#Basically a fusion of the movie and Peridot ones

[thatonesmartkidfromschool]

"I'm gonna be right by your side, no matter what."

[total-drama-shark]

Slightly little bit more spoilers from TD2023 and more spoilers from the other following thing contained in it

Hey Hey guess who rewatched SU and got dreams from that but TD SU (I slightly got emotional damage from revisiting the lore but feel lazy to rewatch Future jeez)

Well TD SU AU coming right up Alright boys now that I think of it, basically from what I think for this one but except the fact the plot gets darker with it’s progress throughout it and along with some subplots with it (atleast I think less amount of subplots) (I really would wonder who would be Lapis, Peridot, Bismuth, Jasper and the others since I’m getting confused into some complicated plot points tho but you can decide!) No seriously like literally I had this one dream and it was TD2023 but it’s the movie but except it’s entirely different from the movie (I am sure having wild imagination fever dreams these days more like hyperfixation) Well here is what I think (TD2023 cast but according from what I’m thinking also, basically og cast gens 1 to 3 and I guess RR gen too) 🩰 | Julia (???) - Pearl (I have no idea how the hell this would work out but this is a AU after all, I mean I significantly feel like Priya and Pearl have similar vibes but nothing much I guess) 🍬 | Nichelle - Garnet (I feel like this is really accurate but from what I think generally it doesn’t really match in perspective but when it comes to stuff, this is fine but this is really would be cool from what I’m thinking tho) 🎭 | MK - Amethyst (like as said from Shark / you, but from what I think this is a cool match like very accurate to say) ⭐️ | Daimen - Steven (Okay okay I don’t think a short person like him being started as their mother reincarnates into them having literal trauma throughout slightly late / the near end of the series then get slightly tall, as I said again this a AU we could do anything we want as long it goes well with the element with it or anything idk I mean I guess this is fine too but gonna say I have no damn idea who the hell is Rose Quartz like ???) 📚 | Priya - Connie (I think this is good in my perspective like she also has those vibes I think of she might not be but I think it’s good as I think it should be but I think it would go well in my opinion) extra: 🥀/🌷Scary Girl / Lauren - Spinel (calling it, true, for real, going crazy, this is super accurate in my perspective literally it is LIKE same vibes would go with it really well) AND that is what I could think of so far andddd also here take this AU gift while I go on a acid trip from thinking this as a dream Also feel free to think about characters in your own perspective and your own opinions! :D

I may or may not have gone through a season 5 + Movie binge to answer this ask 😅 I’m gonna look at this as a general SU au instead of just a SU movie au I hope that’s alright!

—

🩰 | I also don’t really know how Julia as Pearl would work, I suppose they have similar physique and color palette, but their personalities are very different, I think if we were to try and compare Pearl and Amethysts dynamic with Julia and MK’s dynamic we could start getting somewhere... but in my binge this came to my head, hear me out: Julia as Peridot. They give me similar vibes, specially post ep 5 Julia to Peridot, like just imagine Julia calling people buttknuckles like Peridot calls people clods!

🍬 | Garnet is a difficult one, because not only is she her own character but she’s also the combination of two separate characters. Nichelle as Garnet is a cool idea I agree, like if Nichelle was a girlboss instead of a girlloser lmao. But there’s also a different way we could go about this; Make one character Ruby, one character Sapphire, and make a literal fusion of both be Garnet, I think that’d be really cool and If so I propose either Raj (Ruby) and Bowie (Sapphire) or Axel (Ruby) and Nichelle (Sapphire)

🎭 | Glad to know you agree with MK as Amethyst! 👍

⭐️ | Damien as Steven is a very interesting choice! It very much made me realize Damien does have that main character energy to him and I think I can definitely see it, specially with Priya as Connie! (I also don’t know who Rose Quartz would be but like we can figure this out eventually I believe in us)

📚 | Both Priya as Connie or Pearl are such 1000 IQ ideas because they both fit so much, She fits Connie as a socially outcast girl that values her one friendship so much and has a natural knack for battles, and she fits pearl as a strictly trained, battle trained person who does everything she does not for herself, but for someone else.

🥀/🌷 | REAL x2 Scary Girl as Spinel so true!!!

——

Some extra thoughts/ideas!!!

So I remembered about the “do it for her” song I and imagined the possibility of Millie as Connie and Priya as Pearl, seeing as Priya trained Millie in the show like Pearl trained Connie. But something I think would be interesting though too is Millie as Pearl, idk why but like it makes sense in my head.

Idk why but I Can very clearly imagine Julia as Peridot, Nichelle as Lapis, and Axel as Bismuth, opinions?

I also think there’s high potential for Emma to be part of this AU somewhere, I just can’t immediately tell what character she’d be. Emma as Sadie could be neat! Which I guess would make Chase Lars? But like I want her to have a bigger role in this au though because she deserves it.

[squadron-of-damned]

I'm not sure if someone has asked this before but since you're sorta back into your SU phase...

When/what got you into Steven Universe?

Who is your favourite gem and/or fusion? Either CG/Homeworld.

Do you have a favourite episode/theme?

