Steven Universe

Ok, so lets talk about Bismuth. This is... this is an episode I think needed to happen, and I like the way most of it was portrayed. I'm very quickly going to post a youtube video that I think shares a lot of points this episode has, but in a clearer manner than I can ramble about them, soooo feel free to watch it if you think it'll help. Either way, prepare for a wall of text.

I think Bismuth is an interesting character in the sense that she is never directly stated to be a villain. Indeed, in many ways Bismuth is perhaps the most devout of the crystal gems, and she is the only one who offers Steven the advice to be *better* than Rose. Like through out the series, the gems always talk about Steven living up to Rose and what not, but it's stifling to be under such a shadow - indeed, we even see this in Steven Vs Amethyst.

The episodes greatest strength comes from showing that not all 'evil' lies in the opposing sides. It dictates the idea of straying too far down the path, that eventually you lose yourself to it - And in many ways, Bismuth is... right? In war, a leader should never put their enemies troops before their own. The problem is, Bismuth takes this to mean that homeworld gems are lower than Crystal gems. That only Crystal gems fight for their allies, that only they have friends... except we know this isn't true. The Rubies that show up obviously have a close bond, and work well together as friends and allies.
Bismuth's problem is that she no longer see's Gems. She see's two sides in a war, and she's on one side - Which means to her, Homeworld Gems aren't important. Rose, on the otherhand, retains the idea that all gems should be saved, no matter what side they're on. This is... this is a moral I think is implied well throughout the story, but I don't think is ever touched on enough to make the point of it come across. I know many people are distressed that Steven doesn't 'magically talk Bismuth out of it like he does everyone else', but.. Steven never really talks anyone out of it. Peridot is left to discover the joys of Earth herself, Steven merely... pushes her that way. Steven gives them time, and I suspect given time he'd have done the same with Bismuth.
...Except she doesn't give him time. She attacks him, and he's forced to kill her - and to be honest, I'm not even sure he does. Considering how long it takes Bismuth to destablise, I wouldn't be surprised if part of it was her own doing, knowing she was beaten again. Knowing that Rose/Steven would never accept that they should place their friends lives over those of others. Part of me even hopes Bismuth knows she's doing wrong, which is why she doesn't take the chance to strike Steven down in those few moments she has left - in fact if she did so, she'd even have come out on top.

...I dunno I'm rambling now. I just think this was a really important episode, and was handled better than many people are making it out to be.