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PushoverMediaCritic I'm sorry Tien, but I must go all out. from the Italy of America Since: Jul, 2015 Relationship Status: watch?v=dQw4w9WgXcQ
I'm sorry Tien, but I must go all out.
#47201: Feb 25th 2017 at 6:39:17 PM

[up]Did you see the same episode I was? The episode I was watching had Ronaldo realizing he was wrong and trying to make up for it and apologizing for being a jerk. He was more likable here that he has been in any prior episodes. This episode was all about making Ronaldo likable and in a positive light. Maybe you, and others, should try watching the episode again.

randomness4 Ghost '11 from The Land of Inconvenience Since: Sep, 2011
Ghost '11
#47202: Feb 25th 2017 at 6:45:53 PM

Ronald wasn't too obnoxiousness in "Rising Tides/Crashing Skies" as mentioned in the recent episode...

So this episode in particular is steps below that one in my opinion.

Rules of the Internet 45. Rule 45 is a lie. Check out my art if you notice.
InAnOdderWay Since: Nov, 2013
#47203: Feb 25th 2017 at 7:03:01 PM

[up][up] But it wasn't necessary to "redeem" Ronaldo. He was a perfectly fine character before. This episode exaggerated his negative traits (lack of social grace, narcisism, paranoia, neediness) just to give Steven a reason to call him out on it, causing him to become... more or less the same character he was before the episode began, accepting the importance of the Gems to Beach City but perferring to do his own thing so as to not get in anyone's way. The only person that learned here was Steven, and there were way better ways to teach Steven this lesson.

Bananaquit Since: Jan, 2001
#47204: Feb 25th 2017 at 7:16:28 PM

[up]Yeah, what you said. Usually, Ronaldo’s annoying tendencies are tempered by good humor. I can laugh at the character because he’s funny, which makes his unpleasant aspects a non-issue.

On this episode, it’s like they amplified everything about him that viewers hate and leached out anything about him that was amusing/fun, to make some kind of contrived “point.” The result is a fairly unpleasant viewing experience. And that’s something I haven’t really been able to say about this series so far. All the disliked episodes to this point, I never had much of a problem with. There were some mediocre ones—like Sadie’s Song—that felt like gratuitous filler, but never one I thought was outright bad.

Beatman1 Since: Feb, 2014 Relationship Status: Gone fishin'
#47205: Feb 25th 2017 at 7:25:19 PM

So Ronaldo went from conspiracy theorist to stereotypical white fan boy?

At least Andy was voiced by Carl so I could imagine the whole of his interactions as Carl vacationing away from Shake and Fryman.

randomness4 Ghost '11 from The Land of Inconvenience Since: Sep, 2011
Ghost '11
#47206: Feb 25th 2017 at 7:38:49 PM

Frylock?

Rules of the Internet 45. Rule 45 is a lie. Check out my art if you notice.
Beatman1 Since: Feb, 2014 Relationship Status: Gone fishin'
#47207: Feb 25th 2017 at 7:46:55 PM

[up]Carl always called Frylock "Fryman."

randomness4 Ghost '11 from The Land of Inconvenience Since: Sep, 2011
Ghost '11
#47208: Feb 25th 2017 at 7:50:03 PM

It's been a while, don't remember that...

Rules of the Internet 45. Rule 45 is a lie. Check out my art if you notice.
thatother1dude from Land of the Ill, Annoyin' Since: Jan, 2001
#47209: Feb 25th 2017 at 8:04:51 PM

People are starting to conflate several things that are related but not the same: Ronaldo as a person, Ronaldo as a character, and the entertainment value of this episode.

As a person, Ronaldo is at best a guy who's personable and well-meaning, but delusional and egocentric. At worst he is a danger to himself and others (cousins are as close as brothers). I mean, Matt Burnett even (half-jokingly) said he and Kevin are his favorite characters because "they are the worst". "Rocknaldo" really is the first episode where he's realized or regretted his own faults.

As a character, he vacillates between "characterized mostly by their negative qualities" and "comically insane". I think a lot of discomfort comes from how (even going back to "Keep Beach City Weird") his motives are laid bare in a semi-serious fashion, but his behavior is still often extremely over-the-top. With how serious the show usually treats characterization, this is arguably kind of out of place (as is often the case with Onion).

As for the episode, you can break down what you did or did not like, but can only go so far before you're arguing taste.

My assessment of the people with a bilious, uncompromising hatred for Ronaldo is that they don't find him entertaining as a character, but are asserting his flaws as a person to justify their feelings—which is really just confusing the issue.

