My frustration remains the same that a lot of people took away from SUF that Steven was right about Greg; when the next episode has immediate bangers such as:
P: "It's an outburst" S: "It's NOT" (it is) G: "Steven is trying to avoid having a difficult conversation" S: "No I'm NOT" (he is) S: "I want to be alone" Jasper leaves S: "wait don't leave me"
Steven is in a state in which nothing can satisfy him. This is why Greg's "my parents were bad" gets responded to with "no they weren't".
Greg isn't a perfect parent. No parent is, and Greg is portrayed in a particularly forgiving light: he literally couldn't have known how Steven would turn out and what he would need. In that very episode, he does some things wrong (fail to focus on how Steven is feeling when he comments on what's inside the house) but he also does many things right (everything supportive he does throughout the episode).
When Greg appreciates that Steven can tell him off, he's right about something: it's normal to not be happy with everything your parents do. It's normal to fight with them. Greg wants Steven to be free enough to experience that, like other teenagers.
Of course, what Steven is experiencing is worse and more complicated than that. And Greg doesn't know how to define it and what to do about it... ...in which he's not alone! Pearl, Garnet and Amethyst all drop the ball despite their evident good intentions: they don't know what to do about it at all. They have no solution to offer. Steven didn't find Greg's offer satisfactory, so he turns to someone else who'll suggest a solution. And he didn't choose innocently. He didn't go to Peridot.
To be clear, I still relate a lot to Steven in SUF. I had a terrifyingly similar experience when I left a situation of abuse around the same age. Steven gets things wrong and is difficult to satisfy, but it's not his fault. It's also not uniquely wrong for the people around him to not know what to do about it; it's realistic and common.
If what you mean is that SUF made you realise Greg was "a human dad" and not "a perfect dad" then... good, sure. (Did you miss the episode where he faked having a broken leg?) But it's extremely important to me that people realise that Steven doesn't know what he's talking about, and that's the point. He's at a loss. He's looking for explanations and for a solution. He points out things that are inaccurate (as far as the story we're told goes; for example, he complains about growing up in a van and not having a house. This is an exaggeration of the truth. Steven actually suffered from isolation in a big comfy house! The original show made that very clear. But that's not what Steven points out, because he doesn't have all the answers: he learned about trauma like, a couple days ago. He's exploring his options.)
Ideally, the gems or Greg would have known about CPTSD and been able to guide him appropriately. But it makes sense that the gems who famously don't understand this didn't know, and that Greg whose knowledge and experience are rather limited (multiple times on purpose; made to stay away by his parents then by the gems) didn't know either. Ideally, my family would have known about CPTSD and been able to guide me appropriately. But it's plainly obvious that they didn't know and why they wouldn't know. It sucks. This is the this-sucks disorder.
Steven's outbursts are dangerous and inappropriate. He could have killed his dad in a car crash! Greg didn't do anything bad enough to deserve that. He can't control when he flips out and he can't control his strength. He's not being entirely appropriate or fair. This extends to his confrontation with Greg! Confronting him is normal, but Steven's inability to find satisfaction within it no matter what... is a problem. These observations are plain and simple, and co-exist with it not being Steven's fault, and Steven still being a good person with good intentions who will get better.
I wish I had any family member who was nearly as supportive, emotionally available, willing to help, nurturing, willing to learn... as Greg. So I feel quite strongly about not demonizing him, 'cause man, if that's a demon, everyone else is worse than Hell.
