A new season of the Steven Universe Podcast launched January 25, 2018, and here is a recap of episode 2, released February 1, 2018! The official description:
The Steven Universe Podcast is celebrating Amethyst… with creator Rebecca Sugar, former Executive Producer Ian Jones-Quartey, Michaela Dietz (who voices Amethyst), and Deedee Magno Hall (who voices Pearl). Discover what inspired Amethyst’s weapon and shapeshifting abilities, some of the original design ideas for her character, why she’s the one who’s changed the most over the course of the series, and what Amethyst represents about Rebecca Sugar’s real-life relationship with her brother, Steven. Plus, Amethyst and Pearl both join the pod to talk favorite shapeshifts, snacks, and the benefit of a good remote control!
This is very long because the podcasts are getting long, and I don’t want to skimp on the detail because it’s all very interesting to this wonderful group of nerds who like to read these, but I also don’t want to overwhelm anyone with all the text, so I’ll give you the bulleted highlights first and a more detailed narrative under the read-more.
Highlights:
Amethyst’s earliest character designs, before she was “Amethyst,” were in Rebecca’s Lars/Sadie comics from college.
Amethyst is based physically on Rebecca’s college friend Valerie.
Amethyst represents the present.
The “we kept Amethyst” joke was written BEFORE the writers themselves knew Amethyst’s real origin.
Amethyst’s whip is meant to be Dionysian: fluid and flexible.
Amethyst’s tendency to shapeshift reflects both freedom to be whoever she wants and feeling lost and confused about who she is.
Amethyst has changed the most since the beginning of the series.
Meeting other Quartzes has allowed Amethyst to define herself with more clarity, leading her flexibility to become a choice rather than a reaction.
Smoky Quartz’s yo-yo moves were real tricks derived from Rebecca’s observation of a real yo-yo master.
Smoky represents a Fusion born out of two Gems at their lowest points, reminding viewers that sometimes you do need to ask for help.
Michaela’s favorite Amethyst forms are the baby and Purple Puma.
Deedee thinks Pearl would shapeshift into a graceful bird if she was interested in changing form.
Zach Callison has a theory that Steven and Peridot’s Fusion would be smaller than either of them, and adding Amethyst would make a tiny Shorty Squad Fusion that’s also super loud.
Michaela, performing as Amethyst in the fan Q&A, says she likes her eggs whole (including carton, plus motor oil), that she has indeed posed as someone’s cat for an extended period and has laid eggs as a chicken, does not like eating overcooked remote controls, and loves most of all to shapeshift into Pearl. WOMP WOMP.
The detailed summary, including Rebecca and Ian discussing Amethyst’s origin, Deedee and Amethyst discussing voicing the characters, and fan questions answered in character …
A sequel to her “Everybody loves Amethyst” zine from last year, “Amethyst loves everybody” (Availabe at Connecticon and SDCC) ! Nefeli, look at those Famethysts, I wann cry! (also at Smoky… and then Jasper…) Okay, I wanna cry a lot χαχα…χα…