I think a few years out when SU is a nostalgic show, Pearl’s ribbon is gonna be one of those Mandela Effect things (like the whole Berenstain/Berenstein Bears thing). Because even now I reckon there’s quite a lot of people who would swear up and down that Pearl’s ribbon is definitely tied in a symmetrical bow, when in actuality it’s always been an asymmetrical knot.
Like, even some official merch gets this wrong and makes it a bow so I’m not surprised a lot of people get confused. And I just think once the show is no longer on and it’s mostly just in people’s memories, folks are going to be surprised to learn their memory of it is wrong and it’s not a bow.
Just my two cents on some commonly asked questions in the notes here
Haha, no, I didn’t photoshop these!
No, Pearl never had a bow. All her previous regens and designs didn’t have a ribbon at all, this is the only one that does.
imo, I don’t feel it’s contradictory for her character to have an asymmetrical aspect to her outfit. I’ll elaborate:
I feel like Pearl’s penchant for symmetry is a little overblown as people assume it’s a core aspect of her personality when really it’s only been mentioned a couple times and mostly used as a gag. Pearl does like order and definitely likes symmetrical, but she doesn’t need things to be symmetrical, she just likes when certain things are. If this wasn’t the case, she’d probably have an issue with the temple, since three of it’s hands are missing, making it asymmetrical, and the shattered Sky Arena. Her spear is asymmetrical too.
So, imo, it’s less that everything needs to be symmetrical for her, just that things need purpose or direction in their asymmetry. It’s more the chaos and disorder that she dislikes than the actual act of lacking symmetry
This is getting into speculation territory (I mean, it already was but now it’s more so), but I feel that the desire for symmetry may be a holdover from what a Pearl’s purpose in Gem society was, which is to “look nice” and basically be an attractive accessory, and symmetry is often used for things that are supposed to be beautiful. Not to mention Homeworld society in general is focused on order and uniformity, thus prefers symmetry and certainly would for the Gems that are just supposed to be nice looking accessories.
So if you think of it that way, having a simple, practical, asymmetrical knot rather than a fancy, impractical, symmetrical bow is a little bit of a rebellion on the way she’s supposed to be.
Also im pretty sure her belt is supposed to resemble an obi, which is also why it’s a single knot instead of a bow
ugh 