Even though I agree with most people here about SU "townie" episodes being shit, I also kind of understand what intended purpose in writing them was. Having an extended cast of civilians who all have their own things going on makes Beach City feel more like a lived-in place instead of just being the "home base" for the Gems' adventures and seeing and knowing the humans of this world makes the Gems' mission to protect the Earth feel less abstract and gives it stakes. The townie episodes also add to Steven's characterization as a genuinely kindhearted person who's willing to go out of his way to help people and distinguishes him from the other Gems who fight for humanity but are mostly indifferent to humans themselves.

The real reason the townie episodes don't work isn't because they distract from the main story but because most of the townies are boring, unlikeable, or both so you don't really care about their problems. If the crew put a little more effort into writing these characters the episodes focusing on them wouldn't feel as much like filler. Lars and Sadie are the only townies who feel fully fleshed out and have actual character arcs. But the others are extremely one-dimensional which is why people hate these episodes so much