#i just finished watching mr greg and its like. damn they had a musical episode and tried to make it about a really important part

[mbat]

i think this show having 11 minute episodes kinda fucks it over just a little. cause things feel rushed a lot of the time, but like, if you only have 11 minutes to tell a story, no fuckin wonder it feels fast

like its fine if youre trying to tell stories that dont have much weight, but this show has a lot going on, and setting up its problems and solutions within 11 minutes is soo mean to it

[pixelpolaroid]

Let’s talk about Steven Universe

I’ve never done on of these blog review things before, but I really wanna talk about the most recent Steven bomb. I thought about doing it throughout the week, but this gives me more time to rewatch the episodes and get proper thoughts out. I’m deciding that I’ll go through each episode one by one and make some notes. Hope you enjoy and feel free to add your own thoughts. I’d love to get other opinions on this.

This is your last warning. SPOILERS BEYOND THIS POINT!!!!!

S05 E19 Now we’re only falling apart

After Steven tells Garnet and Amethyst, Pearl says that it was Pink diamond’s last order to not tell. She specifically said Pink, not Rose. I think that that’s very telling, it’s obvious from a lot of the last few episodes that Pink wasn’t a huge fan of being a diamond, probably because she wasn’t treated as one.

A small detail that I really like and I’m sure a lot of people have pointed out is that before Garnet unfuses, there’s a tear under her left eye; Sapphire's eye.

I like the fact that Sapphire says she never looked into Rose. Sapphire was clearly a very well respected gem, having 3 Ruby guards when visiting Earth. She probably would’ve been more suspicious on her own. But not after Rose was the first person to be okay with her as Garnet.

Pearl was given to Pink diamond. She wasn’t made for Pink, she was given. Interesting choice of words. That, along with her gem placement just makes me believe that our Pearl was specifically made for White, but then given to Pink.

Something that I don’t think anyone has pointed out yet, when Pink and Pearl go down to watch the Amethysts on the orb thing (whatever it’s called) the murals aren’t there yet. I wonder if they were made after Pink was shattered.

“We’re creating life from nothing,” So this shows that until she went down to explore Earth, Pink legit thought that she wasn’t hurting anything through her colonization.

I thought the Amethysts looked weird until I realized their wearing pink instead of blue, like from the last time we saw them.

Nice gemsona Pearl.

8XM! They were gonna wait for Amethyst! 

Pearl is obviously enthusiastic about the many resources for making gems, just like Peridot. SO Pearl wasn’t like Pink, she didn’t see the Earth the way Pink did, even after they explored. The only reason she joined the crystal gems was because she was following orders. AND THAT IS ALL!

Damn Pearl, is one thirsty gem. Immediately trying to fuse after finding out it’s possible. I would’ve loved to see the first Rainbow Quartz fusion, but I think it’s fitting that they didn’t. They probably weren’t expecting that to happen, mutually panicked and then started to unfuse.

Pearl so quick to saying that she needs to be replaced is interesting. After all the work from the revolution, she still thinks that. Maybe because it’s already happened before? 

Pearl talking about how Pink was selfish and probably wrong, and then that little detail where she’s about to stop herself. Very nice! It’s always the little details that you gotta appreciate.

Overall Episode Review:

This one does give a little more about Pink and why she did the things she did, but still never justifies her action completely. Even Pearl dissagrees with her, which says a lot. The biggest issue I have that came out of this episode. Lemme break it down:

Pink starts to complain to the other diamond that she doesn’t want to finish the colony, saying she wants to preserve live on Earth. Then Rose Quartz shows up out of no where telling Pink to stop the colony, to preserve life on Earth. Neither of them thought it a little too coincidental??? Really? Diamond, surprisingly not the sharpest gems on homeworld.

S05 E20 What’s your Problem

Okay first issue. Both Sapphire and Ruby left. Sapphire left crying saying how her relationship was a lie, irrational, and crying. Ruby took the time to write a note and said she needs time to think. Then they all freak out cause they think its the end of Garnet? Bitch if Sapphire can see the flawed logic in her action when she’s trying to be angry, Ruby will be back. I don’t need to know it’s a kid show to know that.

