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{{DISPLAYTITLE:Cry for Help (''Steven Universe'')}} |
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{{Infobox television episode |
{{Infobox television episode |
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| image = Steven Universe - Cry for Help.png |
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| caption = [[Steven Universe (character)|Steven]] (right) meets Sardonyx, the fusion of [[Garnet (Steven Universe)|Garnet]] and [[Pearl (Steven Universe)|Pearl]]. |
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| Caption = |
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| season = 2 |
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| episode = 11 |
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| series = [[Steven Universe]] |
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| guests = |
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* [[Alexia Khadime]] as Sardonyx |
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| Guests = |
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* [[Shelby Rabara]] as Peridot |
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| Writer = {{unbulleted list|Joe Johnston|[[Jeff Liu]]}} |
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| writer = {{unbulleted list|Joe Johnston|Jeff Liu}} |
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| director = {{unbulleted list|Ki-Yong Bae <small>([[Animation director|animation]])</small><br>Jin-Hee Park <small>([[Animation director|animation]])</small><br>Jasmin Lai <small>([[Art director|art]])</small><br>Ian Jones-Quartey <small>([[Supervising director|supervising]])</small>}} |
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| music = {{Plainlist| |
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* "Tower of Mistakes" by Jeff Liu}} |
* "Tower of Mistakes" by Jeff Liu}} |
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| production = 1031-064 |
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| length = 11 minutes |
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| airdate = {{Start date|2015|07|13}} |
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| prev = [[List of Steven Universe episodes#ep62|Chille Tid]] |
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| next = [[List of Steven Universe episodes#ep64|Keystone Motel]] |
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| episode_list = List of Steven Universe episodes |
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"'''Cry for Help'''" is the eleventh episode of the [[List of Steven Universe episodes#Season 2 (2015)|second season]] of American [[animated series|animated]] television series ''[[Steven Universe]]'' |
"'''Cry for Help'''" is the eleventh episode of the [[List of Steven Universe episodes#Season 2 (2015)|second season]] of American [[animated series|animated]] television series ''[[Steven Universe]]''. The episode was written and storyboarded by Joe Johnston and Jeff Liu; it premiered on July 13, 2015, on [[Cartoon Network]] and was watched by 1.714 million viewers. |
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| ⚫ | The episode follows [[Steven Universe (character)|Steven]] and the Gems attempting to destroy a Gem communication hub when TV broadcasts are disrupted by signals emitted by Peridot from the tower. To demolish the tower, [[Garnet (Steven Universe)|Garnet]] and [[Pearl (Steven Universe)|Pearl]] fuse into Sardonyx, leaving Amethyst in dismay. However, as the tower keeps getting fixed, Steven and Amethyst are shocked to see who's really behind the repairs. |
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''Steven Universe'' follows the adventures of a young boy named Steven and the three alien warriors Garnet, Amethyst, and Pearl, who are together known as the Crystal Gems. Their ultimate goal is to protect the Earth from colonization by other members of the Gem species. In the meantime, Steven must try to harness his own magical powers, which were inherited from Rose Quartz, his mother and the past leader of the Crystal Gems, while finding balance between being half-human and half-Gem. |
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| ⚫ | The episode follows |
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==Plot== |
==Plot== |
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While Steven ([[Zach Callison]]) and Amethyst ([[Michaela Dietz]]) are watching the fictional cartoon ''Crying Breakfast Friends'', the broadcast is interrupted by a transmission from Peridot ([[Shelby Rabara]]), an agent of the hostile Gem homeworld who is stranded on Earth and attempting to contact her superiors. Garnet ([[Estelle (musician)|Estelle]]) deduces that the signal is coming from the Gem Communication Hub, which the Crystal Gems destroyed in the earlier episode "[[Coach Steven]]". |
