In the fifth episode of the first season of Steven Universe, Steven tries to help his friend and accidentally creates a monster. Intrigued? Then it’s time for Mark to watch Steven Universe.

I didn’t really have the “normal” experience here in America in terms of getting my first job. Just a month after I did get my first job – working at a local grocery store called Stater Bros. – I was on my own. I’d ran away from home, and every job I had after that was always because I needed it. It wasn’t because my parents wanted me to learn to become responsible. I ended up learning that on my own (and very quickly, I might add). It wasn’t for extra spending money, either; it was for survival. So “Frybo” relies on a few pervasive cultural staples that I’ve never experienced, but ones I recognize because so many of my friends went through them.

On a more simplistic level, I understand the frustrations that come with parental expectations, and that’s what Petey has to deal with here. Petey Fryman has his father’s business in his name, and that’s particularly difficult to escape. His father wants him to continue in the family business, and on some level, it felt like Petey wanted to. Just not in the way his dad asked him to, of course! So when Steven comes upon, he does what I have come to adore about him: he tries to help. If there’s any pattern I can discern from these five episodes thus far, it’s that at heart, Steven really does take the whole “saving the world” thing close to heart. He can recognize when something is going wrong in the world, and he immediately jumps to try to fix it.

Unfortunately, he doesn’t always think this through. His immediate concern is alleviating Petey’s despair, and the eighth shard that Pearl was looking for provided him with an easy fix. (PS: DO YOU REALIZE HOW BADLY I WANTED TO HEAR THE STORY PEARL WAS TELLING ABOUT THE SHARD? I WANT TO KNOW MORE ABOUT THE GEMS.) That’s why that conversation between Steven and Petey at Funland is so important: Steven genuinely just wants to save humanity, and he’ll take smiles and happy faces as payment for it. Petey, on the other hand, is remarkably jaded for a kid, and that moment honestly felt like a little nod towards the show’s adult viewers. IT WAS TOO REAL. THAT WAS MY WHOLE LIFE FOR MANY YEARS, Y’ALL.

And look, there might be a silliness to examining this episode so intensely, but look what sight you’re on. I do this for a living! Which is sort of my point. There are days when I long for the structure and simplicity of the kind of job that makes you feel like you’re wasting away your life. I miss the free time and the easier taxes and not having to pay for absolutely everything. At the same time, I am lucky enough to have found a way to survive (just barely) without hating my job, and it’s why I won’t give up on Mark Does Stuff. The joy of getting to do this – be way too serious about television – outlasts any of the other concerns in the end.

Still, there’s a beautiful simplicity to Steven’s outlook. Even though he messes up here and creates a DEMON-ESQUE MONSTROSITY, his heart is as pure as can be. Now, we all know intentions aren’t magic, and Steven still has to be responsible for what he’s done. But he manages to do that, too, BY TAKING OFF ALL HIS CLOTHES AND PUTTING THE OTHER SEVEN SHARDS IN THEM TO CREATE A SENTIENT CLOTHING ARMY. “Frybo” is the weirdest and most violent of the episodes so far (I CAN’T GET OVER THE IMAGE OF FRYBO SHOVING FRIES INTO PEOPLE’S MOUTHS), and it still manages to be incredibly sweet. Mr. Fryman validates his son without attaching it to his job, which is what Petey needed. He needed to know that his dad still cared about him, even if he wasn’t going to be wearing the Frybo costume. And with the death of the original, Mr. Fryman decides not to get another one. He chose his son over everything else.

SMILES AND FRIENDSHIP, Y’ALL. This is my show.

The video for “Frybo” can be downloaded here for $0.99.

Mark Links Stuff

– I am now on Patreon! There are various levels of support, from $1 up to whatever you want! You’ll get to read a private blog, extra reviews, and other such rewards. I POST A LOT OF CUTE PHOTOS, OKAY. Think of it like a private Tumblr blog that only SPECIAL PEOPLE get to read.

– I have updated my list of conventions and events for the remainder of the year and much of next year. Check the full list of events on my Tour Dates / Appearances page.

– My Master Schedule is updated for the near and distant future for most projects, so please check it often. My next Double Features for Mark Watches have been announced here.

– Mark Does Stuff is on Facebook! I’ve got a community page up that I’m running. Guaranteed shenanigans!