The Immense Beauty of Alone Together (Steven Universe)

[@TGOArchive]

I like how they forshadowed Smokey Quartz in a way being his first Half-Gem+Gem fusion. Out of everyone, he’s the most sync with Amethyst.

[@DarkPrincessAly]

With Sugar's intention relating to show how sudden and rapid puberty is and what it does to the psyche makes me, as an afab that hit puberty at 9, very happy. Because this is what it was like. One summer when I was like 13, I started getting honked at by passing cars and catcalled at by grown adults. All my friends at school started acting different around me. Add my neurodivergence (diagnosed adhd, suspected autism) and not knowing I was queer, and I was just terrified and confused. My mom never gave me the period talk until it happened and I thought Inwas dying. I was developing crushes on my female friends and all my guy friends started trying to date me (save for 2 because they were also lil queers like me). I was mortified. And I shut down in high school, completely lost myself because all my relationships suddenly changed overnight and I didn't actually do anything to deserve it. It wasn't until a few years ago that I started to understand myself a little more and figure it all out, and I'm going through what the lgbtq community calls the "second adolescence," when people who lived their childhoods closeted spend their 20s and 30s doing and learning what they should have been during their teens and 20s. These are conversations we should be having with our kids Before they hit puberty, so that when it happens they can better navigate it and not be horribly traumatized by the natural progression of life.

[@yourhorseyepona7309]

I can SOO relate to that period moment! I didnt know what it was until it happened one morning when i was 9. My mom thought i was having sex with someone when she noticed my wide hips for my age (love her lots but COME ON!!). I didnt even know what homosexuality was til my teens, and it led to times where i noticed ladies I knew were close but it registered to me as them being in a relationship 😅. That time also led my to wonder what else I didnt know, and eventaully learn about my sexaul orientation being aro/ace (at least thats what I think best fits my situation).

[@raq619]

As a kid, Alone Together was the first episode to make me really love Steven Universe. It expressed so many emotions that I knew & empathized with, but was just too young to name. It's extremely nostalgic for me.

[@teacup4561]

I really vibed with the aspect of Stevonnie being objectified by the people around them without understanding what was happening to them. It's something I think a lot of teens experience as they go through puberty, and it can be kind of scary to be seen by others as having something you aren't even aware of yourself. I think a lot of people have had the experience of someone treating you kindly, only to discover later on that they didn't actually care about you, they just wanted something from you. As you learn to navigate creeps and guard yourself from them, you lose some of that childhood innocence of trusting strangers. It really does feel isolating like the way Stevonnie felt at the rave, but I guess it's part of growing up. I thought this show tackled it well, and in a way that made me more comfortable with my own past experiences.

[@mint_marigold1229]

I like how you emphasized that the only times Stevonnie felt uncomfortable in this episode were around other people. Steven and Connie, at this point in their relationship, are best friends, crushing on each other but not an established couple. They're near that age where their bodies and hormones are rapidly changing, and their relationship is changing too. So Stevonnie, a largely androgynous adult, comes into existence at this crux point where Steven and Connie can explore themselves and their individual feelings together. Stevonnie is a joyous amalgam, not quite two and not quite one person, and are only stable when there are no external expectations or judgements applied to them. They love being together alone but don't have the experience to handle more grown-up confrontations. Kevin, the antagonist Stevonnie encounters, is the antithesis of everything Steven and Connie's relationship is in Connie's moment of panic- manipulative, condescending, self-assured. And when he harasses them, Stevonnie doesn't have any basis on which to regroup and stabilize again. Steven and Connie don't know each other and their dynamic well enough, neither have much experience with a mature body, and that's okay. Stevonnie's defiant, inevitable split leaves Steven and Connie's relationship open-ended. The experience is still on the table when they're ready to talk about it again, but for now they can just be kids. Stevonnie will exist again, but on their shared terms. Not anybody else's.