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{{plot|date=March 2016}} |
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The episode begins with Steven ([[Zach Callison]]) and Amethyst ([[Michaela Dietz]]) watching "Crying Breakfast Friends!". The television stops working and receives a sudden bout of static. After a few swift kicks by Amethyst, the screen displays Peridot ([[Shelby Rabara]]) demanding help and extraction to Yellow Diamond in a message on all frequencies. Garnet ([[Estelle (musician)|Estelle]]) and Pearl ([[Deedee Magno]]) catch the broadcast as well, and Steven confirms with Connie over the phone that he is not the only one receiving Peridot's transmission. Pearl wonders how it is possible to broadcast such a powerful message, and they deduce that it's only possible via the Communication Hub. |
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The Crystal Gems travel to the Communication Hub and find the antenna has been rebuilt. Previously, Garnet and Amethyst destroyed the antenna by [[List of Steven Universe characters#Fusions|fusing]] into Sugilite, but Sugilite's destructive personality got out of control, so Garnet rules out fusing with Amethyst this time. Instead, she asks Pearl ([[Deedee Magno Hall]]) to fuse with her. |
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The Crystal Gems travel to the Communication Hub on the back of Steven's pet lion (while Steven stays in Lion's mane), as the Warp Pad was destroyed when Sugilite damaged it while in her rampage the first time they destroyed the Hub (''Coach Steven''). They find that the hub had been rebuilt with what was left of its remains the last time it was destroyed, and seems highly energetic. Steven suggests to Amethyst that she and Garnet form Sugilite again to destroy the hub. Amethyst seems happy about the idea, but Garnet refuses to do so, stating that the previous time Sugilite was formed, she went berserk, taking over their personalities and consequently destroying the Warp Pad while smashing the hub. She then says the reason for it being a disaster is because Garnet can be rash and Amethyst can be reckless, and then informs that this time, they must be careful, and suggests fusing with Pearl. Pearl seems ecstatic at the idea and happily accepts the proposal to fuse. |
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Pearl is thrilled by the offer, and she and Garnet form Sardonyx ([[Alexia Khadime]]), who destroys the Communication Hub while boasting about her intelligence and grace. After defusing, Garnet and Pearl celebrate with Steven while Amethyst sulks, feeling excluded. |
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Garnet and Pearl perform a fusion dance in order to form Sardonyx ([[Alexia Khadime]]), while Steven excitedly watches the process. After Sardonyx is formed, she appears to debut herself in an emcee host style, to Amethyst's chagrin. Sardonyx is happy to finally see Steven as herself, and plays with him for a bit before summoning Pearl's spear and Garnet's gauntlets and combine them to create a huge war hammer. Steven asks if Sardonyx will use her war hammer to smash the Communication Hub with it, and Sardonyx suggests different alternatives to how she operates that are antonymous with Amethyst's behavior. She then proceeds to take out pillars by hitting them, listing her characteristics in words with sophisticated connotations; "The proper words to describe yours truly are: specific, intelligent, accurate, faultless, elegant, controlled, surgical, graceful, and powerful! But yes, occasionally, I am known to smash." She cites these qualities as she carefully disassembles the key components of the re-built Communication Hub. |
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The next day, the television broadcast is interrupted again, and the Gems return to the Communication Hub to find it reassembled once more. While Sardonyx disassembles it, Amethyst sings the song "Tower of Mistakes", blaming herself for Sugilite's recklessness. |
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Garnet and Pearl dance together in excitement and happiness after defusing, and Steven joins them. They are happy to express their victory, and share congratulatory words. Pearl wonders why they don't do that more often, as Amethyst sulks from a distance. Back at their home, Steven and Garnet are watching "Crying Breakfast Friends!" again. Steven is invested into the show, but Garnet quietly shows apathy. Amethyst arrives from the temple gate and walks to the refrigerator, visibly annoyed, as Steven implores her to watch Crying Breakfast Friends! with him. As Pearl enters the house, the television receives static again and they all leave for the Communication Hub yet again. |
