nova rewatches SU (and makes meta about it)

home to all of novantinuum's SU rewatch posts

[gem-rewatch]

No new post this Friday, a group presentation worth a fourth of my final grade is kicking my ass! Maybe next week. I have notes written out already, though.

[gem-rewatch]

SU rewatch- S1E11- Arcade Mania

Hey, long time no see!

I’m desperately bored in solitary quarantine at university right now, and decided to try and pick this SU rewatch series up again for fun. It’s been a while since I’ve watched through the show in order. Plus, now that this show is completely finished, there’s plenty more connections to make. I can’t promise I’ll be consistent with this, but at the very least I can have fun trying to make a few more posts at my leisure.

Anyways. With that business out of the way. Let’s get right on to the show!

We begin with yet another mission Steven’s guardians have brought him along on! I believe this is the fifth mission we know of that he’s accompanied them on so far. (Lunar Sea Spire, Inverted Pyramid, the unknown mission he returns from in Tiger Millionaire, the desert, and now this one.) It’s really sweet seeing the Gems begin to trust him tagging along more often. There will come a day in the near future where missions become routine for Steven, but in these early episodes, you can really tell that each and every one is a brand new adventure.

In terms of plot, though, this episode is honestly Future Vision: The Prequel.

We learn a lot about Garnet’s abilities and her role in the team here, even if all of these details aren’t spelled out word-for-word quite yet. Hints towards her future vision we see this ep include:

Garnet moving ahead of the group to be in the perfect spot to catch Steven when he falls.

Her flawless moves while fighting and dodging the monsters.

Her becoming a master at the rhythm game later in the episode.

Like, damn. Look at this.

Look at her go.

My Q U E E N!

I had to gif all of this just because it’s such a beautiful and smooth sequence of animation.

If there’s one thing all of the Crystal Gems can 100% agree on, it’s that Garnet is friggin’ amazing.

Garnet: “Let them go. They’re just parasites. If they want to be a problem, they’ll have to answer to me.”

So, does this statement mean that- at this present moment- her extended stay at the arcade was entirely beyond her future vision? That the only futures she saw were ones where she was actually present to deal with containment of the Gem parasites? Given that later scenes insinuate she’d never been to the arcade before, and would have no “data” about its games to factor into her internal understanding of the world, this seems likely.

I adore the gradual palette change here, from shadow, to setting sun. It’s a nice detail that adds so much more life to what could otherwise be a rather mundane transition scene. It seems like unique palettes were more common in early SU- I wonder why Crewniverse stopped implementing these as often later on?

Pearl, entering the arcade: “Humans find such fascinating ways to waste their time.”

Thanks, Pearl. Love you too. <3

This sequence of Pearl failing at playing a car chase/road rage game hits so much different knowing what happens in Last One Out of Beach City. It’s genuinely radical how far she grows in confidence from this point, because here, she seems so shackled to rules and guidelines. Now that we know about her rebellious past, it might be tempting to write this characterization off as “early series weirdness,” but... I don’t think that’s what’s happening here.

Instead, I wonder if she’s working through grief-related regression.

Think about it... the pain of Rose’s passing is still so fresh for her. She was a rule breaking rebel once, yes, but she spent all of those days at Rose’s side. And I get the sense that she’s poured so much of herself into keeping Rose safe, into the rebellion against Homeworld, that without those, she’s caught in a vacuum. What IS her purpose now, when the very person she rebelled for is gone?

So she slips back into old pearl-like habits. Chronic rule following, and a fear of deviating from norms. How familiar. Thankfully, much of her arc throughout the show is her directly growing beyond these habits to live boldly as her own Gem.

The friggin video game when Garnet knocks its head off: “TELL MY WIFE I’M SORRYYY!!!”

Yo, what the fuck. This line is both hilarious and messed up, all at once. Please tell me the game isn’t sentient.

Aaaand here we finally introduce Garnet to the video game sensation that is Meat Beat Mania! This game is perfectly suited to her and her power of foresight because its patterns are algorithmic and not vulnerable to spontaneous deviations, and thus easy to predict, with enough input. She’s probably getting a quick rush of satisfaction with every correct move, and she barely has to exert any energy with her future vision to get that rush. After years and years of wading through endless possibility at every avenue, this video game’s patterns must be a rejuvenating breath of fresh air.

It’s addicting.

...Kinda makes me think of how I get sometimes when I play solitaire on my phone for an hour straight. After a while, I barely even think, I’m just shuffling through my deck and moving cards almost on automatic. I don’t have to use much energy to play, and it gives me animated fireworks every time I finish a match. It’s a win-win.

Amethyst: “I’MMA WIN AN AIRPLANE!”

I don’t know what it is about the way Michaela Dietz says the world “airplane,” but this makes me laugh every time. Does... does she think she can win a genuine airplane here because she saw Onion win a tiny motorbike from the ticket booth?? Amethyst, oh my god. XD

She’s got the spirit, this wild child.

So, moving on- we meet up with our crew later the next morning, Garnet nowhere to be seen. There’s an interesting exchange I’d like to highlight real quick-

Pearl: “If we’re supposed to fight a giant foot, Garnet would let us know.” Amethyst: “Yeah, Garnet’s the boss!” Pearl: “Well, we’re all a team. Garnet just has heightened perception that guides us towards our mission objectives.”

Considering the specific phrasing Pearl uses here- “heightened perception” instead of “future vision-” did Garnet outright tell the two of them to not explain her powers, just like she told them not to mention she’s a fusion? Because I’m pretty sure no one ever uses the phrase “heightened perception” again in reference to her powers.

Given the fact that Garnet chose to keep the knowledge of Ruby and Sapphire under the table until she felt Steven could understand her better, my guess is that this is a similar scenario.

Ahah, I genuinely can’t tell if this is Steven being gullible, or just impulsively playing along with Amethyst’s antics. Still- gross, kid. Don’t wipe your wet cereal face on your shirt! Ew! :O

When he goes outside and starts to use a kiddy metal detector to scan for quarters... so THAT’S where he finds his arcade money! Because I can’t imagine Greg is financially able to give him that much to spend on non-essentials at this point in the show.

Okay, so... I just want to bring light to the fact that Garnet has literally been in this arcade ALL NIGHT LONG.

It was evening when she first arrived here- the sun was visibly setting in the background, and when Steven, Amethyst, and Pearl left, the sky was dark. But now it’s morning. Steven was just seen eating breakfast. And Garnet is STILL HERE.