Do you have a gemsona by any chance?

honestly i don't think anyone has ever asked me much about SU

I got into SU from Tumblr. Jail Break just aired and suddenly everyone and their mum on my dash were about fusions, and I was like "huh, looks cool." I had little hopes of getting into the series, because at the time my attention span was beelow the floor lever, but since the episodes are just about 10 minutes and fast paced... I managed the entirety of SU and nearly all of the Future, except the last... two episodes or so. I even handled the movie.

I have a very soft spot for the homeworld Pearls in general, because they were the first ones that delivered to me the varying-yet-similar gem pattern. All Pearls are beak-nosed ballerinas, but they are much more. You know. That being said, I liked Peridot... before she got to have metal powers and be savvy with stuff. Peridot was relatable. So uh... Yeah. Pearls in general, but not any specific Gem that I'd love.

Anyway, here are some Pearls (very old, including my take on White Diamond gem-faking. Mind you, this was from before White Diamond was introduced. Probably before *any* Diamond was introduced.)

I like the Serious Steven episode the most. It's actually the first episode to highlight that hey, what's going on with Steven's life is kinda (a lot) fucked up... and that's the 8th episode! It's the episode that basically spells out for you what Steven Universe: Future is going to be about. Also the design of the pyramid temple slaps.

I had a gemsona, actually. I never got to use her and never even got to develop her. I know that she was a Jade, she was a "watcher" whatever that meant, and her weapon was a mace. I have precisely one (1) drawing of her, and it's not finished.

Never had I used the term "gemsona" for her, but it's obvious from the hairstyle and the eye-focus that this was supposed to be "Tolpen, but make her a Gem".

[daylighteclipsed]

“This is another reason most of future lost rights” May we hear your thoughts?

Now that I have officially finished watching the original Steven Universe series, I have many Thoughts about the continuation. Prepare for some detailed salty takes.

-- My biggest gripe is that Garnet, Pearl, and Amethyst lose pretty much all of the emotional intelligence they gain in the original series to maximize Steven’s suffering.

So like the gifset that prompted this ask for example, where Garnet realizes she’s hurt Steven with her future vision and apologizes? Makes her reaction in Future to realizing she hurt Steven again OOC. The OG series also teaches us and Steven that Garnet can’t see definites, because there’s so many possibilities, and the future’s always changing, and the future can always be changed. So her line about how there was no universe where Steven didn’t propose to Connie as her reason for why she didn’t try to stop him, is bullshit.

The Volleyball episode gives away that Steven is clearly not OK, and Pearl does nothing about it. Neurotic, mother hen, let’s make a plan Pearl does not ask Steven if he’s alright and makes 0 plans to train him to control his new alarming powers. Pearl, who now has a better sense of how trauma works because she has it herself, who we have seen in the OG series suspect Steven is dealing with some post traumatic stress after being taken to Homeworld and reach out to him about it, does not in Future reach out to him after he expresses blatant distress over having to deal with more of his mom’s problems. I’m supposed to believe this? Seriously?

And Amethyst? I think she’s the most obvious offender since a big part of her arc in the end of the OG series is emotional maturity.There’s a whole episode dedicated to her putting Steven’s feelings first. Acknowledging the pressure he’s been under and the shit that’s been dumped on him for years and the horror of finding out Rose was a Diamond which makes him a Diamond and recognizing that he’s not OK. He can’t be. Learning that Steven deals by distracting himself with other tasks and people. But sure when Amethyst notices Steven throwing himself into his work in Future, her response is just “When did you become such a prick?” Yeah. Totally sounds right.

There is a whole arc about these two emotionally connecting through their insecurities and the strength they find in having each other to relate to and rely on and confide in. It is one of my favorites in the entire story. And it is totally thrown out a window in Future. If no one else you’d think at least Amethyst would reach out to Steven in Future before he spirals, but no.

Literally it’s like the entire Gem trio’s emotionally sent back to square 1 and their perception’s lowered to 0, which is lower than it was to begin with, because it was the only way Future could work. Seriously, after Prickly Pair nobody tries to talk to Steven? Nobody insists they need to talk about what the fuck just happened? Nobody goes after Steven when he runs away, twice?! Once after crashing the van with his dad inside, in which he disappears for 3 whole days. Another time after talking about how they can’t help him anymore, which is really alarming! Then they all just let Steven go when he returns from Homeworld glowing with Diamond pupils?! are you kidding me, are you fUcking KidDing me am I supposed to believe they’re even his friends in Future what the fuck I hate this 

-- And framing everything like the Gems have never been there for Steven? Hate that too. There’s countless episodes in the OG series proving that’s not true. Steven himself says it’s not. At one point that’s what keeps him from literally falling from the sky.

“I just need something that makes me happy, something I can always depend on to cheer me up. My guys. They spent all night out here just to keep me company. No matter how much I mess up they’ll be there to help me.”

It’s the biggest reason why the Gems are foils to the Diamonds!

“Remember back when I was little and maybe kind of annoying, and I couldn’t come along on adventures? You guys would still drop everything to hang out with me.”

