"Coach Steven" is the twentieth episode of the
first season of American
animated
Animation is a method by which still figures are manipulated to appear as moving images. In traditional animation, images are drawn or painted by hand on transparent celluloid sheets to be photographed and exhibited on film. Today, most ani ...
television series ''
Steven Universe
''Steven Universe'' is an American animated television series created by Rebecca Sugar for Cartoon Network. It tells the coming-of-age story of a young boy, Steven Universe ( Zach Callison), who lives with the Crystal Gems—magical, mineral ...
'', which premiered on August 21, 2014 on
Cartoon Network. It was written and storyboarded by Raven M. Molisee and Paul Villeco.
The episode features the debut of Sugilite (voiced by guest star
Nicki Minaj
Onika Tanya Maraj-Petty (; born December 8, 1982), known professionally as Nicki Minaj ( ), is a Trinidadian-born rapper based in the United States. She is known for her musical versatility, animated Flow (rapping), flow in her rapping, alter e ...
), the fusion of
Garnet
Garnets () are a group of silicate minerals that have been used since the Bronze Age as gemstones and abrasives.
All species of garnets possess similar physical properties and crystal forms, but differ in chemical composition. The different s ...
and
Amethyst. After witnessing the power of Sugilite,
Steven becomes obsessed with becoming stronger, to the distress of
Pearl
A pearl is a hard, glistening object produced within the soft tissue (specifically the mantle) of a living shelled mollusk or another animal, such as fossil conulariids. Just like the shell of a mollusk, a pearl is composed of calcium carb ...
, who believes he mistakes brute force for "real" strength.
Plot
The Crystal Gems arrive at the ancient Gem Communication Hub to destroy the malfunctioning antenna. Garnet (
Estelle) asks Amethyst (
Michaela Dietz
Michaela Dietz (born November 1, 1982) is a Korean-American voice actress whose professional career started in 2005. She voiced the character of the lost 4th dinosaur member Riff on the PBS children's television series ''Barney & Friends'', Amet ...
) to
fuse with her to destroy it. Pearl (
Deedee Magno Hall
Deedee Magno Hall is an American actress and singer. She is best known for her work in the pop group The Party, and as the voice of Pearl in the animated series ''Steven Universe'' and its epilogue series '' Steven Universe Future''.
Early lif ...
) objects, cautious of the instability of Garnet and Amethyst's combined form, but Garnet dismisses her misgivings and fuses with Amethyst, producing Sugilite (
Nicki Minaj
Onika Tanya Maraj-Petty (; born December 8, 1982), known professionally as Nicki Minaj ( ), is a Trinidadian-born rapper based in the United States. She is known for her musical versatility, animated Flow (rapping), flow in her rapping, alter e ...
). Reveling in her immense size and strength, Sugilite begins recklessly smashing the pillars of the antenna with her giant, wrecking-ball–like
flail
A flail is an agriculture, agricultural tool used for threshing, the process of separating cereal, grains from their husks.
It is usually made from two or more large sticks attached by a short chain; one stick is held and swung, causing the othe ...
. When Steven (
Zach Callison
Zachry Dean Callison (born October 23, 1997) is an American actor and singer. He is primarily known as the titular voice of Cartoon Network's ''Steven Universe'', and its follow-ups '' Steven Universe: The Movie'' and ''Steven Universe Future''.
...
) is hit by debris, Pearl takes him home, leaving Sugilite to finish the demolition alone. Moments after they teleport out, falling debris destroys the warp pad.
Later, Steven shows off his injury to his friends Lars (
Matthew Moy
Matthew James Moy (born February 3, 1984) is an American actor and artist. He co-starred as Han Lee on the CBS sitcom ''2 Broke Girls'' and provides the voice of Lars Barriga on ''Steven Universe'' and ''Steven Universe Future''.
Early life an ...