[@nepticone4324]

woah

[@theatlassystem]

I don't think Stevenonnie is too humanoid in design at all. They are genetically mostly human, and Stevonnie looking like a normal person represents Steven and Connie's relationship perfectly. That's how they both see each other, and how they feel when they are together. Connie can be herself around Steven, and Steven doesn't feel the pressure to be like his mom or the pressure of being a Crystal Gem when he's around Connie.

[@gazzamuso]

I like that in their first dance scene together they have another moment of Steven eschewing gender norms by being in the typically feminine position having been caught by Connie right before they fuse

[@fanaticalistic]

1:50 lmao I love that scene with Steven trying to copy Amethyst, its like middle school me trying to copy Britney Spears dance moves 😂

[@leigh3693]

It wasn’t until this video that I noticed the foreshadowing of Steven & Connie’s exchange before fusing: “I just couldn’t stand the thought of everyone staring at me” “Well no one’s staring at you now?” “You are.” Followed by Steven immediately acting to mitigate Connie’s discomfort. It’s very fitting that Stevonnie destabilized as a result of their discomfort with being ogled, and their time being fused ends with Steven and Connie staring at each other (before they get up and dance) with hysterical relief.

[@ishkajules]

4:27 Stevonnies design in Alone Together is actually my favourite out of all their episode apperances! Steven + Connie = Stevonnie. Connie + Steven = Ceven ....KEVIN. Kevin is an evil, more masculine-leaning design of Stevonnie.

[@penntopaper9305]

there's something kind of organically beautiful about the fact that steven can fuse with humans. fusing two bodies made of just light is one thing. quite simple and easy to understand from a physical standpoint. two gems can fuse without it being at all meaningfully intimate or emotional because their bodies are not ones that are made with physical affection in mind. but two bodies made of solid flesh and blood and human warmth being able to phase together into one being is so much more thought provoking. so much more complicated to think about and somehow even more magical. im sure most people are aware of the concept of loving someone to the point of wanting to become a "part of them" in a metaphorical sense, but this takes that idea and makes it literal. its like. an advanced hug. and i think that's beautiful. also, i like how the show even nods to these biological implications a tiny bit with pearl commenting on it being "inappropriate"

[@demi-femme4821]

I do like that the rave is being held in the same building that Amethyst was doing her underground wrestling in, and you can tell because the giant hole Garnet put in the wall is still there.

[@MrFunk-cp5in]

Peak SU, this one. This is one of the best episodes of the show to me or atleast one of the most important. It communicates alot of stuff that most kids shows would shy away from, in a serious but funny tone without talking down to its target audience, it is simply one of the best looking childrens tv episodes of the tens and it just accomplishes alot of what i think Sugar and her crew was trying to do with this thing. The color palette will stay with me till i kick the bucket.

[@yourhorseyepona7309]

For me, I fell in love with this series when I saw that episode of Amethyst and Steven go to the Kindergarten. Amethyst's insecurities on display when she was angry at Pearl was just 😭.

[@cawmusic]

this episode was literally my nonbinary awakening

[@Matty002]

6:47 i just realized sadie is crushing on stevonnie, which is a set up to her dating step, another nonbinary character

[@StarLightGem]

i re-watched this episode recently as a new adult (18 yr old) and felt some deep stuff this time, glad you decided cover it

[@jamiepece]

I can't believe Stevonnie's voice is AJ Michalka (from Aly & AJ)! Her voice fits them perfectly!

[@crunchylettuce]

she also voices Catra from the new She-Ra :o

[@SunBeeSmoked]

WAIT WAIT WAIT SHES THAT AJ? POTENTIAL BREAK UP SONG AJ AND ALY??

[@jamiepece]

@@SunBeeSmoked YEPP!

