Steven Universe: Onion Trade
January 13, 2015 12:32 AM - Season 1, Episode 15 - Subscribe
Steven trades Onion Pearl's Replicator Wand for an action figure. Yeah, this won't end well.
Written and storyboarded by Lamar Abrams.
Written and storyboarded by Lamar Abrams.
In the US the closest real analogue are those pitiful machines in front of some grocery stores
Actually in the past few years (I want to say maybe decade?) at least in slightly fancier malls I've see Pokemon-branded machines that are pretty much exactly like the GUYs machine, only, you know, with Pokemon. Admittedly Pokemon is a Japanese thing and I'm pretty sure they're the exact same machines as exist in Japan, just with translated decals and GUI, but it's certainly an object your average-kid-who-gets-cable (and thus can easily watch Steven Universe) would be familiar with. Also, of course, pokeballs themselves are a direct draw from gachapon capsules. All in all it's more common in the US than you might think, although it's largely still all about Pokemon specifically, and if you don't notice such things it might totally pass below your awareness. Anyway, point being, the GUYs concept is one that will have plenty of cache with the intended audience, and not just a pleasing connection to the viewers who perhaps have more in common with the creators of the show, like a lot of the things were in "Garnet's Universe".
Wait a moment, where did Steven live while Greg was raising him??
I've been assuming that Greg doesn't only live in the van, but also in the car wash building itself. It's just that the car wash building isn't really built as a home. But it probably has a kitchenette or something. Alternatively, Greg could have lived with baby!Steven in what is now Steven's "room", which is why Steven has a kitchen and everything practical that Gems don't need. But then when stuff started getting magical and Steven needed more space, instead of doing the logical thing, Greg decided to just live in his van. I mean, who built Steven's room? Certainly not Steven. And the temple certainly has to have been there longer than the beach house, consider both of their states of decay. Maybe Rose built it for Greg?
All in all, this episode felt off-tone. Onion is a creepy little dude and I wonder what the heck is up with him, but I don't wonder enough to go looking for meta about him, either. He feels like he belongs on a different show, unlike the other families we see in Beach City, who are all weird but at least definitely human. Is Onion's family partially magical? Perhaps Onion feels a calling to be a dark wizard. Watch out, Steven! Don't mess with powers beyond your ken!
posted by Mizu at 5:34 AM on January 13, 2015 [1 favorite]
Actually in the past few years (I want to say maybe decade?) at least in slightly fancier malls I've see Pokemon-branded machines that are pretty much exactly like the GUYs machine, only, you know, with Pokemon. Admittedly Pokemon is a Japanese thing and I'm pretty sure they're the exact same machines as exist in Japan, just with translated decals and GUI, but it's certainly an object your average-kid-who-gets-cable (and thus can easily watch Steven Universe) would be familiar with. Also, of course, pokeballs themselves are a direct draw from gachapon capsules. All in all it's more common in the US than you might think, although it's largely still all about Pokemon specifically, and if you don't notice such things it might totally pass below your awareness. Anyway, point being, the GUYs concept is one that will have plenty of cache with the intended audience, and not just a pleasing connection to the viewers who perhaps have more in common with the creators of the show, like a lot of the things were in "Garnet's Universe".
Wait a moment, where did Steven live while Greg was raising him??
I've been assuming that Greg doesn't only live in the van, but also in the car wash building itself. It's just that the car wash building isn't really built as a home. But it probably has a kitchenette or something. Alternatively, Greg could have lived with baby!Steven in what is now Steven's "room", which is why Steven has a kitchen and everything practical that Gems don't need. But then when stuff started getting magical and Steven needed more space, instead of doing the logical thing, Greg decided to just live in his van. I mean, who built Steven's room? Certainly not Steven. And the temple certainly has to have been there longer than the beach house, consider both of their states of decay. Maybe Rose built it for Greg?
All in all, this episode felt off-tone. Onion is a creepy little dude and I wonder what the heck is up with him, but I don't wonder enough to go looking for meta about him, either. He feels like he belongs on a different show, unlike the other families we see in Beach City, who are all weird but at least definitely human. Is Onion's family partially magical? Perhaps Onion feels a calling to be a dark wizard. Watch out, Steven! Don't mess with powers beyond your ken!
posted by Mizu at 5:34 AM on January 13, 2015 [1 favorite]
Greg has a bag of quarters. What's he doing with all that change? Does he have popular vending machines at the car wash?
