History TearJerker / StevenUniverse

** Connie's entire angry and confused reaction to seeing Steven happily socialize with Kevin and completely ignore and shun her for the whole party might have come off pretty harsh in return, but think of it from her view: She's spent the last few weeks processing the events leading up to Steven's kidnapping and her subsequent feelings (her helplessness at getting kidnapped by Topaz and not being able to stop Steven from surrendering himself, terror and worry about what was happening to him on Homeworld, and anger at how lightly he treated his experience and the anguish he put everybody through, as well as him breaking his promise of them always being a team and blatantly ignoring her feelings about it all), and possibly even felt terrible for how she reacted when he did return, if also still pretty mad about his choice. After a first failed attempt at responding to Steven's texts by visiting the temple to talk, and getting another chance to do so from the very ''last'' person she'd expected (Kevin), seeing those same two people hanging out with seemingly no animosity towards each other while also shutting her out altogether may have well brought back Connie's emotional baggage, which included the (incorrect) guess that Steven, after being (unintentionally) ignored and completely left in the dark by her for the last few weeks, no longer wanted her as a friend at that point.

* As Pink Steven marches toward Steven and Connie (and flawlessly [[NoSell blocks White Diamond's attacks]] in the process), a frustrated White Diamond yells at what she believes is Pink Diamond "I only want you to be yourself!" Because the Crystal Gems and the other two Diamonds are under White Diamond's MindControl, it looks like they're saying it as well. This brings on another meaning [[FridgeBrilliance when you think about it]]: since the beginning of the series, so many Gems have mistaken Steven for whom they believed was his "real" self (Rose Quartz/Pink Diamond). Jasper did it, Bismuth did it, Yellow and Blue did it...and even the ''Crystal Gems'' did it back when Steven was first born; even after they realized Steven was different from his mom, they still [[InnocentlyInsensitive put pressure on him]] to live up to her legacy, which wasn't being "himself" at all. Yes, things [[CharacterDevelopment have changed]] since then, but it's still sad to remember that even the Crystal Gems, Steven's guardians and protectors, were unintentionally doing harm to the person they loved the most.

** Doubly so compared to the grieving of the other Gems that have lived for YEARS or milennia without Pink Diamond/ Rose Quartz and have grieved like her death happened only a few hours ago. From the perspective of Pink Pearl: [[ParentNeverCameBackFromTheStore she had only left her Diamonds side just a few]] ''[[ParentNeverCameBackFromTheStore seconds]]'' [[ParentNeverCameBackFromTheStore ago to go see White Diamond.]]

** After this exchange, Blue gets up, approaches Yellow, and puts her arms around her. Yellow doesn't return the embrace or even acknowledge Blue: she simply sits and lets Blue hold her. It's both sad and sweet, as so often their roles are reversed with Yellow tending to shield Blue more often than not.

* The Extended Opening is a mostly-heartwarming short, but one line sticks out among the others. The part where all the Gems are singing about their own personal motivations proceeds as you'd expect; Garnet wishes to protect the place where she can be herself without fear of judgement or retribution, Pearl vows to uphold Rose's legacy and continue to fight for everything she believed in, and Amethyst does the same for the planet she was made on and is everything she's ever known. But Steven's verse is "[[DesperatelySearchingForAPurposeInLife I will fight to be everything / That everybody wants me to be when I'm grown]]". All of the other Gems' motivations (though rooted in personal traumas and fears) ultimately speak for their own goals and highlight what pushes them forward despite their pasts, while Steven's speaks for [[StuckInTheirShadow his desire and desperation to live up to the expectations of everyone around him]] and his continued uncertainty that he will ever manage to do so. It's painful to be reminded of how much Steven's self-worth is dependent on the Gems' approval.

* "We 'finally'' have you back, and you're ''worse than ever''." And this is coming from [[TokenGoodTeammate Blue Diamond.]] Granted, this is almost immediately followed by her HeelFaceTurn, but just hearing her say that to who she thinks is Pink(and even by the standards of it actually being Steven) is almost appalling.

* At this point, Blue and Yellow get into an actual fight. Blue had a HeelFaceTurn, and her attempt to reason with Yellow about letting Steven and the Crystal Gems go devolved into Blue ''slapping'' Yellow, then blasting her back with her powers. Yellow retaliates in response, and it snowballed from there. Yellow's heartbreaking reaction being the kicker:

** If you stop and think about it, Blue, Yellow, and White weren't just being abusive to Pink- they were being abusive to each ''other'', as well. Blue would frequently subject the Gems around her, particularly Yellow, to her EmotionBomb on numerous occasions([[InnocentlyInsensitive even if she was unaware of how it affected others]]), Yellow was never the most respectful about Blue's attempts to maintain the few vestiges of Pink that existed, and it's implied that both have been chafing under White's inflexible orders for eons.

