I didn't really like Peridot this episode. This lesson from last episode with Pearl seems forgotten here. How is that she hasn't accepted that Garnet is a fusion all times? Why is Steven being treated like he was back when Peridot was on the run?
I think it’s more a matter of Peridot slowly but surely unlearning some very negative attitudes and assumptions. It’s not going to happen overnight, but rather be a gradual process that will continue to grow and evolve over her time with the Crystal Gems.
I’d find it a lot less convincing/compelling of a shift for her character if she were to immediately adjust to a more positive attitude towards the Crystal Gems.
-Attilee
they’re definitely going with a slow burn for Peridot’s “redemption”, and it makes sense because people don’t get over their prejudices instantaneously, especially ones that are so deep seated and I think its especially difficult for Gems since they’re “rule driven robots” in a way and are sentient rock people (rocks not exactly known for their ability to change). Even after 5,500 years and complete devotion to defending the Earth and their new way of life, the Crystal Gems have a hard time empathizing and understanding others.
Peridot also didn’t really learn all that much from “Back to the Barn”, the lesson she took from it was very small and not at all the message the episode was presenting. At the end, she goes up to Pearl and says “I have to admit, its remarkable that a Pearl such as yourself could become such a… knowledgeable technician.” which is such a backhanded compliment. “It’s impressive that you could be a good technician considering that you are fundamentally lesser and worthless.” It’s very “You’re not like other girls.” and it doesn’t at all show Peridot actually understands why Pearl isn’t seen as lesser on Earth. She’s seeing her more as an exception, a “well you have proven yourself useful so I guess that’s why you’re allowed to have personhood” and even then its barely because she even openly says her respect is given begrudgingly (meaning reluctant to give but basically being forced to due to the situation) and openly questions why she has to listen to her.
Peridot’s only changing in small ways and even then she’s just seeing it as “exceptions”. Pearl is an ‘exception’ to how useless Peridot sees Pearls as, she’s not seeing Pearl as an example of what Pearls can be, she’s just seeing it as this specific Pearl is for some reason good as engineering so OK, she’ll respect her for that but she’s still not going to respect that she is a Pearl or Pearls in general.
Peridot’s most friendly towards Amethyst and that’s because she sees Amethyst as a superior so she wants to be on her good side. Peridot’s desire to help Amethyst and apologize her, while great character growth, is still rooted in her Homeworld prejudice. She’s more willing to apologize and conform to Amethyst’s views because she sees her as fundamentally better than the other two. This can be helpful, though, because respecting someone who doesn’t practice the prejudiced views of Homeworld and wanting to emulate that could help Peridot better understand the Crystal Gem lifestyle. Afterall, she probably views it like, of course Garnet and Pearl would enjoy this unstructured lifestyle, because they’d be low-ranking on Homeworld. But why would Amethyst, the ‘superior Gem’, lower herself to listening to a Fusion and a Pearl? People tend to ignore the voices of the oppressed or marginalized people but as soon as someone they respect also says that the behavior isn’t right, then they listen.
I wouldn’t be surprised at all if even after this whole arc, Peridot immediately goes back to Homeworld when given a chance (even betraying the Crystal Gems to do so) and tries to return to her “normal” Homeworld life. But her experiences on Earth and viewing the more equal lifestyle of the Crystal Gems will have an effect on her and it will be a lot harder to just go back into living the rigid, classist life of Homeworld without seeing how it doesn’t have to be this way. I think its entirely possible that Peridot will return to being a villain but end up having a change of heart further down the line due to being unable to readjust to Homeworld life
