While watching Steven Universe on Cartoon Network, a show following a group of gems- Steven, Pearl, Garnet, and Amethyst- who protect the world from evil, many would expect to see a fresh, innocent children’s show. However, the cartoon, which has been on the air since November of 2013, touches on certain sensitive topics.
One topic that has been brought up in the show is sexual violence and abusive relationships.
Two characters in the show are named Jasper and Lapis Lazuli. Jasper keeps Lapis in an abusive relationship, forcing Lapis to “fuse” with her, and continuously keep her attached to Jasper.
Breaking it down: fusion in Steven Universe is when two characters, or gems, form into a single character. However, when fused both characters still retain their personalities. They don’t become a singular personality.
Anytime that Lapis wants to escape from Jasper and her abuse, Jasper forces her, physically and emotionally, to stay with her.
Before the episode “Alone at Sea,” Jasper and Lapis’ relationship was based upon their fusion which brought harm to the Crystal Gems, the name of the group of main characters. However, Lapis realizes her mistake and escapes from Jasper, with the help of Steven and the rest of the Crystal Gems.
In the episode titled “Alone at Sea,” Jasper stalks Lapis and begs her to fuse with her again. Lapis, after admitting that she missed Jasper only seconds before, realizes her mistake and says no, telling Jasper, “I never want to feel how I felt with you. It wasn’t healthy.”
Steven then interrupts Jasper’s attempts to convince Lapis to fuse by telling Jasper “She said no!” Lapis then works up the strength to cut off her ties to Jasper for good.
Since then, the characters have been slim on mentioning Jasper’s name around Lapis. In one episode, a friend to the Crystal Gems, Peridot, even goes as far to say, “I don’t like to mention the ‘J’ word around Lapis.”
The creator of the show, Rebecca Sugar, presents the topic of abusive relationships in a heartfelt and captivating way. It’s important to note Steven’s place in the Lapis-Jasper relationship. He’s the friend caring for Lapis during her time of need, telling her that nothing is her fault and sticking up for her when Jasper attempts to keep pursuing Lapis.
The show would be much different, had Lapis picked Jasper again. Lapis never realized she was truly trapped by Jasper until the episode “Alone at Sea.”
Sugar writing about Lapis’ strength to leave Jasper is courageous, and seemingly breaks a glass wall in cartoon show topics. So many shows are scared to write about topics like gay/lesbian relationships, sexual violence and abusive relationships. However, Steven Universe captures them well, as Sugar has opened up about these topics as they relate to her own life.
Steven Universe, while a funny, soft show at times, can be a very educational show with important details about everyday life.