Together Forever
It’s no secret that it’s been hard for Steven to cope with his friends moving on without him, but his best friend and lover Connie being one of them puts things over the top. Because of these feelings, this cartoon features him taking drastic measures to ensure a fix for loneliness as well as resolve another issue of what to make of his future.
It starts with him and Connie still on healthy terms with their relationship. He appreciates the short 15 minute breaks she has from studying for college and uses them for meaningful conversations, all reflective of the charm these friends are known for. Then Steven discovers something major about the college Connie is planning on applying to. It’s very far away from Beach City, meaning their friendship could become a difficult long distant one. Steven glowing pink over this is telling of how hard he’s taking it on the inside.
That’s when he gets advice on how to deal with it. He turns to Garnet, the best relationship he knows, for advice, but so to cover different Little Homeschool classes at once, she willingly splits into her components, Ruby and Sapphire. Steven follows both classes to get different forms of advice about where to go with his future and deal with Connie moving far away. Said advice, however, raises a lot of red flags. Ruby, getting all excited, feels that this is a case where Steven should propose to Connie to ensure they’ll be together and that being with Connie is Steven’s future. Then Sapphire further supports this crazy plan through getting Steven’s hopes up that, via her future vision, she sees no possibility of Connie rejecting a proposal.
The problems with this are pretty clear from the very idea of a proposal of two underage kids, and Steven setting up a classy date gives even more unsettling vibes. A major credit I can give is that this really isn't all Steven’s idea, and given what he’s dealing with, it’s natural for him to make unwise decisions.
Plus, truth be told, he and Connie do maintain their charm as they take one of her 15 minute breaks to walk on the beach and reminisce about their past. Then when Connie sees the date Steven set up, she’s actually taken in a bit. Steven’s accompanying guitar serenade, “I’d Rather Be Me With You”, adds to the wholesome atmosphere and beauty. However, it’s more than that when you add in what Steven’s trying to do with this.
Speaking of that, after the song, he moves forward with his marriage proposal as well as to live as Stevonnie, and Connie is appropriately disturbed and taken aback by this. There is one endearing thing about this moment. This could lead to a heated conversation or a flat out rejection, but then how healthy Steven and Connie’s friendship really is makes itself known. Instead of being fully disturbed, Connie lets Steven down with sympathy, and approaches the proposal with a 'not now' instead of a flat out rejection. She’s even hesitant to go back to studying because of her feelings for her friend. Steven insists she go back though seeming like everything’s fine, but glowing pink once she’s gone reveals that’s not so. Also, when Garnet reveals that Ruby and Sapphire’s advice was not good to take, Steven remains the sympathetic one. She is right that lovers are not the answer to the future, but Steven’s frustrations with her are justified as his hopes were genuinely lifted, and now they're shattered.
Moments like that
hold the cartoon back from being the best, but overall, it’s a well told
relatable take on how even close friendships can drift apart.
A-
The Ranking
1. Volleyball
2. Bismuth Casual
3. Little Graduation
4. Little Homeschool
5. Prickly Pair
6. In Dreams
7. Together Forever
8. Bluebird
9. Why So Blue?
10. Snow Day
11. Rose Buds
12. Guidance
13. A Very Special Episode
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