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That night, Steven and Amethyst go to the Communication Hub to catch Peridot in the act of rebuilding it, but are shocked to find Pearl rebuilding it instead. Later, when Garnet and Pearl are about to fuse to break down the antenna a third time, Amethyst and Steven stop them and reveal that they know that it was Pearl who rebuilt it. Pearl confesses that she was just trying to create an excuse for more opportunities to enjoy the emotional thrill of fusing with Garnet. Amethyst comes to Pearl's defense, but Garnet is enraged and disgusted by Pearl's betrayal, and demands that Amethyst fuse with her to destroy the Communication Hub. |
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Garnet and Pearl fuse again to form Sardonyx, who gloats about how her existence is demanded due to her personality (perhaps intentionally towards Amethyst). As she procceeds to disassemble the Communication Hub again exactly like last time, Steven gets excited, but Amethyst begins to sing the song "Tower of Mistakes" to express her sadness that she can't be with Garnet anymore and maybe Garnet is truly better off with Pearl. Later, Steven and Amethyst, along with Lion, arrive at the Communication Hub for surveillance. They know that Peridot had come back to repair the hub twice, and they can only assume that she will return to repair the hub again. Their plan is to keep watch and capture Peridot as soon as she is spotted. They take their position, hidden from sight, and survey their surroundings. Steven tries to pass time by teaching Amethyst a "magic sausage" illusion which is done with his fingers. As Steven is about to leave, a green flash suddenly appears. Both of them spot Peridot's escape pod approaching the hub at a high velocity, and are confused as to how Peridot has access to her escape pod, since they had taken it into the temple in "Joy Ride", therefore rendering Peridot helpless to retrieve her damaged escape pod. |
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Sometime later, back home, Steven and Amethyst are watching ''Crying Breakfast Friends''. Garnet is not speaking to Pearl. As the characters on ''Crying Breakfast Friends'' forgive each other, Amethyst wistfully remarks that "it sure would be nice if things worked out the way they do in cartoons." |
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The pod lifts and puts the displaced pillars in position to rebuild the Communication Hub, and flies to the top, where its rider exits the pod, seemingly to inspect its structural integrity. After focusing in using his telescope, Steven sees that it is actually Pearl who has continuously rebuilt the hub. The next day, Steven and Amethyst discuss why Pearl would continue rebuilding the hub; Steven gives some possible reasons, but Amethyst denies them. He them turns on the television, only to see static again as Pearl comes in and notices the static. As Steven and Amethyst's nervousness increases, Pearl exclaims that Peridot had repaired the Communication Hub, urging Garnet to destroy it. Garnet is frustrated that her future vision does not reveal them capturing Peridot, unaware of Pearl's deception. The Crystal Gems then depart for the hub again. |
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The hub seems fixed and operational, and Pearl is eager to keep fusing with Garnet into Sardonyx to keep disabling the tower over and over again. Amethyst realizes her motives for rebuilding the hub, and at the last minute she stops Pearl and Garnet from fusing. Steven hesitantly states that he and Amethyst saw Pearl repairing the hub, and suggests that she confess to Garnet. Realizing her plan is revealed, Pearl apologizes to Garnet and tells her that it's just fun to be Sardonyx with her. Garnet throws Pearl to the ground, realizing why she could not see the Crystal Gems apprehending Peridot in her future vision. Pearl tries to talk to Garnet and explain herself, but Garnet is angry and denies Pearl's claims that she only wanted to share a few victories, scolding Pearl and telling her that the past instances were under false pretenses. Amethyst attempts to defend Pearl and says that fusing with Garnet is their only chance of feeling powerful. Garnet furiously yells that Peridot is out there somewhere and Pearl is distracting the Crystal Gems with trivial matters for her own selfish needs. Pearl once again tried to explain herself, but Garnet cuts her off, then orders Amethyst to fuse with her. Once they form Sugilite, she takes out the Communication Hub with one punch, while Pearl stares, mortified. |
