History StevenUniverse / TropesAToD

** None of the Gems appear in "Horror Club", "Open Book", "Nightmare Hospital", "Sadie's Song", "Drop Beat Dad", "The New Lars", or "Beach City Drift".

* AliensSpeakingEnglish: The Crystal Gems can get away with this, having been on Earth for thousands of years. [[spoiler:Homeworld Gems like Peridot and Jasper, however, also speak English without even a HandWave as to why, although they might have influenced the language on Earth.]]

** The physical geography of Earth's surface [[http://vignette4.wikia.nocookie.net/steven-universe/images/f/fd/It_Could%27ve_Been_Great_00132.png has some rather massive differences from reality]]: Florida is an island instead of a peninsula, while Japan is a peninsula instead of an island. South America and Africa seemed to have split apart differently, giving the former a significantly larger share of land. Oceans cut significantly further into southern India, southeastern China, western Australia, and ''especially'' northern Asia--the majority of the land taken up by Siberia and Mongolia in real life is part of the Arctic Ocean (if not an ocean in of itself). It's likely some of this came from [[spoiler:the early stages of Homeworld's HostileTerraforming, especially the last one (as there's a gem site right in middle of said ocean)]].

* AMillionIsAStatistic: Parodied in "Gem Drill" when [[spoiler:the Cluster starts to awaken]] and [[spoiler: Peridot]] apologizes to Steven for not being able to save him or the "billions of other life forms who matter far, far less to me!"
* AmusingInjuries: Sometimes. Since a Gem's body is just a construct of light for them to interact in the world with, most injuries can be fixed easily with varying amounts of time, allowing them to receive heavy damage that can be played as slapstick. Zigzagged when [[spoiler:Amethyst's Gem is cracked as her body starts doing a ton of crazy things.]] Steven and Amethyst think it's funny and treat it like a sort of game, but Pearl and Garnet treat it as seriously as it really is. However, more often than not, injuries, particularly human ones, will be treated seriously, especially for Steven since he's a child and can't regenerate.

*** Amethyst, having been [[spoiler:the product of a horrific project with the goal of birthing more gems by ''killing all life on Earth'', and which was the entire ''reason'' for Rose Quartz's rebellion]], has issues with her origins, considering herself to be (and believing others see her as) a "parasite". She also strongly defines herself by what Garnet thinks of her; in "Reformed", this leads to her effectively ''mutilating herself'' in an attempt to gain Garnet's approval. Peridot's revelation in "Too Far" that [[spoiler: gems of Amethyst's type are supposed to be much larger and more physically powerful--akin to Jasper's body type--and that in the caste system of Homeworld, Amethyst would technically outrank both Pearl ''and'' Garnet,]] doesn't help matters, either.

*** As the result of [[spoiler:Ruby and Sapphire's fusion]], Garnet is defined by the love between [[spoiler:her two component gems]]. Her song "Stronger Than You" lays it out very clearly: she is ''made of love''. Despite this, on two occasions we have seen her [[spoiler:two halves]] deeply conflicted, both in regards to the act of [[spoiler:fusion between unwilling participants]]. [[spoiler:Since she defines herself by ''being'' a fusion]], these violations trouble her deeply. She also reveals in "Friend Ship" that she's always had doubts about her ability to lead the Crystal Gems in Rose Quartz's place, but sublimates them for the good of the team.

** "Ocean Gem" reveals that [[spoiler: the gem monsters the Gems fight used to be Gems themselves]]. To make matters worse, [[spoiler: one of these Gems, Lapis, was trapped in a mirror, essentially enslaved and only able to communicate with recorded reflections. One of which happens to be Steven screaming.]]
** When Lapis [[spoiler: fuses with Jasper to form Malachite, Lapis drags the two of them to the bottom of the ocean using her power over water. Fusions normally split apart in the case of any disagreement, which Jasper ''tries'', but Lapis holds her into the fusion so now they're both trapped together in a body they're forced to share.]]
** In "Keeping It Together", Garnet discovers [[spoiler:shards of Crystal Gems defeated in the war were buried together and forced to fuse. The result was a conjoined mass of limbs that's conscious enough to form human silhouettes and scream in agony before turning into a horrible monster, which was seemingly conscious enough to recognize Garnet and silently reach out for help.]] In a more literal adherence to the trope, the Cluster was able to scream while lacking a mouth.

