History Recap / StevenUniverseS2E6ShirtClub

'''Steven:''': It's a little too late for notes. This is permanent marker.

* DoingItForTheArt: In-universe, as Buck wants to continue making taste ''forever''.

* OffModel: When Steven goes to ask the Crystal Gems for help and finds them on the couch, Pearl appears to be hovering slightly above the cushion in the first couple long shots, although her bum finds the seat by the time he leaves.

* FigureItOutYourself: Steven asks the Crystal Gems to help with the shirt situation, but they tell him it's a problem she should learn to handle himself, since it's a completely mundane situation that doesn't require their help.

** Alternatively, don't make a joke out of amateur art, '''especially''' when it's done by children. (which ended up being [[LifeImitatesArt extremely relevant]], since the episode happened to run shortly after several people mocked a younger fan's self-insert animation.)

* BigBrotherMentor: Buck acts a sort of mentor to Steven, though it turns out Buck's intentions aren't exactly consider. Notable also because it's stated Buck had a Montessori education. The Montessori system pairs up older kids with younger kids so they can learn from each other, with the goal being that each kid subsequently learns how to do/understand things on their own. This is exactly what happens between Buck and Steven in the episode.

-->'''Steven:''' I wanted to show how my dad rocks on the guitar!\\

-->'''Lars:''' Do-nut worry Buck! I'll whip you up a salad, no sweat! I'll be right back!\\

* OutOfOrder: The second of the three episodes meant for being between Rose's Scabbard and The Message due to the Stevenbomb premiere week, made obvious by Garnet having her old design.

* CallBack: To "[[Recap/StevenUniverseS1E14LarsAndTheCoolKids Lars and the Cool Kids]]", in which Lars is desperate for the attention of the Cool Kids: Sour Cream, Jenny Pizza, and Buck Dewey. He's still desperate for their attention here; so much so that he runs out out of Big Donut on the clock to get vegetables to make Buck a salad.

* CoolTeacher: Buck to Steven, and vice versa too in the end. Notable also because it's stated Buck had a Montessori education. The Montessori system pairs up older kids with younger kids so they can learn from each other, with the goal being that each kid subsequently learns how to do/understand things on their own. This is exactly what happens between Buck and Steven in the episode.
* CrossPoppingVeins: Steven draws Greg as impossibly buff, impossibly cut, with these all over his body.

* FigureItOutYourself: The Gems tell this to Steven after he asks them to help with the shirt situation, since it's a completely mundane situation that doesn't require their help.

* FunTShirt: Steven's "Guitar Dad" flyer is made into one. When Steven realizes Buck did it because he thought it was funny, rather than for advertising purposes, he makes one out of Buck's childhood drawing urging people to vote for his dad.
* HypnoticEyes: An alarmed Pearl displays these as she asks if the shirts possess people or sap the will of the wearer to live.

* {{Irony}}: Buck's low opinion of Steven's design may be his way of trying to ignore that a few years ago, he wasn't only producing the same kind of art, he was also doing it because he just loved his father that much.

* OffModel:
** In the long shot of the interior of the Big Donut, the menu features a reasonably priced combo of two donuts and a coffee for $3.49, but in a closer shot, there's a strangely overpriced two-donuts-for-$3.39 combo, which doesn't include coffee, in the same position instead.
** When Steven goes to ask the Crystal Gems for help and finds them on the couch, Pearl appears to be hovering slightly above the cushion in the first couple long shots, although her bum finds the seat by the time he leaves.

* TakingTheBullet: Averted. When the mayor's security sees he's about to get hit by a t-shirt, they panic and ditch him.

* WhamLine: The real intent of Buck's T-shirts it pretty abruptly clarified to Steven when he asks the point if people'

* TheMoreYouKnow: Garnet's advice to Steven to use his conflict resolution skills to find a way to solve his problem. At the end, there's a mini BishieSparkle beside her head.
* TrueArtIsIncomprehensible: In-universe, Buck claims he doesn't really care what people say about the shirts as long as they're talking about them. Of course, ''he'' thinks the work is horrible and assumes everyone agrees with him.

* ComicallyMissingThePoint: Buck orders a caprese salad from the Big Donut despite the fact that it's not on the menu because it's not a donut (heck, as Sadie points out, the store doesn't even have any vegetables.)

