History Recap / StevenUniverseS1E35Lion3StraightToVideo

* DoubleMeaningTitle[=/=]TheNamesake: The name seems to be a play off the previous Lion episode, which has the subtitle "TheMovie" (whereas this episode is DirectToVideo). As it turns out, a videotape plays a major part in this episode.

* ImmortalProcreationClause: Rose's speech implies either that two gems of the same kind (in this case, two Rose Quartz gems) can't exist at the same time, or that Steven will take her gem when he's born.

SmashToBlack.

* SmashToBlack: Instead of the usual IrisOut.

On the screen, Rose plays around with the camera and causes an IrisOut.

While at the Big Donut, Steven notices there are a lot of packed lunches with Sadie's name on them in the fridge. Sadie explains they're from her mom, who still insists on making lunch for her every day, despite fully capable of feeding herself. Steven asks if he can take one for himself, and the girl agrees. Back at the temple, Steven enjoys the lunch... but wonders what his own mother would have made him. Gazing up at the portrait of Rose Quartz, he wishes once again that he knew what she's been like.

While at the Big Donut, Steven notices there are a lot of packed lunches with Sadie's name on them in the fridge. Sadie explains they're from her mom, who still insists on making lunch for her every day, despite being fully grown up. Steven asks if he can take one for himself, and the girl agrees. Back at the temple, Steven enjoys the lunch...but wonders what his own mother would have made him. Gazing up at the portrait of Rose Quartz, he wishes once again that he knew what she's been like.

And then Lion starts to get...clingy.

Very clingy, to the point where Steven wakes up multiple times throughout the night, unable to breathe due to the massive cat lying down on top of him. It frustrates Steven to no end (and rather scares Pearl), but eventually he realies that Lion isn't just looking for hugs. Rather, it appears that there's a magical pocket dimension in Lion's mane, one filled with a beautiful pink field and a blossoming tree.

Venturing inside despite the lack of air, Steven finds a number of items sitting beneath the tree. There's a tattered pink flag bearing the same symbol as his shield; one of his father's "Mr. Universe" T-Shirts, a strange bubbled gem, a mysterious chest...and a VHS tape with a label which says, "For Steven".

Remembering that the Big Donut has a VHS player, he rushes off, arriving just as Lars and Sadie begin to open the shop for work. Upon learning what this is all about, Sadie sets up the TV in the back-room, and she and Steven watch the film. It's Rose, capturing a peaceful and happy day at the beach with Greg, as they enjoy the animal life and simply goof around. Finally, however, the Gem begins to address Steven specifically;

--> '''Rose''': ''Isn't it remarkable, Steven? This world is full of so many possibilities. Each living thing has an entirely unique experience; the sights they see, the sounds they hear, the lives they live, are so complicated and so- ''simple''. I can't wait for you to join them.''
--> '''Rose''': ''Steven... we can't ''both'' exist. I'm going to become half of you. And I need you to know...every moment you love being yourself, that's ''me'', loving you and loving ''being'' you! Because you're going to be something extraordinary. You're going to be a human being.''

The video ends with Rose and Greg sharing a tender kiss while he caresses Rose's pregnant belly, and Lars walks in on Steven and Sadie with tears in their eyes. Steven hugs Lion for giving him such a wonderful gift while Sadie decides to call her mom, to ask her to keep making those packed lunches after all.

* BrickJoke: Early in the episode, Steven tells Lion "blink if you love me" then makes him blink when Lion just stares. After Steven locks Lion outside, he sees him blink naturally and decides to let him back in.

* KissingDiscretionShot: Rose's video tape ends with the camera turning off, probably because of lack of film or a charge, before she and Greg share a kiss.

* RealDreamsAreWeirder: Steven has a dream in which he gets some cryptic advice... from Dogcopter. While the two are playing checkers on a FarSideIsland.

* CrystalBallScheduling: A cross-media example, as the Keep Beach City Weird [[http://keepbeachcityweird.tumblr.com/post/104379180556/aaahhhhhhhhhhhhh-ok-so-i-just-finished-the post]] corresponding to this episode has Ronaldo talking about an episode of ''[[ShowWithinAShow Koala Princess]]'' whose plot also involves the main character getting a message from their mother.

[[quoteright:343:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/f409e2028bf20804ccc1b75fcd1bd510.jpg]]

** Steven still has his UsefulNotes/NintendoGameCube seen in "Fusion Cuisine".

** When Steven finds the VHS, he can't play it at his own house because Holo-Pearl destroyed his VCR in "Steven the Sword Fighter". So he remembers the VCR in the back of the Big Donut we saw in "Joking Victim".

