YMMV / Steven Universe S5E1 "Stuck Together"

• Broken Base:
  • Many were annoyed at how Steven was seemingly holding the Idiot Ball this episode in regards to Topaz. After managing to win her over with his bonding moment with Lars, Steven just completely clams up for the rest of the episode, not even trying to point out to Topaz that, after Aquamarine points out how Topaz has absolutely no plan for what to do if she destabilizes her and that the Diamonds won't take kindly to it, the Topazes could easily join the Crystal Gems where she'd never have to worry about being forcefully separated or taking orders that conflict with their morality. Others argue that it wouldn't have made much a point if Steven did point that out anyways since, having been raised by Homeworld's propaganda and beliefs, she wouldn't have accepted the offer anyways, believing that they wouldn't be safe from the Diamonds even with the Crystal Gems. Others still point out how that, because the plot requires them to be on Homeworld at the moment, Steven keeping his mouth shut was more or less required for the upcoming arc. Yet another side points out that even if Steven had managed to win her over, she likely would've followed the same veins as Peridot & Lapis before her in which she'd have a very hard time adjusting to her new environment.
    • However, what these sides seemed to have missed was that Aquamarine destroyed the escape pod, rendering any and all attempts to escape useless.
    • They also fail to take into account just how easily just Topaz and Aquamarine got away with their hostages. Even if Topaz were to poof Aquamarine, take the ship, and join the Crystal Gems, she would know better than anyone that the Diamonds would just send more gems after them, and that any freedom she might experience will not last long before Homeworld catches up to them.
  • Like with "The Good Lars", did this episode succeed in rescuing Lars from the Scrappy Heap, or was it just retreading the same tired ground as the rest of his episodes?
• It's the Same, Now It Sucks!: Just like with "The Good Lars", in spite of both episodes being regarded as the best Lars episode, it's still guilty of a lot of the same trappings as previous Lars episodes. It also hit the same beats as "The Good Lars" by having him own up to the flaws that makes him an unlikable character to many (in this episode's case, his self loathing on the fact that he's a weakling).
• Just Here for Godzilla: For the people who were annoyed by Lars and still felt nothing for him even after this episode and "The Good Lars", they just remember it for Aquamarine and Topaz.
• Rescued from the Scrappy Heap: Downplayed. While there are still people who don't like him because of his earlier actions, many haters admitted to actually feeling bad for Lars once he started to open up to Steven about how much he loathes himself for being a wimp and a weakling.
• The Woobie: Topaz and Lars both get woobie moments in this episode; Lars derides himself for being a Dirty Coward, both in times of danger and in normal situations, while Topaz is revealed to deeply care about each other and apparently detests Aquamarine for abusing them and their jobs for making them unfuse almost constantly.

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