Does this mean Mr. Smiley locked her IN? I have so many questions... Did he try to get her to leave, only to be intimidated by her complete lack of response? I would kill to know more about this interaction. Poor Mr. Smiley. That man deals with so much bullshit in this town, huh?

Geebus, is Garnet a solid wall. Previous episodes have shown Steven forcibly shoving whole tons of food, and swinging a mini-freezer over his head, and yet he can’t get her to budge even an inch.

I absolutely adore how he climbs up her frame like a koala, though, ahah. Cute.

Meat Beat Mania announcer: “That’s rare!!” Steven: “Oh my gosh...!”

I take these two lines as evidence that this is the first time Steven’s ever seen Garnet’s eyes. Specifically, the fact that there’s three of them. Which, makes sense- since Garnet is still really reserved emotionally at this point, and is only begins to get in the habit of taking her visor off to show Steven her full face later on in the show.

This expression deeply hurts me.

Steven’s so distraught here- because the others are in danger, the town is in danger, and he doesn’t have his trusty, dependable guardian who catches him when he falls and beats up scary monsters for him. Without her, the whole team is vulnerable and blind.

He feels alone. He feels... powerless.

And so he responds to that confusing, powerless feeling by trying to compensate with his own power. When all other routes he can think of fail, he smashes the video game console.

It... uh, it works... but once again, Steven entirely fails to consider the consequences, huh? He experienced a little bit of character growth in this regard in the episode Serious Steven, but even past that it’ll remain an recurring issue for him. Hell, his impulsiveness is a general character flaw even stretching into SUF.

In summary, though:

Poor Mr. Smiley. He works so hard, and doesn’t deserve this BS. ;-;

[gem-rewatch]

Hi. It’s been long over a year. I am bored. I finally wrote up the post for Arcade Mania, because I am stir crazy and have nothing better to do XD

Expect that later this week. I’m gonna see if I can whip up a few of these to queue over time.

[gem-rewatch]

SU rewatch- S1E10- Steven’s Lion

Lights up. A magical pink lion enters stage right. 

And really, what a perfect fit for a magical boy who has- on multiple occasions- fulfilled many a Disney princess trope. Let’s make a count... He’s got a deceased parent, has broken into song while looking out at sea, possesses healing tears + other various powers, is essentially space royalty (although he doesn’t know that yet), and in this ep- gains an animal sidekick.

A rather docile sidekick, for a legit lion.

Y’know, Lion’s docile nature makes a lot more sense with more recent knowledge we’ve gained about Rose’s pink zombification power via the official Steven Universe podcast- namely, how both Lion and Lars don’t need to eat anymore. (And how food tastes completely bland to them now.) No wonder this big cat never makes any moves, he’s probably long since figured out that there’s no need to kill for food anymore.

It’s also probably why he likes Lion Lickers- he’s literally got bad taste ahahahah XD

This image is so sweet though, awww. Look at this boy cuddle up to this oversized house cat. I’m... admittedly concerned at how trusting it is, but at least we all have the foreknowledge that Lion poses no threat.

Steven: “Garnet, Amethyst, and Pearl are coming! Quick, put my head in your mouth-”

Buddy. Buddy. Why are you like this. Steven. Why you wanna scare the bejesus outta your guardians. You’re gonna make them reform with grey hair, Steven. Gawdddd.

Steven: “Lion, I gotta go. I had a lot of fun. I think you really get me!”

I have to wonder if this statement runs a bit deeper than just... Steven’s typical M.O. of personifying and befriending anything/anyone. ‘Cause like, at this point in the show? He’s got a supportive dad and the Gems clearly adore and dote on him, and he’s a pretty extroverted kid, but... all the same, I kinda get some lonely vibes from him. After all, there’s a big difference in having a lot of people in your life and also feeling heard by those people. Feeling like a part of the group. Feeling understood.

Steven can count on his dad for a loooooot, Greg’s wonderful- but he’s also just human. He doesn’t always understand all the Gem stuff his son gets up to, and for that reason naturally won’t be able to relate with all of his problems. And the Gems all love him, but he’s often left out of activities. They’re just as bemused by many of his human activities as his dad is to Gem ones. He talks a lot with people in town, like Lars and Sadie, but much of it early on doesn’t seem to go far beyond the typical Steven-y small talk. He hasn’t gotten the chance to really connect with all of these people, and he hasn’t made a friend his age who really understands both sides of his life yet. Someone who gets him. (He’s not there with Connie yet, but he will be.)

I think deep down Steven is very aware of this, even if he barely ever brings it up.

It’s always in these lighthearted seeming moments that I catch little glimpses of this kid’s inner insecurities hiding around the curtain.

I major dig Steven and Amethyst’s couch pillow fort. Big childhood vibes right there. That’s like, all I did as a kid. That and lose toy cars in the sandbox forever ahfhshjgh. But never mind all that!

Steven: “We’re together again!”

Indeed, my young sir. The bearer of the Pink Diamond gem and the lion brought back to life by the original Pink Diamond. Reunited at last. ;w;

We’re all in agreement that this is why Lion followed Steven home, right? Because he sensed his gem and recognized who’s it was? Hmm, though I still do wonder how Lion came to be alone in the middle of the desert in the first place.

Um. Why is Steven’s idea of what “best friends” do an extreme life-or-death trust fall? Or... throwing a ball back and forth? Oh my god, please get this kid some real friends.

He’s so extroverted, and so genuinely friendly... able to talk to anyone, but this just makes it so blindingly obvious how little he’s been socialized around any other kids his age. Before Connie it was only Peedee, and he practically doesn’t count based on how quickly he was forced to grow up to help run the family business. Again, as said above, he’s got legit good relationships with his family, but family is different from friends. Both are so, so important in their own ways.

Steven: “I’m ordering for two!”

Ronaldo: [spittakes]

Ronaldo: “STEVEN’S PREGNANT???”

This scene is flippin’ ICONIC. My god.

Additionally, it’s the first time we get to see Kiki and Kofi, and the interior of Fish Stew Pizza! 

Steven: “Onion, you believe me, right?”

The expressions in this scene crack me up, Steven’s legitimately upset to have lost Onion’s approval jhfshjg

Steven. I know you’re upset at the idea that Lion didn’t return for you, and only came for the pillow, but please explain what good yeeting it like fifty feet away will do. This child exudes Big Clueless Energy sometimes, I swear.