*** In "Log Date 7 15 2", when [[spoiler:Peridot is panicking about becoming a Crystal Gem]], she asks "Do I have to wear a star now? Where am I gonna put the star?"
** [[spoiler:The Homeworld Gems]] are associated with diamond shapes. Lapis's clothes have a triangle design, that together form a diamond. Peridot's and Jasper's clothes include a yellowish diamond shape on the torso, [[spoiler: signifying their position under Yellow Diamond.]]

** There's also a symbol of three triangles within a larger triangle. It can be seen on the floors of [[spoiler:Peridot's ship]] and on the floor of the temple in "Serious Steven." A version with [[spoiler:a fourth, ''pink'' diamond shape]] appears at the sky arena in "Sworn to The Sword" and in [[spoiler:the ancient Gem vessel]] in "Friend Ship". Notably, in the former case [[spoiler:the pink shape is broken on some of the versions we see-- and in nearly the same way on each, as if it was deliberately defaced]]. The [[spoiler:pink diamond]] also appears repeatedly in connection with [[spoiler:Pearl. The original Holo-Pearls, her space-suit, half of the belly-cut on Rainbow Quartz and the shoes of Sardonyx all had pink diamonds on them. Considering Pearl's self-described role as a knight, this raises interesting questions about what Rose's position on Homeworld was.]]

** "Let me do this for you!", and variations thereof. Multiple characters have expressed a willingness to [[HeroicSacrifice sacrifice themselves for someone else's sake]], even if the person in question doesn't want them to; it first appears in "Sworn to the Sword", with [[spoiler:Pearl insisting on putting herself in danger instead of Rose]], then with [[spoiler:Connie, willing to lay down her life for Steven, echoing Pearl's sentiment]]. The phrase shows up again in "Chille Tid", this time from [[spoiler:Lapis Lazuli, telling Steven not to come looking for her while [[SealedEvilInADuel she struggles to keep Jasper at bay]]]]. In a similar vein earlier in the series, Sadie presses Lars with "why won't you let me help you?!", the issue being that said 'help' involved [[spoiler:stranding both of them on a deserted island]].

** "We won". In reference to the rebellion, but with some chilling undertones the more often it's used. In "Rose's Scabbard", Pearl uses it to gloss over the [[WarIsHell horrors Garnet describes]], in order to protect Steven from the details. Earlier in "On the Run", Amethyst mentions how they won the war to "protect the Earth from [[spoiler:parasites like ''me'']]!"
** "Miserable Planet" has been used in reference to the Earth on a few separate occasions by characters aligned with Homeworld. [[spoiler:Peridot uses the term when complaining about being stranded in her audio logs in Keeping It Together. Lapis Lazuli uses the term (through Malachite) as she drags Jasper and herself into the ocean in Jail Break. Yellow Diamond uses the term in Message Received when expressing her satisfaction that the planet will finally be of use to her]].

'''[[SuddenlyVoiced Tiny Whale:]]''' ''(with [[spoiler:Rose Quartz]]'s voice)'' What ''do'' you want. Steven?\\

** [[spoiler:Ruby and Sapphire]] spend most of "Keystone Motel" in conflict, which Steven tries his hardest to resolve. When he finally gives up, the two realize how much of an effect their argument has had on him:

* ArtificialZombie: [[spoiler:The second season introduces fusion monsters formed from the forcefully fused remains of shattered Crystal Gems]].

** Subverted in season 2 by [[spoiler:Peridot, who regenerated with no problems.]]

** [[spoiler:Peridot]] starts showing signs of this, too.

* BackStoryHorror: The Gems are very reluctant to talk about it to Steven, but [[spoiler:the war for Earth against the Homeworld Gems in the past]] terrifies ''all'' of them, including [[TheStoic Garnet.]]

--->I'm [[spoiler:Lapis Lazuli]], and you can't keep me trapped here ''anymore!''
** Pearl again, who gets the most impressive one in sheer conviction in "Marble Madness", when [[spoiler:Peridot]] asks why they keep meddling in her business:

--->'''Garnet:''' [[spoiler:''If you break us apart, we'll just come back newer\\
And we'll always be twice the Gem that you are'']]

--->'''[[spoiler:Lapis]]:''' I'm done being everyone's prisoner! Now, you're ''my'' prisoner, and I'm never ''letting you go!''

