Steven Universe - Now a Griefing Thread

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What are the other instances of Steven needing a break exactly? Or rather, moments or episodes categorised as where we get insight into his character which he tends to keep private from everyone except maybe Connie. I can think of Joyride and maybe Mindful Education. Even during townie episodes he's still helping people which is work to him.
Let’s see, the ones I can remember: Joy Ride, Steven’s Birthday, Steven Floats, Tiger Philanthropist, Lion 4, Gemcation, What’s Your Problem, and the aforementioned wedding episode.

All of those present the same “Steven works to hard and needs a break” theme and all of them do so with pretty much the same “Steven over taxes himself by trying to solve the problem if the episode until he learns to take it easy and stop worrying so much in the end.” Which was probably the worst plot to make one of their staples because it’s what gives SU it’s abrupt stop and start pacing and gets especially frustrating when it comes right after plots that have urgency behind them like the Cluster, Lars & the Off Colors being in danger, or overhearing the Diamonds loudly plotting to kidnap more humans and deciding to warn exactly nobody.
 
Let’s see, the ones I can remember: Joy Ride, Steven’s Birthday, Steven Floats, Tiger Philanthropist, Lion 4, Gemcation, What’s Your Problem, and the aforementioned wedding episode.

All of those present the same “Steven works to hard and needs a break” theme and all of them do so with pretty much the same “Steven over taxes himself by trying to solve the problem if the episode until he learns to take it easy and stop worrying so much in the end.” Which was probably the worst plot to make one of their staples because it’s what gives SU it’s abrupt stop and start pacing and gets especially frustrating when it comes right after plots that have urgency behind them like the Cluster, Lars & the Off Colors being in danger, or overhearing the Diamonds loudly plotting to kidnap more humans and deciding to warn exactly nobody.
Forgive my pedantry, this is more for my benefit than yours since I'll just forget if I don't write this out. I understand the point was about breaks, but it's important to understand the context for each one.

>Joy Ride
Primarily about how his gem and human sides are clashing and how he feels distanced from people because of it. Also something about him thinking he's his mum which I think might(?) be the first instance of that.
>Steven's Birthday
First instance of Steven understanding that he's not going to grow like a regular human so he overcompensates by becoming taller/different. Major foreshadowing to Rose/PD twist with the line "If I can just keep this up forever, no one will suspect a thing"
>Steven Floats
This one is arguably the closest to what you initially described, but ironically is one of my favourites because of Paul's comedic flair. No autistic insight on this one, it's just a calm down episode.
>Tiger Philanthropist
This is more of an epilogue to Amethyst's self esteem arc than it is about Steven wanting a break, per se.
>Lion 4
Steven finally understands that's Rose really didn't want him to be a goody two shoes perfect saviour of humanity and instead just wanted him to be himself.
>Gemcation
Another one close to Steven Floats in terms of importance that could've probably have been shorted or cut down. Mostly about how Steven refuses to open up about the more serious issues in his life and instead misses his one actual equal since they're not on good terms currently.
>What's Your Problem
Steven's thoughts on Rose and Pink are pushed down to focus on someone else's issues instead. A running trend that leads into Future. Ends with Amethyst supporting him instead of the other way around for once.
>Reunited
Yeah he sings a song about not thinking about Diamonds and shit for one day, but that's more dramatic irony than it is repetition or rather yet another example of how Steven places the thoughts of others (in this case Ruby and Sapphire's big day) above his own mental wellbeing.


The show is obviously written for children, so if you happen to forget or just miss out on small characters details from past episodes (something I wouldn't blame you for given those fucking hiatues) it can be easy to think that it's actually the same thing each time. Sometimes they may repeat stuff for the sake of a callback, or to connect the dots, but I've never really felt they repeated the exact same trope over and over. It was very close sometimes, but there was usually a different wrinkle in the end. Obviously you disagree, these are just my two cents.

Edit:
More pedantry here, but Steven didn't hear the Diamonds say they were going to kidnap more humans. Yellow confirms that Blue is sad about not getting more humans from Earth and Yellow responds with "Then there's more time" because the Cluster hasn't hatched yet. He doesn't start piecing it together until Aquamarine and Topaz are actively taking people from his social circle because of a list he gave to Peridot wayyyy back in the first(?) season.

