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You should keep a close eye on your cactus.

Garnet

"Prickly Pair" is the 10th episode of Steven Universe Future.

Official Synopsis[]

After leaving Little Homeschool, Steven has found a new hobby, plants.

Plot[]

Prickly Pair 015

The episode begins at the conservatory where Steven shows the Gems that he has taken up gardening since leaving Little Homeschool. He proudly states that he grew them without using his powers, and names each plant after the people who have left his life. Steven pricks his finger while transplanting a cactus cutting, then heals it with his saliva and touches the cutting to finish the process, unaware that his saliva has affected it as well.

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Steven finds the next day that the cutting has grown overnight, and become sentient and introduces it to the Gems, with Amethyst naming it "Cactus Steven", due to the fact that the plant looks nearly identical to Steven's head. Steven spends the day with the cactus while bemoaning how everyone left him and that his own life has had no direction since leaving Little Homeschool, as there is no one left to help.

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The next day Steven finds that Cactus Steven is able to talk, repeating back what he has said. Cactus Steven repeats back Steven's laments to the Gems, which makes them confused, causing Steven to panic and hide it away from them. Amethyst checks on Steven, at which he nervously denies that anything is wrong. Taking it back to the dome, Steven argues with Cactus Steven and further bottles his emotions towards the Gems, where he wants nothing to do with Pearl's empathic concern, Garnet's patronizing and Amethyst's newfound maturity. Realizing his mistake when blurting out his secrets, Steven hides Cactus Steven in a box, in hopes it would stop talking.

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The next day Steven finds that Cactus Steven has grown deformed and continues to repeat everything he says, angering him and causing him to turn pink. Steven leaves the greenhouse when Pearl calls him for dinner.

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Steven awakens that evening to the sound of breaking glass and finds that Cactus Steven has broken out. Cactus Steven ambushes him in the house, now being able to move on its own having grown limbs. Steven attempts to fend it off when the Crystal Gems arrive. The Gems initially manage to gain the upper hand and knock Cactus Steven against the sink, until the impact causes it to grow even larger with multiple limbs and heads. The Gems are outmatched and Cactus Steven continues to repeat every negative opinion Steven told it about them, much to their confusion and concern.

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Upon realizing it is just continuing to mimic him, Steven ends the fighting by apologizing and hugging Cactus Steven, despite how painful it was due to the needles. This causes Cactus Steven to sprout flowers and gives one to Steven before busting through the house door and leaving. The Gems ask Steven if they need to talk about his issues, which Steven denies stating that he has said enough.

Features[]

Characters[]

Objects[]

Locations[]

Music[]

Instrumentals[]

Trivia[]

  • This episode was Drew Green's favorite episode that he worked on.[2]
  • This is the first episode of Steven Universe Future where Steven's jacket does not appear at all.
  • The episode's title is a play on prickly pear, a fruit that comes from a cactus and prickly pair, referring to both Cactus Steven for obvious reasons, and Steven for his increasing anxiety and frustrations.
  • This episode marks the final appearance of Steven's shield, Pearl's spear (not counting the flashback in "Growing Pains") and Amethyst's whip.
  • This was the final episode to air in 2019.

Cultural References[]

  • The premise of a plant being inadvertently brought to life, growing rapidly, and wreaking havoc is likely a reference to the musical Little Shop of Horrors.
  • The plot also shares similarities with Mary Shelley's novel Frankenstein, where the main character creates a sentient lifeform that acts like a monster out of confusion and aggression.

Continuity[]

  • Steven's house is partially destroyed again after being repaired during the time skip.
  • Steven began his hobby of growing plants following his departure from running Little Homeschool after "Little Graduation".
  • Up to this point, two of the demands that Aquamarine made in "Bluebird" have occurred: Steven's house getting destroyed and his friends being "bubbled" (in a dome).
  • Steven's annoyance of Amethyst "acting like she's so mature now" is a reference to the episode "What's Your Problem?" where he tells Amethyst that she is the most mature Crystal Gem.

Video[]

Transcript

View the episode's transcript here.

Gallery

New Gallery

Click to view the gallery for Prickly Pair.

References

ve Episode List
Pilot Pilot
Season 1 A: Gem GlowLaser Light CannonCheeseburger BackpackTogether BreakfastFryboCat FingersBubble BuddiesSerious StevenTiger MillionaireSteven's LionArcade ManiaGiant WomanSo Many BirthdaysLars and the Cool KidsOnion TradeSteven the Sword FighterLion 2: The MovieBeach PartyRose's RoomCoach StevenJoking VictimSteven and the StevensMonster BuddiesAn Indirect KissMirror Gem/Ocean Gem

B: House GuestSpace RaceSecret TeamIsland AdventureKeep Beach City WeirdFusion CuisineGarnet's UniverseWatermelon StevenLion 3: Straight to VideoWarp TourAlone TogetherThe TestFuture VisionOn the RunHorror ClubWinter ForecastMaximum CapacityMarble MadnessRose's ScabbardOpen BookShirt ClubStory for StevenThe MessagePolitical PowerThe Return/Jail Break

Season 2 Full DisclosureJoy RideSay UncleLove LettersReformedSworn to the SwordRising Tides, Crashing SkiesKeeping It TogetherWe Need to TalkChille TidCry for HelpKeystone MotelOnion FriendHistorical FrictionFriend ShipNightmare HospitalSadie's SongCatch and ReleaseWhen It RainsBack to the BarnToo FarThe AnswerSteven's BirthdayIt Could've Been Great/Message ReceivedLog Date 7 15 2
Season 3 Super Watermelon Island/Gem DrillSame Old WorldBarn MatesHit the DiamondSteven FloatsDrop Beat DadMr. GregToo Short to RideThe New LarsBeach City DriftRestaurant WarsKiki's Pizza Delivery ServiceMonster ReunionAlone at SeaGreg the BabysitterGem HuntCrack the WhipSteven vs. AmethystBismuthBetaEarthlingsBack to the MoonBubbled
Season 4 Kindergarten KidKnow Your FusionBuddy's BookMindful EducationFuture Boy ZoltronLast One Out of Beach CityOnion GangGem HarvestThree Gems and a BabySteven's DreamAdventures in Light DistortionGem HeistThe ZooThat Will Be AllThe New Crystal GemsStorm in the RoomRocknaldoTiger PhilanthropistRoom for RubyLion 4: Alternate EndingDoug OutThe Good LarsAre You My Dad?I Am My Mom
Season 5 Stuck TogetherThe TrialOff ColorsLars' HeadDewey WinsGemcationRaising the BarnBack to the KindergartenSadie KillerKevin PartyLars of the StarsJungle MoonYour Mother and MineThe Big ShowPool HoppingLetters to LarsCan't Go BackA Single Pale RoseNow We're Only Falling ApartWhat's Your Problem?The QuestionMade of HonorReunitedLegs From Here to HomeworldFamiliarTogether AloneEscapismChange Your Mind
Film Steven Universe: The Movie
Steven Universe Future Little HomeschoolGuidanceRose BudsVolleyballBluebirdA Very Special EpisodeSnow DayWhy So Blue?Little GraduationPrickly PairIn DreamsBismuth CasualTogether ForeverGrowing PainsMr. UniverseFragmentsHomeworld BoundEverything's FineI Am My MonsterThe Future
Shorts Lion Loves to Fit in a BoxThe Classroom Gems: What Are Gems?We Are the Crystal GemsThe Classroom Gems: How Are Gems Made?UnboxingThe Classroom Gems: FusionCooking with LionGem KaraokeSteven ReactsVideo ChatSteven's Song Time
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