* WouldNotHitAGirl: Steven and[=/=]or Buck, apparently. They hit Ronaldo, Sour Cream and Lars with their shirt cannon, but when Jenny has a shirt later, she specifically mentions that it landed on the ground in front of her.

* CoolTeacher: Buck to Steven, and vice versa too in the end. Notable also because Buck it's stated Buck had a Montessori education. The Montessori system pairs up older kids with younger kids so they can learn from each other, with the goal being that each kid subsequently learns how to do/understand things on their own. This is exactly what happens between Buck and Steven in the episode.

* GeniusBonus: Buck had a Montessori education. The Montessori system pairs up older kids with younger kids so they can learn from each other, with the goal being that each kid subsequently learns how to do/understand things on their own. This is exactly what happens between Buck and Steven in the episode.

* AmazinglyEmbarrassingParents: Mayor Dewey is a never-ending embarrassment to his son, especially with his lame attempts to get the youth vote.

** A banner in the background when Steven and Buck prepare to make t-shirts reads "No new faxes".

* TrueArtIsIncomprehensible: In universe, Buck claims he doesn't really care what people say about the shirts as long as they're talking about them. Of course, ''he'' thinks the work is horrible and assumes everyone agrees with him.

To Steven's dismay, though, nobody is coming by It's A Wash for lessons. They're coming by for selfies and driving by to honk at him and compliment him, but no lessons. Steven talks to Buck and says they have to stop promoting the shirts because they're not getting Greg any business. Buck replies this was never the point. The shirts were meant to be funny because Steven's art is so naive and innocent, from love for his father. But he doesn't seem to care or understand that Steven is upset about his father not getting any business. Buck states plainly that was never his purpose as a tastemaker, and that he's going to make taste forever. Well, forever after his father's campaign event.

The Gems, once discovering that the shirts don't cause people to catch fire, sap their will to live, or do anything else dangerous, refuse to assist. Instead Garnet advises Steven to polish his conflict resolution skills. She tells him to make his problem known so that an understanding can be reached.

Steven walks off muttering to himself, and before long, has reloaded the T-shirt cannon. He begins firing at the gathering on the boardwalk where Mayor Dewey is trying to do a spontaneous, off-the-cuff speech about dedicating a new bench. The T-shirts in this barrage, though, are Buck's childish and innocent, love-driven artwork from before: A picture of Mayor Dewey with "Elect My Dad" in Buck's childish hand. Mayor Dewey isn't upset at the interruption; he's actually sort of touched to see his son's artwork on the T-shirts, and settles down, admitting that the new bench is sort of comfortable.

* AnAesop: Don't do anything to others that you wouldn't want done to you.
** Alternatively, don't make a joke out of amateur art, '''especially''' when it's done by children. (Which ended up being [[LifeImitatesArt extremely relevant]], since the episode happened to run shortly after several people mocked a younger fan's self-insert animation.)

* CallBack: To "[[Recap/StevenUniverseS1E14LarsAndTheCoolKids Lars and the Cool Kids]]", in which Lars is desperate for the attention of the Cool Kids: Sour Cream, Jenny Pizza, and Buck Dewey. He's still desperate for their attention here; so much so that he runs out out of Big Donut on the clock to get vegetables to make Buck Dewey a salad.
* ComicallyMissingThePoint: Buck orders a Caprese salad from the Big Donut despite the fact that it's not on the menu because it's not a donut (heck, as Sadie points out, the store doesn't even have any vegetables.)

* ADayInTheLimelight: Buck Dewey.
* DoesThisRemindYouOfAnything: Steven just wants to embarrass Buck by firing t-shirts with Buck's drawing on it at people. But the way Steven chooses to fire the shirts at the mayor's bench dedication starting with the mayor, plus the high perch, the sunglasses, and the sinister way Steven was talking beforehand, makes it look like Steven has gone off the deep end and is assassinating a politician.

* EpicFail: Steven tries to high-five the utterly motionless Buck. He misses.
** Later, Steven's attempt at working the T-shirt equipment gets him ''covered'' in ink.
** The Gems only managed to correctly assemble ''one'' stool. The others...

** On the right of the Big Donut's menu it explicitly says "We only sell donuts!" There's also an 8-donut combo called the [[ComfortFood Breakup.]]