Full exchange between Yellow, Blue and Holly Blue is attached.
 

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More pedantry here, but Steven didn't hear the Diamonds say they were going to kidnap more humans. Yellow confirms that Blue is sad about not getting more humans from Earth and Yellow responds with "Then there's more time" because the Cluster hasn't hatched yet. He doesn't start piecing it together until Aquamarine and Topaz are actively taking people from his social circle because of a list he gave to Peridot wayyyy back in the first(?) season.

Full exchange between Yellow, Blue and Holly Blue is attached.
I mean, unless you’re retarded, it’s pretty obvious that Blue and Yellow are talking about having more time to collect more humans for the zoo before the Cluster kills the Earth given the context. I don’t know how anyone could interpret that any differently. And it’s not even just Steven, Greg and both halves of Garnet are in the room when this discussion takes place - one of whom can see the future.

No matter how you slice it, someone’s an asshole for not saying anything.
 
I mean, unless you’re retarded, it’s pretty obvious that Blue and Yellow are talking about having more time to collect more humans for the zoo before the Cluster kills the Earth given the context. I don’t know how anyone could interpret that any differently. And it’s not even just Steven, Greg and both halves of Garnet are in the room when this discussion takes place - one of whom can see the future.

No matter how you slice it, someone’s an asshole for not saying anything.
Sapphire can see a single future and even that requires context, hence why she would never have known that Pink was Rose because it's something that's never happened in their timeline before. As for people being retarded...I love the guy, but Steven takes his time coming to conclusions. If Connie was there shit would've been solved like *that*.
 
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Sapphire can see a single future and even that requires context, hence why she would never have known that Pink was Rose because it's something that's never happened in their timeline before. As for people being retarded...I love the guy, but Steven takes his time coming to conclusions. If Connie was there shit would've been solved like *that*.
I wasn’t talking about future version in relation to Pink, I was talking about how a person who can see the future is in the room when the overlords who kidnapped her friend’s dad is very obviously talking about kidnapping more people before the Cluster explodes, yet either does not foresee the obvious cause and effect about to play out or chose not to tell anyone or do anything about it.

And Steven can give whatever excuse he wants, but his lack of listening comprehension led to a domino effect that got several of his friends kidnapped and Lars killed. A retarded asshole is still an asshole.
 
I wasn’t talking about future version in relation to Pink, I was talking about how a person who can see the future is in the room when the overlords who kidnapped her friend’s dad is very obviously talking about kidnapping more people before the Cluster explodes, yet either does not foresee the obvious cause and effect about to play out or chose not to tell anyone or do anything about it.

And Steven can give whatever excuse he wants, but his lack of listening comprehension led to a domino effect that got several of his friends kidnapped and Lars killed. A retarded asshole is still an asshole.
Sure and I think it's fair to criticise him for that. Their priority was getting off the zoo alive with two Diamonds right in front of them though, so I think it's also fair to say some stuff might have been pushed to the back of their minds.
 
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Sure and I think it's fair to criticise him for that. Their priority was getting off the zoo alive with two Diamonds right in front of them though, so I think it's also fair to say some stuff might have been pushed to the back of their minds.
But they had, what, 8 damn episodes between the zoo episodes and the kidnapping? Steven never once considered in the entire time he was fucking around with townies that this might be something important to disclose to somebody? What about Greg and Garnet, what’s their excuse for not warning anyone or preparing for the possibility?

Their collective negligence traumatized a whole bunch of people and got one person killed.
 
But they had, what, 8 damn episodes between the zoo episodes and the kidnapping? Steven never once considered in the entire time he was fucking around with townies that this might be something important to disclose to somebody? What about Greg and Garnet, what’s their excuse for not warning anyone or preparing for the possibility?

Their collective negligence traumatized a whole punch of people and one person killed.
Again, this is assuming that they fully understood the context of what the Diamonds were talking about. You might know as a viewer, I might know as a viewer, that doesn't mean the characters themselves fully understand in the moment.
 