* BattleCouple: As of "Sworn to the Sword", Steven and Connie look to be well on the way to becoming this. Between their obvious feelings for one another, and their [[BackToBackBadasses meshing almost immediately in combat against Pearl's training holograms]] and [[spoiler:the Gem mutants]], they have the potential to be formidable combatants on par with the other Crystal Gems if both their budding romance and training proceed apace.

** Despite the entire show being set alongside a beach, in a ''town called Beach City'' no less, the aptly-named "Beach Party" manages to be an example. It focuses almost exclusively on Steven and the other Crystal Gems barbecuing and playing beach games with the Pizza family... at least, until [[spoiler:the giant puffer fish monster attacks]].

** The Crystal Gems are all good guys, and they've been stated once or twice to be considered attractive--or "hot", at least--especially the gorgeous BigGood Rose Quartz. [[spoiler:Lapis Lazuli is also fairly pretty and is more of an AntiHero. The same can be said for Peridot. On the other hand, Jasper is much more masculine and sports a terrible SlasherSmile. Yellow Diamond, the BigBad, is very off-putting in appearance, with added lines and wrinkles.]]

** It also seems that the more stable and kind a fusion is, the better they'll appear. Stevonnie looks like a perfectly normal teenage girl (though the fact that they're 75% human may be a reason for this too). Opal and Rainbow Quartz are beautiful, with one odd feature each (extra arms and eyes, respectively). [[spoiler:Garnet is practically perfect with only one extra eye (and likely because Sapphire only ''has'' [[{{Cyclops}} a single eye to begin with]]).]] Sardonyx has extra eyes and arms but is beautiful regardless, while Sugilite has the same features but looks monstrous. [[spoiler:Malachite is the most monstrous fusion so far, as she is composed of hate and revenge.]]
*** However, it's also been said [[WordOfGod by the showrunners]] that fusion forms are "fixed". That is, if [[spoiler:Lapis Lazuli and Jasper]] were to willingly form [[spoiler:Malachite]] again for a mutually beneficial purpose, they'd still be just as monstrous. Similarly, Alexandrite is as monstrous in her first appearance (when the Gems are not quite all on the same page, and the fusion is in danger of falling apart at any second) as she is in her latest (when they're unified in mind and purpose).

* BeneathTheMask: One of the main themes of the show is showing the Gems' true colors bit by bit. [[spoiler:Amethyst acts laid-back and lazy, but is actually very upset at how Garnet and Pearl demean her. Pearl acts like a perfectionist, but has underlying self-esteem issues regarding physical strength and is still suffering from Rose's death. Garnet is a [[TheStoic Stoic]] more often than not, but is secretly worried she can't lead the team as well as Rose or raise Steven properly.]]

** Garnet: the one for her is [[spoiler:screwing around with fusion. Because Garnet is a near-perfect fusion between two lovers, she finds fusion to be sacred and beautiful. So, when she finds out that Homeworld has been conducting forced fusion experiments with former Crystal Gems, and that Pearl had tricked Garnet into fusing with her for a PowerHigh, Garnet is ''seriously furious.'' In fact, it's serious enough that Ruby and Sapphire defuse when talking to each other about how to deal with Pearl in the future.]]
** Pearl: PlayedForLaughs, untidiness. PlayedForDrama, [[spoiler:casting doubt on her relationship with Rose, as evidenced by her reaction in "Rose's Scabbard" when she discovers a secret that Rose hid from her]].
** Amethyst: [[spoiler:Rubbing her origins in her face. Even if the person in question is trying to compliment her.]]

** [[spoiler:Ruby: As stated in Garnet's entry, screwing around with fusion. It makes her ''literally'' fume.]]

* BigBad: [[spoiler:The Homeworld Gems, along with their presumed leader Yellow Diamond.]]

* BigNo: Practically Steven's CatchPhrase, and the first thing he ever says on the show. Generally it's just him being melodramatic, but taken to creepy levels when a magic mirror [[spoiler: containing the imprisoned Lapis Lazuli]] expresses its horror by replaying it on a loop. [[spoiler:Steven also does this when Lapis fuses with Jasper.]]

** The first season narrative finale "Jail Break" ends with [[spoiler:Steven and the Gems managing to save the Earth from Peridot and Jasper, but Lapis sacrifices herself by trapping herself and Jasper at the bottom of the ocean, Peridot managed to escape and is somewhere on the planet, along with the possible appearance of a new villain called Yellow Diamond.]]
** "Keystone Motel": [[spoiler:Ruby and Sapphire make up at the end and refuse into Garnet, and although Garnet doesn't seem ''angry'' with Pearl anymore, she still hasn't completely forgiven her.]]

