So in "Mr. Universe"..
Greg came up with some good advice in the beginning. Staying in Beach City was only going to keep reminding Steven of how everyone has found a purpose except for him. Seeing the world outside of his home was definitely a step in the right direction. And on that trip Greg tries to explain to Steven how his journey to self-discovery happened, and what it took to get there. But what surprised me was how at every step of the way, as Greg let's him in on his homelife, Steven can't seem to put together what went wrong. The audience is given MAJOR hints about how troubling Greg's home was like, and how hurt he must have been. But Steven seems to unintentionally glance over them.
Family photos are usually happy, but here Greg looks uncomfortable, it's a half-hearted smile. Steven doesn't see that, he sees two parents.
Greg had to seek music elsewhere, mostly from his friends in secret. His parents banned music altogether. Steven doesn't see that, he sees that his father had actual friends.
Greg was pushed in to subjects that he wasn't passionate about at all, and was given NO outlet for his interests. Steven doesn't see that, he sees that his father had an education.
Greg's parents forced him to shave his hair, the one thing besides music that allowed him to express himself.. he couldn't even force a smile in his graduation picture, he looks absolutely miserable. Steven doesn't comment on any of it.
They never opened his letters. They never reconnected with their only son. They didn't care to know who their son had become, because it was outside of everything they allowed him to be. Allegedly .. they've disowned Greg. Steven doesn't make this connection at all, and doesn't really think twice about why his grandparents never contacted his father back. They most likely don't even know Steven exists..
Half of Greg's old room is in boxes, most likely with the intent of being put into storage. His parents didn't see the point of leaving their son's personal items as they were because they never intended for Greg to come back, and probably weren't going to welcome him back either.
Steven can only see that his father had a real home.
In the car, Greg shows Steven the song that he got his name from, and this probably the first time we see that Steven (who is usually enthusiastic about music) doesn't nod to a song and listen to the lyrics. He just stares silently at his dad with not much to say, who appears to be getting pretty emotional. This song worked for Greg, but it can't for Steven.
In the midst of Greg trying to explain how little his parents cared for him, how he couldn't salvage his support system and had no choice but to break away from it altogether - all Steven can think of is that "you're just like mom". The connection to Rose triggers his anger like it has before, and in that moment he can't sympathize with his father because he is clouded by his frustration and resentment.
The same way that Steven ignored all of his fathers troubles, Greg doesn't read too heavily into Steven's either. It's not at all that his father doesn't care - but it's that he doesn't know the full weight of it all. Greg should have been shocked by the fact that Steven is starting to see certain aspects of his childhood in a bad light, and should have known that making such a broad comparison would be carelessly minimizing Steven's distress. His reaction to the crashed van confirms just how lost he is about what Steven needs right now. And at this point Steven feels that he'll only fail in explaining himself, even though Greg says that he's always open to talk. It's frustrating to see him do this, but it's become obvious that he's going to have to find his own answer. His fear of not being understood has sadly pushed him away from his support system.
What we need to remember is that neither of them were maliciously trying to hurt the other with the words they said, they just failed to express them in a way that the other could fully understand. Steven wasn't calling Greg a horrible father, but a father that may not have been aware of his missteps in parenting. Greg wasn't trying "compete" with his son on which had a better or worse upbringing, or shove his found freedom in his son's face. Neither of them could recognize why the other was upset because one has what the other never got as a child. Both were trying to express their pain, something they never really learned how to do effectively, so their messages were muddled in the process. Steven still loves his dad very much, but sometimes you can't get everything you need from a parent, sometimes you have to find it elsewhere.
And that's okay. That's exactly the point that the show is trying to get across.
I finally caught up on SU and this analysis is so on point! But also ... it fits in with the rest of SU Future in that Greg is like the others - trying to help Steven the same way he has successfully helped Steven before. But Steven has changed and his situation has changed. He needs something different, and even he doesn’t really know what.
The big change came when Steven saw Connie has had this whole normal human life this whole time that he didn’t even really notice. He used to think he was part of Beach City, but Lars and Sadie have grown up. The Cool Kids have grown up. They’ve been going to school and working toward a future adult life, and Steven just ... hasn’t. Suddenly Steven sees what his life has been missing, for so many years.
So naturally Steven resents his dad for not even trying to give him a human half to his upbringing. But he knows there’s no way to catch up - there’s no way for Greg to make up for all those lost years. Steven gets that Greg gave him the childhood he wishes he had had, but that childhood is what’s separating Steven from Lars and Sadie ... from the Cool Kids ... and from Connie.
Steven understands his dad but he knows that there’s no point in getting upset at him. Steven understands that he needs something, but there’s no way for his dad to provide it. Getting mad at him wouldn’t change that. So that’s why Steven just keeps it to himself and simply goes out on his own to try and find answers.
