forehead gems are brainy types, right? planners? organizers? thinkers?
what if there’s no real symbolism to pearl having a forehead gem, she’s not white’s. it’s just that the other three diamonds, when considering what particular traits pink diamond may need additional help with, all agreed that pink needed a second fuckin brain
You know, I was just thinking about this yesterday and that would make a lot of sense. After all, she was begging for a colony before Yellow (and likely the others) thought she was ready, as impulsive and childish as she was. Just imagine if she had a Pearl that was anything like her; nothing would get done and the entire colony would fall apart! She would need a smart Pearl to help her make educated decisions.
Besides, Joe’s answer to this ask seems to imply that Pearl was made for Pink and not just given to her.
I would love if the reason why Pearl is colored blue, white, yellow, and pink is because the other three diamonds actually contributed to Pearl’s design – if they put a fair bit of thought into designing her pearl, specifically to help counterbalance Pink’s struggles with immaturity and impulsiveness. If Pearl was a labor of love from Pink’s sisters to assist with her first colony.
What I still don’t understand is why Pearl’s gem is an oval when the other pearls are the ideal, perfectly round; is she defective? Better question, would the diamonds have given Pink a misshapen but suitable pearl, if Pink herself is also defective? Did they want her pearl to match in that regard?
oh shit
Diamonds, give Pink a new more sensible Pearl instead of her old emotional one in order to try and keep her from doing stupid impulsive shit. A brainy logical one to try and calm her down.
Pink falls in love with her, starts a rebellion, and then fakes her own death.
Well, that idea blew the hell up in their faces.
diamonds: *create a pearl that is exceptionally talented at planning*
pearl: *becomes lead guerilla warfare tactician for the crystal gems*
The glimpse of the timeline on page 105. The above quote is using some conjecture from what I can see. The clearest blue print in the bottom left corner seems to read:
A new, sensible [hidden] is custom [hidden] delivered [to] Pink.
Here, I highlighted the spot for easier viewing.
I really like the idea that Pearl was made for Pink by the three diamonds in order to help her and their is a second true Pink Pearl out their. A Pearl far more extra than our Pearl is already.
HER CUSTOM SENSIBLE PEARL
Holy shit the original pink pearl must have been USELESS.
PD: Pearl, get the phone
PP: Yes, my diamond
PD: …
PP: …
PD: Pearl. The phone.
PP: *tilts head* Yes, my diamond
PD: …
PP: …
PD: Why do Blue and Yellow fucking hate me
Like in The Good Place when Janet is broken and can only retrieve cactuses? That.
Lately I’ve been thinking a lot about what’s possible for characters vs. what the audience sees. (This might feel really obvious or redundant to talk about, but I just need to get the words out of my system)
In Steven Universe, when a character can’t do something, it’s a bit of a big deal. They struggle with it, they fixate on it, entire episodes may be dedicated to this thing they’re unable to do. When a character can do something, but doesn’t, it’s never focused on or called out. But when it does finally happen, it underscores a huge moment for that character.
As early as episode 10, it’s confirmed that Amethyst is able to bubble Gems. The action itself is not a big deal for her. Maybe she’s done it lots of times offscreen, where the audience hasn’t seen it. But since it’s our first time seeing her do this, it underscores her growth in this character arc, as she sends her tormentor and kindred spirit away.
On the other end of things, Garnet’s refusal to ask questions in the present ends up being a highlight for her backstory–she’s only shown asking questions in the far, far past, to highlight her very first moments of being in comparison to how firm and completely certain she is of herself now.
One can assume that Greg has always had some manner of social life outside of Steven and the Gems, but it has never once been mentioned who his friends are or what he does when he’s not working or hanging out with Steven. To wait until after he’s reconciled with Pearl to mention any sort of social action underscores how much he was letting the past get in the way of his friendships before this point. Considering this same episode is about Pearl doing the same for her social life highlights that further.
No one ever calls out these actions, or lackthereof, within the show. Things that aren’t happening lay in wait, to emphasize important moments in a character’s development.
All this is to say…
boy howdy they must be saving up Pearl shapeshifting for an absolute doozy.