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Later, Steven and Amethyst are back home, watching Crying Breakfast Friends!. Pearl enters the house and walks towards the temple gate, and Garnet warps back from the pad and walks towards the door. They silently walk past each other, and Pearl is visibly saddened; Garnet's anger drives her to sever interaction with Pearl. Amethyst and Steven notice them, and Amethyst says, "Man, it sure would be nice if things worked out the way they do in cartoons", to which Steven agrees as he turns off the television. |
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==Production== |
==Production== |
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Episodes of ''Steven Universe'' are written and storyboarded by a single team. "Cry for Help" was written by Joe Johnston and Jeff Liu, while Ki-Yong Bae and Jin-Hee Park provided animation direction, and Jasmin Lai served as art director. |
Episodes of ''Steven Universe'' are written and storyboarded by a single team. "Cry for Help" was written by Joe Johnston and Jeff Liu, while Ki-Yong Bae and Jin-Hee Park provided animation direction, and Jasmin Lai served as art director. |
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Sugilite's tower-smashing punch was inspired by the "Twister-Sock Punch" from [[Popeye]] and [[Donkey Kong]]'s "Giant Punch" from [[Super Smash Bros.]]<ref>{{cite web |url=https://twitter.com/ianjq/status/620728608307310592 |title=ian jq on Twitter |first=Ian |last=Jones-Quartey |date=July 14, 2015 |accessdate=February 1, 2016}}</ref> Pearl and Garnet's fusion dance was inspired by the choreography of [[K-pop]] artist [[Sunmi]] |
Sugilite's tower-smashing punch was inspired by the "Twister-Sock Punch" from [[Popeye]] and [[Donkey Kong]]'s "Giant Punch" from [[Super Smash Bros.]]<ref>{{cite web |url=https://twitter.com/ianjq/status/620728608307310592 |title=ian jq on Twitter |first=Ian |last=Jones-Quartey |date=July 14, 2015 |accessdate=February 1, 2016}}</ref> Pearl and Garnet's fusion dance was inspired by the choreography of [[K-pop]] artist [[Sunmi]], with storyboards timed to the track "[[Full Moon (Sunmi song)|Full Moon]]".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://joethejohnston.tumblr.com/post/124051239362/here-are-my-timed-out-storyboards-for-pearl-and |title=joe the johnston on Tumblr |first=Joe |last=Johnston |date=July 14, 2015 |accessdate=February 1, 2016}}</ref> |
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===Music=== |
===Music=== |
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The episode features the song "Tower of Mistakes" |
The episode features the song "Tower of Mistakes", written by Jeff Liu and featuring vocals by Michaela Dietz as Amethyst.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://soundcloud.com/jeff-liu/tower-of-mistakes-official-version |title=Tower Of Mistakes ☆Official Version☆ by Jeff Liu |first=Jeff |last=Liu |date=July 14, 2015 |website=[[SoundCloud]]|accessdate=February 1, 2016}}</ref> |
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==Broadcast and reception== |
==Broadcast and reception== |
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"Cry for Help" premiered on [[Cartoon Network]] on July 13, 2015. Its initial American broadcast was viewed by approximately 1. |
"Cry for Help" premiered on [[Cartoon Network]] on July 13, 2015. Its initial American broadcast was viewed by approximately 1.714 million viewers. It received a [[Nielsen ratings|Nielsen household rating]] of 0.4, meaning that it was seen by 0.4% of all households.<ref name="Metcalf 2015r">{{Cite web|last=Bibel|first=Sara|date=July 14, 2015|url=http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2015/07/14/monday-cable-ratings-home-run-derby-wins-night-wwe-raw-major-crimes-the-fosters-teen-wolf-more/430448/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150715011721/http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2015/07/14/monday-cable-ratings-home-run-derby-wins-night-wwe-raw-major-crimes-the-fosters-teen-wolf-more/430448/|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 15, 2015|title=Monday Cable Ratings: Home Run Derby Wins Night, 'WWE Raw', 'Major Crimes', 'The Fosters', 'Teen Wolf' & More|work=TV by the Numbers|accessdate=August 23, 2015}}</ref> The episode was the first in a "StevenBomb", a programming schedule in which one new episode of ''Steven Universe'' airs daily during the regular [[Workweek and weekend|work week]]; the following four episodes dealt with the aftermath of the events of this episode, its impact on the characters, and Pearl and Garnet's eventual reconciliation. |