Nonetheless, he clearly wasn’t listening earlier when Pearl was nagging Amethyst to keep it off the sand.

And look where that got him! :D

On his own, separated from the rest of the Gems’ help, vying to retrieve an artifact that- when active- poses a legit threat to his safety. For as unwise as he was to throw the pillow in the first place, he makes up for his lapse in logic here with his sheer determination. Look at this young man go! He sees what needs to be done and he jumps right to it.

He would’ve succeeded too, if it weren’t for how crumbly the desert glass castle was. Thank goodness for Lion’s loyalty, or else he could’ve gotten really hurt here.

Steven: “Lion! You didn’t come here to steal the pillow... You came here to protect us from it!”

I think he’s half right on this. As previously stated, I’m of the opinion that Lion originally followed Steven because he recognized the gemstone of his healer. I also think that when he saw the pillow and began fixating on it, he was kinda bein’ all... “put that sucker away, you dummies!” I mean, if he lived in the same desert as the desert glass for all that time then I’m sure he’s grown to recognize its power.

But in the end Steven has no reason to assume Lion has any connection to his mom, so it’s a fair assumption to make.

I really like how the artists transition from the muted, limited color pallet to the normal full-saturation one when Lion and Steven burst out of the wall with the artifact in hand- that’s a cool touch.

Aaaand then...

Whomp. There they gooo ;D; 

Enough epic heroism for the day, now it’s time to face plant into the dirt. I love Lion’s little disgruntled face here, heheh.

Pearl: “Are we really going to let him keep that?” Garnet: “We kept Amethyst.” Pearl: “Oh! Kept Amethyst. Oh, Garnet, that’s priceless!”

This is funny on its own, but it also reminds me that we haven’t truly gotten to see how Amethyst met the Crystal Gems yet. That’s one of the top five things I’m betting season six will tackle- I’m sure there’s more to how that happened, perhaps an arc relevant reason why Amethyst overcooked in the first place. And if not that, then it’d be a fun flashback story to tell.

(Are we really sure there’s no other Gems who also overcooked on Earth? Who maybe... haven’t even emerged yet? I’d be really surprised if Amethyst was the only one, to be honest.)

With this episode, though, the show’s finally introduced all the big characters who we’ll get to know more as the season progresses. The foundation has been officially laid! Every episode from here on out begins to build upon this foundation more and more.

Thanks for reading, and I’ll see you in Arcade Mania!

[gem-rewatch]

guess what- the next posts are gonna have gifs! :D

[gem-rewatch]

Jen rewatches SU is so entertaining and well written ❤️✨😍 It’s a pleasure to read

Ahh, thank you so much! ;D; It’s been a fun project to take up. As my term winds down I’ll hopefully find more time to dedicate to writing up some more.

[gem-rewatch]

SU rewatch- S1E9- Tiger Millionaire

This episode is our first major character development one, this time focusing on Amethyst.

Amethyst... at the beginning of the series, seems to be stuck with a severe case of “middle child syndrome.” We learn a lot more about this as the show continues and the Gems’ dynamics deepen, but from her interactions with Steven thus far she reads most as an older sister figure to him. She’s a wild child, someone who’s often the instigator of whatever nonsense Steven’s gotten into that day. Before Steven was born she was the baby of the group- but now that she’s not the youngest, she’s suddenly faced with the expectation of being more responsible and grown up.

The thing is, it’s only been like this for little over twelve years. And for a quartz who’s already lived hundreds and hundreds of years? “Growing up” suddenly becomes quite a daunting task.

An important theme of this show is change instead of rigidity, however- and just like Rose embraced that change when she gave up her form to have Steven, all of the other Gems get to evolve as individuals as well.

That’s just part of the magic of the Earth!

Pearl: “You’re always putting us in danger with your little outbursts!!”

Amethyst’s expression immediately informs us that she’s intimately used to Pearl’s scolding. Nothing new to see here. Just Pearl squawking on as usual. She deflects her jabs, already hardened to it.

But when Garnet steps in...

Garnet: “Amethyst. You are a Crystal Gem. You need to act like it.”

A few interesting details to note here...

Amethyst visibly crumples. She’s quick to recover... quick to put up a mask, but it’s clear that this shook her. 

Even Pearl looks surprised that Garnet spoke up, which suggests that she normally takes Amethyst’s side in these types of disputes and it’s just Pearl arguing.

Whereas Amethyst had little to no reaction to Pearl, she seems legitimately upset to hear the same from Garnet. She probably values her opinion a lot more than Pearl’s, so to receive a scolding from both of them... ouch.

Pearl: “I think we really got through to her!” Garnet: *growls in displeasure and walks away.*

Garnet is well aware that this status quo is only pushing Amethyst further away. There has to be a better way to get through to her about this...

It really says something about the Gems’ own oversight of what’s right in front of them that they left to do goodness knows what and forgot about Steven, standing in the corner of the house, trapped in a cocoon. It’s not just Steven who occasionally has this problem.

Please, Amethyst. I beg you, from the bottom of my heart: 

Beat up Ronaldo for me.

Amethyst: “In the ring, nobody can tell me what to do! And if they try, I hit ‘em in the face with a chair!”

Gawdddd the delivery of this always makes me laugh. 

This does make me wonder how difficult it was for Amethyst early on, though- after she was found by Rose Quartz and the others. Up until then she’d spent her whole life fending for herself. Alone. In the Kindergarten. Unlike every other Gem, who emerged with orders, not a single soul ever instructed her on anything until the Crystal Gems. I bet a big part of her still yearns for this pure freedom sometimes, even if it was a lonely existence. 

Amethyst: i’m so sick of being told what to do man Steven: *slams that relate button*

I love that Amethyst is the one Steven bonds really close with first. It makes a lot of sense, since they both get what it’s like to be seen as “the screw up” or “the childish one.”

Steven: (impersonating Pearl) “Oh Steven, I told you before not to take peanut butter on missions!” Steven: (impersonating Garnet) “I’m not going to say anything, but I expect you to know that was wrong.”

Pearl vocalizes every concern that even briefly flits across her mind.

On the contrary, if Garnet chooses to vocalize a concern, then it’s. A big concern. 

Both Steven and Amethyst intuitively know this.

Also Steven, you’re precious and I love you, you big nerd. Absolutely impeccable impressions. Please go into theater.

I will always think it’s hilarious that Steven’s idea of an “unlikable persona” to put on for the wrestling matches is just. A rich industrialist. 