Garnet, Pearl, and Amethyst begin kind of oblivious and inattentive, but they don’t stay that way. They are always learning, and apologizing, and changing when they realize their behavior is harmful. To themselves, to the team as a whole, to strangers, to Steven. They do very early in the series start setting work aside to spend time with him. Together breakfast (which ends up meaning so much to Garnet that it becomes her wedding cake), mini golf, cards, board games, movies, the arcade, the amusement park. They’re Steven’s band in beach-a-palooza. They become, not only better caretakers, but his friends.

A team. For the main Crystal Gem quartet so much of the show is about them learning to become a team by learning to understand each other and helping each other grow, leading to a stunning display of teamwork in the finale with Garnet, Pearl, Amethyst, and Steven all fusing together into one kickass warrior, Obsidian. It’s so perfect that this didn’t, couldn’t, happen until the end, after all that development. It’s so satisfying.

-- Like I mentioned before, there’s no reason why the Gems, including the others like Peridot, Lapis, and Bismuth, wouldn’t try to help Steven learn to control his new powers in Future.

-- A lot of the, uh, conflicts Steven faces in Future also feel ignorant to the OG series.

Steven in future: i just feel like i can’t make mistakes in front of you guys and cant be honest cause its mean and i have to be nice and perfect :(

Steven in og series: oh geez I really messed up sorry guys; [feels like the worst Crystal Gem cause he’s always fucking up]; (Garnet: You’re making Pearl very upset) “IM very upset!“; “What Rose wanted--ARGH! What about what I want?! I’m sick of you always lying to me!”; “Home’s been awful! Here’s been awful! Everyone’s been acting awful too!”

Steven in future: idk how to be a friend to someone who’s not a miserable sad sack with no direction in life

Connie: hey what the fuck

What was the point of all the townie episodes if we’re going to act like Steven never connected with the human part of his life why would the og show bounce between gem eps and human eps if not to show how Steven connects with both worlds ad’g;ajfgjfagjLAFKJS

Steven in future: why didn’t my meddling advice work? this has never happened before. am i losing my touch. who am i

Og Steven, multiple times: aaAAAAAH I SHOULD NOT HAVE MEDDLED AND PUSHED I MADE THINGS WORSE

- Why wasn’t Mindful Education revisited? Steven’s a fusion technically, right, so if he’s feeling, you know, deeply conflicted about his 2 halves, doesn’t that mean he’s out of harmony? There’s a way for 2 halves of a fusion to communicate through meditation and address what’s causing the imbalance, but I guess that would’ve solved Steven’s problem too easily. That’s the only reason Connie’s kept out of Future for so long too, right? Ugh. Never mind the fact that Mindful Ed taught Steven that it’s really important to face upsetting thoughts and feelings and traumas before they tear him apart. But whatever! what ever

- God this isn’t even half of the issues I now have with Future, but I don’t want this post to be 8 miles longer than it already is. Basically I feel like Future does a disservice to the characters and story being told in the original series, which I am very fond of now. It reminds me of an OOC fanfiction. It leaves a bad taste in my mouth.

I really do not want to argue about this. It’s just my opinion. I’m kind of venting. If you agree, great. If you don’t, please keep scrolling. Thanks.

[spacenoise]

Essential Steven Universe Episodes

Hello everyone! 

Looking to watch Steven Universe, but not drag yourself through all the episodes? Never fear! I’ve made a list of what I believe to be the most essential episodes of Steven Universe with unnecessary ones labelled as such (and my reasons why). Now here’s some things to keep in mind before looking at the list:

When I say “essential” I mean ones that introduce important elements to the story. New important characters, new powers, episodes that develop the character and plot-relevant episodes fit this category. 

Episodes that develop certain characters will be labeled as “unnecessary” if they don’t contribute enough to the plot or their growth.

There may be some personal bias since I found one or two filler episodes to be enjoyable despite their uselessness to the overall plot but I’ll label them as well so you know.

 Avoid reading ahead. The labels for unnecessary ones may contain SPOILERS so if you care about that kind of stuff: you’ve been warned.

On to the list!

Season 1

1. Gem Glow

2. Laser Light Cannon

3. Cheeseburger Backpack: Steven’s first mission

a. Together Breakfast: shows off gem rooms and a monster but that’s really it.

b. Frybo: introduces PeeDee but he doesn’t ever really do anything so...?

4. Cat Fingers

5. Bubble Buddies

6. Serious Steven

a. Tiger Millionaire: while there is some character development, there isn’t really enough to make it worth watching since most of the episode is focused on wrestling.

7. Steven’s Lion

8. Arcade Mania

9. Giant Woman

10. So Many Birthdays: a peek at how dark this show can get

11. Lars and the Cool Kids

a. Onion Trade: mainly about Onion; if you like his character, feel free to watch but if not I’d avoid it since it ultimately doesn’t mean much.

12. Steven the Sword Fighter

13. Lion 2: The Movie

a. Beach Party: Gems piss off the family that runs the town’s pizza shop and try to make it up to them by inviting them to hang out. Shenanigan ensue, but has no lasting impact on the story.

