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InAnOdderWay Since: Nov, 2013
#47401: Feb 28th 2017 at 6:39:11 PM

[up] But the whole point of the show is that Steven tears down those human/gem boundaries. But it took us 4 seasons to actually see Pearl interact meaningfully with other humans. In the earlier episodes we at least got episodes where human characters had to deal with corrupted monsters, but now it feels like there are gem episodes and human episodes.

The New Crystal Gems was somewhat refreshing in that aspect.

Bocaj Funny but not helpful from Here or thereabouts (4 Score & 7 Years Ago) Relationship Status: Pining for the fjords
Funny but not helpful
#47402: Feb 28th 2017 at 6:41:01 PM

That attitude is why Steven was initially okay with Rocknaldo so I'd say the show is still aware of it

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randomness4 Ghost '11 from The Land of Inconvenience Since: Sep, 2011
Ghost '11
#47403: Feb 28th 2017 at 6:56:41 PM

Mundane human episodes...

They need to let that go...

Rules of the Internet 45. Rule 45 is a lie. Check out my art if you notice.
Victin Since: Dec, 2011
#47404: Feb 28th 2017 at 7:06:21 PM

I do agree we could use more episodes with the Gems interacting with the "human world" and episodes with humans interacting with the "gem world", but, again, I think by showing the gems dealing with personal and interpersonal problems it's a way of showing the gems interacting with the "human world" beyond appearances.

I really liked in the Thanksgiving episode when Andy started judging Greg's life choices, but I understand why those weren't the focus. No need to go that far explicitly. Not complaining if they would tho :P

@thatother1dude:

I wouldn't say the external problem "solves itself", it's more than the character comes up with a solution spontaneously once they're no longer distracted.

It was a generalization. Sometimes the solution is foreshadowed, sometimes they come up with a solution on the spot after they stop being distracted. Again, I think I had a specific episode in mind as an example and forgot which one it was.

The way I figure, gem technology isn't just unusable by humans, it's incomprehensible—that even in the modern day, human scientific analysis cannot determine how gem tech functions, or discover anything else of value. As far as they can tell, they're just carved piles of rock. That's what I meant when I said it was "as good to humans as stage props".

Ah, I thought you meant "useless", as in, "why would humans need this gem tech for?" I still disagree tho. Pearl's duplicator was simple enough a little kid could use it. I think people could figure out how gem tech works, if they tried for a large enough period of time (say... 5,000 years). Likely breaking a lot of valuable machines and bones in the process.

32_Footsteps Think of the mooks! from Just north of Arkham Since: Jan, 2001 Relationship Status: THIS CONCEPT OF 'WUV' CONFUSES AND INFURIATES US!
Think of the mooks!
#47405: Feb 28th 2017 at 7:10:54 PM

Well, first off, the only writing systems that we can definitively translate in any meaningful way date back to around 5300 years ago. There are systems usually dubbed proto-writing systems that scientists theorize are rudimentary beginnings of written language from before that, but we can't say definitively because we can't translate them (and it's quite likely that the languages behind them are completely dead, so we never will be able to). Particularly given that gems are unlikely to have care enough about humans to have bothered to learn their writing systems, it's probably worth noting that the effect is probably the same (unless of course it turns out that the zoomans still use those early writing systems and could translate them - that'd be an interesting episode to me, at the very least), but the beginnings of literacy do predate our best estimates on the gem war.

As for humanity being remarkably blase about gem structures... well, let's keep in mind that those things have literally been there for longer than anyone can remember. Even if the vast majority of people don't know squat about gems, it's still stuff that's been lying around for countless millennia. When Beach City was founded, what was the more likely reaction : "Holy shit, there's a statue of a giant woman over there!" or "Huh... another one of those giant woman statues is over there." We don't know the precise amount of association the Crystal Gems did with humanity before about 15-20 years ago, but we do know it was some, so it's not like humanity was completely in the dark about it all. And similarly, for the technology, there's a certain point where it's just "don't poke that; it'll kill you."

Relatedly, I imagine that archeology is still an active field for humanity. It's not like Pearl is regularly making time to give lectures on just what was going on in that field of blades (and even if she did, I bet most people would just roll their eyes about how much Pearl would go on about Rose in that battle).

Reminder: Offscreen Villainy does not count towards Complete Monster.
slimcoder The Head of the Hydra Since: May, 2013
The Head of the Hydra
#47406: Feb 28th 2017 at 7:12:35 PM

Huh I have thought of an episode idea where Steven makes a new friend with someone & they grow curious about what the Gems are so Steven helps educate him & introduce him to what the Crystal Gems are all about.