) and Sadie (
Kate Micucci
Kate Micucci ( ; born March 31, 1980) is an American actress, comedian and musician who is half of the musical comedy duo Garfunkel and Oates. Some of her roles include Stephanie Gooch in '' Scrubs'', Ally in '' 'Til Death'', Shelley in '' Rai ...
). When they mock how much Steven is making of a tiny cut, he proposes that they all need to become stronger, and enlists his father Greg (
Tom Scharpling
Thomas John Giuliano II (born February 9, 1969), known professionally as Tom Scharpling, is an American comedian, television writer, producer, music video director, voice actor, and radio host. He is best known for hosting the weekly Internet r ...
) to build a makeshift gym on the beach. Steven explains to Pearl what he's doing: he wants to be stronger so he can be more useful, like Sugilite. When Pearl tells him, "There are different ways of being strong," Steven retorts, "I want to be strong in the ''real'' way."
As Lars, Sadie, and Greg begin their workout, Pearl sings the song "Strong in the Real Way", lamenting Steven's admiration of Sugilite's brute strength and hoping she herself can be a more positive role model for him. Steven sings a second verse, coaching the others in their workout before beginning his own.
The next morning, Steven is too sore to move. Sugilite comes stomping up the beach, outraged that Pearl and Steven left her behind and unwilling to separate. She begins attacking Pearl and smashing Greg's gym. As Pearl despairs that she isn't strong enough to protect Steven, he grabs his megaphone and coaches her back into self-confidence. Heartened, Pearl allows Sugilite to chase her to the top of the hill, and then throws her spear at the cliff beneath Sugilite's foot so she loses her footing. Sugilite falls to the beach below, and her flail lands on her head, separating her. As Garnet and Amethyst reel on the sand, Pearl embraces them; and Garnet apologizes for not listening to Pearl's advice earlier.
Music
The episode features the song "Strong in the Real Way", performed by
Deedee Magno Hall
Deedee Magno Hall is an American actress and singer. She is best known for her work in the pop group The Party, and as the voice of Pearl in the animated series ''Steven Universe'' and its epilogue series '' Steven Universe Future''.
Early lif ...
(as Pearl) and
Zach Callison
Zachry Dean Callison (born October 23, 1997) is an American actor and singer. He is primarily known as the titular voice of Cartoon Network's ''Steven Universe'', and its follow-ups '' Steven Universe: The Movie'' and ''Steven Universe Future''.
...
(as Steven), composed by series creator
Rebecca Sugar
Rebecca Rea Sugar (born July 9, 1987) is an American animator and screenwriter. She is best known for being the creator of the Cartoon Network series ''Steven Universe'', making her the first non-binary person to independently create a series fo ...
. Guitars were performed by
Stemage
Grant Henry (born April 3, 1979), better known by his stage name Stemage, is an American guitarist and composer. He is known for his video game and television soundtracks, including Cartoon Network's animated series ''Steven Universe''. He is a ...
.
Broadcast and reception
"Coach Steven" had an advance screening at
San Diego Comic-con
San Diego Comic-Con International is a comic book convention and nonprofit multi-genre entertainment event held annually in San Diego, California since 1970. The name, as given on its website, is Comic-Con International: San Diego; but it is ...
and had its television premiere on
Cartoon Network on August 21, 2014. Its initial American broadcast was viewed by approximately 1.852 million viewers and received a
Nielsen household rating of 0.35, meaning it was viewed by 0.35% of all households.
Cecilia Mazumdar Stanger of the
Minnesota Daily
The ''Minnesota Daily'' is the campus newspaper of the University of Minnesota, published Monday and Thursday while school is in session, and published weekly on Wednesdays during summer sessions. Published since 1900, the paper is currently the la ...
wrote that she found the episode disappointing at first, especially because guest star Minaj did not participate in the episode's song. However, she adds that the episode "had all of the elements that make Steven Universe such a compelling cartoon."
In the Italian dub of the episode, Lars' line "We're not married" was censored.
References
{{Steven Universe
Steven Universe episodes
2015 American television episodes