** The gem fusion "experiments" that were the prototypes for the Cluster--pieces of Gems killed in the war between the Homeworld and Crystal Gems, which were buried together to force them to fuse. Most of these fusions initially appear as random combinations of hands, feet, arms and legs, most of which simply silently twitch and strike out blindly--but the "Hand Cluster" that attacks Garnet not only senses its environment, but emits tortured wails in the united voices of the Gems that formed it. The Hand Cluster horrifies and disgusts Garnet to the point of [[spoiler: nearly splitting back into Ruby and Sapphire]], and even after getting a grip, Garnet is still unsettled enough to [[spoiler: audibly argue with herself in Ruby's and Sapphire's tones of voice]].

* BrokenPedestal: What cements [[spoiler:Peridot]]'s HeelFaceTurn, once she discovers that her "flawless, logical, reasonable" leader is committed to a very ''[[RevengeBeforeReason unreasonable]]'' plan [[spoiler:to destroy Earth]], and all of her attempts to negotiate an alternative are forcefully dismissed.

** In "Message Received", [[spoiler: Peridot, realizing that Yellow Diamond has no intention of sparing the Earth despite it making logical sense, finally snaps and calls her a clod]].

** A comparatively energetic example occurs during "It Could've Been Great," where [[spoiler:Peridot finally shows her softer side and serenades all of the Crystal Gems in front of the campfire. Though the lyrics are tsundere, it's a sign that she's finally warmed up to them, even if she won't admit it.]]
-->''[[spoiler:Peridot:]]''' I think you're all INSANE! / but I guess I am too. / Anybody would be if they were stuck on Earth with you.
** "The Answer": [[spoiler:When Sapphire and Ruby run from the Homeworld gems, Ruby ends up hiding them in a cave and using her fire powers to make a campfire. Over this, the two gems first open up to each other about who they are and how fusion has never been something they've experienced this way (or at all, ever). It should be noted this is more for light, than for warmth, as Sapphire is an ice gem and the heat doesn't bother her, and Ruby is a fire gem that doesn't get cold.]]

** TheReveal in "Ocean Gem" that [[spoiler:the monsters the Gems fight are actually corrupted Gems]] casts the whole series in a different light.
** The background which is given in "Warp Tour" and "On The Run" about [[spoiler:the Crystal Gems being renegades from Homeworld after a huge war to protect the Earth from their own kind, and Amethyst having ''been created'' as a soldier for that war]]...

* CerebusSyndrome: Following "Mirror Gem/Ocean Gem", the show grew more serious: episodes started delving into character relationships and the emotions that come with them, revelations such as [[spoiler:Pearl having unresolved feelings towards Steven's deceased mother, Amethyst being a defective Gem created on Earth who resents herself for being part of a large-scale alien experiment, and the general nature of the Gem Homeworld began trickling in, the revelation that Homeworld performed experiments on fallen Gems that turned them into deformed creatures,]] and Steven starting to grow from a TagalongKid to a valued member of the team.

** Amethyst's maturity increases in very small increments, as does her self-awareness; both likely benefit from her very gradually working through her [[spoiler:underlying self-loathing]].
** Pearl sees a painful [[AvertedTrope aversion]]; while the other Gems move on from their grief over Rose, she remains unable to let go. And while the other Gems all gain more confidence in their abilities, her insecurities have never abated, leading to [[spoiler:her disastrous deception of Garnet in order to feel "stronger"]]. Eventually, she realizes that she can't allow herself to break down emotionally anymore, and must work through her own self-loathing.
** Peridot [[spoiler:seeing that the FantasticCasteSystem beliefs of Homeworld are wrong, how to be friendly and emotional instead of cold and logical, that the Earth is worth protecting, and that Yellow Diamond is a petty, vindictive gem willing to destroy the potential of Earth just to spite Rose Quartz and destroy the symbol of her millennia-old rebellion.]]

** In "Rose's Room", the Crystal Gems bring back a 'wailing stone', which accidentally destroys Steven's TV. In "The Message", it activates when [[spoiler: Lapis sends them a warning from the Homeworld.]]
** In "Monster Buddies", the main characters go to collect a 'shooting star'. When Steven asks what it does, Amethyst sarcastically responds, "''You shoot it, duh''". Turns out she wasn't just joking-- shooting stars are literally powerful bombs, which [[spoiler: the Crystal Gems think about using in "Winter Forecast" to remotely destroy the Galaxy Warp once and for all before Steven distracts them and blows up the house. Given it still exists in later episodes, they apparently decided against it]].