14. Rose’s Room

15. Coach Steven

a. Joking Victim: develops Sadie and Lars’ relationship; skip if you don’t really care about either

16. Steven and the Stevens

17. Monster Buddies

18. An Indirect Kiss

19. Mirror Gem & Ocean Gem 

a. House Guest: shows why Steven has trouble with his powers, but nothing too important happens other than that; watch if you wanna see more Pearl & Greg interactions

20. Space Race: shows Pearl’s fondness of space; develops her character and background but not necessary; skip if you want

a. Secret Team: if you don’t like episodes about characters making temporary truces I’d avoid this one; not enough character development to make it worthwhile.

b. Island Adventure: another Sadie and Lars episode; Lars opens about his feelings but not much else happens.

21. Keep Beach City Weird: relevant for SU: Future reasons, but if you don’t like Ronaldo skip

22. Fusion Cuisine

a. Garnet’s Universe: contributes nothing, but is a kinda cute episode.

b. Watermelon Steven: introduces a character(s) that is only used a total of three (maybe four?) times; also introduces a power that is rarely ever used when it matters.

23. Lion 3: Straight to Video

24. Alone Together

25. Warp Tour

a. The Test: some good character discussions, but not important overall.

26. Future Vision

27. On the Run

a. Horror Club: if you don’t care for Ronaldo, Sadie or Lars: skip. Even if you care about Lars, skip this one since you kinda get the gist of his character at this point.

b. Winter Forecast: a few nice moments, but ultimately a big “what-if” episode

28. Maximum Capacity

29. Marble Madness

30. Rose’s Scabbard

a. Open Book: a Steven and Connie episode; fun if you like them, but skippable

b. Shirt Club: focuses on one of the Cool Kids but ultimately means nothing

c. Say Uncle: Uncle Grandpa Crossover; some funny moments from the Gems but if you don’t like UG avoid this one.

31. Story for Steven

32. The Message

a. Political Power: addresses certain concerns the Gems have, but nothing important crosses over into the next episode; most about Mayor Dewey anyway

33. The Return

34. Jailbreak

-------------------

Season 2

1. Full Disclosure

a. Joy Ride: Steven messes around with the Cool Kids; there’s a bit here briefly referenced in SU: Future I think, but other than nothing really happens; skip it if you want

b. Love Letters: properly introduces Jamie and shows his character, but he never does anything for the plot. All you need to know if him and Steven are friends.

c. Reformed: introduces Amethyst's new form and shows more of her insecurities but that’s all this episode is really good for.

2. Sworn to the Sword

a. Rising Tides, Crashing Skies: a Ronaldo episode; need I say more?

3. Keeping It Together

4. We Need To Talk

5. Chille Tid

6. Cry for Help

7. Keystone Motel

a. Onion Friend: another Onion episode; addresses how Amethyst feels regarding the current situation, but other than that nothing worthwhile.

b. Historical Friction: Jamie puts on a play and some gem stuff is involved; no action, but tells us about the Gems’ history

8. Friend Ship

a. Nightmare Hospital: mostly about Connie and her mom; some cool scary bits, but skippable.

b. Sadie’s Song: entirely about Sadie and how her mom makes her feel; skip if you don’t care much for Sadie.

9. Catch and Release

10. When It Rains

11. Back to the Barn

a. Too Far: develops Peridot and Amethyst’s relationship, and develops Peridot’s character, but not enough to make this episode necessary

12. The Answer

a. Steven’s Birthday: fun episode, but ultimately contributes nothing

13. It Could’ve Been Great

14. Message Received

a. Log Date 7 15 2: shows how Peridot got to where she is (as a character) and fills in some holes between Catch and Release and Message Received; fun and worth watching but skippable regardless

-------------------

Season 3

1. Super Watermelon Island

2. Gem Drill

3. Same Old World

4. Barn Mates

5. Hit the Diamond

a. Steven Floats: introduces new power but not much else

b. Drop Beat Dad: Explains where Greg gets his money, and I guess if you’re a Sour Cream fan watch this one? Skip if you’re not. 

6. Mr. Greg

7. Too Short To Ride

a. The New Lars: focuses on Lars mostly, but Sadie also shows up at one point; skip if you don’t care about them.

b. Beach City Drift: watch if you like Stevonnie; skip if you don’t really care.

c. Restaurant Wars: pointless fight between the pizza shop family and the fry stand family. I guess if you like food watch this one, but you can skip this one.

d. Kiki’s Pizza Delivery Service: focuses on certain member’s of the pizza family. Skippable, but watch if you like pizza I guess.

8. Monster Reunion

9. Alone at Sea

a. Greg the Babysitter: a “stories of the past” episode where Rose shows up; nothing important really happens though

b. Gem Hunt: a certain character makes a return, but not until the end of the episode; skippable

10. Crack the Whip

a. Steven vs. Amethyst: develops their relationship but skippable overall

11. Bismuth

12. Beta 

13. Earthlings

14. Back to the Moon

15. Bubbled

-------------------

Season 4

a. Kindergarten Kid: Looney Tunes-esque episode; fun but skippable

b. Know Your Fusion: certain fusions return but still skippable

c. Buddy’s Book: shows off more of the Gems’ history and has Rose in it; still skippable despite all this since none of it is super important.

