If you were watching Cartoon Network back in 2017, you probably remember the collective "what just happened?" moment when Lars Barriga died. Then he turned pink. Then he became a space pirate. It was a lot to take in. Lars of the Stars isn't actually a standalone spinoff series—though fans have begged for one for years—but rather the title of a pivotal Season 5 episode of Steven Universe. It completely flipped the script on one of the show's most disliked characters.
Honestly, the transformation of Lars from a cynical, donut-shilling teenager into a swashbuckling rebel leader is probably the most successful character arc in modern animation. You’ve got this guy who spent four seasons being too insecure to bake a cake for a party, and suddenly he’s stealing high-tech ships from the Diamond Authority. It shouldn't work. It sounds like fan fiction. But Rebecca Sugar and the "Creuniverse" crew pulled it off by leaning into the emotional baggage Lars had been carrying since the pilot episode.
The Jump from Beach City to the Stars
When we first met Lars, he was kind of the worst. He was mean to Steven, embarrassed by his parents, and desperately wanted to be "cool" in the eyes of the local cool kids. That’s why the shift in the episode "Lars of the Stars" feels so earned. It’s the payoff of his traumatic experience on Homeworld.
After being resurrected by Steven’s tears—which turned him into a living portal with pink skin and hair—Lars found himself stuck in space. He couldn't go home through the portal in his own head. He was forced to grow up. Fast. By the time Steven and Connie reunite with him in this episode, he’s the captain of the Sun Incinerator, leading a ragtag crew known as the Off Colors. These are "defective" Gems who were forced to hide in the shadows of Homeworld for millennia. Lars gave them a purpose.
The contrast is wild. One minute Steven is dealing with relatively low-stakes drama in Beach City, and the next, he’s warped into a high-octane space opera. The episode is a direct homage to classic anime like Captain Harlock and Galaxy Express 999. You see it in the high collars, the dramatic capes, and the way Lars strikes a pose on the bridge.
Emerald and the High Stakes of Space Piracy
One of the best parts of this arc is the introduction of Emerald, voiced by Jinkx Monsoon. She’s the perfect antagonist for this version of Lars. She’s loud, boastful, and obsessed with her "prized" ship, which Lars stole right out from under her nose.
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The dynamic between them is hilarious because it’s basically a game of "who can be more dramatic." Lars isn't just surviving; he’s performing. He’s finally found a version of himself that he actually likes. In Beach City, he was a small fish in a small pond, terrified of judgment. In the vacuum of space, facing certain death at the hands of a Gem commander, he’s remarkably chill.
Why the Off Colors Matter
The crew isn't just background noise. They represent everything the Diamond Authority hates:
- Fluorite: A giant, caterpillar-like fusion of six different Gems who move and speak slowly because they have to reach a six-way consensus.
- Rhodonite: A fusion of a Ruby and a Pearl who is constantly anxious, mostly because she's lived in fear for so long.
- Padparadscha: A Sapphire who can only predict things that just happened.
- The Rutile Twins: Two Gems joined at the waist who were rejected at birth.
Lars doesn't just lead them; he protects them. It’s a complete reversal of his previous behavior where he’d throw anyone under the bus to save face. Now, he’s the one standing between his crew and a Nova Reaper.
The Aesthetic Shift and Anime Influence
The visual style of the "Lars of the Stars" episode stands out from the rest of the series. The colors are more saturated. The shadows are deeper. It feels like a genuine space western. Takafumi Hori, a legendary animator from Studio Trigger (known for Kill la Kill and Little Witch Academia), contributed to the show's animation, and you can feel that kinetic energy in the space battle sequences.
There’s a specific nuance to Lars’s design here. He’s wearing an outfit that is clearly a bit too big for him, a nod to the fact that he’s still that insecure kid underneath the cape. But he carries it with a newfound dignity. His pink skin isn't just a physical change; it's a permanent badge of his sacrifice.
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What Most People Get Wrong About Lars
A lot of casual viewers think Lars became a hero because he got "superpowers." That's not really it. Aside from being a living storage unit for Steven and having a slower heartbeat, Lars doesn't have many offensive powers. He doesn't have a weapon like the Crystal Gems.
His real "power" in this arc is competence. He learned how to pilot complex alien machinery. He learned how to strategize. He learned how to talk to people without being a jerk. It’s a grounded evolution in a show that is otherwise filled with magical destiny. Lars wasn't "chosen" for this; he was a guy who got stuck in a bad situation and decided to stop being afraid.
The Emotional Core: Lars and Sadie
Even in the middle of a space battle, the show doesn't forget the heart of the matter. The most heartbreaking part of this episode is when Lars sees a video of Sadie Miller. While he’s been away being a hero, Sadie has moved on. She’s in a band (Sadie Killer and the Suspects) and is finally finding her own independence.
Lars expects her to be pining for him. When he realizes she’s doing okay—maybe even better—without him, it crushes him. It’s a very "human" moment in a "stars" episode. It reminds us that while Lars has changed, the world he left behind didn't stop spinning. It adds a layer of bittersweet reality to his cool pirate persona. He’s a hero, but he’s also a lonely kid millions of miles from home.
The Legacy of the Space Pirate Arc
Though the "Lars of the Stars" era only lasted for a handful of episodes before the series shifted toward the "Heart of the Crystal Gems" arc and the finale, its impact was massive. It proved that Steven Universe could handle different genres without losing its identity. It also set the stage for Steven Universe Future, where we see Lars finally return to Earth and try to figure out who he is when he’s not "Captain Lars."
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The demand for a full "Lars of the Stars" series remains high in the fandom. People want to see the adventures we missed—the narrow escapes, the other planets they visited, and the deeper backstory of the Off Colors. For now, we just have the glimpses provided in Season 5 and the tie-in comics.
Key Takeaways for Fans
If you're revisiting this arc or showing it to someone for the first time, keep these points in mind:
- Watch the transition: Pay attention to how Lars's voice acting (by Matthew Moy) changes from frantic and high-pitched to a lower, more controlled tone.
- Look at the backgrounds: The Homeworld environments are intentionally oppressive and brutalist, contrasting with the vibrant "starry" look of the Sun Incinerator.
- Note the growth: Compare Lars’s reaction to danger in "Lars of the Stars" to his reaction in the Season 1 episode "Lars and the Cool Kids." The difference is staggering.
How to Deep Dive into the Lars Lore
To get the full picture of the Lars of the Stars era beyond the main series, you should look into the Steven Universe comic books published by BOOM! Studios. Specifically, the 2017 series has several issues that bridge the gap between his death and his return to Earth. These stories detail the crew’s first encounters and how Lars actually learned to pilot the ship.
Additionally, if you’re interested in the "why" behind his character shift, check out The Art of Steven Universe: End of an Era. It contains concept art for Lars’s pirate design and interviews with the writers about why they decided to take such a drastic turn with his character. Seeing the original sketches of the Sun Incinerator gives you a lot of respect for the world-building that went into just twenty-two minutes of television.
Ultimately, Lars reminds us that no one is "stuck" being the worst version of themselves. Sometimes you just need to be thrown into the deep end of the galaxy to find out who you really are.