* ClarkesThirdLaw: The Gems' abilities amount to what most would call "magic". They are also entities from outer space, suggesting that at least some their "magic" is actually extremely advanced technology. See also: SufficientlyAdvancedAliens and {{Magitek}}. [[spoiler:Some gems, like Peridot,]] almost exclusively use technology. Other displays of magic, such as Rose Quartz's healing tears and [[spoiler:Lapis Lazuli's]] complete [[ElementalPowers elemental control]] [[MakingASplash over water]], suggest no technology could ever exist to mimic them.

* CliffHanger: Season 2 ending. [[spoiler:Peridot finally embraces her HeelFaceTurn, reconciles with Garnet and gets over her ValuesDissonance about fusion. However, the Cluster is still active and the Earth can be destroyed any moment.]]

** In "Cry for Help", the cartoon "Crying Breakfast Friends" is a parallel for the actual episode's plot. The "Crying Breakfast Friends" episode involves a pear apologizing for lying to a spoon, and when asked if she would forgive someone if they lied to them, Garnet replies with a neutral grunt. It's later revealed that [[spoiler:Pearl has been repairing the hub, not Peridot, so that she could fuse with Garnet, something that Pearl apologizes repeatedly for. However, while the spoon and the pear make up at the end, Garnet and Pearl do not. Steven and Amethyst even acknowledge this.]]

** This trope is also very common among the Beach City residents, but Connie, Greg, and Lars deserve a mention. Connie virtually [[spoiler: grew up without ANY friends and wasn't allowed to enjoy her life for the sake of "safety"]]; Greg was abused and ridiculed by his manager, had to see his wife die, has a low-paying job, and has to see his own son constantly put in danger; and Lars appears to be a FreudianExcuse. As WordofGod says, he wasn't able to make a whole lot of friends, and he acts mean to Steven because he believes he'll ruin Lars' chance to make friends.

** "Steven's Birthday" deconstructs NotAllowedToGrowUp with the reveal that [[spoiler:Steven is actually 14 years old, and he's had the body of a preteen for years due to his Gem powers making his age depend on his mental state.]]

** Homeworld's attitude towards fusion is highly complicated, but has parallels to sexuality. For instance, the same gem type can fuse with itself as a strategy, merely enhancing the base gem's abilities. However, Ruby, a base gem, wasn't even allowed to touch Sapphire, an aristocrat gem, and the two of them fusing, even by accident, prompted Blue Diamond to [[spoiler: order Ruby's gem shattered]]. Garnet is also incredibly surprised that Rose isn't disgusted by her, because of the blending.
** The plot of Gem Drill, [[spoiler: where they have to go deep into earth and drill through giant cluster of gems before it forms, has parallels to abortion.]] Later, when Steven [[spoiler:meets the Cluster trying to form a body and [[TheEmpath starts feeling their pain]],]] he starts sweating and grabs the gem on his bellybutton, giving the impression that he has labor pains.

* TheDogBitesBack: [[spoiler:After being imprisoned by Jasper in "Jail Break", Lapis takes full control of their fusion and drags them into the ocean. She still struggles to wrestle control away from Jasper, however, and doing so takes all of her concentration.]]

** "Cry for Help": [[spoiler:Pearl repairs the Communication Hub so that she and Garnet will keep fusing into Sardonyx, using the guise that Peridot is repairing it instead. Garnet is ''furious'' and gives her a TheReasonYouSuckSpeech. The episode ends with Garnet refusing to speak to Pearl and Amethyst and Steven watching the scene somberly.]]
** "It Could've Been Great" ends with [[spoiler: Peridot praising [[HostileTerraforming the original Gem Colony plan]] and (directly or indirectly) insulting everything that Rose Quartz and the other Crystal Gems had fought for, shattering any trust she had built with them to that point. Even ''Steven'', the AllLovingHero, is ready to give up on her.]]