2. Mindful Education

a. Future Boy Zoltron: skippable since it focuses on Mr. Smiley and a former colleague; watch if you want to see some fun interactions.

b. Last One Out of Beach City: fun episode and shows some of Pearl’s development, but still skippable.

c. Onion Gang: it’s an Onion episode so: skippable.

d. Gem Harvest: Thanksgiving episode; reveals Steven’s real last name but nothing else important.

3. Three Gems and a Baby

4. Steven’s Dream

5. Adventures in Light Distortion

6. Gem Heist

7. The Zoo

8. That Will Be All

a. The New Crystal Gems: shows us what Connie, Lapis and Peridot did while Steven was in space. Nothing really happens so just skip this one.

9. Storm in the Room

a. Rocknaldo: features Ronaldo once again and is arguably one of the worst episodes. Thankfully, it’s skippable.

b. Tiger Philanthropist: callback to an older episode; doesn’t contribute anything to the current plot

10. Room for Ruby

a. Lion 4: Alternate Ending: goes no where and contributes nothing; reveals possible name for Steven if he was a girl though so...cool I guess? Skip it.

11. Doug Out

a. The Good Lars: develops Lars’ character a little, but not much else

12. Are You My Dad

13. I Am My Mom

-------------------

Season 5

a. Stuck Together: Steven and Lars’ relationship develops further along with Lars’ character; some dramatic moments make it an overall a good episode, but you can skip it if you want.

1. The Trial

2. Off Colors

3. Lars’ Head

a. Dewey Wins: Steven realizes why Connie’s upset with him; saved you from watching Mayor Dewey for almost eleven minutes.

b. Gemcation: another good episode, but skippable regardless.

4. Raising the Barn

a. Back to the Kindergarten: shows how Peridot feels after a certain event, but nothing else really happens.

b. Sadie Killer: Sadie starts a band and that’s it. Skip if you don’t care much for Sadie.

c. Kevin Party: watch for character drama and one resolution, but skip if you can’t stand Kevin.

5. Lars of the Stars

6. Jungle Moon

7. Your Mother and Mine

a. The Big Show: a Sadie’s band episode; skippable

b. Pool Hopping: shows off Garnet’s fears and insecurities but is still skippable

c. Letters to Lars: basically amounts to Dewey finding his place in town after losing his job; nothing else so just skip this one.

8. Can’t Go Back

9. A Single Pale Rose

10. Now We’re Only Falling Apart

a. What’s Your Problem: develops Steven and Amethyst’s relationship further; skip if you want, but it’s a good episode to watch.

11. The Question

12. Made of Honor

13. Reunited

14. Legs From Here To Homeworld

15. Together Alone

a. Escapism: shows how Steven contacts the B-team but overall just feels kind of out of place? Skip if you want.

16. Change Your Mind (four parts; almost an hour long btw)

  -------------------

Watch Steven Universe: The Movie if you plan on watching Steven Universe: Future

 -------------------

Steven Universe: Future

1. Little Homeschool

a. Guidance: skippable since nothing in this episode is mentioned ever again. Smoky Quartz is in it though so watch if you like her.

2. Rose Buds

3. Volleyball

a. Bluebird: introduces Greg’s new look and a new fusion that’s never brought up again.

b. A Very Special Episode: fun episode but contributes nothing to the overall story.

4. Snow Day

a.  Why So Blue: shows other Lapis Lazulis and shows us how far Lapis has really come; watch if you’re a Lapis fan, but skip if you want.

b. Little Graduation: skip if you never really cared too much about any of the human characters since this is mostly about them.

c. Prickly Pair: downer of an episode; no one ever mentions anything that’s said in this episode, but check it out if you wanna see Steven more of Steven’s plant powers!

6. In Dreams

7. Bismuth Casual

8. Together Forever

9. Growing Pains

a. Mr. Universe: Greg’s history is revealed but doesn’t contribute much so skip if you don’t really care about that too much.

10. Fragments

11. Homeworld Bound

12. Everything’s Fine

13. I Am My Monster

14. The Future

And that’s it! I guess let me know if this list was helpful or not, but other than that: I hope you enjoy Steven Universe!

[monsterdoodles]

Thoughts on Steven Universe Future 3/6/2020

Spoilers Ahead

In dreams: Much different than what I predicted. Not about nightmares, but lucid dreams instead. This episode continues the exploration of Steven’s need to be needed. This is not the first time Steven has sacrificed the comfort of his own dreams and sleep for someone else. Back in Kiki’s Pizza Delivery Service he helped Kiki with her nightmares.

The episode opens with Steven’s first dream. He is going to a party at his own home and the gems, the off-colors, Lars, Onion, and Connie are all there. He is ready to join. He’s earned it from saving the galaxy. Steven believes that things like friendship and time to have fun as something he must earn. But Cookie Cat, as the head of Obsidian, tells him that he isn’t needed anymore. The house rejects him. This is apparently not the first time he’s had dreams like this. When Peridot arrives, this gives him a use. He has cable, a vcr, and a vhs tape (again Steven is using outdated technology, another indicator of him holding onto the past). I imagine that Peridot has a way to watch the show without Steven, but because she is his friend and likes watching Camp Pining Hearts with Steven, she will watch it with him.