Pearl: Um...watcha got there?

Amethyst: A smoothie :-)

I REALLY love the color palette of these little one-frame action shots. 

Okay, so the whole “mean” act Steven and Amethyst have put on as part of their wrestling tag team. Half of wrestling is just... acting, honestly- and being mean is their shtick. It’s a sort of love-to-hate thing for the audience, it’s FUN to have a good vs. bad dynamic in spectator events like this. Steven didn’t mean to take it as far as he did, he just got carried away with the act. (A recurring problem for him. See: Steven and the Stevens)

But Amethyst? Pearl has been scolding her for being too wild and loud and rude for so long that she’s started to internalize this... and willfully act this way. It’s like a two-for-one combo of punishment to self and acting out for attention.

Amethyst: “Listen, Steven. You can’t let anyone make you feel like garbage.” Steven: “Is that how you feel?” Amethyst: “I only feel how I want to feel.”

And then during the tag team championship, Pearl and Garnet intervene... and poor Amethyst just snaps. She’s furious. Her one outlet, and she’s so afraid they’re gonna take it away from her!

During her fight with Garnet, notice- this is far more heated than just a typical Crystal Gem practice brawl. She’s squeezing Garnet’s midsection hard, MUCH like Garnet did to Peridot in Catch and Release. 

Amethyst is outright trying to poof Garnet here. That’s how angry she is.

It’s only after Steven gives a stirring explanation of why they’re doing this, why they need this outlet, that the two of them begin to understand. Just... let them have this space.

I adore how Garnet and Pearl just... turn the encounter into another part of the “act” by starting the whole “you have to defeat us to save wrestling” storyline. It’s a nice way for them to get into the wrestling spirit themselves, to support Amethyst’s interest. 

Amethyst: “Sorry for, um- sorry.” (Sorry for almost poofing you, Garnet.) Garnet: “Same here.” (Same here- for being too harsh and not being supportive of your outlet.)

[gem-rewatch]

SU rewatch- S1E8- Serious Steven

It’s this point of this season (both this ep and the last) where the characters, humor, and overall tone of the show first starts to truly mesh, I think, giving us a representative human-focused story and Gem-focused story.

This episode in particular is actually a personal favorite of mine, too- I always love the way the writers/board artists structured it, hinting towards the flashback sequence early on and then later returning to that thread to influence Steven’s outlook and decisions of current events. Starting with an out-of-context glimpse at Steven’s Funland disaster immediately acts as a curiosity hook to the audience and establishes his internal desperation to get this mission right.

Steven, probably: “Welp, I’m grounded!”

But on a more serious note, the context we learn later in the episode about what happened here is a prime example of Steven’s lack of focus on the consequences of his actions. He’s still very young, after all- only twelve. And like most twelve year olds, he’s more concerned with how he can have fun in the present than how his decisions will affect the future. It’s only to be expected.

Pearl: (about his ukulele) “Why did you bring that?” Steven: “I don’t know! I was excited, and it’s mine, and I like it!”

This episode, however, is where this kid makes his first steps towards maturity. Towards thinking before he acts. Towards letting his past inform his present. In my opinion, this is where his coming of age truly begins.  

Initially, just like the teacup incident, Steven seems to have chronic unwise decision disease- he’s far more preoccupied in keeping his belongings safe or running away from bugs, etc etc. He’s distractible, and it’s to the point where Pearl’s genuinely questioning his safety on this mission. After all, this is the first time they’re bringing him on a mission that involved legitimate stakes and danger- the Sea Spire doesn’t count, because they took him there as a test. Garnet advocates for him, though. She probably has been catching faint glimpses of the future, of a Steven who’s more well rounded, more focused- and gets the sense that whatever happens today will lead him towards this.

We gain our first glimpse of the Strawberry Battlefield! One of the most stunning locations in the show. It’s highly suggested that this is the first time they’ve returned to this place since the war.

Pearl: “Unbelievable! This was one a Gem battlefield. Now it’s wild strawberries as far as the eye can see! Oh, that’s what I love about the Earth.”

We’re also treated to our first major dose of Gem history, through the murals inside the inverted pyramid.

Both the new Great Diamond Authority symbol seem on the floor (the three clustered triangles design) and the subject matter of these murals suggest that this pyramid was constructed at some point during the height of the war, just after Pink Diamond was “shattered.” It’s to be assumed this structure was then intended as a death trap for rebel Gems.

These images laud White Diamond as Gemkind’s savior, with hands outreached towards her in celebration and worship. There’s an image of Rose Quartz and her army facing White- perhaps holding out Pink’s gemstone as if taunting her- but White is depicted in the more powerful stance in this mural, attacking in retaliation. Below are small glimpses of the trials our Crystal Gems face later in the episode. None of the little mural people survive in these, a hint of the danger to come

Overall, what we’re seeing here is Homeworld war propaganda.

Steven may not have fallen gracefully, but he’s pretty dang durable for making a belly flop onto solid stone like that and walking away. As many people have pointed out, this sequence is paralleled in Change Your Mind but with Steven lightly floating to the ground, representative of him both growing into his powers and confidence in himself.

I just think this screenshot is hilarious- Pearl’s carrying him under her arm like a dang briefcase! Helicopter mom alert.

Pearl: “But this could be the teacups all over again...” Steven: “Hey! I’ve put that behind me.”

The thing is, he hasn’t. I get the sense that internally, behind all the hammy goofs and his guise of confidence, he’s incredibly, self-consciously aware of the fact that this mission is imperative to his future as a Crystal Gem. It’s redemption for his first screw up, for his mistake at Funland. If he messes this up too, there’s every possibility that the Gems might not let him go on missions for a while longer, and that’s the last thing Steven wants. He looks up to these three so much and he wants to spend time with them, wants to learn more about this part of his heritage, wants to be like them.

A large part of Steven’s coming of age is also rooted in his realization that these missions aren’t just “fun times.”

Steven: “Woo-ho! That was, uh- seriously dangerous.”

Up until now, I don’t think it’s fully hit him exactly how life-and-death Gem missions have the potential of being for him yet. As the others are saying, he legitimately needs to take this more seriously- for his own safety.

Garnet: “But be careful. You might trigger a trap with that gun show.”

Garnet, I love you.

Steven: “Maybe there’s a clue hidden in these ancient drawings.”

SU theorists be like...