** "Steven the Sword Fighter" seems like it'll be the usual 'Steven must learn something' episode...until [[spoiler:''Pearl is suddenly stabbed '''onscreen''' and is forced to regenerate in her gem.'' The hologram she left behind tries to kill Steven repeatedly.]]
** "Monster Buddies" takes a sad turn once [[spoiler:the Centipeetle goes berserk, forcing the Gems to attack it.]]
** "Mirror Gem" gets dark the second that Steven [[spoiler:slaps Garnet. And it's all downhill from there.]]
** "Warp Tour" introduces [[spoiler:yet another Gem. This time, however, she's not setting to ''leave'' Earth. She's setting to do something ''terrible'' to it.]]
** "On The Run" when Steven and Amethyst [[spoiler:enter the Kindergarten, which also happens to be Amethyst's "birth" place.]]

** "The Message". [[spoiler: Homeworld Gems are headed straight for Earth and they've advanced their technology to the point of being unrecognizable to the Gems that remained on Earth, as revealed by an ending message from Lapis Lazuli.]]

** In "Cry for Help", the revelation that it was [[spoiler:Pearl repairing the Hub, not Peridot.]] It creates a huge amount of drama that requires three episodes of breather to fill.

* DreamWalker: In "Chille Tid", Steven communicates with [[spoiler:Lapis (and Malachite)]] during a dream sequence. Later, he takes this a step further, allowing him to possess [[PlantPeople Watermelon Stevens]] while he's asleep. "The New Lars" and "Kiki's Pizza Delivery Service" reveal that Steven can possess humans and enter their dreams, respectively.

* CallingTheOldWomanOut:

** This is used to great effect in "The Answer", where multiple physically-identical Rubies are introduced; it's suddenly ''very'' hard to keep track of who's who. However, each gem of the same type has their gem on a different body type. [[spoiler:When more Rubies show up in "Hit the Diamond, they're all nominally identical, but each has a distinguishing characteristic and slightly different uniform.]]

** Peridot has [[https://twitter.com/peridot5xg a Twitter account]] that first started posting for "Too Short to Ride", and has posts corresponding to the events of that episode. [[https://twitter.com/cartoonnetwork/status/755839837647745024 She]] [[https://twitter.com/cartoonnetwork/status/755842237808934913 also]] [[https://twitter.com/cartoonnetwork/status/755842480311001088 hacked]] [[https://twitter.com/cartoonnetwork/status/755848373719011328 CN's]] [[https://twitter.com/cartoonnetwork/status/755850167421509632 official]] [[https://twitter.com/cartoonnetwork/status/755850917207875585 twitter]] [[https://twitter.com/cartoonnetwork/status/755855075310915585 account]].

* ContinuityNod:
** Now has its [[ContinuityNod/StevenUniverse own page]].

* CreepyChild: Onion; mute, [[AnatomyAnomaly earless]], and prone to acts of destruction.

* CrystalBallScheduling: In "Cry for Help", the cartoon "Crying Breakfast Friends" is a parallel for the actual episode's plot. The "Crying Breakfast Friends" episode involves a pear apologizing for lying to a spoon, and when asked if she would forgive someone if they lied to them, Garnet replies with a neutral grunt. It's later revealed that [[spoiler:Pearl has been repairing the hub, not Peridot, so that she could fuse with Garnet, something that Pearl apologizes repeatedly for. However, while the spoon and the pear make up at the end, Garnet and Pearl do not. Steven and Amethyst even acknowledge this.]]

** Different storyboard artists for the show each have their own varying styles. This is most obvious in any episode storyboarded by Ian Jones Quartey, whose storyboarding style is at time ''very'' different than anyone else's.

* DisproportionateRetribution: After trying to run away with Connie in "Fusion Cuisine", Steven is punished with 1,000 years of no T.V. Though it's only disproportionate from a human point of view, since the Gems are almost immortal. It's at least a far kinder punishment than the initial "No dinner for 1,000 years."

* DreamWalker: In "Chille Tid", Steven communicates with [[spoiler:Lapis (and Malachite)]] during a dream sequence. Later he takes this a step further, allowing him to possess [[PlantPeople Watermelon Stevens]] while he's asleep.

* ActingUnnatural: In "Hit the Diamond", [[BadLiar Ruby]]'s idea of 'acting natural' involves holding herself stiffly, sweatdrops, and [[SuspiciouslySpecificDenial Suspiciously Specific Denials]]. It's a good thing the Gems she's trying to fool are all SuperGullible.

* BadBadActing: Garnet:
-->'''Garnet:''' ''(completely deadpan while on the phone with Connie's mom)'' Hello, this is Mom Universe. Yes, the children are playing swords. Sorry, playing ''with'' swords. They're bleeding. Oh no, they are dead. Don't call again.