Why would she be cowboy? Love it

Garnet is Pearl’s OTP

You’re saying Ruby is pretty literal? Steven all gems are pretty literal! Besdies Amethyst, most gems don’t seem to understand sarcasm or when something is just a phrase.

Steven and Amethyst are both doing the very well known tool of “Worrying way more about the needs of others and ignoring their own,” I think a lot of people can probably relate to this, and I’m really glad Rebecca Sugar put this in.

Kiki is literally the cutest person ever. I want her as a best friend.

Amethyst and Steven are literally the best pairing. This is why their fusion works so well. They understand each other in ways that other gems and human can’t. I love Smokey Quartz because of this fact. Amethyst is slowly becoming my favorite character. 

Finally!! Someone said it! I’m so glad that they’re finally making it clear that no one is responsible for what Rose did. She was rash and selfish and Amethyst was like the quickest to accept that, but what she didn’t accept was they had to deal with her mess. 

I think I made my finally overall review in that last comment. Onto the next one!

S05 E21 The Question

So Greg is basically the love doctor at this point, and it’s very obvious. I love him so much. The fact that he’s so chill with Rose being Pink is amazing. He loved Rose, not Pink. 

Ruby is literally a college freshmen on their first day of being on their own. She wants to experience things for her own in order to figure out what she wants. It’s great seeing Greg be so supportive, I think he probably sees a lot of himself in her. He wanted to do his own thing and make music, so he did even though not everyone thought he should.

Ruby Rider is such a good song. It’s so fitting, but also just has good lyrics.

This episode shows the difference between being alone and feeling lonely really well.  Being alone means that you don’t have anyone around, while being lonely is that empty feeling when you don’t have anyone close. 

S05 E22 Made of Honor

This episode is probably my favorite in this Steven bomb. 

The fact that Steven is breaking gender roles by planning a wedding his entire life is the best thing next to a gay wedding in a children’s TV show. Love it!

I’m really glad that they brought Peri back in advance instead of having her show up at the wedding because then it feels like she’s been there longer. I still think it’s funny that all while they were talking about Pink and Garnet unfused and all that, she was just hiding out in the bathroom. 

Ok I saw a lot of things coming for this Steven bomb, but I was legit shocked when Steven went to bring back Bismuth! Which I love btw. She says, “I just tried to shatter you,’ Which, for her, yeah that just happened. But it’s been months for everyone else. 

Seeing Bismuth’s legit shock and confusion after seeing a friend corrupted is so genuine. She’s lost for words, completely frozen with fear and denial. By the time she does snap out of it, it’s because her life is endanger, but she’s crying. Full of regret and sadness.She can’t even watch as she fights and eventually puffs her, its really quite sad. I think a lot of us missed that in the excitement of seeing Bismuth again.

I’m fine. *sticks head in lava* *screams* OH MY GOD!! So relateble Bismuth.

Bismuth jokes about how absurd she must have sounded to Rose, but here’s something that I really wish would’ve happened. Imagine what Bismuth said to Steven, that she would’ve taken the fight to homeworld, shattering the Diamonds. It would be nice to think that Pink would’ve not only been worried about herself, but the other diamonds as well. However, considering that she didn’t consider how they, and her armies would’ve felt after she herself was shattered, it’s probably very unlikely that she’d be worried about them. It is taking all of my willpower not to rant about Pink Diamond but I’ll save that for another day.

Garnet is Bismuth’s OTP

Ok another little detail I love. Ruby lights the grill then is like “look bae! I did a thing!” Ruby is literally about to get married to this gem but is still trying to impress her with how hot she is. That’s so precious!

Steven, buddy. I love you, but do you really not see the problem Bismuth has with just showing up like this? Even I thought it was a horrible idea to bring her at first. However I do appreciate this scene because it further shows that he is JUST A KID!!!

Small detail, when Steven calls the gems around, why is Peri about to pour soda on the grill? Honey, what do you think that will do?