* "We finally have you back, and you're worse than ever." And this is coming from [[TokenGoodTeammate Blue Diamond.]] Granted, this is almost immediately followed by her HeelFaceTurn, but just hearing her say that to who she thinks is Pink(and even by the standards of it actually being Steven) is almost appalling.

** "We finally have you back, and you're worse than ever." And this is coming from [[TokenGoodTeammate Blue Diamond.]] Granted, this is almost immediately followed by her HeelFace turn, but just hearing her say that to who she thinks is Pink(and even by the standards of it actually being Steven) is almost appalling.

* When Steven and Garnet are sitting in the hot tub, Garnet tells Steven that she knows what's troubling him. Steven, [[OneDialogueTwoConversations thinking that she's talking about his sacrifice]], laments how badly he screwed up with this action. Though Steven clearly thought at the time his HeroicSacrifice would have helped everybody (and to be fair, it ''did'' save most of the targeted humans from imprisonment in the Zoo or worse), he's clearly now realizing that in the long run it did just as much harm (if not more) as it did good: His sacrifice resulted (albeit indirectly) in Lars' DisneyDeath, the Barrigas' and Sadie's grief over his fate, Beach City blaming Dewey for the abductions and losing his position as mayor, and [[WhatTheHellHero Connie and]] [[EvenTheDogIsAshamed Lion's]] [[SilentTreatment anger]] at Steven for doing it. And as future episodes prove, this is only the ''beginning'' of the consequences.

** When Greg asks why he didn't tell them about the fight sooner, Steven admits it was partially because he was embarrassed, and partially because he feared that Greg and the Gems would have instantly sided with Connie if they found out what happened. He was ''that'' worried his guardians are also furious at him for giving himself up.

* When Steven and Garnet are sitting in the hot tub, Garnet tells Steven that she knows what's troubling him. Steven, [[OneDialogueTwoConversations thinking that she's talking about his sacrifice]], laments how much he screwed up with this action. Though Steven clearly thought his HeroicSacrifice would have helped everybody (and to be fair, it ''did'' save the targeted humans from imprisonment in the Zoo or worse), he's clearly realizing that in the long run it did just as much harm (if not more) as it did good: His sacrifice resulted (albeit indirectly) in Lars' DisneyDeath, the Barrigas' and Sadie's grief over his fate, Dewey's blame for the abductions by Beach City and losing his position as mayor, and [[WhatTheHellHero Connie and]] [[EvenTheDogIsAshamed Lion's]] [[SilentTreatment anger]] at Steven. And who knows what other long-lasting consequences Steven's decision will have?

** It gets worse when you consider this: Steven gave himself up to Aquamarine and the Topaz duo in "I Am My Mom" because his mother Rose Quartz shattered Pink Diamond; now he's discovering that [[TwoAliasesOneCharacter Rose Quartz was actually Pink Diamond the whole time]]. Not only was Steven's sacrifice based on a lie that fooled everybody, but the actual truth [[AllForNothing ultimately rendered it pointless]]. And what makes it even worse? TheReveal means that the emotional anguish the sacrifice caused for everybody and all the negative consequences that ensued (Lars' DisneyDeath and being stranded in the Homeworld Catacombs, Sadie and the Barriga's grief over his fate, Lapis abandoning Earth, Peridot's resulting depression, Dewey being scapegoated for the abductions and getting ousted as mayor, and Connie and Lion's anger at and weeks-long estrangement from Steven) occurred for no reason. Also, Steven already knows that the sacrifice horribly backfired; would it be a surprise if he’s starting to realize that what he found out makes it '''''so''''' much worse in hindsight?

* White having a VillainousBreakdown when she realizes that Steven really isn't Pink, when Pink Steven forms from his removed Gem. And then it gets ''worse'' when she [[HeelRealization realizes]] that ''she's'' as flawed as everyone else that she looked down on.

--->'''White Diamond''': [[ThisCannotBe This can't be happening]]. I ''can't'' have a flaw. I'm [[TheChainsOfCommanding supposed to be]] ''flawless.'' If I'm not perfect, then...who ''am'' I? ''(turns to Steven)'' If you're not ''Pink'', then... who are ''you?'' Wh-who is ''anyone?''

--> '''White Diamond''': What is this? Where's Pink?
--> '''Pink Steven''': ''(quietly)'' [[WhamLine She's]] [[ThatManIsDead gone]].
--> '''White Diamond''': What did you just say? ''[[TemptingFate Answer me.]]''
--> '''Pink Steven''': ''(turns his head towards White)'' [[SuddenlyShouting She's]] '''''[[MakeMeWannaShout GOOOOOOOOOOOOOO]][[HellIsThatNoise OOOOOOOOOONE!!!!!]]'''''