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The episode received positive attention from critics, particularly for the emotional maturity of the story. Also highlighted was the introduction of Sardonyx and Amethyst's character development. Eric Thurm of [[The A.V. Club]] said that the confrontation between Garnet and Pearl was "maybe the single most complex moment of the show to date", calling it "rich, complicated, heartbreaking, and simply human".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.avclub.com/tvclub/steven-universe-cry-help-222141 |title= Steven Universe: |
The episode received positive attention from critics, particularly for the emotional maturity of the story. Also highlighted was the introduction of Sardonyx and Amethyst's character development. Eric Thurm of [[The A.V. Club]] said that the confrontation between Garnet and Pearl was "maybe the single most complex moment of the show to date", calling it "rich, complicated, heartbreaking, and simply human".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.avclub.com/tvclub/steven-universe-cry-help-222141 |title= Steven Universe: "Cry For Help" |work=[[The A.V. Club]] |first=Eric |last=Thurm |date=July 13, 2015 |accessdate=February 1, 2016}}</ref> Vrai Kaiser of [[The Mary Sue]] opined that "that ''Steven Universe'' has reached that level of writing complexity in a relatively short time span is nothing short of astounding".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.themarysue.com/steven-universe-recap-cry-for-help/ |title=Steven Universe Recap: Cry for Help |work=[[The Mary Sue]] |first=Vrai |last=Kaiser |date=July 14, 2015 |accessdate=February 1, 2016}}</ref> |
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==References== |
==References== |
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{{Reflist}} |
{{Reflist|30em}} |
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==External links== |
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*{{IMDb episode|4854464}} |
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{{Steven Universe}} |
{{Steven Universe}} |
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{{animation-tv-episode-stub}} |
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[[Category:Steven Universe episodes]] |
[[Category:Steven Universe episodes]] |
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[[Category:2015 television episodes]] |
[[Category:2015 American television episodes]] |
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Latest revision as of 05:01, 3 January 2025
| "Cry for Help" | |
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| Steven Universe episode | |
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| Episode no. | Season 2 Episode 11 |
| Directed by |
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| Written by |
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| Featured music |
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| Production code | 1031-064 |
| Original air date | July 13, 2015 |
| Running time | 11 minutes |
| Guest appearances | |
| |
"Cry for Help" is the eleventh episode of the second season of American animated television series Steven Universe. The episode was written and storyboarded by Joe Johnston and Jeff Liu; it premiered on July 13, 2015, on Cartoon Network and was watched by 1.714 million viewers.
The episode follows Steven and the Gems attempting to destroy a Gem communication hub when TV broadcasts are disrupted by signals emitted by Peridot from the tower. To demolish the tower, Garnet and Pearl fuse into Sardonyx, leaving Amethyst in dismay. However, as the tower keeps getting fixed, Steven and Amethyst are shocked to see who's really behind the repairs.
Plot
[edit]While Steven (Zach Callison) and Amethyst (Michaela Dietz) are watching the fictional cartoon Crying Breakfast Friends, the broadcast is interrupted by a transmission from Peridot (Shelby Rabara), an agent of the hostile Gem homeworld who is stranded on Earth and attempting to contact her superiors. Garnet (Estelle) deduces that the signal is coming from the Gem Communication Hub, which the Crystal Gems destroyed in the earlier episode "Coach Steven".
The Crystal Gems travel to the Communication Hub and find the antenna has been rebuilt. Previously, Garnet and Amethyst destroyed the antenna by fusing into Sugilite, but Sugilite's destructive personality got out of control, so Garnet rules out fusing with Amethyst this time. Instead, she asks Pearl (Deedee Magno Hall) to fuse with her.
Pearl is thrilled by the offer, and she and Garnet form Sardonyx (Alexia Khadime), who destroys the Communication Hub while boasting about her intelligence and grace. After defusing, Garnet and Pearl celebrate with Steven while Amethyst sulks, feeling excluded.
