Post by penny82ling on May 8, 2016 17:55:55 GMT -5
Happy Mother's Day, in honor of that I wanted to compare Blythe and her situation with mother to another character with similar mother issues. You might have seen this in other websites, well I bring it here.
I wanted to do a little character comparisons of two characters that seemingly don't have a mother, Blythe Baxter from Littlest Pet Shop and Steven Universe from Steven Universe, I say seemingly don't have a mother, because we don't have any confirmation that Blythe's mom is dead, and technically Rose is still alive, she became half of Steven, so Rose lives on in Steven. Anyway they don't have their mothers, and they both could use their moms in their lives especially with their powers.
They are seemingly in they have unique powers that they inherited from their mom, Blythe inherited the ability to talk to animals which was awaken when she bumped her head in the first episode of LPS, Steven inherited all of his mom's Gem powers, including her shield, and her healing ability, and he is technically he is officially a Quartz, which his mom's rank among the gem race.
They have their powers, without their mother's guidance, but the difference is Steven has his guardians the Crystal Gem to help him out and develop his powers and his destiny, Blythe is going through the talk to animal stuff by herself, no one to guide her, and until half way through season 3 no on knew about her abilities, and since than only one person. She is doing this alone, while Steven has their support system, everyone in Beach City knows about his powers, the Crystal Gems, etc., and they accept him for it.
And there lies one difference in both of them, Blythe worries about what others think of her, her reason for not telling anyone about her abilities for so long was she was afraid of being called a freak which is understandable, Steven on the other hand he doesn't care what people think of him, well for the most part, there is one exception but I will get to that later. Steven is very comfortable in his own skin, while Blythe isn't.
Why is that? Could it be environment? Well in SU, the existence of this alien race called gems is common knowledge for a long time, so there was really nothing to hide, in LPS, the ability to talk to animals is not well known. So Steven lived in this crazy alternate reality while Blythe lives in a reality more like ours.
They both could really use their mothers to help them guide them, but differs what they could do. If Betty was around that would give Blythe someone that understands what she is going through, but n the case of Steven, even if Rose was around she still would not be able to understand fully what he is going through, because Steven is half human half gem, and to our knowledge the only half human half gem in existence, in the words of Garnet, there has never been anything or anyone like Steven, so even if he could talk to Rose who is a full gem, she would be no different from anyone else who can't fully be in Steven's shoes. There is a chance there are other people in the world of LPS that can understand animals and Blythe could find them and have a support group or club, Steven can't do that he is truly alone in that department, they are other humans, they are other gems, but there are no other half human / half gems, Steven is truly one to himself.
Now let's talk about other relationships to the world around them beyond their mother and how they are similar and how they differ. Are they similar or not?
Steven has Garnet, Pearl, and Amethyst they are his maternal figures. You can debate weather they are more like moms or big sisters, or aunts to Steven. But together with Steven's father Greg they form their own little unique family unit. Blythe doesn't have any maternal figures in her life. Mrs. Twombry is more of a grandmother figure or mentor figure. They have a good relationship, but their closeness is not close to the same level of closeness that Steven has with the Crystal Gems, does Mrs. Twombry know about Blythe's abilities? No, so Blythe doesn't trust her that well, I do wonder if deep down Blythe thinks Mrs. T would try to explode for her business if she knew, Blythe has trust issues that is for sure.
As for their fathers, they are both have what I think for cartoons especially a great relationship with their dad. Roger and Greg they act more like dads instead of just comic relief bufons like you see in most cartoons. But Roger like Mrs. Twombry he also doesn't know about Blythe's abilities, so there is trust issues, I don't think Steven would keep stuff like that secret from Greg.
Greg is more of 3 dimensional character than Roger. While Roger sometimes acts like a parent, maybe episode he is just there to provide some funny lines and antics, and be this lovable comic relief dad, while Greg he can do that too, but we see sometimes his worries his inner pain in episodes like "Space Race" or "Story For Steven" and not played for laughs. Greg Universe is in my opinion the best dad in a kid cartoon show today. We need more characters like him.
Blythe and Steven both have love interests, and the way it is handled is night and dry. This is just a mater of opinion, but I have so much more emotional investment in Steven's relationship with Connie, than I do for Blythe's relationship with Josh. The Blythe / Josh episodes I don't care what happens, Josh is a nothing character, he is a Gary sue with the personality of a tree log. Connie has her flaws, and I think she brings out the worst in Steven, but more on that later, but her flaws make her human, make her feel more like a character, make her feel relate able. Episodes like "Full Disclosure" and "Steven's Birthday" when their friendship was in danger, it felt important to me, I don't feel the same way about Blythe and Josh, I just don't. I think the writers on SU do a much better job with the romance than LPS does.
Blythe and Josh relationship is seemingly written just for kids, while Steven and Connie is written for people of all ages. Blythe and Josh relationship have never gone beyond puppy love, we have never seen them fight or have an argument or anything that shows relationship is not all lovey dovey, it takes work, it takes effort, we have seen Steven and Connie fight, sometimes they fight like a married couple which was just adorable BTW. It is real more of a realistic relationship oppose to fantasy relationship. It has so much depth and maturity to it, other shows can learn from that, and that includes LPS.