[[AC: Lars of the Stars]]

[[AC: Jungle Moon]]

[[AC: Your Mother and Mine]]

[[AC: The Big Show]]

[[AC: Pool Hopping]]

[[AC: Letters to Lars]]

[[AC: What's Your Problem]]

[[AC: The Question]]

[[AC: Made Of Honor]]

[[AC: Reunited]]

[[AC: Legs From Here to Homeworld]]

[[AC: Familiar]]

[[AC: Together Alone]]

[[AC: Escapism]]

[[AC: Change Your Mind]]

** If you stop to think about it, the Diamonds weren't just being abusive to Pink- they were being abusive to each ''other,'' as well. Blue Diamond would frequently

** Another interpretation that could both add to White's delusion of Pink still "existing" (in a more literal sense) and the scene's intensity: through Pink Steven, [[MamaBear Pink Diamond's enraged]] "SHE'S GONE!" at White Diamond didn't just come from her pent-up emotions as described above. Keep in mind we've never seen Pink actually stand up to White despite her initial assertive and bratty attitude, or take her involvement into account during her colonization of Earth, likely out of fear and awareness of White's emotional abuse (which was another main reason she left Homeworld). Now, after returning to the home planet she fled from (through her gem) and yet again enduring all the hurtful but MetaphoricallyTrue words out of White's mouth, Pink's RageBreakingPoint finally comes in a heartbreaking moment when her AbusiveParent almost kills her son trying to bring her back. Proving that she really did become part of him was the only trump card against White that Pink has to prove why she did what she did. And despite her inactivity and fear, Pink clearly didn't want White's actions to spill over onto Steven; heaven knows he already went through the wringer trying to deal with the consequences of ''her'' mistakes.

** Doubly so compared to the grieving of the other Gems that have lived for YEARS or Milennia without Pink Diamond/ Rose Quartz and have grieved like her death happened only a few hours ago. From the perspective of Pink Pearl: [[ParentNeverCameBackFromTheStore she had only left her Diamonds side just a few]] ''[[ParentNeverCameBackFromTheStore seconds]]'' [[ParentNeverCameBackFromTheStore ago to go see White Diamond.]]

** Another interpretation that could both back up White's delusion of Pink still "existing" (in a more literal sense) and adds to the scene's intensity: through Pink Steven, [[MamaBear Pink Diamond's enraged]] "SHE'S GONE!" at White Diamond didn't just come from her pent-up emotions as described above. Keep in mind we've never seen Pink actually stand up to White despite her initial assertive and bratty attitude, or take her involvement into account during her colonization of Earth, likely out of fear and awareness of White's emotional abuse (which was another main reason she left Homeworld). Now, after returning to the home planet she fled from (through her gem) and yet again enduring all the hurtful but MetaphoricallyTrue words out of White's mouth, Pink's RageBreakingPoint finally comes in a heartbreaking moment when her AbusiveParent almost kills her son trying to bring her back. It's the only trump card against White that she has to prove why she did what she did, and despite her inactivity, she clearly didn't want White's actions to spill over onto Steven.

** Doubly so compared to the grieving of the other Gems that have lived for YEARS or Milennia without Pink Diamond/Rose Quartz and have grieved like her death happened only a few hours ago. From the perspective of Pink Pearl: [[ParentNeverCameBackFromTheStore she had only left her Diamonds side just a few]] ''[[ParentNeverCameBackFromTheStore seconds]]'' [[ParentNeverCameBackFromTheStore ago to go see White Diamond.]]

-->'''Yellow Diamond:''' When we thought Pink was ''shattered'', when she ''abandoned'' us, I ''alone'' was there for you! ''And you would use your power against'' '''''ME?!'''''
*** The above quote could be interpreted as Yellow saying that back when they thought Pink was dead, Blue would lash out at Yellow with her EmotionBomb. Having Blue's grief forced onto her while she tried to deal with her own must have been horrible for Yellow.
** Her expression while she's blasting Blue. She looks distraught. More than that, she also looks horrified, as if she doesn't know what else there is to do.

