“Sadie Killer” is the 9th episode of the fifth season of Steven Universe and the 137th episode overall.[2]
Official synopsis
Steven and The Cool Kids form a band but struggle to find their sound.[3]
Conspiracy
Steven enters the Big Donut, meeting an exhausted Sadie ready to take his order. After a long and complicated order, Sadie asks what all the food is for, and Steven reveals that it’s food for band practice with Sour Cream, Jenny, Buck Dewey, and even himself. Steven says it’s a great outlet for everything that’s happened recently, prompting him to ask Sadie if she’s okay. He says that since Lars was stuck in space, it was hard to handle all the shifts at Big Donut all by himself. Steven then invites her to stop by, to which she shakily agrees, given her busy schedule.
Later at band practice, Buck Dewey tells everyone that they have a concert this weekend, much to everyone else’s shock, as they don’t have a band name, a setlist, or a sound they’ve decided on. The four of them spend the entire practice arguing about what songs they should play, which is ultimately a futile task given their differing musical tastes. Sadie then walks in just as they’re about to leave, much to her disappointment, saying that she hopes they’ll have practice while she’s not working.
The next day, as Sadie approaches the Miller household, she is surprised by Steven and the Cool Kids, who followed her home from work. Sadie rushes down to her basement room and cleans and puts things away while the others marvel at how much space she has. While looking for a more comfortable place to sit, Buck accidentally sits on top of Sadie’s hidden collection of horror movies. Despite Sadie’s embarrassment, Jenny is happy to have a copy of “The Lurch”, which she considers a classic.
While they are watching the movie, Steven tells them that they should find their sound, to which Sour Cream says that he likes the sound of the movie. Steven and the Cool Kids then start playing some creepy sounding music and Sadie starts singing “The Working Dead”. After a short introduction, everyone applauds Sadie, Buck even nicknames her “Sadie Killer”. They then invite Sadie to be their frontman, but Sadie states that she can’t because she has work the next day, much to the others’ disappointment.
The next day at the Big Donut, Steven comes to ask Sadie for advice on lyrics because he is incapable of doing scary lyrics. Sadie then says how sad she is that she’s working without the one person she cared about being so unhappy, and even though being in a band can be fun, the uncertainty scared her. After hearing her vent, Steven sings a short song to which Sadie asks if it sounds like that, but Steven declines because singing about it sounds like a real problem to her.
Much to their chagrin, the band is about to leave without “Sadie Killer” later that evening. Steven tries to be as scary as Sadie but ultimately fails because she is cuter than him. While driving, they stop the car and are looking for a way to the venue when suddenly Sadie runs up to the car. He tells them he can come to the show, like any show, and practice after work. When Steven asks about work, she happily replies that she quit at Big Donut and took off her work uniform.
Details
The title of the episode refers to the nickname Buck gives Sadie, based on her name “Sadie Miller”. It could also be a play on the term “lady killer”.
When Sadie eats a donut, her silhouette bears a striking resemblance to Lars.
Cultural references
The line “We are the Working Dead” could refer to the syllables used in the first line of the show’s main theme song, “We are the Crystal Gems”.
The line also references The Walking Dead, the critically acclaimed comic book and television series about the survivors of a zombie apocalypse. Additionally, the song’s title may be a reference to the famous “We ARE the Walking Dead!” quotes from the comics and the TV series.
Jenny says she’s for “awakening the people inside”, a possible reference to the song “Bring Me to Life” by Evanescence.
Sadie’s collection of horror VHS tapes clearly references several horror films such as Evil Dead 2, Basket Case, Re-Animator, and Nosferatu.
The “UA” on “The Lurch” refers to the United Artists film studio currently owned by MGM.
On one of the film covers you can see a reference to the cult film Re-Animator. But instead of Dr. Herbert West fought with a reanimated body, we see Dr. Maheshwarana to fight with Cluster Gem.[4] The episode “Nightmare Hospital” shares a similar theme.
Paper money in the world of Steven Universe has a diamond symbol instead of the American president.
The Visa credit card company exists in the world of Steven Universe.
Continuity
Sadie’s love of horror movies from “Club of Horrors” is shown again.
Sadie’s basement bedroom from “Sadie’s Song” returns.
Sadie’s singing talent is highlighted once again after “Sadie’s Song” and “The Good Lars”.
Buck’s lessons from Guitar Dad (“Shirt Club”) have shown progress as he now plays guitar in the band.
Steven repeatedly takes a ton of tissues, probably because he’s learned they’re always free. (“Funny Sacrifice”)
Mistakes
Buck’s forehead clears for a split second as he walks past the stairs leading to Sadie’s room.