"I am Alpharius. This is a lie."
thatother1dude from Land of the Ill, Annoyin' Since: Jan, 2001
#47407: Feb 28th 2017 at 7:13:00 PM

In the earlier episodes we at least got episodes where human characters had to deal with corrupted monsters
"Island Adventure" and "Horror Club" were the only time humans (again, besides Connie) had prolonged encounters with corrupted gems, though "Frybo", "Lars and the Cool Kids", "Joking Victim", and "Political Power" had humans facing other gem-related sources of conflict. And there's "Onion Trade", which was and still is the only episode where the gems have a human as an antagonist.

Oh, and I forgot "Tiger Millionaire" was another episode based on one of the gems interact with humans.

now it feels like there are gem episodes and human episodes.
Gems and humans always had pretty segregated screentime, by individual scenes if not episodes. Generally, there human-focused episodes with the gems in minor roles, gem-focused episodes with humans in minor roles, and gem-focused episodes with no humans because they took place entirely at the temple/Steven's house or on mission at remote locales. It was like humans and gems occupied two different world that Steven would regularly walk between.

I don't think it's gotten worse in that regard, but I'm disappointed it's not gotten better.

That attitude is why Steven was initially okay with Rocknaldo so I'd say the show is still aware of it
I really do like that Steven actively thinks humans and gems should learn more about each other.

Victin Since: Dec, 2011
#47408: Feb 28th 2017 at 7:22:21 PM

There was "Nightmare Hospital". Some humans think some of the mutant gems are other humans. Including doctors. Somehow.

@32_Footsteps: I find it hard to believe people would just ignore gem tech even if the mortality rate when dealing with it were 99%. At least over all the time that stuff has been laying around. Maybe other people find that easir to believe tho.

Y'know, with everyone speaking English/[whatever language you watch the show on] I wouldn't be surprised to find out gems taught the language to humans a few hundred years ago. Just sayin'

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.
#47409: Feb 28th 2017 at 7:32:03 PM

I hope, if we ever get a proper flashback to the War, we see ancient Humans fighting alongside the Crystal Gems. It would make sense, considering Greg mentioned that a lot of Humans died in the War. I'd just prefer to think of those ancient people going down fighting rather than getting caught in the crossfire.

thatother1dude from Land of the Ill, Annoyin' Since: Jan, 2001
#47410: Feb 28th 2017 at 7:39:31 PM

So, after "Tiger Philanthropist" this week, season four has six episodes remainingNot eight? . I fully expected the next episode to be this seasons equivalent to "The Message"/"Catch and Release"/"Alone at Sea". Notably, this is the first time we're this close to a season finale without any episode descriptions or even titles.

Pearl's duplicator was simple enough a little kid could use it.
The duplicator was an anomaly, bordering on Early-Installment Weirdness, that seems to mostly exist for the sake of that one episode's plot.

Otherwise, humans explicitly have a physical inability to use gem technology. Steven's gem lets him activate it intuitively despite knowing no more about how it works. When the Crystal Gems wanted Greg to be able to use a warp pad, they didn't give him an explanation, they handed an special object that would activate it without a gem.

Crossover-Enthusiast from an abaondoned mall (Lucky 7) Relationship Status: Chocolate!
#47411: Feb 28th 2017 at 7:43:01 PM

I've been wondering, how does a Warp Whistle work, human wants to warp wise? Are they able to choose where they wanna go, or does it just take them to the last place the Warp Pad was used to warp to?

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AdricDePsycho Rock on, Gold Dust Woman from Never Going Back Again Since: Oct, 2014 Relationship Status: [TOP SECRET]
Rock on, Gold Dust Woman
#47412: Feb 28th 2017 at 7:43:33 PM

So it's possible we might get another Stevenbomb after Tiger Philanthropist, then?

Have you any dreams you'd like to sell?
MightyMatilda Mr. Clueless from New Jersey, USA Since: Jan, 2015
Mr. Clueless
#47413: Feb 28th 2017 at 7:44:02 PM

In the real world, everyone knows what pyramids are, but we're still occasionally amazed that ancient people were able to make them. I'd think that people would be amazed at ancient gem buildings, though I can almost accept the idea that it's just an occasional feeling people have, and thus not worth showing in this cartoon.

De Romanīs, lingua Latina gloriosa non fuī.
Victin Since: Dec, 2011
#47414: Feb 28th 2017 at 7:44:02 PM

[up][up][up][up]That's another example of gem tech that can be used by humans, y'know.

edited 28th Feb '17 7:44:33 PM by Victin

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.
#47415: Feb 28th 2017 at 7:45:15 PM

Maybe only Gems can activate the Duplicator Wand, and Onion was only able to use it because it was already turned on.

thatother1dude from Land of the Ill, Annoyin' Since: Jan, 2001
#47416: Feb 28th 2017 at 8:06:36 PM

It's not like Pearl is regularly making time to give lectures on just what was going on in that field of blades (and even if she did, I bet most people would just roll their eyes about how much Pearl would go on about Rose in that battle).
Speaking of that field, I think the weirdest thing is that no humans ever raided the weapons left on that battlefield (barring the really huge ones). Weapons like that are obviously valuable, and activation isn't an issue.

