Relationship Issues

(Don't let the title mislead you; I was being metaphorical.)

I consider myself a Steven Universe fan. I've watched the episodes, I own some merch, and I have a favorite character, OCs, etc. I fell in love with it last summer, and I've been hooked ever since.

Over the past few months, however, I've been struggling with my relationship to SU. It's kind of hard to explain, but I'll do my best.

I've been analyzing the episodes, and re-watching them, and I realized that there's a ton in this show that I wasn't used to, and that, in fact, I started to criticize. I got into arguments with other fans about how emotional the show is, how there are so many songs, and other nitpicking aspects of the show.

I feel like I'm falling out of love with SU, and I don't want to fall out of love with it. I want to stay a fan, and I want to enjoy what I'm watching. I've complained about characters, and about emotions, but perhaps it's because I'm a person who's spent most of his life bottling up his emotions.

Do you guy have any advice or ways I can start enjoying the show again?

Sincerely,
PearlQuartz17

You can critique a show and still take joy in it. I love steven universe, but I have some issues, be it minor nit-picks, or some issues that rubbed me the wrong way that I hope gets addressed/fixed in later episodes.

for advice, all I can say is focus on the parts you like in the show.

Like Bgal said, it's okay to criticize and still like something! So try not to feel too bad about that. But on the other hand, it's okay to decide that you don't like something anymore. People change, and shows change, and maybe what you used to like is gone, or maybe your tastes have developed overtime. Nothing wrong with that, either.

My suggestion is to take a break. Just step away from SU things altogether for a couple of days, and maybe rewatch something else, engage in an old game you love, or maybe find a new show that you have been wondering about but never got around to watching.

Granted, with the new episodes soon to arrive, that might be harder to do - the lure of new material might even help you feel better! But my advice is still to just distance yourself a bit. Maybe even a day could help. I have found that it is very possible to sometimes just get *too* involved with something. And we all need a breather sometimes!

I hope you find something that will make you feel better! Good luck