I like the Beach City episodes because they help to flesh out the world of the show and remind the viewer that the ongoing, increasingly complex plotline with the Gems isn't the only thing going on in the world. I like that.
Take Drop Beat Dad for instance. I'll be one of the first to admit that it could have been done better and had some definite wasted opportunities (why didn't we get Vidalia's reaction to any of this?), but I can appreciate it for what it is.
The thing with Steven and the Stevens is I'm absolutely desensitized to all the Fridge Horror since I've read Homestuck and this is any given hour for Dave Strider in act 4.
I like the Beach City episodes too. I just wish we didn't have so many of them, or just so many Slice of Life episodes. We're four seasons in now; I think we can spend less time worrying about Lars and Sadie's troubled relationship or what Ronaldo of all people is up to, and more about the actual main plot. If I had my way, there would only be about 6-8 Beach City episodes a season (or at least from Season 3 on), and everything else would revolve around the Crystal Gems and the ongoing story. Then again, I prefer as much serialization as possible, so maybe it's just the wrong kind of show to be asking for that.
When it comes to least favorite episode for me, I'd say it's a toss-up between Fusion Cuisine, Dropbeat Dad, and the Season 3 premiere two-parter. I can't pick one because I dislike them equally for different reasons.
I'm fine with Cringe Comedy, but it was so poorly set up in Fusion Cuisine that it fell flat. I think it could've worked better if the three "competed" to be the best mom. Like Steven picks one and the other two try to prove that they could be better.
Dropbeat Dad (and Beach City Drift to a lesser extent) had such a two-dimensional antagonist with Marty that you can predict his sudden but inevitable betrayal the moment you see and hear him. The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air did this premise a lot better in its episode. I wish they would've given more nuance to Marty.
The season 3 premiere seems out of place, but from a story perspective, it felt like a very rushed way of tying up loose ends. Malachite and The Cluster are both confronted and "defeated" in their respective episodes. I might have been more okay with it if they weren't back-to-back. Having the only two things that were providing any overhanging tension get defeated so quickly makes me think that the only reason they were there was to say that the show has a plot. It almost feels like an Excuse Plot, except instead of excusing the action, it's excusing the character. Plus, having Jasper fall into a hole while unconscious felt like a sort of lazy way to put Jasper on a bus.
edited 15th Oct '16 4:30:04 PM by BlueBlaze64
"The cruelest thing you can do to an artist is tell them their work is flawless when it isn't." -Ben "Yahtzee" CroshawThe Beach City episodes are always clumped together...and then a few more sprinkled in later.
Rules of the Internet 45. Rule 45 is a lie. Check out my art if you notice.I think Dropbeat dad get so much bad rep because....well, is Steven universe, exploring this things is what they do, so it come as jarring seen how cliche they go there.
My issue with with New lars is that Steve, the same child that lampshade how his power are tiew to his emotions, the same kid that put both Greg and Pearl in the same moment to work their diferent look so lost that it make ask if this episode would be better placed in season 1
As for Malachite been deal in the same episode...yeah, for me is funny how Jasper admit that, yeah fusion is actually awsome....and them used said power to beat the living shit of Alexandrite(a 5 way fusion) it look Malachite is also made of love, Garnet
I think the human focused, Beach City episodes are necessary. They remind us of what the Crystal Gems are fighting to protect (beyond their own freedom - of course). Homeworld looks at places like Earth, and humans (and probably other intelligent species, and organic life in general) as potential resources at best and pests to be exterminated at worst. Peridot's initial reaction to seeing Steven is like seeing a cockroach in your house. Now sometimes the Crystal Gems have a haughty approach to humanity, and may sometimes hold humanity and Earth up as an ideal rather than an actual thing that exists. Sugar has said that the show is about the fantastical having an interest in the mundane, rather than the reverse.
They also add Steven's connection to humanity.
edited 16th Oct '16 1:06:03 AM by SilentColossus
They are necessary, but I guess we don't need as many as there are...which is also true.
Rules of the Internet 45. Rule 45 is a lie. Check out my art if you notice.Oh my...that's weird looking.
Rules of the Internet 45. Rule 45 is a lie. Check out my art if you notice.

I liked most of the Beach City episodes...
My various fanfics.