[@portobeIIa]

my take on the episode is a lot more simplistic than most others- but it relates a lot to my personal doubts and problems with being in a relationship. i'm a very relatiohship-y person, very intense. my partner is my whole life and i'll be wanting to do things with them 99% of the time. i am now in a 2 year old relationship with someone who feels the same about me. he's communicative, romantic, intense, clingy... just like i am. i know this can sound like a nightmare for some but i just cant put it into words how amazing our 2 years have been and the healthiest we've both ever been. we fit like puzzle pieces. thing is, specially at my age of ending highschool and entering college, things can get a little lonely regarding friendships. if all you have is someone who at this point is like part of yourself, do you really have anyone? i've always struggled a lot with making friends and the guilt of feeling lonely even though i supposidely have what a lot of people want. stevonnie and alone together make me remember, even if in a very literal sense, that it's ok to feel like you're struggling socially even if you have a partner. it's not the same dynamic, they cant be there for you all the time and it's not a disrespect to yearn for more genuine connections other than the one you already have. having a support system of people that you like and trust is something that doesnt have a limit to how many it can have. even if you're a duo, a powercouple, might as well be one person, a stevonnie, WHATEVER, you still need your crystal gems to do fun stuff with. we are social creatures afterall.

[@megasocky]

I love how stoked Garnet is since its mechanically implied the more humanoid you look the more in sync you are. The visor Garnet wears probably implies Ruby and Sapphire's shame for the single flaw that puts them out of sync (the third eye) and its also fun how this was Stevens first fusion so it's importance of Stevonnie looking human isn't noticed until Smokey happens (and Steg!)

[@pieflower6419]

As always, in depth and meaningful analysis. Videos like this remind me of why I love this show.

[@Jacquelinsane]

I don't even know if they intended this, but. I have dissociative identities. My system often feels "Alone Together". It's such a powerful episode for us.

[@sabrinag6870]

this is fantastic and only makes me deeply want to infodump about the inherent and unstated queerness of stevonnie in conjunction with the metaphors and narrative you outlined so well

[@tam1876_]

I'm about a third way through so perhaps you address this, but I think Stevonnie's design is deliberately based on Steven's gender non-conforming expression. Any time Steven glammed up in the series (during Sadie's Song, Gem Heist, & during Diamond Days) he was always depicted in very frilly clothing or earrings or the ruffles, etc. The only time Steven appears overtly masculine is when he fused with Greg. Or when he's an older teen. And even then I think that had more to do with how seriously he was trying to take himself (subconsciously feeling that femininity is more silly or youthful perhaps?)

[@betterretromess]

This is one of my all-time favorite episodes. It's among the first times in the show where I went "This doesn't feel like a kid's show". Obviously, before this episode, the show had its more 'mature' moments, but this entire episode feels more 'mature', comparatively, than most from the first season. Stevonnie is such a great character. As someone born male, identifies as masculine non-binary, who has gone through more than my fair share of gender identity struggles, body dysphoria and more, Stevonnie is peak unattainable 'goals'. But that's also why I very easily found myself enjoying them. I wish we could have gotten more Stevonnie throughout the series, but the moments we get to share with them were all special and all great.

[@rexevans5477]

have a lovely dad

[@rexevans5477]

*day

[@doritoking3403]

I’m having a great dad because of you thank you

[@underwailer]

Their fusion is a metaphor for the firsts in a relationship.

[@airplanes_aren.t_real]

I really like the consistent detail throughout the show that stevonnie does not and sometimes cannot form due to/for a male character The kid connie hurt, Kevin hell even Steven does that in the new series

[@airplanes_aren.t_real]

Ngl sometimes it felt like the writers of Steven universe brought a lot of themes from marceline's relationship with the vampire king to the relationship of stevonnie and kevin

[@se-n-fly-er]

I remember what really got me hooked to Adventure Time was the Marcy episodes. There was a different vibe there that I just couldn't describe at the time. Then years later I got hooked to Steven Universe. Eventually I found out Rebecca Sugar had worked on those episodes of Adventure Time and I had a big "ohhhh! That explains why I loved both so much!"

