re Only Falling Apart” and “What’s Your Problem”.
When Ruby jumps and lands on the hood of Greg’s van, her gem is missing color in one frame.
