History TearJerker / StevenUniverse

* The series as a whole tends to [[SurprisinglyRealisticOutcome re-examine the nature of dreams and wishes]], flying in the face of the "dreams+dedication=success" rule of most children's shows. In this show, [[SourGrapes you don't always get everything you want]], choices you make have consequences, and living with those choices is a major theme. For example, you can either take your shot at fame and fortune or stay behind to pursue a relationship, but no, you can't have both (Greg). No, YouCantGoHomeAgain (Pearl)... and if you did, it would probably be disastrous (Lapis). Yes, you ''are'' too young and inexperienced to be doing these things (Steven). Yes, you ''are'' capable of doing amazing things and you can become a great fighter in your own right, but at the same time [[DisabilityTropes having a disability]] (whether it's physical or mental) [[HardTruthAesop will restrict and limit some of your abilities no matter what you do]] (Amethyst). And yes, you can romantically pursue anyone you want, but your neighbors and your society might persecute you for it, and it’s very likely you have to abandon your old life in order to remain with the one you love (Ruby and Sapphire's [[FusionDance fusion as Garnet]]). While the series does give its characters their triumphs, it also draws attention to accepting their limitations, and giving up is presented as a sensible option in many cases. As Greg says in "Space Race", "[[KnowWhenToFoldEm sometimes, you just gotta know when to bail]]."

*** The promo for "Battle of Heart and Mind" just released, showing Steven standing up to the Diamonds when his attempts to reach out to them fail. While the trailer certainly looks awesome, we are treated to another dose of [[SurprisinglyRealisticOutcome Fridge Tear Jerker]]; [[YankTheDogsChain if Steven fusing with Connie didn't already destroy any hope of curing the corrupted Gems, the events that will clearly transpire in this episode likely will.]]

** Those Website/YouTube comments are [[UpToEleven nothing compared to]] [[https://spinelwaitingforpinkdiamond.tumblr.com/ this Tumblr]], which every day since September 6, 2019 has uploaded a picture of Spinel happily waiting in the garden. The saddest part has to be the page's description: "counting the seconds until my best friend comes back!!!"

* The trailer for Diamond Days, an arc involving Steven trying to convince White Diamond to help cure the corrupted Gems ([[AmbiguousSituation assumedly]]), just released, and while it doesn't seem sad at first, Fridge Tear Jerker sets in when you remember that Steven is constantly being forced into situations that no kid his age should ever be in. This, however, [[UpToEleven takes the cake]], as not only is it made clear that he's being expected to live up to his mother's legacy of being one of Homeworld's rulers, but doing so is going to cause a lot of grief for the other Crystal Gems, especially with Pearl being a member of a ServantRace and Garnet being an official MalignedMixedMarriage.

[[caption-width-right:300: [[YouAreBetterThanYouThinkYouAre "...I think you're]] [[Heartwarming/StevenUniverse pretty great."]] [[note]] This will eventually be '''[[UpToEleven so]]''' much HarsherInHindsight.[[/note]]]]

[[caption-width-right:300: [[YouAreBetterThanYouThinkYouAre "...I think you're]] [[SugarWiki/HeartwarmingMoments pretty great."]] [[note]] This will eventually be '''[[UpToEleven so]]''' much HarsherInHindsight.[[/note]]]]

[[caption-width-right:300: [[YouAreBetterThanYouThinkYouAre "...I think you're pretty great."]] [[note]] This will eventually be '''[[UpToEleven so]]''' much HarsherInHindsight.[[/note]]]]

* The series as a whole tends to [[RealityEnsues re-examine the nature of dreams and wishes]], flying in the face of the "dreams+dedication=success" rule of most children's shows. In this show, [[SourGrapes you don't always get everything you want]], choices you make have consequences, and living with those choices is a major theme. For example, you can either take your shot at fame and fortune or stay behind to pursue a relationship, but no, you can't have both (Greg). No, YouCantGoHomeAgain (Pearl)... and if you did, it would probably be disastrous (Lapis). Yes, you ''are'' too young and inexperienced to be doing these things (Steven). Yes, you ''are'' capable of doing amazing things and you can become a great fighter in your own right, but at the same time [[DisabilityTropes having a disability]] (whether it's physical or mental) [[HardTruthAesop will restrict and limit some of your abilities no matter what you do]] (Amethyst). And yes, you can romantically pursue anyone you want, but your neighbors and your society might persecute you for it, and it’s very likely you have to abandon your old life in order to remain with the one you love (Ruby and Sapphire's [[FusionDance fusion as Garnet]]). While the series does give its characters their triumphs, it also draws attention to accepting their limitations, and giving up is presented as a sensible option in many cases. As Greg says in "Space Race", "[[KnowWhenToFoldEm sometimes, you just gotta know when to bail]]."

*** The promo for "Battle of Heart and Mind" just released, showing Steven standing up to the Diamonds when his attempts to reach out to them fail. While the trailer certainly looks awesome, we are treated to another dose of [[RealityEnsues Fridge Tear Jerker]]; [[YankTheDogsChain if Steven fusing with Connie didn't already destroy any hope of curing the corrupted Gems, the events that will clearly transpire in this episode likely will.]]

* Greg and Rose's relationship is a Tearjerker in and of itself. Even if birthing Steven hadn't killed her, it would have been sad. Crystal Gems are TheAgeless, so the other option for them was Rose watching Greg slowly die in front of her while being powerless to do anything about it.