[@ghosttornado]

This episode gives me a feeling that i can't describe how but its wholesome

[@Funhaus_Fr34k]

genuinely one of my favorite episodes of the show, I love watching it as I love thinking about all the little details and thinking about the depth of stevonnie's thoughts and how clearly they are one but also two people communicating. Love that with all fusions but it happens for most of the episode here, and in a very interesting way that is fun for me to rewatch

[@penntopaper9305]

"one for me, and one for... me."

[@raphaelalaniz816]

I feel like garnet’s future vision can’t predict Steven fusing, because the way it was presented was more like the idea that garnet can determine probability, and because there’s never been a human fusion, she can’t predict Steven can fuse. She can assume he can, but she can’t know.

[@simonsanchezkumrich8489]

beautiful, looking forward to ATs all the little people review too

[@jeremyponce8664]

This is my favorite episode since it came out almost .10 yrs ago. I’m glad it’s finally getting recognition.

[@mudking2294]

LETSGO I LOVE THIS EPISODE SO MUCH ALSO YOUR CONTENT IN GENERAL SHSBDBSHBDHD

[@AmpleSamuel]

thank you !!!

[@vegitoPM]

I like Kevin's role in season 3 and 5 and how he build's on top of getting on Stevonnie's/Steven and Connie's nerves, and develops them as a result. However, I kinda wish Kevin was a one-off character. People who act like him do not hold any sort of connections to those that they hurt, positive or not. They make an attempt at getting to someone, and when that backfires, they more or less never return to their "failing". If Kevin hadn't appeared again later in the series (though he only did twice) I feel like he would've felt more representative of those kinds of people in the real world. Agree with everything you said in the video, too. I wish they had more episodes were they used this or a similar color palette, as it's especially vibrant but not excessively so.

[@kelpo6304]

it's realism vs storytelling I think! realistically someone like Kevin wouldn't reappear. thematically, Kevin immediately specifically represented some of the most important themes and conflicts about Stevonnie's puberty metaphors, so it makes sense for him to come back. both approaches would work I think :) and to be fair, you ARE more likely to re-encounter a person you hate in a small town like Beach City

[@polabelikeanimation9567]

Love the episode and the video, you did a great job ! :)

[@neenabelle1342]

I fuckin adore all of ur videos so so so so much, thank u for putting ur stuff out there I’m soooo glad the algorithm found u for me lol

[@AmpleSamuel]

thank you so much !!

[@selmatheviking488]

Am I the only one who thought the people at the rave were admiring Stevonnie?

[@kelpo6304]

that's always the impression I got!!! it's cool how SU showed that even positive attention for being cool/attractive can be unwanted, especially for someone like Connie who was explicitly anxious about being watched. sometimes it kinda sucks to stand out, even in a good way it resonated with me because I grew up in a small town and was considered "weird but cool" by people at my school. I was just being myself and doing what I liked, why did that make me so different and hypervisible?

[@CookiesDelRey]

i’m half asleep but thank u for this video i like it :)

[@mars3168]

I really enjoyed this video. Thank you!

[@emelidiez4789]

Awesome vid Samuel! I was wondering if u have any thoughts of reviewing milk outside? I know it's not quite what u do, but I'd love that; hearing u use that ost (although not in this video) was really cool to me. Anyway thanks for existing!

[@AmpleSamuel]

thank you ! In another life where I cover games instead of cartoons I would definitely make a significantly too long video about both Milk games and how much they mean to me, but instead, I just use the music while I talk about other things. Maybe one day I can find an excuse to talk about it in a video...

[@emelidiez4789]

@@AmpleSamuel please do!!! they're my fav games by far, they changed me a lot and it was so fucking amazing to hear someone use my fav track (I'll be here for a while) in a video essay of sorts. I get the not doing vg-related content, but holy shit would I love to hear u rant about em!