No, but actually though- that’s kinda a clever way to blatantly hint to the kiddos watching this show that they should pay attention to what’s carved into the walls. 

Even if this idea kinda backfires for Steven, it was at least a good idea!

Of course Amethyst can sleep on spiny teacup rides. And Pearl, what- what are you even doing. You’re not even- god, Pearl, what did you think this teacup ride was FOR?

Steven: “I think I need to get off this ride now-” (heckin... just... jumps off the teacup while it’s suspended in midair.)

Me internally: “YOU FRICKIN FRICKS! WHEN WILL YOU REALIZE-!! THAT YOUR ACTIONS! HAVE CONSEQUENCES!”

See, his issue here is that he only thinks as far as he can see- how can he solve his current problem? A whole lot of his personal growth is learning how his actions have ramifications, and beginning to recognize what those might be.

Garnet: “It’s okay.” Steven: “No! No, it’s not! You were all right about me. I wanted to do this so bad, but now I feel like I’m gonna throw up. This is just like the teacups!”

Despite his distractibility, one of Steven’s greatest strengths has always been his unique perspective. No Gem would ever notice what’s wrong with this pyramid because no Gem would get motion sick. But since he’s half human he’s able to feel its effects. Subtle but clever.

I can’t believe Pearl Gemsplained Steven.

Steven: Garnet, I need to get off the ride now!”

He’s taking a moment to warn her of what he plans on doing. Which means he’s also spent time considering his action’s possible consequences- for the first time, he’s taking the risk seriously! My little baby’s growin’ up! ;D;

This lil pyramid on top looks exactly like an artistic depiction of White Diamond. It’s spooky.

This whole scene is beautiful. What good, more-fluid-than-usual animation. The lighting in it is so cool aaaaaa :DD

Pearl: “I’d say you handled that adventure very well.”

AAAAA LOOK AT HIM, HIS FIRST RETRIEVED GEM ARTIFACT ON A MISSION!!! Well done you funky lil’ kiddo, you did it!

*wipes away tear* They grow up so fast...

[gem-rewatch]

SU rewatch- S1E7- Bubble Buddies

Our first Connie episode!! I was super excited to get to this one, mainly because Connie is one of my favorite characters in this show. 

Her growth as an individual throughout the seasons is so, so good- and despite becoming an integral part of Steven’s busy chaotic life she never comes across as “just the love interest” or “entire life revolves around Steven” like female characters tend to do in plenty of other shows. This show- despite being told exclusively through Steven’s POV- still respects the fact that Connie has her own life separate from him and Gem stuff, giving glimpses into her relationship with her parents, her school life, and giving her plenty of hobbies, likes, and dislikes. I really appreciate that.

Okay, so first off I wanna talk about Steven and the glow stick. So, he saw this cute girl watching the parade drop her glow bracelet, and saves it in the freezer just in case he ever sees her again right? And it was a big Beach City boardwalk parade, likely with lots of tourists there watching, so there’s no guarantee that he’d ever see her again. Even with this, he still holds out a spark of hope that he’d be able to give it back. Which, is just who Steven is- he’s a hoper and a dreamer. 

And like the world’s best miracle, there she is. Right there. Sitting on the beach close to his house, reading a book.

(As an added note, Connie ran out to on obscure corner of the beach away from the boardwalk to go read a book in peace. She probably wanted to get away from her overbearing, overprotective parents for a bit to relax.)

Oh my- oh my lord, it looks like he’s doing the Bigfoot pose. I desperately hope this was intentional.

But Steven. Steeeeven. Honey. Are you really gonna have your first line be a tacky pick-up line??

Steven: “It’s a smooth ride.” (after absolutely digging his wheels through the sand. GAWD.)

Honestly it’s probably good that Connie’s first impression of Steven was him being a complete doofus like this rather than his bad attempts at flirting like a leather studded biker.

But gawddd even on first watch it’s made explicitly clear that this is someone Steven’s seen from a distance before and wants to get to know. This poor kid just doesn’t know how to... actually do it.

Steven: “It’ll mess up my funky flow!”

He doesn’t seem to need any so-called ‘funky flow’ talking to anyone else in town- in fact, he’s about as extroverted as they come. This kid would willingly converse with almost anyone. Almost. His awkwardness about this one person drives home the reality that Steven probably thinks she’s cute and doesn’t know how to deal with that sort of crush stuff yet. Because let’s be real- with anyone else, this wouldn’t be a problem. He’d just bound up to them in all his enthusiasm as if they were already friends. 

Garnet: "We won’t watch.”

She says, as she adjusts her glasses. 

She already can sense what’s going to happen anyways, she doesn’t need to watch. XD

He’s already eaten through the cookie cats, and he grabs the same little glow stick that’s been seen in the freezer in episode one. A nice continuity detail.

(Although I do wonder how much time has passed between Gem Glow and now.)

Steven: *testing out different vocal inflections* “Hi! My name is Steven. Hi! My name is Steven...”

Having to script out introductions to ease one’s nerves about talking to someone new is literally so relatable. The story of my life. It’s reassuring to see a traditionally extraverted character do this too.

Ah yes, the protective bubble overprotective Pearl’s always dreamed of enveloping Steven in. Thank god he can now summon one himself.

Assuming nothing else happened off screen, this is the third weird gem thing Steven’s ever been able to do in his life- after summoning his shield once and attempting to shapeshift. Thank god it’s a helpful one this time. 

Connie: “What... happened?” *Steven pauses for a short moment, considering.* Steven, casually: “I’m magic!”

Now, for Steven... Beach City has been his whole life. Here, the handful of locals have lived alongside Gem weirdness for long enough that they accept it without question by this point, with a sorta “it might as well happen” attitude. Because of this, I get the sense that he’s never actually had to explain anything before.

And so, as awkward as they come, he info dumps.

Steven: “Well, half-magic. [...] I’m a member of the Crystal Gems, we fight monsters and protect humanity and stuff-”

Connie, bless her heart, just sorta shrugs and goes “okay” to all of this. But hey, there’s no reason to deny the existence of magic when it’s all around you!

All of THIS scene is gold:

Steven: “That’s Lars. We’re basically BFFs.”

Lars: *making fun of the kid by slathering his tongue against the bubble’s surface like an utter loon, who as a result actually appears less grounded than Steven at the moment*

This is not the only time Steven tries to get his point across by playing pictionary and drawing an over-complex picture that literally no one gets the meaning of. It’s an ongoing habit, apparently.