Again, this is assuming that they fully understood the context of what the Diamonds were talking about. You might know as a viewer, I might know as a viewer, that doesn't mean the characters themselves fully understand in the moment.
That and it seemed more like they expected Diamonds themselves might have gotten random humans or at least gems that aren't that much of a threat going off the transcript from "I Am My Mom"
Screen Shot 2021-01-25 at 8.40.20 PM.png
 
Technically they did. To quote Steven from Future Episode 4 "Volleyball"
"Stop it! I can't deal with more horrible thing she did, Okay?! (The Pearls gasp.) I don't want to hear about it! I don't even want to think about it! I just want to FIX IT"
That’s not really resolving the issue, or at least not resolving it in a satisfying manner.
 
Again, this is assuming that they fully understood the context of what the Diamonds were talking about. You might know as a viewer, I might know as a viewer, that doesn't mean the characters themselves fully understand in the moment.
Pray tell, what other interpretation is there for that exchange? Especially when Sapphire was the one who initiated it with “I foresaw with my future vision that you want more humans for the zoo”?
That and it seemed more like they expected Diamonds themselves might have gotten random humans or at least gems that aren't that much of a threat going off the transcript from "I Am My Mom"
View attachment 1872779
So Steven’s fine with kidnapping so long as it doesn’t effect him personally? Our hero.
 
That’s not really resolving the issue, or at least not resolving it in a satisfying manner.
It is what it is. I'm not arguing quality, just the technicality of the situation. I think any more than that and you get into "Steven turns directly to the camera" tier dialogue and nobody needs that. Greg's still grieving, Pearl's moved on and already knows that Rose was pretty shitty in some cases and I don't think Amethyst really cares. Garnet, as always, is Garnet.


Pray tell, what other interpretation is there for that exchange? Especially when Sapphire was the one who initiated it with “I foresaw with my future vision that you want more humans for the zoo”?
I swear I've had this same exact conversation before in either this thread or elsewhere. Anyway. I'm 100% sure Sapphire was bullshiting since, y'know...they were there to rescue a human already and were basically pretending to be Homeworld soldiers at the time.
 
I swear I've had this same exact conversation before in either this thread or elsewhere. Anyway. I'm 100% sure Sapphire was bullshiting since, y'know...they were there to rescue a human already and were basically pretending to be Homeworld soldiers at the time.
That doesn’t explain what the hell Sapphire thought was going to happen when she gives the Diamonds the idea to collect more humans, and the Diamonds agree in her presence that kidnapping more humans is a good idea.

This entire plot hinges on either the characters being too retarded to figure out basic cause and effect, or crossing your fingers and hoping your audience is too retarded to notice. That’s not good writing.
 
That doesn’t explain what the hell Sapphire thought was going to happen when she gives the Diamonds the idea to collect more humans, and the Diamonds agree in her presence that kidnapping more humans is a good idea.

This entire plot hinges on either the characters being too retarded to figure out basic cause and effect, or crossing your fingers and hoping your audience is too retarded to notice. That’s not good writing.
She was having a panic attack at the time. Given how nothing had come to Earth since Jasper, I don't really see why Sapphire would assume they'd send more gems to Earth.
 
She was having a panic attack at the time. Given how nothing had come to Earth since Jasper, I don't really see why Sapphire would assume they'd send more gems to Earth.
Sapphire: I went to Earth to get more humans because I predicted you’d want more
Diamonds: It’s true, we should get more specimens before the Cluster destroys the Earth.
8 episodes later
Aqua: Yo I was sent by the Diamonds to collect more humans
Steven: WHO COULD’VE FORESEEN THIS TURN OF EVENTS???

Golden.
 
Pray tell, what other interpretation is there for that exchange? Especially when Sapphire was the one who initiated it with “I foresaw with my future vision that you want more humans for the zoo”?

So Steven’s fine with kidnapping so long as it doesn’t effect him personally? Our hero.
That doesn’t explain what the hell Sapphire thought was going to happen when she gives the Diamonds the idea to collect more humans, and the Diamonds agree in her presence that kidnapping more humans is a good idea.

This entire plot hinges on either the characters being too retarded to figure out basic cause and effect, or crossing your fingers and hoping your audience is too retarded to notice. That’s not good writing.
It should be pointed out that it's only really true for Blue Diamond, not Yellow. Yellow wants everything about Pink destroyed, including Earth and the Rose Quartzes. The plan seems to only really be for Blue Diamond getting as many memories of Pink as possible, with Yellow being a bit of a "fine, I'll help" with the assistance of the Topaz fusion.
 
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