So I’ve noticed that pearl tends to do this a lot with garnet, which I had thought about, but didn’t pay any mind to.
With the episode Back to the Barn, it was revealed that Pearls are mass produced “accesories” whose only purpose is to look pretty (and whatever their master may want idk).
So I’m thinking this is a leftover habit from when she did serve the purpose of a Pearl.
She’s a pearl! She’s a made-to-order servant just like the hundreds of other pearls being flaunted around back on Homeworld.
Oohhhhh boy, an episode seemingly made out of love for me personally! Time for some quick Pearl Thoughts, one of my favourite things.
So basically, continuing my Star Wars analogy from ages ago, what just happened in Oath headcanon land is
pre-Back to the Barn: Pearls are R2s
post-Back to the Barn: Pearls are 3POs
Not
gonna lie, I’m really going to miss blue-collar-y maintenance pearls
(but watch me still use that as a sort of dumping ground for repurposed pearls
who didn’t perform up to snuff for whatever reason, and also our Pearl being an
apparently “fancy one” implies there’s a gradation there as well).
Things that stood out to me in particular:
– Pearls are meant to literally belong to somebody (combines well with the made-to-order statement earlier), “made to take orders, not to give them”, and are apparently not considered (or allowed) to be independent Gems – “Where do you get off acting like your own Gem? You’re just a pearl!”
This of course brings to mind Friend Ship – bothPearl’s breakdown over being “just a pearl” and Garnet’s subsequent words to her about being her own Gem and controlling her own destiny – and the apparent effects of those events on Pearl now (culminating in her punching Peridot in the face).
– Pearls are a status symbol – Peridot describes Pearl as “an accessory” and “somebody’s shiny toy” meant to be flaunted and to “stand around and look nice and hold your stuff for you” (literally holding – or holding in their gemspace? I can completely see high-up Gems using and treating pearls as little more than expensive designer handbags) – in interesting and rather frivolous contrast with the apparent general utilitarianism we’ve so far seen of Homeworld (and Peridot’s reaction to the idea of having a pearl – and being seen with her own pearl by other Homeworld Gems – was very notable).
Peridot: So, who do you belong to, anyway? Pearl: Nobody! Peridot: Then…what are you for?
I’ll just lazily quote myself here (and re-reading that post now was really interesting!) and say that if/since(?) pearls are bought and sold and
literally owned by other Gems, I like the idea of Rose’s affectionate “my
Pearl“ being a term of endearment between the two, but also an
expression Pearl has reclaimed for herself by choosing to
dedicate herself to Rose and making it a badge of pride instead of
something used to devalue her and tear her down and make her
something lesser. “You are beneath me,” as Peridot screams.
There’s now the question of why our Pearl would be considered defective, as Jasper calls her. I’m personally very invested in this not being simply because she’s doing things that pearls “aren’t meant to” such as taking an interest in engineering and learning to fight and generally disregarding orders, but I guess this remains to be seen.
I’m super into Pink Diamond theorising, and this all fits into that very nicely, opening up the doors to all sorts of courtly politics and intrigue-flavoured stuff.
The fact that people are calling Pearl terrible again after this episode bothers me so much, and here’s why:
1) This episode was literally made to show you how Pearl has developed as a character. Steven even gave a mini speech about how great Pearl is.
You’re wrong. If pearls are really like you say they are, then Pearl isn’t common at all. She trained herself to fight. She learned how to build things.And she works hard every day to be greater than she already is! That’s not common. That’s amazing!
2) You’re looking at this character who has undergone so much character development since the first episode of this series, someone who has struggled with so many internal and external conflicts in this show and had a positive development as time has gone on, and saying she’s the worst.
“She’s terrible. The worst. I wish she wasn’t part of the Crystal Gems.”
“She’s manipulative and mean. She’s literally the most awful character on the show.“
We’re looking at probably one of the most complex characters in the series here. We just learned that the servant Pearl theory was correct- not only that, but that Pearls are accessories. Pearl is supposed to be some object that higher class gems use as an accessory, be something that just follows orders, doesn’t have a mind of her own. But she taught herself to fight and be a mechanic and be her own gem. She’s not perfect, but she tries so hard. She makes mistakes, she’s done some things and made some choices that weren’t the best, but she’s learning.
SURPRISE, people can grow and learn from their mistakes!
Her relationship with the other Gems has been improving… hell, her self-confidence/self-esteem has even started improving. She’s not just a Pearl. Yes, she is a Pearl, as she said in the newest episode, but she’s her own Pearl. She’s not letting others control her destiny, she’s not going to let herself be pushed around anymore.
She’s amazing. She’s relatable. Her struggles are things that thousands of people can relate to- Pearl is so strong and she inspires me more than anyone in real life ever has. Don’t take those things away from her just because you want an easy target to bully on a kid’s show. (Especially one like Steven Universe, which has messages that teach you about acceptance and anti-bullying)
Don’t ask for complex characters if you aren’t going to appreciate them.
Ok, since I’ve been seeing people asking if San Angel is an actual town. No. But it’s based in Patzcuaro, Michoacan, in Mexico. It’s probably one of the most beautiful places on Dia de Los Muertos. As you can see on the night picture, that’s how the town looks on that night. It’s amazing, really.
Here’s your first proper look at Disney’s newest Princess, Moana, who, as People reports, will be voiced by newcomer Auliíi Cravalho.
The film, which will hit theaters on November 23, 2016, is set in Oceania, and follows Moana, a born navigator, who is searching for a fabled island. On her incredible journey she will encounter her hero, the legendary demi-god Maui (voiced by
Dwayne Johnson), and they will traverse together the open ocean on an action-packed voyage, encountering enormous sea creatures, breathtaking underworlds and ancient folklore.
“Moana is such an amazing character. She’s brave, she is so empowered, she knows what she wants and she’s not afraid to get it, and I think that’s something that I can relate to as well. I just love watching how she goes along in this wonderful movie and grows as a person and helps her culture along the way,” said Native Hawaiian Cravalho—see her in the video below.
AngelMihe 