Nice cameo of Obsidian’s sword! Makes you wonder how it got all the way out here. Also, is this an actual sword that Obsidian forged in their lava mouth, or is it a fake sword made exclusively to be a part of the fusion temple (before it was crumbled a bit)?

Connie: “Now we’re going to suffocate or starve at the bottom of the ocean, and only my parents will notice, because no one else cares about me! I’m gonna disappear without ever making a single friend!”

This scene makes me genuinely hurt. Connie is so lonely that one of her biggest fears/regrets at this point is dying without anyone caring what happened to her. 

What we know about her and her parents tells me that they’re just... so sheltering that she’s had barely had time to socialize with anyone. It’s left her timid, so anxious about meeting new people that it literally took Steven knocking right into her to save her life to get her to say hello. All she wants is one good friend, someone who will stick around, someone who will remember her-

And then comes along Steven. A boy who saw her drop a glow stick, and cared enough to save it in case he ever saw her again. A boy who remembered her, who wants to know her.

...a boy who’s. Apparently getting down on one knee to ‘propose’ friendship to her. XD

Hey, whatdya know? I guess diamonds really are a girl’s best friend.

Jokes aside, this is such a sweet moment- 

Steven: “We could be friends!”

It’s exactly what Connie needed to hear, and it’s exactly what he always wanted- to get to know the girl from the boardwalk parade more.

As a final note, Steven blushes so hard when Pearl and Amethyst are gently teasing him about Connie. Honestly I think the fact that Steven has a canonical crush on Connie is about as blatant as they can make it from episode one. 

That being said, most of all he just wants to be a friend. I’m thankful I’ve never sensed any sort of “possessive, jealousy” behavior from him when it comes to Connie which automatically sets Steven Universe as a show apart from like, pretty much every other kid’s show with a crush between guy and girl best friends. (I’m lookin’ at you, Star vs. the Forces of Evil.)

They’re friends first, and he respects that- and thus I respect him.

[gem-rewatch]

SU rewatch- S1E6- Cat Fingers

Aaaand after a brief hiatus we resume our rewatch with another Incredibly Cursed episode. It evokes... many troubled emotions with me, my god. It’s not a bad episode, it just crosses a bit of a line for me in terms of sheer body horror.

On top of that, I genuinely think what happened in this episode is still one of the most traumatic experiences Steven’s ever had. Even if it doesn’t quite beat out having-your-gem-forcefully-pried-out-of-your-body, it’s definitely up there. This poor kid really hasn’t had much good mileage with shapeshifting, has he? He has a lot of trauma connected to this one ability:

The absolutely messed up events of this episode.

Subconsciously shapeshifting his body older based on his sense of self and then almost dying because his outlook got disturbingly existential.

Purposefully trying to shapeshift older on his 14th baby but then it backfiring and him reverting into a frickin’ baby because he began to feel helpless.

While Steven’s used shapeshifting a little bit since this to sneak his way onto Funland rides he’s technically not tall enough for, he hasn’t ever tried shapeshifting into something completely different (like Amethyst always does) after the cat fingers incident, and I can’t blame him. It just seems to be an ability that poses far more risk for him, a half-human, than a full Gem.

I will always love these early glimpses at Steven’s strong relationship with his dad. Greg is just... such a good dad, y’all. Look at how much fun they’re having together!

As an added note, I have to appreciate the fact that Greg doesn’t get visibly upset at Steven for accidentally losing him some money at the carwash, when Mayor Dewey throws a stink about getting wet (from Steven’s hose) and Greg offers the wash on the house in recompense. In any other show, I feel like they’d use a situation like that as a source of conflict, or paint the parent figure as the mean or foolish “obstacle” the protagonist has to avoid, but in this show Greg is legitimately an important figure in Steven’s life. He values his dad’s input. They hang out frequently. They have a stable, healthy relationship. 

Greg: “Whoa! Magic stuff. Should I get out of here? Is there gonna be an explosion?”

That being said, at this point of the series he’s still a bit hesitant on being a part of every facet of his son’s life. Though that seems to be more an issue of the Gems kinda pushing him away over the years than a lack of commitment. 

Pearl’s utter distaste for Amethyst’s use of shapeshifting for fun was more amusing when we didn’t know why she had bad memories about it. (i.e. shattering Pink while in the guise of Rose Quartz.)

Pearl: “Just because you can shapeshift doesn’t mean you should." Steven: “Can you shapeshift?” Pearl: “Well, of course-“

Pearl, I smell personal trauma coming off of you in droves.

Awww, Steven wants to change into a huge lion! How lovely that he gets one a few eps later.

Amethyst’s “just think and then do it” attitude about Gem powers really goes to show how all of this is innate instinct for them. I mean, all of them marched out of their holes already knowing their given identity and purpose. They never had to learn how to shapeshift or summon a weapon. Unlike Steven they never had to figure out how to “be a Gem” because that’s what they’ve always been.

It’s honestly no wonder why they’ve had a hell of a time trying to help raise Steven, or why they weren’t able to explain how to do simple things like summon things from one’s gem any earlier. They’ve never had to learn, so they don’t really understand how to teach.  

Steven’s an anomaly in every way, one that’s forcing Pearl, Garnet, and Amethyst to actually learn themselves so they can better look after him. 

Even Amethyst looks rather surprised that Steven was able to pull it off. Welllll, kinda.

This image captures probably the only relatable moment Ronaldo has in the entire series. 

Oh boyyy and this is where the episode begins to get really frickin cursed. Goddddddd.

The Gems mention going out to “fight a living island,” and while I know this is just a noodle incident I cannot even express how much I really, really want to know the story behind this.

Pearl: “We have to stay and help Steven!” Garnet: “We can’t. This is a tectonic emergency. We’ll deal with Steven when we get back.”

Garnet may seem a little cold with her reaction here, but I’m assuming she knew that Steven would be able to sort it out on his own. I also think Steven kinda... needed to do this himself, in a way. To know he could figure things out without the Gems’ constant guidance. 

Pearl: “Amethyst, I blame YOU for this!” Amethyst: “Eh, that’s fair.” Oh my god, this exchange is so damn funny to me hdjhsgjsh

Here we go, folks. Here comes the Legit, messed up body horror. 

S a v e h i m.

I will forever stand by my opinion- this is easily one of the most terrifying things Steven’s ever been through.

Like, d a m n, this is straight-up horror movie shit oh my word. This poor child literally thought this was the end of the line, and crawled all the way over to his dad because he couldn’t think of anything else to do.