They don’t like the new show. Steven’s previous dream is broadcasted over it (in-line with his powers exhibited in Maximum Capacity). This gives Peridot the idea for Steven to essentially make new episodes. Here he lets Peridot direct his dreams. He is willing to let his privacy be invaded just to keep her around.

I’m not sure what to make of the dreams in the context of them relating to the show. Peridot wants romantic conflict, drama and character agency. Steven doesn’t have much input on the plot other than adding his foil character “Stephan” that he describes as “hunky life-guard friend with nice muscles and everyone always wants to hang out with him”. It’s very in-line with Steven’s character that he would want to be a life-guard. Someone who saves and heals people. That’s basically what Steven is already in many ways. Perhaps Steven doesn’t realize that he is just as beloved as his oc.

Steven can’t complete an entire episode. His thoughts about the diamonds and the events of the movie get in the way. These are things he needs to talk about with someone, but he has pushed it to the back of his mind.

Peridot is apparently a story-board artist now. In her words “I’m good at everything”. She plans for “Stephan” to kiss Jasmine to make Rodrigo jealous for dramatic purposes. Steven finds the idea unsettling, since he basically is “Stephan”. He relents when it seems that Peridot might leave. When he tries to go through with it, he can’t do it. The idea of kissing someone who isn’t Connie seems to bombard him with guilt, and they aren’t even an item. (At least that’s what I gather from the next episode, they refer to each other as “friends”, and not anything else.) Connie turning into Obsidian and stomping Steven “breaks” the dream. It’s still a dream however. He approaches “Peridot” to tell her that this needs to stop. He turns “her” around, and “her” visor is the universal image indicator of “no signal”. He is feeling disconnected from Peridot. The dream-Peridot approaches the house party from the beginning of the episode. This is the happy-place that everyone but Steven seems to be in right now. While everyone is in a much better place than they were at the beginning of the series, Steven probably thinks he’s the only one struggling. If Peridot joins this place, that leaves Steven alone outside. The whole house is the “no signal” image. He is on a different wave-length than his friends and family. Steven says that he doesn’t know how to be a friend without something to fix. This has been his whole life. He joined the gems because he exhibited powers and was there to help with corrupted gems. Before he became more competent with his powers he was often left alone to his own devices. The most time that gems spent with him was during the Cluster arc at the Barn. This is also where he spent the majority of his time with Peridot. He feels that he has to pull the weight in this friendship and that Peridot has to get something out of it for her to stay.

When Steven wakes up, Peridot is apologetic. Earlier in the episode she did realize that making these dreams was bothering Steven in some way, but she continued anyway. Since Steven was finally honest her, she understands. They don’t need an excuse to hang out together.

Bismuth Casual: I was very wrong on my prediction for this one as well, I thought this would be about a day-in-the-life of Little Homeworld or something else to that affect.

Steven, Connie, Bismuth and Pearl are on their way to go roller-skating. Pearl in under the pretense that Bismuth is here to meet and interact with humans while Bismuth is here to spend time with Pearl.

Pearl, I assume over the past two years or so, has amassed many human friends. She exchanges numbers with them, but it seems that she still thinks this is just a strange ritual rather than a way of communication despite the fact that she has a phone and teaches classes about communicating with phones.

Steven feels highly ostracized. He can only seem to bring up gem stuff in conversation with Connie’s friends. He doesn’t know how to skate or even what grade he’s supposed to be in. He’s no longer that confident and comfortable with himself. Him not knowing a lot about human culture isn’t new. He’s been this way for a long time, but he only seems to notice when he’s around other humans. When Connie’s friends arrive, he feels like he’s a third (or in this case fourth) wheel. To him it seems being less human should make him a less valued friend.

Bismuth has known Pearl for thousands of years, but this Pearl who sings car repair commercials and skates with humans is quite new to her. “I don’t want to take her away from what she’s got”. This is why Bismuth is there with the pretense of meeting new humans. She wants to catch up, but doesn’t want to encroach on what Pearl enjoys. Steven is much the same. But Connie actively reaches out to Steven. That’s what this night is about to her. As Bismuth points out, Steven has always been a Crystal Gem, always been weird and that’s never gotten in the way of their friendship.

So Steven takes a literal leap (and eats it), to tell Connie that he wants to reconnect (and learn how to skate). They form Stevonnie (who wears a very large shoe size know) and tear up the dance floor. They are still in sync. They are still friends and they can be connected.

To reconnect Bismuth and Pearl, Steven and Connie request for the car commercial song to be played. To Pearl’s surprise, Bismuth knows the song now. Everybody skates together.

 What a nice pair of episodes. Both with a focus on Steven feeling inadequate and/or left behind in his relationships. It’s not a surprising revelation that Bismuth appears to have some romantic inclinations towards Pearl. Both episodes end on a high note (emotionally) for everyone.

Next Week

My predictions are going to be heavily based on leaks, so look away if you haven’t seen them.

