“Dewey Wins” is the 5th episode of the fifth season of Steven Universe and the 133rd episode overall.[2]
Official synopsis
Steven helps Mayor Dewey run a difficult campaign.[3]
Conspiracy
Steven insists that he will be fine to accompany Connie home to the Gems and his father, who have been watching anxiously from the window of the beach house since Steven’s return to Earth. Connie continues forward, leaving Steven and Lion to catch up. Steven is excited to tell Connie all about the events of his adventure on Homeworld and says he’s glad to see her again. She returns the words, but leaves Steven to ask her what she really thinks.
She says she is unhappy that Steven gave up without a fight. He feels that with her training and their practice together as Stevonnie, they could have won. Steven explains that no one was hurt, to which Connie exclaims that she was emotionally hurt. Steven doesn’t understand and leaves Connie to give up on trying to explain as she mounts Lion. The two leave, leaving Steven alone on the beach.
The next morning, Steven is at the Big Donut explaining to Sadie what happened to Lars. He expresses his dismay to the point of lifting Steven by his shirt over the counter. He reassures her, telling her about how he is accompanied by “some very nice gems who are on the run from their Homeworld rulers”. Sadie tearfully asks if he’s told his parents yet. When Steven indicates that he is also nervous, Sadie accompanies him on the way to their house.
They don’t get far down the boardwalk before they are stopped by a commotion in front of Fish Stew Pizza. Nanefua Pizza is out with a megaphone, protesting “Mayor ‘Billiam’ Dewey” and campaigning to be Beach City’s new mayor. Sadie proceeds to tell the Barrigas while Steven stayed behind at the rally and ended up texting Connie about the events.
Steven heads to tell Mayor Dewey about what happened and tries to back him up and take responsibility for what happened and the outcome. He proposes a town meeting where he tells the citizens that he alone was responsible for the events that transpired in hopes of clearing Dewey’s name.
At this meeting, Dewey is called by Sadie as she declares that everyone is safe and accounted for. He then goes on to say that he didn’t know who Lars was or that he was missing. He mistakes her anger for the Big Donut, which was closed earlier that morning, and offers to do whatever he can to replace “Donut Boy”, which is met with scorn from the audience. Lars’ mother, visibly upset by Dewey’s words, throws a tomato in his face.
Later that evening, Steven and Dewey watched a video of him being hit in the face that was uploaded to a video sharing website. Steven tries to calm him down by noting that only 12 people saw it, which panic sets in when Dewey states that it’s at least half the town. Dewey is hurt by the video and the bad things people are saying about him, but Steven offers to help him prepare for his speech tomorrow “even if it takes all night”.
The next morning, a crowd gathers outside the Speech-a-Palooza stage down on the beach. Steven and Dewey, both visibly tired, exchange pleasantries backstage before beginning their speech. Mayor Dewey counters that he has many years of experience as mayor and is used to being blamed for everything. Nanefua continues his statement, offering in exchange that the city will work together to solve problems instead of blaming the mayor. As the crowd loudly chants Nanefue’s name, Dewey stumbles over his words, eventually withdrawing from the race and congratulating Nanefue on his victory.
Steven runs after Dewey as he leaves backstage and says he shouldn’t have thrown away his chance at re-election so easily. It pains him that they spent all this time practicing only for him to give up before realizing that Connie probably feels exactly the same as he does now. Dewey goes to find a new job, leaving Steven alone to feel sorry for himself. He pulls out his phone and tries to call Connie, he seems to try again and again late into the night back at the beach house.
Details
The first two minutes of this episode were shown at New York Comic Con 2017.[2]
The episode was originally scheduled to be released on CN Asia on August 25, 2017, where the episode’s title and synopsis were accidentally revealed due to a programming error. In the end, this never happened and the episode “Off Colors” was shown instead.
Ironically, despite the name, Dewey does not win.
Cultural references
The title of the episode may refer to the 1948 US presidential election, where the Chicago Daily Tribune newspaper incorrectly printed that Republican candidate Thomas Dewey had defeated Harry Truman (with the headline “DEWEY DEFEATED TRUMAN”) before the results came in that Truman had. won.[4]
Continuity
Events from “I Am My Mom” leading up to and including “Lars’ Head” are mentioned.
However, this episode picks up where “Lars’ Head” left off.
Connie mentions Jam Buds, which is most likely a reference to The Jam Song she and Steven played in “Sworn to the Sword”.
Connie’s breakup with Steven is reminiscent of “Full Disclosure” after the battle, which ended with Lapis Lazuli fusing with Jasper into Malachite, as Steven then tried to avoid Connie by not responding to her calls, in contrast to Connie’s subsequent “silent treatment, ” and when Connie wanted to hear Steven say that he no longer wanted to be her friend personally, he finally relented and they reconciled.
While Nanefua insists that everyone should be held accountable for what happens in the city, Dewey admits his mistakes and gives up on his campaign. This mirrors Steven and Connie’s situation, as Steven decided to give up on Homeworld because he felt responsible for breaking Pink Diamond, while Connie wanted to continue fighting alongside Steven and the Crystal Gems. Additionally, Steven feels disappointed in Dewey for giving up, just as Connie felt the same when Steven gave up.
Steven and Connie later reconcile in “Kevin Party”.
This is the first episode to officially state Lars and his parents’ last name, Barriga (which was previously revealed in Keep Beach City Weird: You Can’t Hide the Truth!!!).
The “Speech-a-Palooza” set for the Bill vs. Nanefua, is a direct reference to the “Beach-a-Palooza” event that took place in “Steven and the Stevens” and “Sadie’s Song”.
The book How to Talk to People from “Sworn by the Sword” reappears.