Steven: “My life is over! I can’t go on magic adventures! I can’t even open the fridge. And I’ll never get to have another water fight with you, Dad!”

The sheer helplessness in this screenshot makes me physically hurt.

I must say, I quite like that this episode gives Greg an opportunity to actively help neutralize a Gem related danger. He’s been politely steering clear of the Gems up until now, even to the point of continuing to live in his van instead of in the beach house with Steven... (he could’ve built a spare room for himself, but he chose not to.) ...but in the end, if becoming more involved and comfortable with all that will help keep his son safe, then he’s prepared to change. 

To begin to learn, just like the rest of them. 

[gem-rewatch]

I really love how you analyze and connect the early episodes to the overarching story, keep up the good work!

Ahhh thank you! I shall be resuming the meta posts after I finish my midterms on Monday and Tuesday.

[gem-rewatch]

Mod note-

Jen here- I still have a large swath of drafts half-written up, and will hopefully get a chance to finish them up soon- just need to get past a particularly terrifying biochemistry midterm next Monday first. *shivers in fear*

[gem-rewatch]

SU rewatch- S1E5- Frybo

Oh boyyy, both this episode and the next one are just,, so damn cursed XD

They’re fun, but... So, so cursed.

I don’t have as much deep meta on this one as I do the others, but I still have some musings on a few moments + reactions.

Steven: “You’re a mess, Steven.”

Same, kid. 

I like how he’s spending all this time looking for pants and there’s at least two right in front of him, but nope, he can’t find his pants. To be FAIR he’s probably got a favorite pair of jeans, buuut... 

GODDD Steven going absolutely wall-eyed while Pearl is giving a complex explanation is just so relatable. (Steven honey, please do try to listen to Pearl though! Your pants can wait one moment.)

I really love how in this episode we get legitimate Steven internal dialogue. It’s a funny and cute touch. The whole show is already from his POV in the first place, but it’s fun to have something from his INTERNAL POV on top of that. I can’t really think of another episode off the top of my head that does this.

Ten million people have pointed it out already, but still... I can’t stop thinking about the friggin’... leg ship. 

Gee, Steven has some truly incredible expressions in this episode, doesn’t he? I love him. Absolutely inspirational, what a gem. 

mmmmmmmmmmm-

BOI

There’s some nice parallels in this ep between Steven and Peedee.

The two of them both want to be a part of the “family business” but aren’t taken seriously. Peedee’s not allowed to help cook fries yet, instead trapped in a costume he doesn’t even like. Steven is still one foot in, one foot out when it comes to being a true part of the Crystal Gems- not allowed on most of their missions. Both desire to help out more than their guardians are giving them the opportunity to.

“What are you gonna do??” Steven: “MY JOB!!!”

God I love this kid. What a ham.

Aaaaand here comes the cursed stuff.

I can’t believe Steven Universe did force feeding. *shivers in fear* That’s just so, so messed up oh gaaawdddd

Okay, final thought on this episode:

When Pearl is fighting Frybo she’s blinded and bested by... ketchup, of all things. Which to me seems kinda BS, because we’ve seen her stand her ground against far greater threats before. In fact, she was easily overcome by the monster in the last episode too. And I get that from a story point they’re trying to buff Steven up as more capable than he lets on, and the only way to do that is to make him the “one to save the day,” but still- Pearl, I expect better from you! XD

My in-universe explanation for why she’s so off her game in these first few eps, then... is that she was so distracted with constant thoughts of “keep Steven safe keep Steven safe keep Steven safe-” and keeping an eye on where her lil kiddo was at all times that she wasn’t paying proper attention to what she should have been, i.e. the monsters threatening their safety. 

Later on in the show, as she realizes Steven is far more capable than she originally gave him credit for, she’s able to calm down a bit and keep her focus on what needs to get done. He’ll be fine.

[gem-rewatch]

SU rewatch- S1E4- Together Breakfast

Ah yes, the episode featuring our first glimpse inside the temple! 

The entire plot of this episode is jump started because Steven just wants to hang out and spend time with Garnet, Amethyst, and Pearl- and that’s honestly the most precious thing to me. I imagine that with the Gems always going on missions to neutralize and gather any corrupted Gems they come across, the house gets pretty quiet and lonely for him sometimes. And sure, he can go over to the boardwalk and talk with any of his friends over there, or go hang out with his dad, but what he wants most of all at the start of this ep is some more time with his other three guardians, the three people besides his dad he looks up to most. They’re just... busy a lot, unfortunately. Busy with missions they won’t bring him on yet.

One of my favorite things in this show is Amethyst and Steven’s sibling-like banter and interaction, and it just shines in this episode. 

Sword lesbian.

That’s quite the, ah... quite the stash she has, huh. 

Pearl: “You know it’s dangerous for you inside the temple!”

So, I’m assuming this means that Steven’s been specifically told (at least by Pearl) to stay away from everyone’s rooms before this episode? I wonder why. The temple doesn’t strike me as that dangerous of a place, to be honest- as long as you know where you’re going. My guess is that Pearl is just overreacting, as usual- in her never ending urge to be uber-protective-mom to the kid. Amethyst doesn’t seem to mind Steven being in her room, though- so it can’t be a solid rule he was given.

“Familiar… And this time I’ve had some practice At helping a struggling family”

Notice, in contrast to later seasons, how the Gems are all keeping to themselves in their free time instead of spending time together. Pearl and Amethyst clash super easily. Garnet is super focused on her duties and prefers not to be disturbed. This family is... cracked. They have been since they lost Rose Quartz. (Over 12 years may have passed, but that’s a pit-stop for beings with millennia-long lifespans. They’re still in the middle of mourning.)

And poor Steven is so, so desperate to bring them all together. Just wanting them to be happy. Which is why he doesn’t want to share this breakfast with just Amethyst or Pearl, he wants all three. It’s supposed to be something to get them all in the same room at once, talking, laughing. Simply having fun. 

Some of these jumps Steven makes while holding an ENTIRE plate of food are pretty dang gutsy, and while I know most of this is just adhering to cartoon gravity logic Steven is also super lucky that he has a natural floating ability in the first place. He may not realize this yet, but it’s possible he may have already been using this ability for years.

Crystal heart... 

Do we ever learn what exactly this DOES? Do we ever see it again? I’m legitimately curious. Does this mean that the temple itself is a living organism in its own right? 