I honestly would’ve loved to see Peri and Bismuth’s first interaction. I think it would’ve been pretty funny.

S05 E23 The Reunion

Firstly the Song: Steven’s opening song is the definition of ignore your problems until they go away. Actually though I think the song is really beautiful.  I love Pearl in her Mr. Greg suit, especially with the hat. Peridot’s always been the one to worry, doing calculations and determining the problems and possible bad outcomes, so the fact that we first see her in this episode thinking about what Lapis said is extremely fitting. Her little spring dress makes her look so cute too.

5750 years and 8 months. That is a long hecking time together. It’s also a long time since the revolution, which I always thought was only like 2000 years ago.

“By the power invested in me and by the state of Delmarva,” nice one Sugar. Nice

I really love Garnet’ wedding outfit. It’s super cool looking.

Ok Ok Ok, shit gets real. The battle with Blue Diamond is just super cool. I’m really glad that it was it’s own entire episode because the diamonds are a big deal. Seeing them actually holding pretty strongly against everyone is pretty impressive and really shows that they’re the leaders for a reason. 

So Garnet steps up to the plate, and while she doesn’t actually do much more than distract Blue, this scene really shows so much. First off, I’m just now noticing that Garnet didn’t unfuse when Alexandrite did, which is pretty awesome. Her power walk to Blue is super cool and so is the music. I know everyone has already praised Garnet for how strong her relationship is, but this just shows it so well. All the others are struggling to stand, but Garnet knows that she has to do this right now so Lapis can (literally) get the drop of her. Awesome moments.

Lapis drops the  barn on Blue like how I drop ansty stories on my followers ;)

So Lapis and Peridot didn’t hug. Which is fitting for their characters and their relationship. they’re not the huggy, touchy kind of friends, they’re the watch TV until we see the sun and make stupid art together friends. Them hugging would’ve been awkward and forced.

 Ok back to Blue Diamond. It’s impressive that they knocked her down, but Lapis literlly chucked them all right at her and she just stood there and took it like a champ! I’m still not over how freaking powerful these gems are! God I really wish we could’ve seen her fight Alexandrite. 

Lapis having trouble against Yellow, yeah sorry. Water/Flying is 4x weak to Electric. All she had to do was rub her feet on the carpet then poke you.

Amethyst’s main thought just being “don’t die, don’t die, don’t die,” such a mood.

Okay I know it’s pretty bad that Peridot and Lapis got poofed but I really hope that at least Peri reforms with a star. I need a new form change, that’ll be awesome! 

Ok hearing their thoughts followed by their auras getting stronger and pushing steven back shows a lot about them psychologically. Yellow blames herself for Pink’s shattering, she always has. Yes she’s upset, but her way of projecting that lose is harsher, more sturdy, like lightning. While Blue just misses her and thinks about how she could still see her again. Her aura is much more smooth, effecting people emotionally, just like how she is more emotional. Yellow emotes with action more than emotions. Their responses match their attack styles which I find so cool.

Overall Episode Review:

What I love about this episode is that you think it’s gonna be about Ruby and Sapphire getting a back together. But they aren’t having a reunion, they’re having a wedding. The reunion is Homeworld with Earth; the Diamond authority with the Crystal gems; Blue and Yellow with Pink. The fact that they had to feel Pink before actually seeing her feels similar to how we’ve seen gems in the past. Gems are very literally, but the most extreme actions happen when they’re extremely emotional. Pink became Rose because the Diamonds wouldn’t listen to her, and she got angry. Garnet stayed Garnet because they were in live. Bismuth attacked Rose because she wouldn’t listen, and later attacked Steven because she felt betrayed. Gems have very strong feelings.

Hopes and predictions for the next Steven bomb:

Well as a lot of people want, I really hope we finally get to see White Diamond, like she seems like an important character but we haven’t even heard mention of her. We’ve seen her hand and that’s it. Also I want the off colors to show up, the new Lars and the twins back on Earth would be sweet!

As far as plot wise, I think that Yellow and Blue are going to want Steven to come back to Homeworld with them. I know they’re not going to be okay with the crystal gems just staying there, so I’m super interested to see what becomes of that.