* SequelEpisode: This episode can be seen as a resolution to "[[Recap/StevenUniverseS1E24AnIndirectKiss An Indirect Kiss]]," as it deals with Steven's desire to experience his mom firsthand.

* YourDaysAreNumbered: Rose knew when she was pregnant, possibly before Steven was even conceived, that she'd cease to exist in her current form upon his birth. [[NotAfraidToDie She isn't at all upset about it]] because she thinks Steven coming into existence is worth it.

* SequelEpisode: For "[[Recap/StevenUniverseS1E10StevensLion Steven's Lion]]" and "[[Recap/StevenUniverseS1E17Lion2TheMovie Lion 2: The Movie]]". It also can be seen as a resolution to "[[Recap/StevenUniverseS1E24AnIndirectKiss An Indirect Kiss]]," as it deals with Steven's desire to experience his mom firsthand.

** When Steven finds the VHS, he remembers the VCR in the back of the Big Donut we saw in "Joking Victim" .

--> '''Rose''': ''Steven...we can't ''both'' exist. I'm going to become half of you. And I need you to know...every moment you love being yourself, that's ''me'', loving you and loving ''being'' you! Because you're going to be something extraordinary. You're going to be a human being.''

The video ends with Rose and Greg sharing a tender kiss while he caresses Rose's pregnant belly, and Lars walks in on Steven and Sadie with tears in their eyes.

Steven goes to hug Lion for giving him such a wonderful gift while Sadie decides to call her mom, to ask her to keep making those packed lunches after all.

The video ends with Rose and Greg sharing a tender kiss while he caresses Rose's pregnant belly, and Lars walks in on the two of his friend with tears in their eyes. Steven goes to hug Lion for giving him such a wonderful gift while Sadie decides to call her mom, to ask her to keep making those packed lunches after all.

* PuppyDogEyes: Lion gives Steven these (or Steven imagines him doing so) when Steven, upset at Lion sleeping on his face, puts him outside as punishment.

Near the end, Steven puts his hand on Lars's chest, nodding back to "Lars and the Cool Kids."

* CallBack: Near the end, Steven puts his hand on Lars's chest, nodding back to "Lars and the Cool Kids."

--> '''Rose''': ''Isn't it remarkable, Steven? This world is full of so many possibilities. Each living thing has an entirely unique experience; the sights they see, the sounds they hear, the lives they live, are so complicated and so- '''simple'''. I can't wait for you to join them.''
--> '''Rose''': ''Steven...we can't '''both''' exist. I'm going to become half of you. And I need you to know...every moment that you love being yourself, that's ''me'', loving you and loving ''being'' you! Because you're going to be something extraordinary. You're going to be a human being.''

The video ends with Rose and Greg sharing a tender kiss, and Lars walks in on the two of his friend with tears in their eyes. Sadie decides to call her mom, to ask her to keep making those packed lunches after all.

* VideoWills: Rose leaves one for Steven inside Lion that tells him he will enjoy the world.
-->'''Rose Quartz:''' Steven, we can't both exist, so I'm going to become half of you, and I want you to know that everytime you love being yourself, that's ''me'', loving you and loving being you, because you're going to be something extraordinary...you're going to be a [[HumansAreSpecial human being]]...Take care of them, Steven.

--> '''Rose''': ''Isn't it remarkable, Steven? This world is full of so many possibilities. Each living thing has an entirely unique experience; the sights they see, the sounds they hear, the lives they live, are so complicated and so- ''simple''. I can't wait for you to join them.

--> '''Greg''': Hey Rose!
--> '''Rose''': Take care of them, Steven.

--> '''Rose''': ''Steven...we can't '''both''' exist. I'm going to become half of you. And I need you to know...every moment that you love being yourself, that's ''me'', loving you and loving ''being'' you! Because you're going to be something extraordinary. You're going to be a human being.

--> '''Rose''':''Isn't it remarkable, Steven? This world is full of so many possibilities. Each living thing has an entirely unique experience; the sights they see, the sounds they hear, the lives they live, are so complicated and so- ''simple''. I can't wait for you to join them.
--> '''Rose'''''Steven...we can't '''both''' exist. I'm going to become half of you. And I need you to know...every moment that you love being yourself, that's ''me'', loving you and loving ''being'' you! Because you're going to be something extraordinary. You're going to be a human being.

Lion won't stop laying on Steven's face while he sleeps.

* CatsAreMean: Seems to be the case when Lion keeps trying to suffocate Steven, until he realizes that Lion's actually trying to send him into his mane.