* BeautyEqualsGoodness

* BlandNameProduct: In "Restaurant Wars," Amethyst cooks with Hynes ketchup.

** "Keystone Motel": It's important in a relationship to view issues from the other person's point of view, and to consider how it affects other people.

*** This apparently doesn't apply to more long-term fusions, however, as Garnet has, to date, been shown with four separate "looks": her original, "cotton-candy hair" form (the flashback in "The Answer"), her form from when Greg first met the Gems (the flashbacks in"Story for Steven" & "We Need to Talk"), her modern-day form for most of the first season (up to her being destabilized and split apart in "The Return"), and the current form (after Ruby and Sapphire re-fuse in "Jail Break") that she has maintained despite splitting apart and re-fusing since (involuntarily in "Keystone Motel" and deliberately in "Hit the Diamond").

* ArtMajorPhysics: Peridot's ship in "Jailbreak". In reality, it should have caught fire sometime in the atmosphere, and the impact of the ship on the Earth would wipe out Beach City ''at least.''

** Pearl and Garnet are absent in "Joking Victim" and "Onion Friend".

** None of the Gems appear in "Horror Club", "Open Book", "Nightmare Hospital", "Sadie's Song", or "Drop Beat Dad".

** The Delmarva Peninsula isn't just a geographical location (it's on the east coast, being split between Delaware, Maryland and Virginia), but an actual state called "Delmarva" in this setting.

** In "So Many Birthdays", we're shown that the Gems have changed human history at least once when Steven finds a painting in Amethyst's room of the Gems rescuing [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brook_Watson Brook Watson]] from a shark attack.
** In "Story for Steven", Marty talks about taking Greg's tour to "Empire City" and Ronaldo's blog makes mention of going to a convention in "Charm City". In real life these are nicknames for New York City and Baltimore, respectively, but the way they're said implies those are the cities' actual names in-show, or at least used much more commonly.
** Judging from some comments in "Love Letters", the American entertainment industry in this world isn't based in California, it's based in ''Kansas''--if Jamie meant the state or city is unclear.
** According to "Keystone Motel", Pennsylvania, the "Keystone State", is literally called Keystone and nicknamed "The Great State".

** [[http://i.imgur.com/GNgqwGf.jpg This map of Beach City]] released at the 2015 NY Comic Con (though apparently drawn in 2014) confirms the state as being Delmarva, while the map itself displays Beach City as being along their counterpart to Delaware's Rehoboth Bay.

** "Same Old World" shows that New York City is Empire City, and that New Jersey is just Jersey.

* BrickJoke: A very long term one, in Ocean Gem, Steven says "No prob, Bob," to Lapis Lazuli, but she doesn't understand and tries to correct him on her name. [[spoiler:Come Hit the Diamond, and Lapis goes by the name Bob while masquerading as a human.]]

** "Garnet's Universe" in a pastiche to Shonan anime of the 80s, switches from the show's regular style to a less detailed, much sillier and cartoonish style.

** "We won". In reference to the rebellion, but with some chilling undertones the more often it's used. In "Rose's Scabbard", Pearl uses it to gloss over the [[WarIsHell horrors Garnet describes]], in order to protect Steven from the details. Earlier in "On the Run", Amethyst mentions how they won the war to "protect the Earth from [[spoiler:parasites like ''me'']]."

** "On The Run" when Steven and Amethyst enter the Kindergarten, which also happens to be Amethyst's "birth" place.

** Peridot has [[https://twitter.com/peridot5xg a Twitter account]] that first started posting for "Too Short to Ride", and has posts corresponding to the events of that episode.

* CharacterBlog: ''Blog/KeepBeachCityWeird'', run by Ronaldo Fryman since slightly before the show started and updating for most new episodes. He first mentions it in-universe when he takes [[http://keepbeachcityweird.tumblr.com/post/68115977116/stevens-fingers-what a picture of Steven's cat fingers]], and brings it up multiple times after that.

** Garnet and Amethyst do not appear in "Frybo" nor "Historical Friction", and have a brief silent cameo in "Lion 3: Straight to Video".

** None of the Gems appear in "Horror Club", "Open Book", "Nightmare Hospital", or "Sadie's Song".

** "The Answer": [[spoiler:When Sapphire and Ruby run from the Homeworld gems, Ruby ends up hiding them in a cave and using her fire powers to make a campfire. Over this, the two gems first open up to each other about who they are and how fusion has never been something they've experienced this way (or at all, ever). It should be noted this is more for light, than for warmth, as Sapphire is an ice gem and the heat doesn't bother her. Ruby is a fire gem and doesn't get cold.]]