Together Forever: Connie has a very clear vision of her future and Steven wants to make sure he's a part of it. With this new description I am more confident than ever that this is the proposal episode. If that little clip that aired at the end of Bismuth Casual is part of this episode, then I think Steven is going to ask Garnet what it’s like to be fused all the time and how to go about asking Connie. From the small clip, Garnet is comfortable infusing. (Which she appears to be in a scout master’s uniform for some reason. Some kind of Little Homeschool sanctioned camping trip with fusion components maybe??) Not sure if Garnet will be savvy enough about human relationships to give Steven any solid advice. Like from the leak, Connie would like to be her own person. Garnet’s components enjoy being Garnet for the vast majority of the time, would she be able to understand Connie’s perspective on this?

Growing Pains: Steven sees a doctor for the first time. So I was correct in my prediction that the hospital scenes from the promo were indeed real and not part of a dream. In my earlier predictions I said that Steven would go to the doctor because he was stuck in pink mode, but with this plot thread of human things, I think that Steven is going to have some mundane medical issue that he can’t fix with healing spit. Perhaps something like appendicitis, since he holds his side in pain in the promo.  

If you all have any thoughts about the new episodes or episode predictions, let me know!

[astudyinsarcasm9]

Steven Universe The Movie - Review - a confused mess - SPOILERS!

I’m still thinking about the movie and I still can’t properly say why I didn’t wholeheartedly like it. It’s complicated. 

On one hand I liked the animation, I loved Spinel and I loved seeing the uncorrupted gems roaming around Beach City but that was about it. 

I understand the tone this series has and where it has positioned itself and knowing that of course I knew how the movie would end, pace itself and handle its characters but it was still rather disappointing. 

But let’s start things off. 

What did I like?

Spinel - her animation, design, voice and song, the only song I liked, apart from the song Pearl sang when she was reset. 

The concept of the Rejuvenator - I think it’s brilliant. Considering that we long thought of gems as being like computers it makes sense that you could reset them to their factory settings. Though this does create some plot-holes I will address later. 

I loved how Spinel was not up for the whole talk it out and sing approach. refreshing. Though she did sing but on her own terms.

Loved the little homeworld bit but it does raise questions. 

The fact that they addressed the plot point of PD wanting a colony and waiting for it. Even though it was mentioned in passing.

The Pearl lore we got. How they re basically an OS when they are made.

Pearl sing-explaining.

Pearl obessing over Greg. HILARIOUS. BUT ALSO like a lot of implications for her relationship with PD.

And that was about it. I guess. 

What I didn’t like or understood

The Diamonds going from antagonists to obsessing over Steven and being those annoying relatives. I. mean the concept is hilarious and I love it but when you consider what the Diamonds did and who they are it gets unsettling. 

How the hell does Spinel know what a son is? Im pretty sure she wasn’t filled on the whole Rose/PD stuff unless Steven told the whooole story in that one transmission at the beginning of the movie. And even so it took the diamonds a whole while to understand the concept of a child and a parent. Apart from WD which is still unexplained. 

Where did Spinel get an injector? We can infer the whole plot takes place over the span of a day or so. How did a gem who used to be basically a Pearl get access to an injector?

For that matter, why and how is this injector different than the injector we knew of? One pops in gems in the earth’s crust and the other just up and destroys the planet? 

Why did Amethyst behave that way once reset? I mean in ”Now we’re only falling apart”, we saw first hand how the other Amethyst were emerging, full fledged and self-aware and able to talk. And ok she was overcooked but overcooked doesn’t mean talking like a parrot. Does it? We received no indication prior to this that that was the case. If anything we knew gems just popped out already knowing who and what they were supposed to be. 

I’m getting real tired of the whole Garnet is true love, when she isn’t. I love her, I do but she became her fusion and Ruby and Sapphire are neglected as a result. Even in Change your mind when they are in their gems as a result of being poofed by YD, Steven doesn’t call for them but for Garnet. Way to go Steven. Ok, Sapphire saved Ruby this time and they are meant to be together but what they are displaying is love at first sight and codependency ( as WD put it) . 

Steven really seemed like a jackass in this when interacting with Spinel. He didn’t care for her, didn’t care for her feelings. He wanted her to go back to normal just so she can remove the injector and when she called him out on that he said that yeah that was kinda it. She was just in the way.  When she was nice and hanging around Steven never showed her anything but annoyance. I think maybe once or twice he softened to her but that was it.He was more focused on bringing back his friends (legitimately so but still.) 

The fusion between Greg and Steven is...Look I know it’s an anime reference but it was so uncomfortable to watch. Idk why. 

Connie being useless throughout, appearing very little. despite her being awesome.

Bismuth, Peridot and Lapis being only comic relief and not contributing much to anything. Aside from Peridot who spoke about the injector a bit. 

Lars only briefly seen. 

The off-colors only having cameos here and there. 

And finally the fact that a fascist dictatorship was just dismantled and put aside without it having any consequence whatsoever. People just weren’t affected by it. Yellow just did away with her army and her colonies. 

It’s just...I understand the message SU is talking about, I understand it is this pacifist and friendly show. But like...I really felt like the movie was talking down to me,  like you would talk down to a kid who you think doesn’t understand stuff. 

Especially in the dialogue Steven has with the diamonds. Where they tell him their good deeds of the week. How they dismantled their armies, talk nice to lower life form and refrain from shattering gems. 

It’s like if someone wanted to scold Stalin over what he did and made him pinky promise he’d change nce his policies. 

