Coming to the show late gives a different perspective, I think, than folks who have followed from the beginning. The rest of you guys have dealt with Cartoon Network's usual schedule wonkiness; I've seen the ebb and flow of the story via Archive Binge.
I think the show is trying to balance the flow of the story - you don't just want to constantly jam the schedule with tense confrontations like "Earthlings" or "Mirror Gem"/"Ocean Gem". Taken with a reasonable pace between episodes, the flow is pretty solid, I think. This isn't to say that certain episodes couldn't be written better, but I think the prime contribution to the pacing issue is CN, not the show itself.
If I have a feel for the pacing, I think in another 2-3 episodes, we're going to see another major flare-up of the larger Homeworld Gems story arc. I even have a specific guess as to what will happen - somehow, Jasper will be let out, and she, in her corruption-induced haze, will travel to where Pink Diamond was shattered, and the Crystal Gems will deal with some aftermath of that.
Reminder: Offscreen Villainy does not count towards Complete Monster.That's what I've been saying for some time myself. It's more about the schedule than it is the quality. I've shot down a few edits of seasonal rot because a rot indicates a consistent, extended period of decline, not just a few episodes someone doesn't like.
It's only been 11 episodes since the stuff with Jasper, even if it feels alternatively longer and shorter than that.
I feel like it wasn't even that long ago that the Rubies were defeated anyway. As far as Arc Fatigue goes this would be pretty minor.
Finally watched "Gem Harvest' and now i just want to watch Aqua Teen Hunger Force. I do have the season 2 DVD along with the movie...
It's basically a Thanksgiving special. Nice and non-threatening with an SU twist. I thought it was hilarious how easily Lapis is able to laugh at her own backstory now, especially given how uncomfortable that made the Crystal Gems.
As someone who finished watching the show a couple of weeks ago, I can confirm that there aren't really any major pacing problems. There are a few episodes that felt rushed or unimportant, and I think Lapis' story wasn't handled very well, but the overall flow is good. And as much as I would like to know more about Homeworld/Rebelion stuff, I find Beach City episodes as important as them. After all, it is a huge part of setting as well.
You finished the show? Are you from the future?
No pacing problems, from a binge perspective?
Water gem's minor arc-ing wasn't done well, how so?
Not all Bleach City episodes are as important as they'd want to believe.
Rules of the Internet 45. Rule 45 is a lie. Check out my art if you notice.I meant, I caught up with the most recent episodes. Sorry, English isn't my first language. By Lapis story I meant how narrative kinda forgets about her after she gets rescued and starts living with Peridot. It might have been done to avoid repetition of Peridot's marvels at Earth, especially as Lapis shows familiarity with the planet, but still it feels like "there was no Lapis, and now there is". It feels odd. And BC episodes not being important from story perspective doesn't mean there is nothing going on for the secondary characters. It would be hard to relate to BC sitizens if we would just be told "yeah, there are those people", while they are supposed to be Steven's friends. Giving them some spotlight makes the world feel more alive.
edited 9th Dec '16 2:57:48 AM by Kara
Well, I just meant...not all...as in we could do without some and be at the loss of nothing.
But I guess you meant Water gem's transition into secondary character status wasn't handled well due to appearance frequency...she needs more focus, eh?
Rules of the Internet 45. Rule 45 is a lie. Check out my art if you notice.Well, yeah. I agree that some episodes don't hold much value, especially Lars centered. What is it with him and Status Quo? Still, they tend to at least be entertaining, and (most) characters are fairly interesting or at least not boring.
As for Lapis, when she first appeared, it was important. When she fused with Jasper, it was important. But now it feels like the crew have no idea what to do with her anymore. Maybe there is something great for her in the future, maybe there is more backstory (she DOES look too familiar with the world), but right now she is just... there.
I mentioned this recently, but it does feel like Lapis has been put on the backburner for the time being. Hopefully we'll get back to her soon.
I had mixed feelings on the Thanksgiving episode, and part of the reason for that is the first few minutes made it look like it was going to focus on Lapis and Peridot. I felt a little cheated.
Lapis is one of my favorites, so I'll join in on the "man, 'Gem Harvest' had my hopes up for a Lapis-focused episode" train (Peridot's okay, but I'm not nearly as enamored with her as others are).
I think the catch is that Lapis does have a lot of issues that would be fascinating to look at (though hey, the fact that she's trying to joke about it, even if it makes everyone else feel really awkward, shows that she's making some progress), I don't know how much that can be shown without sidetracking the entire rest of the story. Some of it was shown in "Alone At Sea," but just what tied in with Japser (and, by extension, Malachite). Either there would need to be another plot development that mirrors part of Lapis' backstory, or Lapis would have to make a connection with a non-gem to explore socializing and how it was affected (and she's shown no desire to leave the farm, so who knows how that would happen).
For various reasons, though, I think the next gem to get major focus is Garnet. She hasn't had that much of a role in Season 4 so far; I think she's due.
Reminder: Offscreen Villainy does not count towards Complete Monster.OK, so something stupid is going on about Lauren Zuke involving 4Chan, apparently. Some anon made a fake blog as her and acting like Rebecca Sugar doesn't want her shipping Lapidot or something, and people are taking it seriously. It boggles my mind how people can keep acting like 4Chan is somehow a reliable source of info.
Have you any dreams you'd like to sell?Yeah, it's tied to the rumors about Zuke leaving the show.
Basically, someone found a tumblr blog that was supposedly run by Zuke, and there were posts on that blog about how the work environment is abusive, Rebecca Sugar doesn't like Zuke putting in ship tease moments for their preferred couple, and that they were fired/are leaving the show, among other things.
There's no proof that it's real though, and considering the fanbase's history of treating Zuke poorly, I could see it being faked in order to mess with them.
Sigh... that's the kind of thing that had me reticent to engage about the show even as I was starting to warm up to it.
Can't we go back to stuff like conjecturing about possible Lego versions of characters? I did think of one way to do the main cast and keep the variation in body styles, but it does involve invoking a few Base Breaker design elements amongst the Lego fandom.
It's a combination of different elements for several builds. Normal minifigs, the short-leg minifigs, design lines to imply certain body shapes, non-standard head toppers for things like Peridot's or Garnet's hair... and most controversial of all, using minidolls rather than minifigs for certain characters. Pearl, for example, probably would work better as a minidoll.
Reminder: Offscreen Villainy does not count towards Complete Monster.Yeah. I mostly just try sticking to a certain set of art and fanfic blogs. I've gotten involved in discourse here and there (relating to whether or not Jasper should be redeemed), but I really prefer to avoid it. Especially when the discourse involves the staff, since I consider that an area that's off limits. Those are real people, and don't deserve to be targeted.
But they're still showing a passage of time, and having it relate to the plot. It's an important detail that Lapis and Jasper were Malachite for a year, but because they basically glossed over winter and fall, it looks like the main cast just didn't give a shit about finding them until it was spring again.

Yeah, I know cartoon production takes time, but the hiatuses really do throw things out of whack.
Honestly, you'd probably hear more complaints about the show's pacing if it wasn't for all the Stevenbombs. It's easier to deal with a mediocre episode when a really good episode airs the very next day. That's probably why some people have been lukewarm on the recent batch of episodes, because the show's on a regular schedule now, and most of the episodes have been fairly self-contained.