Ep 43. Maximum Capacity

In Steven Universe season 1 episode 43, titled "Maximum Capacity," the characters are confronted with baggage from their past.

Steven and Amethyst find themselves engrossed in an old TV show they loved as children, only to find the tapes trigger an intense emotional response from Amethyst, who has been repressing feelings about her relationship with Greg.

Meanwhile, Greg's closet - which he's kept locked since the loss of his former partner, Rose Quartz - becomes unlocked, revealing a room full of VHS tapes of the old TV show, the same one Amethyst and Steven have been mindlessly binging.

As the two spend more and more time watching the tapes, they begin to notice their friendship unravel in real-time, as Amethyst becomes irritable and increasingly confrontational. As Greg tries to navigate his feelings of guilt and loss, he realizes he must confront his past demons in order to move forward.

The episode deals with themes of emotional repression, nostalgia, and guilt, as the characters are forced to face the realities of their past experiences. While the show has a lighthearted and comic tone, there are moments of genuine emotional depth that make this episode stand out.

"Maximum Capacity" is a poignant and relatable exploration of the ways in which our past experiences can shape our present relationships. As the characters struggle to come to terms with their past, they come to realize that true growth and healing require us to confront our darkest fears and embrace the painful emotions we've spent so long avoiding.