Well that took a lot longer than I thought. If you made it this far, good job. And comment “Topaz” so I know you did (It’s my birth stone). A little Easter egg for the go getters. I’d like to do more of these types of things. Maybe about more specific characters or something. I don’t know. This was a lot of fun and like I said if you have any other thoughts or something you’d like to add/ discus 

I’ll end it here since this has been going on for a while

-Pixel

[minijenn]

Universe Falls Preview

Finally got some stuff down for this chapter. At least its fucking intro is done I’m damn ready to start this flashback that probably won’t end up deviating too much from the episode but whatever this chapter is just a means to an end anyway like so many chapters have been recently but ah well it’ll still be cute, I guess. Anyway, here goes: 

It wasn’t very often that Greg was able to find the time to organize the van he called home, but when he did, Steven was always the first to volunteer to help him. And this particular evening was no exception to that, as the young Gem hurried down to the carwash as soon as his father had made mention of doing some summer cleaning over the phone. Steven had already been spending most of the day with Connie, Dipper, and Mabel, so he had easily been able to recruit them in coming along and so they all soon found themselves congregated around the former rock star’s van, organizing his extensive collection of vinyl records.

“Here’s all the Orange Magic Orchestra ones,” Steven reported, holding up a set of three records to his father.

“Great,” Greg smiled as he rifled through another box of discs. “Put them in the Transcendental Space Rock pile.”

“Wow, Mr. Universe, your taste in music is so great!” Mabel complimented with an excited smile as she shuffled through several records. “Bam!, Purple Lloyd, Princess, Sadonna… These are some of the best bands ever!”

“Aren’t they all from the 80s?” Dipper asked with a lightly teasing grin.

“Maaaaybe,” Mabel shrugged, defensive of her musical preferences. “Its better than being a diehard fan of a certain Icelandic pop group that hit their peak in the 70s then just sorta fizzled out into obscurity, don’t ya think, bro-bro?”

“…Low blow, Mabel,” Dipper remarked, completely deadpan. “Low blow.”

“At home, we only have classical music and movie soundtracks,” Connie spoke up, looking through a box of unorganized tracks. “My parents are… pretty conservative when it comes to music. Or movies. Or TV shows. Or just about anything, really. Point is, I’ve never heard of any of these.”

“You’ve never heard of the Philosophy Majors?” Greg asked, holding a disc up for Nietzsche’s Breakdown. “Oh man, then you gotta hear this. It’ll really knock your socks off.” The former rock star took the record out of its sleeve and proceeded to place it on the nearby player. As soon as he put the needle down, a loose, mellow, yet upbeat tune began to play, one that unanimously perked all four kids up as soon as they heard it. Steven and Mabel took the initiative, grabbing Connie and Dipper respectively and pulling them both into sudden, unexpected dances. All of their moves were rather uncalculated and spontaneous, mostly just amounting to both pairs spinning in wide, sloppy, carefree circles along to the music and their own buoyant laughter. Greg stood by, chuckling himself as he blithely played air guitar as the kids continued dancing, their original intentions of cleaning completely forgotten as they all freely and readily enjoyed themselves to their hearts’ content.

As the song continued and started to build even more, it was quickly becoming clear that Steven and Connie were getting caught up in it more than anyone else. Their laughter only silenced itself as their eyes met, both of them still spinning together to the point that the world around them started to blur, literally and figuratively. Steven couldn’t help but smile warmly to Connie, eliciting a small, bright blush from her that she was quick to suppress in place of another helpless but happy laugh. A familiar feeling started to overtake the pair, one that they couldn’t quite describe, but openly welcomed all the same. And that feeling only grew deeper and richer as Steven’s gem started to flush with a pink glow, one that quickly overtook them both and brought them even closer together than they already were.

Dipper and Mabel were the first to stop and stare in awe as the recognizable light of an oncoming fusion swell over Steven and Connie. Greg also took pause, his eyes widening as he watched in complete disbelief as the glow faded and revealed a startlingly new, singular figure in place of his son and his friend.