The next day, the television broadcast is interrupted again, and the Gems return to the Communication Hub to find it reassembled once more. While Sardonyx disassembles it, Amethyst sings the song "Tower of Mistakes", blaming herself for Sugilite's recklessness.
That night, Steven and Amethyst go to the Communication Hub to catch Peridot in the act of rebuilding it, but are shocked to find Pearl rebuilding it instead. Later, when Garnet and Pearl are about to fuse to break down the antenna a third time, Amethyst and Steven stop them and reveal that they know that it was Pearl who rebuilt it. Pearl confesses that she was just trying to create an excuse for more opportunities to enjoy the emotional thrill of fusing with Garnet. Amethyst comes to Pearl's defense, but Garnet is enraged and disgusted by Pearl's betrayal, and demands that Amethyst fuse with her to destroy the Communication Hub.
Sometime later, back home, Steven and Amethyst are watching Crying Breakfast Friends. Garnet is not speaking to Pearl. As the characters on Crying Breakfast Friends forgive each other, Amethyst wistfully remarks that "it sure would be nice if things worked out the way they do in cartoons."
Production
[edit]Episodes of Steven Universe are written and storyboarded by a single team. "Cry for Help" was written by Joe Johnston and Jeff Liu, while Ki-Yong Bae and Jin-Hee Park provided animation direction, and Jasmin Lai served as art director.
Sugilite's tower-smashing punch was inspired by the "Twister-Sock Punch" from Popeye and Donkey Kong's "Giant Punch" from Super Smash Bros.[1] Pearl and Garnet's fusion dance was inspired by the choreography of K-pop artist Sunmi, with storyboards timed to the track "Full Moon".[2]
Music
[edit]The episode features the song "Tower of Mistakes", written by Jeff Liu and featuring vocals by Michaela Dietz as Amethyst.[3]
Broadcast and reception
[edit]"Cry for Help" premiered on Cartoon Network on July 13, 2015. Its initial American broadcast was viewed by approximately 1.714 million viewers. It received a Nielsen household rating of 0.4, meaning that it was seen by 0.4% of all households.[4] The episode was the first in a "StevenBomb", a programming schedule in which one new episode of Steven Universe airs daily during the regular work week; the following four episodes dealt with the aftermath of the events of this episode, its impact on the characters, and Pearl and Garnet's eventual reconciliation.
The episode received positive attention from critics, particularly for the emotional maturity of the story. Also highlighted was the introduction of Sardonyx and Amethyst's character development. Eric Thurm of The A.V. Club said that the confrontation between Garnet and Pearl was "maybe the single most complex moment of the show to date", calling it "rich, complicated, heartbreaking, and simply human".[5] Vrai Kaiser of The Mary Sue opined that "that Steven Universe has reached that level of writing complexity in a relatively short time span is nothing short of astounding".[6]
References
[edit]- ^ Jones-Quartey, Ian (July 14, 2015). "ian jq on Twitter". Retrieved February 1, 2016.
- ^ Johnston, Joe (July 14, 2015). "joe the johnston on Tumblr". Retrieved February 1, 2016.
- ^ Liu, Jeff (July 14, 2015). "Tower Of Mistakes ☆Official Version☆ by Jeff Liu". SoundCloud. Retrieved February 1, 2016.
- ^ Bibel, Sara (July 14, 2015). "Monday Cable Ratings: Home Run Derby Wins Night, 'WWE Raw', 'Major Crimes', 'The Fosters', 'Teen Wolf' & More". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on July 15, 2015. Retrieved August 23, 2015.
- ^ Thurm, Eric (July 13, 2015). "Steven Universe: "Cry For Help"". The A.V. Club. Retrieved February 1, 2016.
- ^ Kaiser, Vrai (July 14, 2015). "Steven Universe Recap: Cry for Help". The Mary Sue. Retrieved February 1, 2016.
External links
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