[@Eyevou]

GARNET IS A FUSION!?!?!?!?!

[@allieweston4471]

Um yes? Sapphire and ruby are lovers who fused into garnet

[@Eyevou]

@@allieweston4471SPOILERS!

[@null7056]

The show is almost 10 years old, spoilers will happen and are inevitable

[@beelzebub219]

You a little late

[@boratzan]

A lot late

[@maxdon2001]

Great video!

[@olgagachaphoenix9130]

I approve

[@cheesesticks0]

Kevin is the worst

[@fanaticalistic]

Top 5 Ronaldo quotes

[@BootsieBumfield-kc1pu]

Yes

[@Didyouknowthatiexist]

5:08 make kevin gæ

[@nazaren45]

👍👍

[@berry-blue-soda]

I don't want to comment before the video ends but why did you put a smiley face here 4:52 by "he could also harass a masculine Stevonnie" it's kinda creepy

[@lesterwilliamsjr649]

Was anyone else annoyed that Steven's crush on Connie is brought up early and basically is forgotten for most of the series. On one hand I'm glad the show avoided doing the whole Steven's crush is so obvious but Connie is to oblivious to notice. On the other hand I feel if the writers were going to bring up the crush a the beginning they should have done more with it in the series. If I was writing this show I would just removed the crush from the main series and save for SU Future.

[@caoinhnamkhanh2795]

I dont see what story the crush could entail, besides theyre young + theyre more buddies early on than anything

[@raq619]

That's a surprising to me, because in my opinion, the underlying romance between Connie & Steven is constantly present after her debut. Steven Universe is a very showing > telling sort of series, especially where the characters' interpersonal relationships are concerned. I think after Steven's crush on Connie was basically spelled out for the audience in Bubble Buddies, the showrunners trusted the audience to then pick up on other romantic cues ourselves. You see the development of their relationship in the way they interact, the way they speak to one another, the way they speak ABOUT one another to other people. Not from the characters telling the audience that Steven & Connie love each other. I mean, even in the episode this video is about, the two of them were blushing at each other under mood lighting (the same happens in We Need To Talk.) The two are constantly paralleled with the show's three other most major romances, Rose & Pearl, Rose & Greg, & Ruby & Sapphire. Kevin assumes the two are a couple. In Steven's Birthday, Steven goes as far assuming that he & Connie are gonna be married one day ("What am I gonna be when Connie's president, First Boy?") And what you said about Connie maybe being oblivious about Steven's crush on her was, I believe, 100% intentional on the creators' part. In Open Book, the episode ends with Connie talking about how she didn't see the romance coming at all, when Steven saw it from a mile away. I always thought that was a metaphor for their relationship. I get the feeling that Steven kinda-sorta knew that Connie liked him back after a certain point, & just didn't mind waiting. Whereas Connie probably thought her crush was one-sided for a lot longer. I think if you watch the show with a show-don't-tell mindset, you'll pick up on a lot more of the (admittedly very chaste) romance.

[@MissShiniSato]

@@raq619you worded it so perfectly! I was just thinking about the underlying tones of the relationship and every time I watch SU I see more and more of the tones between the two especially in the episode talking about the book because even roses room was telling him that they like each other 🤭

[@markwafflez]

😺

[@lesterwilliamsjr649]

This episode is just more proof that Connie should have been the protagonist because it shows what a great team these 2 are. If Connie was the protagonist we could have had a lot more interactions like this. This was a big problem with Steven Universe, Steven is suppoose to be the auidence surgarette and yet he's learning so many things for the first time in the series despite knowing the Gems all his life. I think the relationship between Steven and Connie would have been better if Connie over time gaind enough of Steven's trust to have him talk more about his heritage.

[@fanaticalistic]

I think them being duo protagonist would've been neat, but Steven being the protag isn't a negative for me.

[@natalimoina]

I think you might've missed the point

[@alexmcdonald4707]