Stevonnie.

They were still laughing and spinning as they formally appeared, but they were quick to stop upon noticing something felt different, but still familiar all the same. “What the-” the fusion cut themselves off starkly upon taking a single glance down at themselves, instantly realizing what had happened as a result of their lighthearted fun. “W-when did we… How…. Wha…” Stevonnie trailed off, rather jolted by both surprise and also by a sudden, almost overwhelming burst of joy over being together again, though they didn’t let it show.

“S-Stevonnie!” Mabel quipped with a rather forced smile, one that Dipper didn’t share has he simply looked to the returned fusion in apt surprise. “Uh, long time no see, huh?”

“Uh… y-yeah…” Stevonnie nodded, rather caught off guard by their own sudden reappearance. “I guess it has bee-” The fusion abruptly stopped on a sharp gasp as they happened to glance over at Greg, a deeply embarrassed blush flooding their cheeks as they met the former rock star’s stunned, awestruck gaze. “M-Mr. Dad! Er—I-I mean, Dad U-Universe! O-or, uh… um, I… We—we didn’t mean to! I-it was an accident! We just… W-we’re not… we-” Stevonnie was unable to finish their frantic ramblings as the same glow that had brought them together suddenly split them apart as a result of their unreconcilable panic.

Steven and Connie tumbled to the ground together as Stevonnie vanished, but even so, their shared alarm remained as they briefly exchanged a wide-eyed glance before looking to the twins for assistance. While Dipper and Mabel were quick to help them up, there wasn’t much either of them could think to say or do in light of what had just happened as they all glanced over at Greg expectantly. The former rock star was still in absolute awe, his jaw still hanging agape as he fumbled to turn the record off behind him. When he finally was able to collect himself enough to speak, it was in an expression of absolute shock as he looked between Steven and Connie dumbfoundedly.

“Y-you two can fuse?!” he asked, still partially wondering if he had just been seeing things a moment ago.

“Uh… y-yes?” Steven replied, exchanging another uneasy glance with Connie.

“Oh! We’ve each fused with Steven too!” Mabel informed excitedly, motioning to herself and Dipper.

“Mabel!” Dipper scolded, knowing that this didn’t need to get any more awkward than it already was.

“S-so… all three of you kids have… w-wow!” Greg exclaimed with a growing smile of amazement. “That’s incredible! Since when? Wait, how is this even possible?!”

“The Gems think its because I’m half human-” Steven began to explain before Connie anxiously cut him off.

“Please don’t tell my parents, Mr. Universe!” she pleaded desperately. “They don’t know I’ve been doing magic stuff with Steven, Dipper, and Mabel! I can’t tell them! They’re not going to understand, I-”

“Whoa, whoa! It’s ok,” Greg quickly reassured. “I’m not gonna tell anyone if you don’t want me to. And besides, I may be the only other human being on the planet who’s gonna understand this whole fusion thing outside of you three.”

“W-what do you mean?” Connie asked, confused.

“Wait a second… Mr. Universe, have you ever actually fused with one of the Gems before?” Dipper asked incredulously. “I thought humans and Gems couldn’t fuse.”

“They can’t, for the most part,” Greg said, rubbing the back of his neck. “And to be honest, that’s not… exactly what happened…”

“Then what did happen?” Mabel asked, quite curious.

“Well….”

“Story!” Steven interjected with a gasp, stars in his eyes as he rushed over to the back of the open van and beckoning the others to do the same. “Come on, you guys!” Connie, Dipper, and Mabel joined the young Gem in taking a seat, all of them more than eager to hear another riveting tale from the former rock star’s intriguing past. “Ok, Dad, we’re ready.”

“Aw geez, I didn’t think I’d be telling you this so soon…” Greg remarked with an awkward grin as he reached into a nearby box, pulling a video tape out of it. “Probably best to start with this…” The former rock star inserted the tape into his VCR, the screen buzzing with static for a moment or two before opening up on a recording that he had filmed 23 years ago, one that set the scene for the story he was about to tell.