Ronaldo's still a conspiracy theorist, KBCW still exists.
Being a conspiracy theorist isn't the big thing people dislike him as a person for, it's more that he's a selfish jackass (even if he's rarely intentionally mean like Lars is).

This episode exaggerated his negative traits (lack of social grace, narcisism, paranoia, neediness)
His first major episode had him openly declare that truth is "searching for anything that proves you're right" and that a world-controlling conspiracy is a great thing because "Something important is finally happening to me!"

"Rocknaldo" was the first time he showed contempt, but his usual flaws weren't dialed up, they were dialed down. Which makes them cause more discomfort because they're not so absurd as to brush off as a joke.

Ronaldo just backtracked on the whole "demonizing the Gems" thing, which mind you wasn't the first time this has happened.
accepting the importance of the Gems to Beach City but perferring to do his own thing so as to not get in anyone's way.
Antagonism toward the Crystal Gems wasn't a major character flaw, it was just something he expressed in "Rising Tides/Crashing Skies" for a specific reason (he suspected they had caused the chaotic events in Beach City, which was technically correct). In fact, the reason he came to like them was terrible: he essentially put his fascination with the weird above the town's safety.

His admission in the beginning of "Rocknaldo" was mostly significant because he admitted he was wrong about something.

MightyMatilda Mr. Clueless from New Jersey, USA Since: Jan, 2015
Mr. Clueless
#47210: Feb 25th 2017 at 9:09:07 PM

@Beatman 1: No. None of Ronaldo's actions were specifically white.

De Romanīs, lingua Latina gloriosa non fuī.
unknowing from somewhere.. Since: Mar, 2014
#47211: Feb 25th 2017 at 9:16:07 PM

"Being a conspiracy theorist isn't the big thing people dislike him as a person for, it's more that he's a selfish jackass"

both are conect it, the most well instance is the snake people episode, after Steve show is theories are just fake he pretty much lost all will to do somehting instead moving like a zombi, and what happen when Steven try to make him feel right?...he get kick by potato, kidnap by ronaldo who just act OFF as hell, the whole episode show, it feel they almost descontruct the whole thing, showing the really neruotic part of that.

"My Name is Bolt, Bolt Crank and I dont care if you believe or not"
InAnOdderWay Since: Nov, 2013
#47212: Feb 25th 2017 at 9:17:04 PM

I agree with your analysis, while Ronaldo is usually funny, the entire concept of a "gag character" in a show that lives and breathes through its exceptionally multifaceted diverse set of nuanced characters is really weird. He's in that party along with Kevin and Onion in that they really don't feel like they belong in Steven Universe the show. Onion gets better as time goes on as the shoe gradually humanizes him beyond "inexplicably malicious young vaguely Scandinavian child, and Kevin's only appeared twice in the show, which leaves Ronaldo as the odd one out. Especially weird, because the more seriously they play Ronaldo as a character the more jarring his mismatch with the show feels. He's a different beast from Lars, who is an absolute ass but is also well fleshed out as a chatacter and even very reasonable at times.

PushoverMediaCritic I'm sorry Tien, but I must go all out. from the Italy of America Since: Jul, 2015 Relationship Status: watch?v=dQw4w9WgXcQ
I'm sorry Tien, but I must go all out.
#47213: Feb 25th 2017 at 9:50:07 PM

He didn't feel like a gag character in this episode.

SonOfSharknado Love is Love is Love Since: Oct, 2013 Relationship Status: And they all lived happily ever after <3
Love is Love is Love
#47214: Feb 25th 2017 at 10:06:14 PM

He felt like a dick.

My various fanfics.
RedSavant Since: Jan, 2001
#47215: Feb 25th 2017 at 10:14:03 PM

I really dislike Onion, honestly. Ronaldo is a jerk as a person, but his character concept (conspiracy theorist who misses the actual aliens living in the city for his own zany theories) fits pretty easily into the show's style of humor, I think. Meanwhile, Onion's just a creep. He reminds me of, I dunno, some variety of Lemongrab that doesn't shriek and instead just silently commits pointless malicious acts.

It's been fun.
randomness4 Ghost '11 from The Land of Inconvenience Since: Sep, 2011
Ghost '11
#47216: Feb 25th 2017 at 10:26:21 PM

Onion's creepy nature is the most charming thing about 'im...

Don't even diss.

Rules of the Internet 45. Rule 45 is a lie. Check out my art if you notice.
TheHandle United Earth from Stockholm Since: Jan, 2012 Relationship Status: YOU'RE TEARING ME APART LISA
United Earth
#47217: Feb 26th 2017 at 3:00:21 AM

Onion hasn't actually maliced since Onion Trade, I think. Except for that one time he stole stuff from the Arcade?

Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.
Oceanstuck Dark Sun, what choices have I...? from see handle Since: Feb, 2017 Relationship Status: watch?v=dQw4w9WgXcQ
Dark Sun, what choices have I...?
#47218: Feb 26th 2017 at 3:07:34 AM

he set a roller coaster on fire

i guess you can watch me shitpost i guess
DeathsApprentice The Ultimate Lifeform from The Ark Since: Aug, 2011 Relationship Status: Is that a kind of food?
The Ultimate Lifeform
#47219: Feb 26th 2017 at 5:28:53 AM

I actually kind of like Onion? Like, I didn't like him at first, but his weirdly malicious acts are kind of funny, in a strange way.

This episode was... interesting. I didn't think it was any worse than other Ronaldo episodes, and I thought the lesson was pretty good. (I saw it as a lesson on how to be a good ally or a lesson on how to not an asshole-ish fan. Either works, I think.) I'm honestly kind of indifferent to Ronaldo overall, and I would rather have more episodes dedicated to the more interesting townies (like the Pizzas! Someone suggested a Nanefua centric episode, which I think would be wonderful. How long has it been since we've seen her?) as opposed to yet another Ronaldo episode.

When we're done, there won't be anything left.
Bocaj Funny but not helpful from Here or thereabouts (4 Score & 7 Years Ago) Relationship Status: Pining for the fjords
Funny but not helpful
#47220: Feb 26th 2017 at 6:40:41 AM

The whole thing where Ronaldo forces Steven from his own house is a pretty good representation for how bad fans force children out of fandoms for child aimed media

That just occurred to me

Also I'm not sure how helpful his new phamplets are going to be when he never really learned what the Crystal Gems do or why. I guess it's for the best that only Steven will ever read them

Forever liveblogging the Avengers
Beatman1 Since: Feb, 2014 Relationship Status: Gone fishin'
#47221: Feb 26th 2017 at 6:58:43 AM

[up]SU fandom right there (and the SU fans who migrated to Voltron).

thatother1dude from Land of the Ill, Annoyin' Since: Jan, 2001
#47222: Feb 26th 2017 at 7:04:06 AM

Onion gets better as time goes on as the shoe gradually humanizes him beyond "inexplicably malicious young vaguely Scandinavian child"
That's true whenever he has a Day in the Limelight after "Onion Trade", but his minor appearance sometimes still paint him as a Heroic Comedic Sociopath.

Although looking it over, it does seem I've overestimated how often. Since then, I think there were only two times he did something really malicious: brandishing a bat, which in the storyboard had spikes in it, during Mayor Dewey's speech in "Political Power" and the aforementioned roller coaster incident in "Too Short to Ride".

he never really learned what the Crystal Gems do or why
There's actually a Keep Beach City Weird book coming out in about two months, which might show us what he thinks he knows about them now.
On Kevin's character, while he is wholly unsympathetic, he's not exactly a joke. "Card-Carrying Troll" is really just how he characterizes himself. The ending of "Beach City Drift" makes it clear that, rather than some outrageous heel, he's really a pathetic, attention-craving Manchild.

Also, going back to his name for a second, people have pointed "Kevin" is sort of a play on Steven and Connie's names: Stev+Onnie vs C+even

Speaking of heels, I have a vague idea of him appearing as a literal heel in "Tiger Philanthropist". Not very likely, but still want to put it out there for the small chance to say "I called it."

edited 26th Feb '17 7:32:42 AM by thatother1dude

KarkatTheDalek Not as angry as the name would suggest. from Somwhere in Time/Space Since: Mar, 2012 Relationship Status: You're a beautiful woman, probably
Not as angry as the name would suggest.
#47223: Feb 26th 2017 at 7:33:47 AM

Also, going back to his name for a second, people have pointed "Kevin" is sort of a play on Steven and Connie's names: Stev+Onnie vs C+even

...Holy shit.

Oh God! Natural light!
InAnOdderWay Since: Nov, 2013
#47224: Feb 26th 2017 at 9:06:19 AM

I mean the pronounciation is fucked but his design gels really well with Stevonnie's design.

randomness4 Ghost '11 from The Land of Inconvenience Since: Sep, 2011
Ghost '11
#47225: Feb 26th 2017 at 9:44:42 AM

C-even...

Seven...

Rules of the Internet 45. Rule 45 is a lie. Check out my art if you notice.

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