Steven: “Oh! Oh, hey! This isn’t so bad.”

Steven: “Uh, never mind!”

Gawd, someone save this kid. Also, hello Rose’s room cameo! 

Pearl and Amethyst seem genuinely worried about disturbing Garnet when they follow Steven into the bubble room, which only serves as another sign of their lack of cohesiveness at the beginning of the show.  

Can we just take a moment to point out how... Steven is really, really strong. Like, impressively so. That monster had to be a few tons worth of food, and he brute forces it into the lava all on his own. Y’all, I’m so proud of him.

“I’m sorry, guys. I guess I dreamed too big.”

Thankfully he hasn’t, because this misadventure is a success- and his dream of sharing food and bonding time with everyone happens after all! It just didn’t happen how he expected it to go. I guess sometimes it takes a gigantic death waffle to bring the people you love together, y’know?

[gem-rewatch]

More posts on the way this coming week! I have two on the queue, and two more in the drafts. These have been fun to write up.

[gem-rewatch]

SU rewatch- S1E3- Cheeseburger Backpack

Okay, new sideblog! No more worrying about links! Let’s just cut right to the chase and dive right in to the observations from now on-

Ah yes, Jamie. The mailman/actor I don’t think even has a last name, the one I genuinely forgot existed before rewatching this ep. (Sorry bud!) Whatever happened to Jamie anyways..?

Major kudos for this beautifully candid screenshot I got here, what a LOOK. 

Shortly after Change Your Mind aired, I saw a post somewhere pointing out how when Connie asked “Are you you,” Steven didn’t even bother to lift his shirt up to check if his gem was there after he refused with his Gem self, instead just confidently confirming, “I’m me!” In stark contrast, waaaaay back at the very beginning we’re presented with a young 12-yr-old Steven who still feels the need to present his gem as “proof” that he’s just as much a part of the Crystal Gems as the others.

Pearl, Garnet, and Amethyst all know very, very well how he came to be but it’s clear in the early eps that they even then need a bit of reminding that Steven’s far more than a regular human boy. It’s also super indicative of where he’s at on his journey of self acceptance. He’s not only trying to prove that he belongs to them, he’s still trying to prove it to himself.

At this moment, his sense of self worth is tightly wound up in their opinion of him.

(5 seasons later... “I don’t need you to respect me, I respect me-” Dang, I’m getting really misty eyed about the character development already, and I’m not even halfway into season 1! This rewatch can, and will kill me off. I guarantee.)

On Steven and the warp pads...

Amethyst: “Suck it in, Steven!”

Pearl: “Do you remember how to do this?”

While on a story level I get that they wanted to introduce the concept of the warp pads to an audience who didn’t know how they functioned through Steven’s fresh eyes, these comments intrigue me because they suggest that Steven’s barely ever used the warp pads. It’s a reasonable assumption that he’s just recently moved into the house at the temple at season’s start, of course... but the newness of it all makes it seem like this is only his second (or third or fourth etc) time. Did the Gems really not take him on any fun day trips? Not ever? I mean, maybe they just thought it’d be too much of a risk with Steven so young, but...

I dunno, on the rewatch this detail came as a bit of an unexpected surprise to me. I didn’t remember this.

In this case, this makes this episode super, super important, because it’s literally the first time they’ve let him tag along on any of their out-of-Beach City business at all. My baby’s first Gem Mission ;D;

*sniffs* I’m so proud.

I just think this screenshot is really funny hfshfjfs it has a lot of meme potential. 

Steven, probably,, “ho shit I almost diED”

But real talk, Steven’s ingenuity here in crossing to the sea spire is great. This is but one of MAAANY examples in this show of how Steven, having a foot in both worlds, is able to think in ways the Gems never could. 

Immediately after his near death experience, there’s a series of character interactions that perfectly sum up each Gem’s relationship with Steven and it’s absolutely precious:

Garnet gives his head a quick affectionate motherly scruffle.

Amethyst, like a true sibling figure, jabs a playful elbow right into his shoulder.

And Pearl, ever so loving and protective, gently touches his arm to gesture for him to continue along with her.

Pearl: “H-how did you know that would work??" Steven: “Well, if I were a shrimp, that’s what I would do!”

This kid has always been very good at empathizing with other people and beings, and tapping into their minds to see/feel how they conceptualize things. Even now when it’s purely Steven being Steven- no gem powers involved at all. With this in mind, it’s only natural that eventually he grows to have emphatic telepathic powers to LEGIT tap into people’s emotions.

Also- he distracts them with food. While the three Gems were ready to strike with attacks, he chooses to take the pacifist route. This shows just how good being around Steven is for them, too. All of the Crystal Gems are fairly peaceful on the whole as well- only using force if absolutely necessary- but Steven’s relationship with them has continued to teach them that there’s always another way. There’s always a way to solve conflicts that doesn’t fall to war.

Garnet: “What have you got?”

I have to imaging that for Steven- having Garnet, the de-facto leader of the Crystal Gems- asking HIM what his plan is feels great.

Also both Amethyst AND Pearl chanting “Cheeseburger backpack” is the most adorable thing in all the nine realms, I swear. In earlier eps they were a bit more doubtful of how helpful any of Steven’s bizarre ideas would be, but here they’re rallying in newfound support for them and aaaaa it’s precious :DD

Look at him, he’s so proud! (And so am I.)

By the end of course, Steven’s all about to fall into despair- he messed up his first Gem mission and they’ll probably never let him tag along with them again, he’s probably thinking.

And then, in the dire circumstances, he receives a response he likely didn’t expect...

Pearl: “You handled everything well under pressure. You did great!” Amethyst: “Yeah, 2 out of 4 of your ideas worked! That’s fifty percent!”

Steven: “Yeah, I guess you’re right. They can’t all be winners.”

Pearl and Amethyst’s praise of Steven’s efforts here are absolutely paramount in paving the way for his growth in confidence, in the end. In a wide world he’s still trying to make sense of and figure out his place in, they make him feel like he’s truly one of them in this moment more than they ever have (at least, with what we’ve seen) before.

In that way, what happens in this episode paves the way for literally everything else in this show moving forward.

[gem-rewatch]

Heyo!

I decided to make a sideblog specifically to store all of my SU rewatch meta posts. From now on, I (novantinuum) will be posting all of my meta on this blog first, so as to be more organized. Feel free to give a follow if you’ve enjoyed the bits and bobs I’ve posted about so far.