In the ninth episode of the second season of Steven Universe, Greg tells Connie and Steven about his courtship of Rose. Intrigued? Then it’s time for Mark to watch Steven Universe.Â
I can’t get enough of this show, I swear.
Stevonnie
There’s a sweetness to Steven Universe that’s undeniable at this point in the show, and it always feels genuine. As upsetting as certain plot points have been, there’s still that underlying sense of acceptance and love that fuels the stories. And that love doesn’t always have to be romantic, either! It can be platonic, too, or even familial. In the case of Steven and Connie, I think it exists somewhere between romance and friendship. Which is fine, too! But as the two continue to grow closer, I imagine we’ll see more of them fusing together. Regardless, I was really happy to see Stevonnie again, if only for a few seconds. MORE STEVONNIE.
The Birds and the Bees
While nothing here is an explicit reference, I saw “We Need to Talk” as an example of an adult having a difficult conversation with their child about how the world works. You could even say that gem fusion is a form of gem sexuality or gem romance, and thus, Greg needed to sit Steven down to talk about the complications that come from the feelings around attraction and desire. It’s framed as another round of Storytime, but it still works as a teaching moment!
AND WHAT A MOMENT THAT IS. The Crystal Gems were Greg’s back-up band for a music video of his! Younger Amethyst’s hair! Rose singing! Look, I’m gonna freak out every time Rose makes an appearance, and that’s because this show teased me with her for so long. But she plays a much more substantial role in this episode, especially since we get to see how her relationship with Greg grows. It’s not just about Greg, though. This episode confirms that Pearl’s feelings towards Rose were not just a platonic obsession; she really loved Rose, so much so that she teased Greg with her ability to fuse with Rose to form Rainbow Quartz. (THAT DANCE, OH MY GOD.) But that love manifested not just in the fusion, but bitterness towards Greg. She’s cruel towards him, teasing him with the fact that he’s a human and nothing more than a “phase” to Rose.
That’s not exactly true, but we do see how Rose treats Greg unfairly. His growing affection for her is met with humor. Why? Because Rose sees all other non-gem creatures similarly. Humans are funny in he eyes, which isn’t a problem in and of itself. But her interest and amusement in Greg felt so detached here, as if she viewed him as an object for amusement, not a person deserving of respect. That’s not something she does consciously, but it still hurts Greg. Look how long he tried to practice the fusion dance! He even prepared that dance floor so he could get as close as possible to the state that allowed fusion to take place. It’s a beautifully romantic gesture, and yet, at first, Rose doesn’t interpret it as so. It’s just another “human” being “funny.”
I just adore what this episode turns into. I love that the writers give us a very honest take on Rose and Greg trying to figure out the logistics of falling in love. Oh god, I related so much to what Greg said: love is torture. It can be such a frightening thing to experience because love is a vulnerable state. It hurts to open yourself to someone else, especially in those early days where you’re not sure if you should open up. That’s the exact period that Greg and Rose were in during the flashback in “We Need to Talk.” Confusion is natural; hell, it’s to be expected when things are just starting out! And Steven Universe celebrates that awkward state in this episode. It’s okay to be afraid and to feel vulnerable when you like someone, platonically or romantically. Indeed, it’s natural.
I think it’s exactly what Steven and Connie needed to hear.
The video for “We Need to Talk” can be downloaded here for $0.99.
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