Why Garnet is the most important cartoon characters in the 2010s
I am made of Lo-o-o-o-ove, and it’s stronger than you.
The 2010s had a multitude of western cartoons: Gravity Falls, Adventure Time, Young Justice, BoJack Horseman, Steven Universe etc. shows that continue to break the boundaries of storytelling, and maturity in animation. Steven Universe is a grand example raising grounded topics and representation for a younger audience, albeit via Gems, interdimensional beings that can change forms and fuse with one another. Although the series follows Steven’s adventures, Garnet is the one Gem that stands out. Her character alone is regarded as a big influence for LGBTQ+ representation in cartoons for a whole new generation.
I will be going in-depth of this character’s role amongst the Gems, her backstory, struggles, and the substantial development to the biggest wedding in cartoon history. I will be going through certain plot details, so a SPOILER Warning is now in effect.
Go ahead and try to hit me if you’re able.
Garnet acts as the leader to the surviving Crystal Gems; Pearl, Amethyst and Rose Quartz’s son, Steven Universe, but also serves as a mother figure to Steven. Garnet is stoic, but also considerate, loving and supportive. As leader of the Crystal Gems, Garnet must always keep her emotions in-check, as seen in episode “Mindful Education”, its confirmed that she practises meditation in order to control her inner turmoil.
In episode “Giant Woman”, The concept of fusion was introduced, two or more Gems are able to merge together to not only become a new entity, but combine their powers too. It was then we’re fans began to speculate if Garnet was a fusion herself, considering her tall stature and immense strength. It wasn’t until the finale to season one, “Jail Break”, that the speculations were confirmed. In a previous episode, Garnet was poofed by Jasper (a Homeworld Gem), while in search of the Garnet, Steven freed two Gems held captive; Ruby and Sapphire. When the two Gems embraced, they fuse into none other than Garnet.
The surprise reveal of Garnet’s counterparts was one of the biggest reveals in the show’s history, until episode “A Single Pale Rose”, in next four seasons, and combine that with her iconic “Stronger Than You” song as she fights Jasper made for one of the most defining moments for the character.
Something entirely new
Garnet’s backstory would finally be explored in episode “The Answer” where she promised to tell Steven how Ruby and Sapphire came to be. In the height of the “Gem War” on earth, Homeworld Gems were sent to crush the rebellion. Sapphire was an aristocratic Gem with the ability to see into the future. Ruby was one of three common soldiers sent to protect her. During a fight with Pearl and rebel leader, Rose Quartz, Ruby jumps towards Sapphire to save her from Pearl’s sword, in doing so however causes both gems to accidentally fuse into Garnet for the first time. Fusion between two different Gems is considered taboo on Homeworld, so the two ran away to earth for refuge.
While stranded on earth, Ruby and Sapphire dwell on their decisions and their altered fates. With time to themselves, the two gems exchange their love for each other, and share their thoughts on fusing together. They decide to fuse into Garnet again, although pleased with her new form, she is still confused about who she is. When Garnet bumps into Rose again, Rose assures her that she doesn’t need to contemplate, for she was already the Answer. When Steven asks what the answer was, Garnet simply replies ‘love’. With that idea imbedded in her head you can only imagine wanting to relish her identity, and to earn such validation from someone who has just become the most important Gem in her life.
Garnet is more than just a fusion, she is the love Ruby & Sapphire share, as is the reason why they hardly ever defuse, yet will only do so on occasions when the situation called for it (episode “Hit the Diamond”), but there have been situations when their inner feelings became imbalanced, and caused them to slip apart. In episode “Cry for Help”, Pearl manipulated a situation to get Garnet to fuse with her into Sardonyx more than once (thou not the first time), in the following episode, “Keystone Motel”, the treachery was too much for Ruby and Sapphire to bare that it caused them to separate in frustration. When Pearl and Garnet are trapped together in “Friend Ship”, Pearl stress that the reason she wanted to fuse with Garnet was to get closer to the feeling Ruby & Sapphire had with their relationship, and to what makes Garnet so confident and complete. Garnet responds to her that it’s not easy being control of her fusion, but she’s strong because of the impact she has on the team. Her dialogue with Pearl about responsibility and looking up to others for strength shows the struggle and dedication in Garnet’s character.
Being ‘The Answer’ was the main title Garnet proudly went by, it’s why she and others admired Rose so much, all that however would fall apart when Steven discovers Rose’s true identity was revealed to be a diamond, Pink Diamond of Homeworld who adopted the identity of a rebel leader against her home to protect the planet she invaded, resulting in millions of deaths (revealed later to be corruptions to the Gems), faked her death as Pink Diamond, and transformed into Steven Universe when she was pregnant. This revelation not only causes Garnet to slip again, but Sapphire is outraged by the deception of Rose, and blames herself for not questioning her and ruby’s role as Garnet, or Rose for that matter. When Sapphire storms off, what hurt Ruby was when Sapphire stated that their relationship was nothing but a lie. Although heartbroken, Ruby went off for time to herself, it is then where she finally starts to question what Sapphire said, and begins to think about herself for once. Think about it, when she was on Homeworld, all she knew was combat and her role as a Ruby, and when she was Garnet, she never took it upon herself to go against what Rose told her, so she took up the role of a cowgirl in the process of soul searching, and sings “Ruby Rider”, a song that proclaimed her new found independence and joy. Yet behind the surface, Ruby admitted to Steven that she didn’t feel complete without Sapphire, and she doesn’t feel like her own Gem, but Steven reassures her that she is still herself and it was normal for her to want to be her Sapphire. At the end of “The Question”, deciding not go back to being the Answer, Ruby decides to journey back to Sapphire, and makes a radical decision… by proposing to Sapphire for marriage, which she accepts.
Lets only think about love
Episode “Reunited” marked the first gay wedding in children’s cartoon history. Breaking the norms of gender identity, Ruby being the masculine one is wearing a wedding dress, while Sapphire, the feminine one is wearing a suit. Although the wedding and Garnet represent the love they share, this is the first chance Ruby and Sapphire has to share it with each other. Ruby states that she never felt that she was good enough on her own, but spending time with Sapphire taught her that it was ok to be herself, and that she wants be herself with her. Sapphire expresses when looking into the future, it would always result in a certain one, but when Ruby pulled her from her destiny, it resulted in new multiple possibilities in her future, and with the decision they share, it is up to them to change their lives. With their vows proclaimed, the two Gems are declared Garnet!
Garnet represent the amalgamation of gender fluidity, love, strength, femininity, compassion, confidence, foresight, and leadership. Her character has gone through the most development than any other character in the show. Ruby and Sapphire got together by breaking the shackles of fate and conformity, to not only discover a new identity, but to express their love through that identity. Garnet is always the first to take charge in the course of action, but takes the time to spend with her friends, and encourage others to embrace their identity. She’s had her struggles, yet has always learned to overcome her doubts, culminating in the most important wedding in cartoon history that not only realised progression, but a representation of LGBTQ+ characters in media.
Ruby, Sapphire, Garnet have defined a generation of representation, and is why she is regarded as the most influential, and important character in recent memory.