'''Yellow Diamond''': ''[[InopportuneVoiceCracking Yes, I do!]]'' This is what [[TheCorruptor White Diamond expects]] of ''all'' of us; from a thin flake of mica to the deepest, hardest stone! We all must make sacrifices for the sake of our ''perfect empire!''\\
'''Steven''': ''[[ArmorPiercingQuestion Does THIS look perfect to you?!]]''\\

** Another interpretation that could both back up White's delusion of Pink still "existing" (in a more literal sense) and adds to the scene's intensity: through Pink Steven, [[MamaBear Pink Diamond's enraged]] "SHE'S GONE!" at White Diamond didn't just come from her pent-up emotions as described above. Keep in mind we've never seen Pink actually stand up to White despite her initial bratty attitude, or take her involvement into account during her colonization of Earth, likely out of fear and awareness of White's emotional abuse (which was another main reason she left Homeworld). Now, after returning to the home planet she fled from (through her gem) and yet again enduring all the hurtful but MetaphoricallyTrue words out of White's mouth, Pink's RageBreakingPoint finally comes in a heartbreaking moment when her AbusiveParent almost kills her son trying to bring her back. It's the only trump card against White that she has to prove why she did what she did, and despite her inactivity she clearly didn't want White's actions to spill over onto Steven.
* After White Diamonds' Mind Control is removed from everyone, including Pink Diamonds' former Pearl, Steven walks slowly to her and solemnly places a hand on her shoulder before giving a brief smile. What makes this scene a Tearjerker is because ever since Pink Diamond had her first Pearl taken away and became a MeatPuppet to White Diamond, it was probably the ''[[LockedOutOfTheLoop last]]'' time that the two of them would ever see each-other. Pink Pearl has no clue what had even happened since she was taken away by White: that [[FishOutOfTemporalWater 6000+ years have passed]], that her [[NiceToTheWaiter beloved Mistress that had treated]] [[ServantRace her Pearl]] [[NiceToTheWaiter like an equal]] was given a [[ReplacementGoldfish replacement]] [[DoppelgangerReplacementLoveInterest Pearl]] along with a Colony of her own, that Pink [[PlayingBothSides started a Civil War with herself]], [[FakingTheDead faked her own shattering]] to [[DefectorFromDecadence get away from her life as Pink Diamond]] [[KingIncognito and live as Rose Quartz]], and then to millennia later [[DeathByChildbirth give up her very existence to have a son]]: [[SomeoneToRememberHimBy Steven Universe]]. If you think that ''Our'' Pearl had it bad when we saw her in 'Three Gems and a Baby', then the imminent fallout that Pink Pearl will go through when she finds out everything will be [[TraumaCongaLine completely excruciating...]]

** Poor Steven. When he gets his gem removed, he becomes so sickly and weak that he has no strength to even talk and whimpers in utter pain and tears as he attempts to reach for his pink double that just emerged from his gem. There's also the fact Steven is a very positive and outgoing character himself, making his dying struggle even more painful to watch as we're forced to witness a lovable child we all knew stripped of nearly all life energy and on the brink of perishing.

** It's more than just simply realizing she hurt Pink: Blue enters the room more or less exactly how she did in Steven's PastLifeMemories dream to confront Pink. Blue's first reaction to Steven's question is to say she didn't...then her expression transitions to one of thought. Then one of guilt and horror. Blue had hurt Pink so many times [[ButForMeItWasTuesday it'd become routine]], and it isn't until Steven confronts her on it that Blue ever realized it. Is it any wonder Blue's reaction is MyGodWhatHaveIDone

** Shortly thereafter, Steven's ArmorPiercingQuestion to Blue about how often she made Pink cry triggers Blue's HeelRealization as [[AwfulTruth it hits her]] [[InnocentlyInsensitive that she'd been hurting Pink all this time]]. It's a MyGodWhatHaveIDone moment at, perhaps, it's finest.

* After White Diamonds' Mind Control is removed from everyone, including Pink Diamonds' former Pearl, Steven walks slowly to her and solemnly places a hand on her shoulder before giving a brief smile. What makes this scene a Tearjerker is because ever since Pink Diamond had her first Pearl taken away and became a MeatPuppet to White Diamond, it was probably the ''[[[LockedOutOfTheLoop last]]'' time that the two of them would ever see each-other. Pink Pearl has no clue what had even happened since she was taken away by White: that [[FishOutOfTemporalWater 6000+ years have passed]], that her [[NiceToTheWaiter beloved Mistress that had treated]] [[ServantRace her Pearl]] [[NiceToTheWaiter like an equal]] was given a [[ReplacementGoldfish replacement]] [[DoppelgangerReplacementLoveInterest Pearl]] along with a Colony of her own, that Pink [[PlayingBothSides started a Civil War with herself]], [[FakingTheDead faked her own shattering]] to [[DefectorFromDecadence get away from her life as Pink Diamond]] [[KingIncognito and live as Rose Quartz]], and then to millennia later [[DeathByChildbirth give up her very existence to have a son]]: [[SomeoneToRememberHimBy Steven Universe]]. If you think that ''Our'' Pearl had it bad when we saw her in 'Three Gems and a Baby', then the imminent fallout that Pink Pearl will go through when she finds out everything will be [[TraumaCongaLine completely excruciating...]]