Blythe best friend is Youngmee, she is the only person to know about Blythe's ability, though that took a while. The person that comes closes to filling that role with Steven is Connie. The people closest to Steven are the Crystal Gems, Greg, and Connie, Steven's doesn't have any male characters that are that close to him. Don't get me wrong, Steven is friends with everyone even Onion, but there is a divide between him and everyone outside of his family and Connie.
Blythe have this unique relationship with the pets of LPS, the person that I think is the Steven equal of that is Peridot. Peridot like the pets they don't fully understand the human world, Steven teaches her stuff about Earth just like Blythe does with the pets. The pets are like Blythe's younger sibling, just like Peridot despite in human years being much older though if you go by gem years, she is like Steven's little sister in my opinion.
I said before about Steven not caring what people think, and Connie bring out the worst in Steven. The only person that can make Steven worry about their opinion on him is Connie. Steven doesn't care what anyone thinks unlike Blythe, but they have times, more than once, when Steven he is so worried about what Connie would think of him, he lies. For example "Steven's Birthday" he stretches himself to look older, in "Open Book" he lied about his opinion on a book series in fear that Connie would think lest of him. So the only time Steven lies is to Connie or for Connie like in "Fusion Crusine", I love Steven and Connie relationship, I don't think Connie is a bad person, she actually is from a strict family. But I think Steven does that is because he cares so much about her, I just find ironic that something as positive about caring and loving (not necessary romantic) someone can cause that. Just shows how much he values his relationship with Connie.
Blythe and Steven they both have their nemesis, Blythe nemesis are the Biskit twins, and Steven nemesis is Onion. I guess they are similar is the nemesis in question is obsessed with them, and might only act the way they do out of affection. Their background can't be anymore different, the Biskits are from a rich upper class family, Onion comes from a blue color family, his father a fisherman and his mother a house wife and a artist on the side.
Steven comes from a small town called Beach City, he is beloved, he is the most popular person in town, everyone loves him, Blythe is from a big city called Downtown City, most of the people don't know her, but outside of a few people, she is very real liked by the populist, not on the level of Steven, but still.
So ends my little rant, I do wonder what would happen if they meet. Maybe Steven could advice Blythe not be so hung up on what others think of her, maybe Blythe can help Steven better understand seagulls and to be nicer to them. Maybe on mother's day they can hug each other in a tone of understanding "I know how you feel", mother's day is probably hard for them.
Anyway hope you enjoyed this little rant, thanks for reading, and tell me what you think.
I wanted to do a little character comparisons of two characters that seemingly don't have a mother, Blythe Baxter from Littlest Pet Shop and Steven Universe from Steven Universe, I say seemingly don't have a mother, because we don't have any confirmation that Blythe's mom is dead, and technically Rose is still alive, she became half of Steven, so Rose lives on in Steven. Anyway they don't have their mothers, and they both could use their moms in their lives especially with their powers.
They are seemingly in they have unique powers that they inherited from their mom, Blythe inherited the ability to talk to animals which was awaken when she bumped her head in the first episode of LPS, Steven inherited all of his mom's Gem powers, including her shield, and her healing ability, and he is technically he is officially a Quartz, which his mom's rank among the gem race.
They have their powers, without their mother's guidance, but the difference is Steven has his guardians the Crystal Gem to help him out and develop his powers and his destiny, Blythe is going through the talk to animal stuff by herself, no one to guide her, and until half way through season 3 no on knew about her abilities, and since than only one person. She is doing this alone, while Steven has their support system, everyone in Beach City knows about his powers, the Crystal Gems, etc., and they accept him for it.
And there lies one difference in both of them, Blythe worries about what others think of her, her reason for not telling anyone about her abilities for so long was she was afraid of being called a freak which is understandable, Steven on the other hand he doesn't care what people think of him, well for the most part, there is one exception but I will get to that later. Steven is very comfortable in his own skin, while Blythe isn't.
Why is that? Could it be environment? Well in SU, the existence of this alien race called gems is common knowledge for a long time, so there was really nothing to hide, in LPS, the ability to talk to animals is not well known. So Steven lived in this crazy alternate reality while Blythe lives in a reality more like ours.
They both could really use their mothers to help them guide them, but differs what they could do. If Betty was around that would give Blythe someone that understands what she is going through, but n the case of Steven, even if Rose was around she still would not be able to understand fully what he is going through, because Steven is half human half gem, and to our knowledge the only half human half gem in existence, in the words of Garnet, there has never been anything or anyone like Steven, so even if he could talk to Rose who is a full gem, she would be no different from anyone else who can't fully be in Steven's shoes. There is a chance there are other people in the world of LPS that can understand animals and Blythe could find them and have a support group or club, Steven can't do that he is truly alone in that department, they are other humans, they are other gems, but there are no other half human / half gems, Steven is truly one to himself.