* IronicEcho: Now that he's a teen, Buck is embarrassed by the art he did of his own father when he was around Steven's age and thoughtlessly disparages when he sees Steven's art of Greg. Steven gets through to him by making T-shirts of Buck's childish art and firing T-shirts into the crowd at Mayor Dewey's speech.

* JerkassRealization: Buck got to experience what he made Steven go through after Steven makes his old drawing mass known and his friends began to mock it. He sheds a SingleTear, goes to apologize to both Steven and Mr. Universe and [[MustMakeAmends even asks for a guitar lesson]].

* OffModel: In the long shot of the interior of the Big Donut, the menu features a reasonably priced combo of two donuts and a coffee for $3.49, but in a closer shot, there's a strangely overpriced two-donuts-for-$3.39 combo, which doesn't include coffee, in the same position instead. Also, when Steven goes to the Crystal Gems' house to ask for help and finds them on the couch, Pearl appears to be hovering slightly above the cushion in the first couple long shots, although her bum finds the seat by the time he leaves.

* RunningGag: if the "we only sell donuts!" sign is any indication, people other than Buck (who appeared to be in earnest) find it funny to walk into the Big Donut and order something other than donuts.

* TakingTheBullet: Played for laughs. When the mayor's security sees he's about to get hit by a t-shirt, they panic and ditch him.

* TrueArtIsIncomprehensible: In universe, Buck claims he doesn't really care what people say about the shirts as long as they're talking about them. Of course, ''he'' thinks the work is horrible and may be hoping everyone agrees with him...
* WouldNotHitAGirl: Steven and[=/=]or Buck, apparently. They hit Ronaldo, Sour Cream and Lars with their shirt cannon, but when Jenny has a shirt later she specifically mentions that it landed on the ground in front of her.

Steven and Buck talk for a moment about the flyers. Seeing the art, Buck says it would make excellent T-shirts. He and Steven high five on it, and head to the Dewey house. Mayor Dewey, who is working on his re-election campaign, is already there with a silk screen machine. He cheerfully explains he's been doing this for years, and runs across a drawing Buck did when he was little. It's an equally amateurish drawing of Mayor Dewey, who shows it to Steven with fatherly pride. Buck is immediately embarrassed by his dad, who is trying so hard to sling slang the way kids talk. He shoves his dad out, then gets to work with Steven.

* SureLetsGoWithThat: The Gems all give good reasons for why they can't help Steven with the shirts; Pearl notes the problem is abstract, Amythest states they can't exactly punch the issue away and Garnet says that Steven needs to brush up his own problem solving skills and learn how to handle his own problems. Pearl and Amythest quickly agree with Garnet's point.

Steven and Buck talk for a moment about the flyers. Seeing the art, Buck says it would make excellent T-shirts. He and Steven high five on it, and head to the Dewey house. Mayor Dewey, who is working on his re-election campaign. He cheerfully explains he's been doing this for years, and runs across a drawing Buck did when he was little. It's an equally amateurish drawing of Mayor Dewey, who shows it to Steven with fatherly pride. Buck is immediately embarrassed by his dad, who is trying so hard to sling slang the way kids talk. He shoves his dad out, then gets to work with Steven.

'''NOTE:''' "Open Book" was meant to be aired as part of Season 1 but Cartoon Network's Steven Bomb event in 2015 caused them to air some of the episodes out of order. This episode is the third of 3 that were shifted to season 2.

* OffModel: In the long shot of the interior of the Big Donut, the menu features a reasonably priced combo of two donuts and a coffee for $3.49, but in a closer shot, there's a strangely overpriced 2-donuts-for-$3.39 combo, which doesn't include coffee, in the same position instead. Also, when Steven goes to the Crystal Gems' house to ask for help and finds them on the couch, Pearl appears to be hovering slightly above the cushion in the first couple long shots, although her bum finds the seat by the time he leaves.

* FailedASpotCheck: Buck somehow missed the numerous hints (including a [[CantYouReadTheSign sign]]) that the Big Donut doesn't sell salads. Or he just didn't care.

* JustForPun:
** A banner in the background when Steven and Buck prepare to make t-shirts reads "No new faxes".
** "I've been... ''[[ComicalOverreacting shirt!]]''"

* HeelRealization: Buck got to experience what he made Steven go through after Steven makes his old drawing mass known and his friends began to mock it. He sheds a SingleTear, goes to apologize to both Steven and Mr. Universe and [[MustMakeAmends even asks for a guitar lesson]].