* The new ending theme as of "Nightmare Hospital" The second verse of "love Like You" is extremely short compared to the first, but is much more of a tearjerker. It sounds like someone's singing about crossing the DespairEventHorizon.

* The trailer for Diamond Days, an arc involving Steven trying to convince White Diamond to help cure the corrupted Gems ([[AmbiguousSituation assumedly]]), just released, and while it doesn't seem sad at first, Fridge {{Tearjerker}} sets in when you remember that Steven is constantly being forced into situations that no kid his age should ever be in. This, however, [[UpToEleven takes the cake]], as not only is it made clear that he's being expected to live up to his mother's legacy of being one of Homeworld's rulers, but doing so is going to cause a lot of grief for the other Crystal Gems, especially with Pearl being a member of a ServantRace and Garnet being an official MalignedMixedMarriage.

*** The promo for "Battle of Heart and Mind" just released, showing Steven standing up to the Diamonds when his attempts to reach out to them fail. While the trailer certainly looks awesome, we are treated to another dose of [[RealityEnsues Fridge Tearjerker]]; [[YankTheDogsChain if Steven fusing with Connie didn't already destroy any hope of curing the corrupted Gems, the events that will clearly transpire in this episode likely will.]]

[[caption-width-right:300: [[YouAreBetterThanYouThinkYouAre "... I think you're pretty great."]] [[note]] This will eventually be '''[[UpToEleven so]]''' much HarsherInHindsight.[[/note]]]]

** Taken UpToEleven by [[https://spinelwaitingforpinkdiamond.tumblr.com/ this Tumblr]], which every day since September 6, 2019 has uploaded a picture of Spinel happily waiting in the garden. The saddest part has to be the page's description: "counting the seconds until my best friend comes back!!!"

** Taken UptoEleven by [[https://spinelwaitingforpinkdiamond.tumblr.com/ this Tumblr]], which every day since September 6, 2019 has uploaded a picture of Spinel happily waiting in the garden. The saddest part has to be the page's description: "counting the seconds until my best friend comes back!!!"

* The series as a whole tends to [[RealityEnsues re-examine the nature of dreams and wishes]], flying in the face of the "dreams+dedication=success" rule of most children's shows. In this show, [[SourGrapes you don't always get everything you want]], choices you make have consequences, and living with those choices is a major theme. For example, you can either take your shot at fame and fortune or stay behind to pursue a relationship, but no, you can't have both (Greg). No, YouCantGoHomeAgain (Pearl)... and if you did, it would probably be disastrous (Lapis). Yes, you ''are'' too young and inexperienced to be doing these things (Steven). Yes, you ''are'' capable of doing amazing things and you can become a great fighter in your own right, but at the same time [[DisabilityTropes having a disability]] (whether it's physical or mental) [[HardTruthAesop will restrict and limit some of your abilities no matter what you do]] (Amethyst). And yes, you can romantically pursue anyone you want, but your neighbors and your society might persecute you for it, and it’s very likely you have to abandon your old life in order to remain with the one you love (Ruby and Sapphire when they chose to fuse with [[FusionDance Garnet]]). While the series does give its characters their triumphs, it also draws attention to accepting their limitations, and giving up is presented as a sensible option in many cases. As Greg says in "Space Race", "[[KnowWhenToFoldEm sometimes, you just gotta know when to bail]]."

* The series as a whole tends to [[RealityEnsues re-examine the nature of dreams and wishes]], flying in the face of the "dreams+dedication=success" rule of most children's shows. In this show, [[SourGrapes you don't always get everything you want]], choices have consequences, and living with the choices you make is a major theme. For example, you can either take your shot at fame and fortune or stay behind to pursue a relationship, but no, you can't have both (Greg). No, you can't go home again (Pearl)... and if you did, it would probably be disastrous (Lapis). Yes, you ''are'' too young and inexperienced to be doing these things (Steven). Yes, you ''can'' be a great fighter in your own right and ''are'' capable of doing amazing things, but [[DisabilityTropes being handicapped (whether it's physically or mentally)]] [[FamilyUnfriendlyAesop will restrict some of your abilities no matter what]] (Amethyst). And yes, you can romantically pursue anyone you want, but your neighbors and your society might persecute you for it, and it’s very likely you have to abandon your old life to remain with the one you love ([[FusionDance Garnet]]). While the series does give its characters their triumphs, it also draws attention to accepting their limitations, and [[KnowWhenToFoldEm giving up]] is presented as a sensible option in many cases. As Greg says in "Space Race", "sometimes, you just gotta know when to bail."

* Steven's emotional trauma throughout the series -- In the beginning, he starts off as childish goofball who has to be saved by the Crystal Gems. Over the seasons, [[TookALevelInBadass he becomes more competent as a person and a fighter]]. However, he also is forced to confront the fact that the ones he's deeply idolized, the Crystal Gems, are flawed individuals with personal problems of their own. He learns that his mother, who the Crystal Gems have always pegged in a positive light, wasn't as perfect or innocent as he was told. Steven confronts situations that he can't handle like he could with the Crystal Gems, and he's forced to learn that sometimes ViolenceIsTheOnlyOption. Then, there's his ''huge'' GuiltComplex of taking more responsibility than he should for the problems others committed that wasn't his fault (i.e., he blames himself for Lapis stealing Earth's ocean); this complex most likely stems from how he feels the Crystal Gems blame him for his mom not being there. And he's ''fourteen years old''.