The mystery of Steg
“Wh–okay, WHAT. How did THAT…”
“Plus THAT…”
“Fuse into … THAT???”
“Steven’s a cute roly-poly teen and Greg’s a dumpy, bald, chubby dude! Why is STEG a ripped rockstar with Jojo hair and Elvis pelvic thrusts?? THIS IS A MAN AND HIS SON WHY AM I SO UNCOMFORTABLE??”
Sure, this is a surprising choice! Especially considering the concept art had him looking a little more like we’d expect, plus some, erm, STEGosaurus hair.
So I’ve seen plenty of discussion suggesting Steg’s fit physique comes from Steven’s perception that his amazing rockstar Guitar Dad has abs and beefy muscles…
And it’s been observed that the hair is likely Steven’s idea of what a handsome rockstar looks like, considering he did his hair like that when he wanted to be “The Handsome One” as the front man of Steven and the Stevens:
But really…why does a Fusion between two modest musicians manifest as an over-the-top rockstar prettyboy? Why would they envision a father/son team as…sort of a sex symbol?
There are a few possible reasons and they have layers. Just like any Fusion does.
We all know that Steven has long idolized his dad, especially admiring his music skills and believing him the most reliable source of knowledge on…well, everything in his life that isn’t Gem magic. He doesn’t just think he’s great. He literally sees him as incredibly talented and strong and capable of commanding a stage. Steven’s part in this isn’t too hard to chase down.
But what about Greg’s part?
Steven’s Gem life has long been something Greg doesn’t get to participate in. He avoids it sometimes, out of perception that he’ll get hurt, become a burden, or simply be unhelpful. He sees the Gems’ magic, including his son’s, as something ethereal, something he can be around but never really have and hold, something incredible he can only admire from afar.
What if suddenly, against all odds, you were Greg and all at once YOU GOT TO BE PART OF THE MAGIC?
Steven isn’t the only one who sees his closest male relative as a superhuman superstar. There are aspects of Steven that Greg looks at with stars in his eyes. Finally being part of it all has got to be SO POWERFUL. Steg’s look and demeanor would reflect that.
No Fusion we’ve met looks like the fan Fusions. There’s always something extra that’s magnified, transformed, imported, or straight up brand new. Garnet’s shades. Smoky Quartz’s freckles. Sardonyx’s tux. Sunstone’s adorable jean shorts with Ruby and Sapphire–inspired pockets. Every Fusion combines the traits of the Gems they’re composed of, but they’re also created by what they inspire in each other. This is not just fanon, folks. We’ve seen that it’s true in the show, but it’s said explicitly in the old book Guide to the Crystal Gems–which is written by Rebecca Sugar and put in Garnet’s mouth, so you can trust that it remains a true statement about fusion:
“A Fusion is more than just a mash-up of the fusers; a Fusion is also a manifestation of the fusers’ influence on each other.”
Greg admires his superhero son and Steven admires his rockstar dad. A superhero rockstar would look and act a certain way, surely, and what they see inside each other would suddenly be on the outside–for real.
But.
It’s temporary. They both know this is a FANTASY.
Steven and Greg will never be a permafusion like Garnet. They don’t want to live as Steg because they do not live most of their lives on a stage. Steg lives to be a performer. He basically IS a performance.
A lot like Sardonyx, Steg appears to wow everybody, give the audience a big finish, and then dissolve, living only for the short term. That’s why it’s so energetic and captivating: because it has to survive only for a short time. They have their moments and relish their relationship and are an amazing sensation together, but Steven and Greg have pretty different lives. They’re independent together.
Steg is a ridiculous exaggeration because that’s part of the show he puts on. There is never any follow through intended on those pelvic thrusts. There is never any actual attempt to seduce audience members or sweet talk anyone into questionable deeds with that voice or create sustained relationships outside the mission. Steg does his job and he does it well. But that is ALL he does.
He’s a celebration and a fantasy and a manifestation of what neither of them could actually ever be alone. It isn’t that weird that he’s attractive (or at least, he’s an attractive trope even if you don’t agree); he’s an idea and a mirage. And he’s a huge thrill and a great performance when he’s together. They both have it in them. It’s just not who they are, unless they combine.
So yes, it’s a bit of a shock that their Fusion is like that, but at the same time, both fusion and rocking out are concepts that absolutely DAZZLE Steg’s components, and Greg and Steven have always thought this was a world they’d never be part of. When they finally got a chance to do each other’s thing and do it together…
Why wouldn’t they turn it up to eleven?
Just my opinion, but hopefully it’s useful for some of y’all