A car wash IS a vending machine, of sorts. It'd be perfectly normal for a guy running a car wash to have a shitload of quarters. See also: Laundromat owners.
posted by Mr.Encyclopedia at 8:24 AM on January 13, 2015
A car wash IS a vending machine, of sorts. It'd be perfectly normal for a guy running a car wash to have a shitload of quarters. See also: Laundromat owners.
posted by Mr.Encyclopedia at 8:24 AM on January 13, 2015
Onion: He certainly is creepy. He's known to try to be helpful sometimes too, at least as far as harpoon guns go.
Pokemon gachapon: I have never seen one of these machines you refer to Mizu, but I can't imagine where one would be here in Brunswick, GA. I can believe they're more common in other places.
Car wash vending machine: I suppose so, but I guess local car washes mostly run on credit cards? Landromats are more obvious for me.
posted by JHarris at 9:00 AM on January 13, 2015
Pokemon gachapon: I have never seen one of these machines you refer to Mizu, but I can't imagine where one would be here in Brunswick, GA. I can believe they're more common in other places.
Car wash vending machine: I suppose so, but I guess local car washes mostly run on credit cards? Landromats are more obvious for me.
posted by JHarris at 9:00 AM on January 13, 2015
All of my local car washes have coin-operated vacuum cleaners.
posted by isthmus at 9:53 AM on January 13, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by isthmus at 9:53 AM on January 13, 2015 [1 favorite]
And the temple certainly has to have been there longer than the beach house, consider both of their states of decay. Maybe Rose built it for Greg?
In Lion 3: Straight to Video, we see the outside of the Gem Temple in the tape. The beach house/Steven's room isn't there at that time; the dimensional door and warp pad are exposed to the air.
My comments in the geeklist nowithstanding (I was being somewhat facetious), I think Onion is not supposed to be read as magical. He's an odd little boy, but still definitely a boy. The fact that he's kind of weird, I think, is supposed to be read that humanity itself is weird, and in its own way a match for the weirdness of the Gems. (I am reminded of the accident Sadie mentions that's the reason Big Donut no longer bakes on-site....)
posted by JHarris at 12:48 PM on January 13, 2015
In Lion 3: Straight to Video, we see the outside of the Gem Temple in the tape. The beach house/Steven's room isn't there at that time; the dimensional door and warp pad are exposed to the air.
My comments in the geeklist nowithstanding (I was being somewhat facetious), I think Onion is not supposed to be read as magical. He's an odd little boy, but still definitely a boy. The fact that he's kind of weird, I think, is supposed to be read that humanity itself is weird, and in its own way a match for the weirdness of the Gems. (I am reminded of the accident Sadie mentions that's the reason Big Donut no longer bakes on-site....)
posted by JHarris at 12:48 PM on January 13, 2015
Regarding the quarters thing: they are clearly from a coin operated vacuum or air supply house, of the kind that you often find near car washes. 🚗
posted by ocherdraco at 10:46 AM on May 22, 2015
posted by ocherdraco at 10:46 AM on May 22, 2015
I'm not sure why that emoji felt necessary.
posted by ocherdraco at 10:47 AM on May 22, 2015 [2 favorites]
posted by ocherdraco at 10:47 AM on May 22, 2015 [2 favorites]
Fifteen episodes in, the sequence with Onion on the motor scooter is definitely my favourite of the entire show so far. I also really liked the harpoon gun gag with him back in one of the earlier episodes. I think he adds a nice edge to the show.
posted by Quilford at 10:38 PM on June 27, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by Quilford at 10:38 PM on June 27, 2015 [1 favorite]
Onion has a two second moment in Political Power, much later, but it's awesome.
posted by JHarris at 11:22 PM on June 27, 2015
posted by JHarris at 11:22 PM on June 27, 2015
I feel like somewhere out there, there must be a Dave that Dave GUY is based on.
posted by redsparkler at 9:12 AM on July 11, 2015 [2 favorites]
posted by redsparkler at 9:12 AM on July 11, 2015 [2 favorites]
I love everything about the G.U.Y.S. but especially that their expanded name ("Guys Under Your Supervision") is a recursive acronym.
posted by comealongpole at 4:40 PM on August 22, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by comealongpole at 4:40 PM on August 22, 2016 [2 favorites]
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posted by JHarris at 12:39 AM on January 13, 2015 [1 favorite]