Maximum Capacity

"Maximum Capacity" is the 43rd episode of the first season in Steven Universe, and the 43rd episode overall.

Synopsis
A garage sale reunites Greg and Amethyst with their favorite cheesy sitcom: Lil’ Butler.

Plot
Greg and Steven are walking with a poster for summer waxing. They open up Greg's U-Stor when stuff falls out, prompting for Greg to make a new years resolution to get rid of all of the stuff in it. Steven then brings Amethyst over to try and clean it up. She suggets that a system be made to separate the trash from the garbage, so Steven creates boxes for items to keep, sell, and burn. Amethyst notices that Greg has some good stuff inside of the U-Stor, but this gets interrupted when Steven notices that Greg has lots of books available. Greg lets him keep all of the books except for one named "Passions of Xanxor", saying that he can read it when he is a little bit older.

After Amethyst shape shifts into Purple Puma and wrestles with Steven, Greg notices that the border of a picture with him and Rose Quartz is cracked. Amethyst appears troubled and walks farther into the U-Stor, and happens upon Lil' Butler, a old favorite sitcom of theirs. Steven asks what it is, so Greg eagerly begins to set up the TV to show him. Because Steven is grounded from television, he turns his back, but Amethyst insists on watching "just one, for old times sake." Greg agrees, puts in the tape, and the intro for Lil' Butler rolls. Steven wants to get back to cleaning, but Greg doesn't, and stays with Amethyst to keep watching.

The next day is New Years, and many people are looking forward to the fireworks that are being hosted that night. Steven stops by Beach Citywalk Fries to get breakfast for him and his dad, and tells PeeDee about "starting the new year right" by cleaning out the U-Stor.

At midnight, when the fireworks begin, Steven realizes Greg is missing the show and goes to find him in the U-Stor. There, he finds Amethyst and Greg, still watching Lil' Butler. Greg realizes he's missing the fireworks and tries to leave, but Amethyst shapeshifts into Steven as she tries to convince him to stay. Greg gets annoyed at her shapeshifting. Amethyst tries to cheer him up by shapeshifting into Greg. They begin to argue. Greg gets angry at her and yells at her, saying that he can't stay and humor her, and that he wants to see the fireworks for Steven. Amethyst becomes mad, changes back, and brings up how she had someone that used to be there for her until she started hanging out with Greg. Amethyst bets Greg that he would stay for her and shapeshifts into Rose, which makes him turn away in despair. Steven steps in, telling them to stop and let go of the past. Steven then asks them when did they even have a cat as he throws a cat carrier on the ground. Amethyst becomes guilty as she runs away, and Greg turns off the TV.

The next day, Greg and Steven return to the storage unit, swearing to finish the job. To their surprise, they find the Gems, who have cleaned up the unit and boxed everything up. When asked, Garnet says it was Amethyst's idea to clean everything up, and she hurriedly says that they can take everything to the temple and keep it in her room. She gives Greg a box that says KEEP, which contains the photo of him and Rose. Greg thanks her, and the Gems return with the boxes to the temple, while the boys close the empty storage unit.

Characters

 * Steven
 * Amethyst
 * Greg Universe
 * Garnet
 * Pearl
 * Peedee Fryman
 * Rose Quartz (indirectly mentioned, pictured, and shape-shifted as)

Cameo

 * Jenny
 * Nanafua
 * Suitcase Sam
 * Mr. Fryman

Mentions

 * Ronaldo Fryman
 * Mayor Bill Dewey

Locations

 * Beach City
 * U-Stor
 * Beach Citywalk Fries

Objects

 * Rose and Greg's Portrait
 * Passion of Xanxor Book
 * Lil' Butler Tapes

Songs

 * Li'l Butler Theme

Trivia
[[File:Maximum capacity.jpg|thumb|194x194px|From Left to Right: Front: Amethyst, Greg, and Rose

Back: Steven, Garnet, Pearl, Peridot, Lapis ]]
 * This is the second time U-Stor is shown in the series.
 * Part of this episode was revealed early, but in Spanish.
 * Peedee Fryman appears and sounds older now.
 * This is the third episode where Pearl wears a different outfit.
 * The first time was in "Beach Party," and the second time was in "Space Race."
 * In the promo artwork Amethyst, a young Greg, Garnet, Pearl, Peridot, Steven, Lapis and Rose Quartz can be seen attending gym class with Steven as the teacher.
 * This is similar to the school theme of the promo art of Political Power, The Test, and Open Book.
 * This is the first time Amethyst shapeshifts into Greg.
 * This is the first time Amethyst shapeshifts into Rose Quartz.
 * She was also able to mimic Rose's gemstone.
 * It is revealed that Amethyst harbors some resentment towards Greg and Rose's relationship.
 * This is the third time Amethyst shapeshifted into Steven.
 * This is the fourth time Amethyst shapeshifted into Purple Puma.
 * This episode starts on December 30th, since Steven says he's excited for New Years Eve the next day.
 * It is revealed that Greg's Uncle was rich enough to live in a mansion, but the deed was never found after his passing.
 * The deed could have been handed to Greg, but then he misplaced it.

Cultural References

 * The "too much money" bit from the tapes is likely a reference to "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air".
 * As is, likely, the "two-part Hawaii special".
 * The Sumy TV shown is a reference to Sony.
 * Greg's comment while watching Lil' Butler, "You can always count on Lil B" may be a reference to a popular rap artist, Lil B.
 * The books found in Greg's collection makes several references to actual books or other topics.
 * Lord of the Flies can be seen under the 1980 Perigee cover.
 * The Hunter is a Lonely Heart is a spoof of The Heart is a Lonely Hunter
 * The Twin Boys makes a reference to an optical illusion known as Rubin vase, which is found on the cover.

Continuity

 * Ever since "Fusion Cuisine", Steven is still banned from TV. He apparently takes his punishment very seriously.
 * Greg, on the other hand, forgot about this and had no idea his punishment was still being enforced.
 * Amethyst shape-shifts into Purple Puma again.
 * The cat carrier from "Laser Light Cannon" makes a reappearance.
 * Amethyst shape-shifts into Steven again.
 * Greg wears one of the sweaters he tried on in "Fusion Cuisine".
 * The picture from "Laser Light Cannon" is seen in this episode and is still broken(until Amethyst "fixed" it at the end by buying a new frame for it).

Errors

 * When Greg draws the comic out from the box, it appears on the left side but when it's removed from the box it's being taken from the right side.
 * In the scene at 10:08, Steven throws a cat carrier on the ground, but in the next shot it can't be seen.

Transcript
View the episode's transcript here.