jean-and-ali-liveblogs:

Ali: So I was told that people are shitting on Connie because of what happened in this episode. And like… why…? Firstly, both Steven and Connie found themselves in really new and crazy situation. Suddently they are on totally different planet where totally different rules work. And even though they are intelenctually aware of those rules and they do experienced a lot of them during all the previous episodes, I am pretty sure it still didn’t fully sink in. 

And just look at Steven! How down he is, how upset and sad. He took on himself a task of changing a whole Empire and trying to get through to who-knows-how old space dictators. And every single person expects him to be somebody who he is not, directly saying it to his face. He is doing a great job using that as his advantage, but it’s clearly wearing on him.

But despite that, he was so sure this is going to be it, this is going to be the moment when he will be finally able to talk it out and make it all better. And it all blew in his face. He did this whole thing just to talk to White Diamond and she didn’t even come. He needs to sit in that stupid chair and all his friends need to pretend to be something they are not, something they fought against for ages, for nothing as far as he knows. 

And Connie is his best friend, of course she is going to go and try to cheer him up! It’s not like she is just going to let him sit there and moop around. And it’s actually really awesome and great that she is taking this initiative! Being there for him, supporting him. Them doing this together, side by side. And they are on the ball and she knows that Steven likes to dance, what else could she propose? Of course she could just talk to him try to get through to him, but isn’t it so much better to actually do something fun together?

And as far as she knows, it should be totally fine. He is a Diamond, he should be allowed to do whatever he wants as far as they know. And despite the fact that dancing was unrecommended by Yellow Pearl earlier, it’s clearly not such a big deal, since Diamonds don’t react at all when he initially gets down there. And I am sure they were keeping an eye on him, so it’s not like they missed Steven going down to dance with “his pet”.

Also, I would actually stop here and praise Connie! Look at her go! She reminds Steven of his own confidence and gives him her own! Standing tall, despite being surrounded by all those gems who are clearly staring at her weirdly. She came so far! And I am genuinely proud of her!  

But anyway, let’s get back to the point. 

So they dance and fuse, and this is how Stevonnie reacts:

They didn’t even realize! It’s not like Connie went there and decided that the best way of cheering Steven up was fusing. She just wanted to dance with him, that’s all. And I am sure that she was 100% aware that fusing would be a bad idea, would somebody propose it, she would be the first one to point out it’s a terrible idea to do something like that in front of Diamonds and all those gems. She is smart! She is intelligent! 

They did it on accident. Yes, it’s a thing that can happen. Remember Hit the Diamond episode? When Ruby was supposed to spy on the dork squad and Sapphire was supposed to pretend she is totally normal human? But then in a moment of joy, happines and good feelings suddently Garnet was there with “whoops…”? This is exactly what happened here! Look how shocked Stevonnie is. 

And another important thing that’s worth pointing out is that it’s not like Connie could fuse with Steven without him being up for it. I am pretty sure you need at least two people to fuse. If in that moment Steven would be deeply against the idea, it probably would not happen. But in that moment, they both forgot where they are. Too busy and lost in enjoying each other presence and just feeling good together.

So… yea, I really don’t see any reason to blame Connie here. They both messed up. Her and Steven. But still… I can hardly find it in myself to hold it against them! It wasn’t the idea they had. It wasn’t bad will of Connie. It wasn’t stupidity. If the situation was that they planned it then I would be like “You little idiots”, but it was all one big tragic accident. And yes, they made a mistake. A huge, huge mistake. But they already know it. 

I can only feel bad for both of them. And I am going to feel even worse for them when inevitably in the next episode Connie is going to feel like the greatest shit in the world and blame herself for everything that happen, convinced that it’s all her fault and that she is a terrible friend. And Steven is going to blame himself even more. And they should not feel this way. Because even though the consequences were terrible, pretty much cosmicaly terrible, it was still an accident. And they are still kids, you can hardly expect them to always know everything that could happen. To always foresee every single thing that can go wrong.

EDIT: Actually,  @printfogey made me realize that maybe it’s a good idea to also attach the important point of another post do this, the one written before this episode aired:

“So, basically, would Connie and Steven fused, it would really shake everything up and even put them in danger. But I feel that in the long run it would have all kinds of positive influence, forcing people to rethink what they thought is right “

So, in the end, maybe it won’t even be a mistake, maybe it will be a blessing?