Now let's talk about other relationships to the world around them beyond their mother and how they are similar and how they differ. Are they similar or not?
Steven has Garnet, Pearl, and Amethyst they are his maternal figures. You can debate weather they are more like moms or big sisters, or aunts to Steven. But together with Steven's father Greg they form their own little unique family unit. Blythe doesn't have any maternal figures in her life. Mrs. Twombry is more of a grandmother figure or mentor figure. They have a good relationship, but their closeness is not close to the same level of closeness that Steven has with the Crystal Gems, does Mrs. Twombry know about Blythe's abilities? No, so Blythe doesn't trust her that well, I do wonder if deep down Blythe thinks Mrs. T would try to explode for her business if she knew, Blythe has trust issues that is for sure.
As for their fathers, they are both have what I think for cartoons especially a great relationship with their dad. Roger and Greg they act more like dads instead of just comic relief bufons like you see in most cartoons. But Roger like Mrs. Twombry he also doesn't know about Blythe's abilities, so there is trust issues, I don't think Steven would keep stuff like that secret from Greg.
Greg is more of 3 dimensional character than Roger. While Roger sometimes acts like a parent, maybe episode he is just there to provide some funny lines and antics, and be this lovable comic relief dad, while Greg he can do that too, but we see sometimes his worries his inner pain in episodes like "Space Race" or "Story For Steven" and not played for laughs. Greg Universe is in my opinion the best dad in a kid cartoon show today. We need more characters like him.
Blythe and Steven both have love interests, and the way it is handled is night and dry. This is just a mater of opinion, but I have so much more emotional investment in Steven's relationship with Connie, than I do for Blythe's relationship with Josh. The Blythe / Josh episodes I don't care what happens, Josh is a nothing character, he is a Gary sue with the personality of a tree log. Connie has her flaws, and I think she brings out the worst in Steven, but more on that later, but her flaws make her human, make her feel more like a character, make her feel relate able. Episodes like "Full Disclosure" and "Steven's Birthday" when their friendship was in danger, it felt important to me, I don't feel the same way about Blythe and Josh, I just don't. I think the writers on SU do a much better job with the romance than LPS does.
Blythe and Josh relationship is seemingly written just for kids, while Steven and Connie is written for people of all ages. Blythe and Josh relationship have never gone beyond puppy love, we have never seen them fight or have an argument or anything that shows relationship is not all lovey dovey, it takes work, it takes effort, we have seen Steven and Connie fight, sometimes they fight like a married couple which was just adorable BTW. It is real more of a realistic relationship oppose to fantasy relationship. It has so much depth and maturity to it, other shows can learn from that, and that includes LPS.
Blythe best friend is Youngmee, she is the only person to know about Blythe's ability, though that took a while. The person that comes closes to filling that role with Steven is Connie. The people closest to Steven are the Crystal Gems, Greg, and Connie, Steven's doesn't have any male characters that are that close to him. Don't get me wrong, Steven is friends with everyone even Onion, but there is a divide between him and everyone outside of his family and Connie.
Blythe have this unique relationship with the pets of LPS, the person that I think is the Steven equal of that is Peridot. Peridot like the pets they don't fully understand the human world, Steven teaches her stuff about Earth just like Blythe does with the pets. The pets are like Blythe's younger sibling, just like Peridot despite in human years being much older though if you go by gem years, she is like Steven's little sister in my opinion.
I said before about Steven not caring what people think, and Connie bring out the worst in Steven. The only person that can make Steven worry about their opinion on him is Connie. Steven doesn't care what anyone thinks unlike Blythe, but they have times, more than once, when Steven he is so worried about what Connie would think of him, he lies. For example "Steven's Birthday" he stretches himself to look older, in "Open Book" he lied about his opinion on a book series in fear that Connie would think lest of him. So the only time Steven lies is to Connie or for Connie like in "Fusion Crusine", I love Steven and Connie relationship, I don't think Connie is a bad person, she actually is from a strict family. But I think Steven does that is because he cares so much about her, I just find ironic that something as positive about caring and loving (not necessary romantic) someone can cause that. Just shows how much he values his relationship with Connie.
Blythe and Steven they both have their nemesis, Blythe nemesis are the Biskit twins, and Steven nemesis is Onion. I guess they are similar is the nemesis in question is obsessed with them, and might only act the way they do out of affection. Their background can't be anymore different, the Biskits are from a rich upper class family, Onion comes from a blue color family, his father a fisherman and his mother a house wife and a artist on the side.
Steven comes from a small town called Beach City, he is beloved, he is the most popular person in town, everyone loves him, Blythe is from a big city called Downtown City, most of the people don't know her, but outside of a few people, she is very real liked by the populist, not on the level of Steven, but still.
So ends my little rant, I do wonder what would happen if they meet. Maybe Steven could advice Blythe not be so hung up on what others think of her, maybe Blythe can help Steven better understand seagulls and to be nicer to them. Maybe on mother's day they can hug each other in a tone of understanding "I know how you feel", mother's day is probably hard for them.
Anyway hope you enjoyed this little rant, thanks for reading, and tell me what you think.