It doesn't even seem to be in that remote a location, as Buddy got there without Pearl's map of gem ruins. Maybe there's some kind of security system—might explain how Pearl and Garnet suddenly showed up when Buddy got there.

I find it hard to believe people would just ignore gem tech even if the mortality rate when dealing with it were 99%.
And if the mortality rate were 100%, people would try to weaponize that very lethality.

That's another example of gem tech that can be used by humans, y'know.
It seems like it was specifically made to let human use gem tech—which they had for whatever reason. Unless gems had a need to remotely turn on a device you still have to stand on to use. It's an improbable plot device either way, really.

Crossover-Enthusiast from an abaondoned mall (Lucky 7) Relationship Status: Chocolate!
#47417: Feb 28th 2017 at 8:10:39 PM

Does Greg still have the Warp Whistle?

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thatother1dude from Land of the Ill, Annoyin' Since: Jan, 2001
#47418: Feb 28th 2017 at 8:12:36 PM

Who knows. Wouldn't be a bad idea to let him keep it.

HextarVigar That guy from The Big House Since: Feb, 2015
That guy
#47419: Feb 28th 2017 at 8:15:11 PM

The stupidity of Connie's mother is pretty impressive. In Nightmare hospital, she was working on gem mutans as patients and didn't see anything odd about them.

One of them had three arms and another had arms growing out of it's head.

Your momma's so dumb she thinks oral sex means talking dirty.
thatother1dude from Land of the Ill, Annoyin' Since: Jan, 2001
#47420: Feb 28th 2017 at 8:17:32 PM

And neither of them had faces.

Although she clearly did find it weird, just to an understated degree. ("That doesn't look like a car accident.")

But then, what was she suppose to do? Assume her Hippocratic oath was void for someone that's sufficiently weird-looking?

edited 28th Feb '17 8:26:38 PM by thatother1dude

HextarVigar That guy from The Big House Since: Feb, 2015
That guy
#47421: Feb 28th 2017 at 8:30:22 PM

IT HAD ARMS GROWING OUT OF IT'S HEAD.

Your momma's so dumb she thinks oral sex means talking dirty.
randomness4 Ghost '11 from The Land of Inconvenience Since: Sep, 2011
Ghost '11
#47422: Feb 28th 2017 at 8:34:46 PM

So what...

Rules of the Internet 45. Rule 45 is a lie. Check out my art if you notice.
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.
#47423: Feb 28th 2017 at 9:08:53 PM

Don't discriminate against someone just because they have some minor facial deformaties.

32_Footsteps Think of the mooks! from Just north of Arkham Since: Jan, 2001 Relationship Status: THIS CONCEPT OF 'WUV' CONFUSES AND INFURIATES US!
Think of the mooks!
#47424: Mar 1st 2017 at 6:11:22 AM

That Connie's mom was mostly swallowing any freak-out reaction to follow the Hippocratic Oath isn't weird. The fact that she basically decided to solo working on such a medical anomaly is - at the very least, I'd want two orderlies and another MD assisting at all times when dealing with something that outre.

As for people trying to weaponize how lethal gem tech could be... given that human military isn't the focus of the show, for all we know, they have tried, and we just don't see it. And yes, that might include picking up select items (like human-sized swords) from the strawberry field of blades. It wouldn't totally surprise me to see a human wielding a salvaged gem blade in a later episode.

As for the warp whistle... if I were to guess, Greg gave it to Connie, as she needed something to let her tag along with Steven and Pearl in "Gem Hunt." Unless, of course, there are multiple warp whistles, and Greg and Connie each have one.

Reminder: Offscreen Villainy does not count towards Complete Monster.
Mio Since: Jan, 2001
#47425: Mar 1st 2017 at 7:34:41 AM

Despite how weird it is I don't really mind the fact that humans are ignorant/ uncaring of gem stuff, and I'd rather they not try to explain it unless the revelation is both interesting and actually effects the status quo. Otherwise I think it would feel it would either fall flat and/or feel like a waste, which is how I felt when Gravity Falls did it.

That aside I do enjoy the human stories. It's nice to learn about the denizens of Beach City and helps make the world feel bigger. Plus when th inevitable next attack from Homeworld comes to Beach City I may actually give a damn about what happens to the townsfolk.


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