Steven Universe

By written well, that's EXACTLY what I meant (these characters alongside the main ones need to be written with care, after all - or else this show would be lacking a lot of "oomph" needed to make it as awesome as it truly is, now...) - I just didn't like Lars here is all. That's what made it difficult for me to sit through, even if he did get comeuppance in the end.

Even if I had different face, I AM STILL DISGRACED.

Remember that real life has very unlikable people.

No Argument There...

Even if I had different face, I AM STILL DISGRACED.

Sadie deserves ten times better. I haven't a clue what she sees in that lying, lazy, bullying creep. If they had any sense they would have kept Lars choking on that donut.

Also, I'm wondering how such a scenario will play out with Garnet since we've already had a similar episode with Pearl in Frybo where there is single a crystal gem present when a situation brews

So, that was a nice episode that has made me like Sadie all the more and I was glad to learn a bit about Mr. Smiley, and see the mayor again.

However, if anyone deserves to get a swift kick in the nuts twice daily right now, it's Lars. If something had happened to him or his property in every episode that happened in Beach City, you know, like as a minor background even while the gems are fighting something, I would be so happy.

The Blog The Art

Or he can get some character development and become a better person.

Which is what they seem to be doing with him.

Thing about real life too is that no one changes their old ways at the drop of a hat. I think it makes Lars more realistic.

edited 29th Aug '14 6:23:57 AM by Lionheart0

we may have entirely different perspectives on the concept of bullies.

The Blog The Art

Lars isn't exactly a bully though. He doesn't like Steven hanging around because he's a Weirdness Magnet.

edited 29th Aug '14 8:46:20 AM by Lionheart0

Lars is definitely a Jerkass, but I hardly see him as irredeemable. He does act like a prick quite often, but he doesn't strike me as ever intending to seriously hurt people. I'm fairly certain if he knew how hurt Sadie would've been, he wouldn't have acted the way he did. He isn't by any means my favourite character (in fact he might be my least favourite) but I really don't think he's by any means malicious, which to me separates him from the standard bully.

I think its always better to have character development turn someone into a better person rather than just have the whole universe hate him, especially if there's clearly room for redemption.

It doesn't suck just because you hate it.

He also uses Sadie a lot. That's kinda terrible.

So we got some great character expansion and sneaky sex drama and Steven singing and also Mayor Joel Hodgson so this is pretty much a perfect episode.

Maybe you'd be less disappointed if you stopped expecting things to be Carmen Sandiego movies.

Lars also kind of has a bit of a reason to be annoyed with Steven because Steven is kind of like that little cousin or sibling that always tries to hang around and admires the older sibling, but ends up accidentally embarrassing the older sibling in the process, even though only the older sibling finds the stuff embarrassing. Like, Steven constantly making messes at the Donut Shop. Or Steven ruining Lars' attempt to become one of the cool kids.

I actually think Lars is using his obnoxious personality as a kind of facade to make it seem like he doesn't really care about anything, even though he desperately wants to be with the cool crowd. And he's jealous of the fact that Steven is able to make everyone like him so effortlessly because of his sincerity.

And I don't think Lars knew how much he was hurting Sadie, judging by the fact that he wanted to help out in the end. He's just kind of lazy and was more focused on getting new friends than on focusing on the ones he already had.

Also, I think I might've been the only person who didn't pick up on the whole sex thing. I heard a friend say something about a one-night stand, but I thought the Player Two thing just meant Sadie was in unrequited love with Lars.

There's also the bit where, when Sadie mentions how they stayed up all night together after she bought him the video game, Steven's like "that must've been a great game!" and Sadie's like "yeah..." and breaks eye contact.

edited 29th Aug '14 10:59:18 PM by Wackd

Maybe you'd be less disappointed if you stopped expecting things to be Carmen Sandiego movies.

...AND NOTHING SEXUAL EVER HAPPENED

Dakota's blog An odd agent of justice

I thought she just meant that it was great because she got to spend the whole night playing video games with her crush. I mean, I might have had a different opinion because I assumed all the characters were my age (around 17) and I have no sexytimes experience, but I do have unrequited love experience, so I could understand that. The fact that I didn't think they had sex also probably makes me find Lars more sympathetic because it makes me think he didn't know she liked him.

I mean, "it must've been a great game" is pretty clearly a set-up for a punchline that never comes, I think. Steven saying it at all makes it pretty implicit that that's not what happened.

edited 30th Aug '14 12:15:02 AM by Wackd

Maybe you'd be less disappointed if you stopped expecting things to be Carmen Sandiego movies.

I thought that was Steven just Comically Missing the Point and thinking she liked the game and not Lars. Although, if it went past Steven, it's pretty probable it went past me too.

I'm just confused about how the whole sex thing actually happened. I mean, did Lars instigate it, something that I wouldn't really expect from someone who made that person wait in line for 7 hours for a game. Or did Sadie instigate it and never try to instigate it ever again even though she obviously did favors for Lars a lot. I'm not sure how to wrap my head around it.

I saw the implication of the sex thing when I saw the episode and brushed it off and figured she was just talking about spending all that time with her crush.

I mean, it's possible. They're teenagers, it's extremely possible. I mean, like Trickster Cal I've never had such experiences but I do understand human nature and teenagers a bit so I could get that such a thing could occur. In fact it is probably more likely than it isn't.

But really, that would just make Lars an even grander douchebag and people are already trying to convince me that he's worth redeeming.

The Blog The Art

Even IF they did have sex(Clearly not), it didn't mean much except to feel closer, yet they really aren't in a relationship yet, just "Hankey-pankey" and still wish to see other people. It is possible, y'know.

Dakota's blog An odd agent of justice

I mean, any bit of conjecture beyond "they have sex" is really gonna be fabricated wholesale. I think the important bit, regardless, is that it meant more to Sadie than it did to Lars, and moreover that Lars didn't think of what it meant to Sadie, because Lars has trouble thinking about others besides himself.

I can kinda see Sadie trying to talk to him about it and him being all like "yeah that was fun thanks" and her being all like "fun, yeah, glad you enjoyed it" and him not noticing the quiver in her voice.

I mean, this is the second time it's taken a character having a sobbing, screaming breakdown for him to realize he's been a butt. I don't think he's a bad guy, he's just insensitive.

Maybe you'd be less disappointed if you stopped expecting things to be Carmen Sandiego movies.

- That was an amazing doughnut rap.

- "Only place selling the game." Lars was banned from the internet?

- Whoa, Lars actually remained friends with the cool kids.

- Really Sadie, you're that surprised he was faking? I mean I'm surprised he has other friends too, but...

- Curse you, cartoon spicy food physics!

- I really never expected Lars and Sadie to be a ship. NOT THAT ANYTHING SEXUAL HAPPENED OR ANYTHING.

Loves feel-good animation a whole lot.

Maybe he doesn't have a credit card.

Maybe you'd be less disappointed if you stopped expecting things to be Carmen Sandiego movies.

Ah yeah, I wasn't sure if those were cartoon physics or magic physics.

Hey, Sadie may have looked bored, but she did sit through the whole video instead of going back to watch the counter! Priorities!

Wasn't the Samurai series Steven watched (on 'Steven the Swordsman' I think) on VHS? So why is he so surprised to see a video tape?

I also doubt Lars and Sadie had sex. They might have made out, thought.

While an overall fun episode -and one that explored the relationships with the supporting cast- I can't help but feel (again) that we should have seen something like this much earlier.

You gotta love how on Beach City, a fire-breathing teenager not only sets multiple fires but even ruins the Major's showboating and even he isn't that fazed.

If they make enough episodes, this will be "early"!

It would still be slow pacing.