** Steven, over the course of the show, he not only becomes more self-confident and less naive, he also gains ''competence'' and really grows into his role as a BarrierWarrior and TheHeart of the Crystal Gems. He also gains the respect and trust of his teammates and joins them as a fully-fledged team member, completely reversing his status as the TagAlongKid; it's telling that in several first-season episodes, the show follows Steven's more mundane life while the Gems go on missions without him (with Steven often pleading in vain to be allowed to participate); whereas by the second season, when the Gems are seeking out an incredibly dangerous, even ''murderous'' enemy, not only is Steven on the mission ''without comment'', his defensive abilities frequently save his teammates lives.

** Pearl sees a painful [[AvertedTrope aversion]]; while the other gems move on from their grief over Rose, she remains unable to let go. And while the other Gems all gain more confidence in their abilities, her insecurities have never abated, leading to [[spoiler:her disastrous deception of Garnet in order to feel "stronger"]]. Eventually, she realizes that she can't allow herself to break down emotionally anymore, and must work through her own self-loathing.

* ClarkesThirdLaw: The Gems' abilities amount to what most would call "magic". They are also entities from outer space, suggesting that at least some their "magic" is actually extremely advanced technology. See also: SufficientlyAdvancedAliens and {{Magitek}}. Some gems, like [[spoiler:Peridot]] almost exclusively use technology. Other displays of magic, such as Rose Quartz's healing tears and [[spoiler:Lapis']] complete [[ElementalPowers elemental control]] [[MakingASplash over water]], suggest no technology could ever exist to mimic them.

* DarkAndTroubledPast: This trope flourishes in ''Steven Universe'', especially common among the gems. Its actually kinda hard to find a character who ''doesn't'' had one.

** This trope is also very common among the beach city residents as well, but Connie, Greg, and Lars deserve a mention. Connie virtually [[spoiler: grew up without ANY friends, wasn't allowed to enjoy her life for the sake of "safety"]], Greg was abused and ridiculed by his manager, had to see his wife die, has a low-paying job, and has to see his own son constantly put in danger, and Lars appears to be a FreudianExcuse. As WordofGod says he wasn't able to make a whole lot of friends, and acts mean to Steven because he believes he'll ruin Lars' chance to make friends.

** In "Gem Drill", when Steven [[spoiler:meets the Cluster trying to form a body and [[TheEmpath starts feeling their pain]],]] he starts sweating and grabs the gem on his bellybutton, giving the impression that he has labor pains.

** The plot of Gem Drill [[spoiler: where they have to go deep into earth, and drill through giant cluster of gems before it forms, has parallels to abortion.]]
* TheDogBitesBack: [[spoiler:After being imprisoned by Jasper in "Jail Break", Lapis takes full control of their fusion and drags them into the ocean. She's still trying to wrestle control away from Jasper, however.]]

** "Cry for Help": [[spoiler:Pearl repairs the Communication Hub so that she and Garnet will keep fusing into Sardonyx, using the guise that Peridot is repairing it instead. Garnet is ''furious'' and gives her a TheReasonYouSuckSpeech. The episode ends with Garnet and Pearl refusing to speak to each other and Amethyst and Steven watching the scene somberly.]]

** "On The Run" when Steven and Amethyst enter the [[spoiler:Kindergarten, which also happens to be Amethyst's "birth" place.]]

* {{Dramedy}}: Oh, absolutely. The show is notorious for how [[CerebusRollercoaster fast]] and [[MoodWhiplash effective]] it is at being alternatively funny, sad, and heartwarming within it's short run-time.

* DreamWalker: In "Chille Tid", Steven communicates with [[spoiler:Lapis (and Malachite)]] during a dream sequence.

'''A - D''' | [[StevenUniverse/TropesEToM E – M]] | [[StevenUniverse/TropesNToR N - R]] | [[StevenUniverse/TropesSToZ S - Z]]

** This is used to great effect in "The Answer", where multiple physically-identical Rubies are introduced; it's suddenly ''very'' hard to keep track of who's who. [[spoiler:When more Rubies show up in "Hit the Diamond, they're all nominally identical, but each has a distinguishing characteristic.]]