Maybe I’m being too harsh but  there’s one thing to promote non-violence and a pacifist approach to conflicts and it is another thing to just apply that to every possible situation ever. It just doesn’t work. Dictators don’t turn nice over night just cus you’re related to them. 

Also, the end felt bittersweet. The Diamonds took Spinel not because they cared or whatever but because she used to be Pink’s and she reminds them of Pink and they have a spare room. And they are going to pour out all their issues on Spinel and make her fill a role instead of caring for her for who she is. 

Bonus: how tf is Spinel able to rotate her gem like that?  I thought Diamonds could cus diamond powers but some rando gem?

P.S. Doesn’t Little Homeworld feel a bit creepy to any of you? 

Like, I get they miss their home but all they’ve ever known ever since their creation was the genocidal dictatorship of the Diamonds. Why would you want any part of that close to you again? Much less live in it? I would’ve understood if, I don’t know those were homeworld gems who lived all their lives there and wanted a piece from there despite being such an awful place. 

But all those gems on Earth were, er...corrupted gems by the very regime they had back home. All of those gems thought a war with their Homeworld. Why would they want that on Earth?

Btw, are Yellow and Blue Pearl still slaves? Cus sure they looked happier but they were still serving the diamonds.

[weedle-testaburger]

To mark the show ending, a whole load of my personal favourite bits of SU over the years

‘so i guess you could say it’s a... balanced breakfast?’ *steven’s face like melts*

steven’s funky flow

‘why did pearl throw butter out the window? to see a butterfly!’ ‘I never did that! steven, are you telling LIES?!’

the giant woman song, steven junior, steven’s reaction when he finds out he can fuse too, just everything about giant woman really

amethyst’s gem going screwed up and her talking backwards

‘i guess i’m too tough to cry’ ‘just today you were crying about snakes’ ‘they don’t have any arms’

‘no prob bob’ ‘...it’s lapis’

the whole ‘mom universe’ bit from fusion cuisine

‘tiny hands, my one weakness’

everything about alone together, i could watch that episode a million times and still adore it frankly

‘it isn’t lying when you’re the mayor, steven. it’s politics’

rose’s scabbard, just the whole episode really

the wailing stone

everything rupphire related in jail break

‘i want to be part of your universe’

garnet’s reply to jamie’s love letter (’n. o.’)

so many things in sworn to the sword- the jam buds song, do it for her, steven’s ‘how to talk to people’ book, she’s the strawberry and he’s the biscuit, WHY WON’T YOU LET ME DO THIS FOR YOU ROSE, all so good

steven’s little STORYYYY when greg tells him and connie about when he found out about fusion

amethyst going ‘hey! are you dead?’ to young greg on the beach

steven doing sadie’s performance for her when she gets stage fright in sadie’s song and saying fuck you to gender norms in the process

‘aww, you’re like an angry little slice of pie!’

steven helping peridot cope with the rain

steven spinning on the swivel chair continuously for a whole scene in back to the barn

the answer, it’s just perfect in pretty much every way really

peridot calling yellow diamond

‘i’m just trying to lion the mood. lion... the mood’

steven and lapis bonding in same old world

the baseball game in hit the diamond

mr greg, what more can i say

stevonnie realizing they don’t care about losing to kevin in beach city drift

lapis rejecting jasper in alone at sea

steven and connie camping in the cave in gem hunt and they’re ‘you’re the best!’ ‘nuh-uh, you’re the best’ thing in crack the whip

stevonnie coming to amethyst’s rescue when jasper poofs her

the crystal gems all being buds with bismuth

bismuth admitting to steven he’s braver than rose was

peridot discovering her metal moving powers and steven and amethyst forming smokey quartz for the first time

‘eyeball, army, leggy, navy and... doc’

the gems comforting steven when he escapes from the bubble at the end of bubbled

peridot failing to capture the corrupted gem and ‘THIS IS LIFE FOR YOU NOW! END-LESS-SUFFERING!’ in the kindergarten kid

sardonyx’s talk show in know your fusion

steven’s bald cap, garnet’s ‘go steven + connie/go stevonnie’ sign, here comes a thought and connie comforting steven from mindful education

pearl being gay for mystery girl and getting her number in last one out of beach city

uncle andy’s first impression of lapis and peridot being ‘I KNOW WHAT YOU ARE! YOU’RE HIPPIES!’

everyone choosening gareg

what’s the use of feeling blue

GO, CRYSTAL TEMPS! (i kinda wish we got another crystal temps episode ngl)

steven getting to interact with and then confront rose in storm in the room

topaz almost freeing steven and lars after their heart-to-heart

meeting the off-colours and steven bringing lars back to life

sadie bonding with the cool kids and forming their band

‘jam buds?’ ‘jam buds’

‘bingo-bongo’

all the blessed stevonnie screentime in jungle moon

garnet’s motivational story in your mother and mine

the cute af behind the scenes band documentary in the big show

garnet meeting and adopting cat steven

finding out steven was reading lars’ letter out while sticking out of his head in letters to lars

that distant shore, it took lapis 5 seasons to get a song but it was so worth it

the pink diamond reveal (and how everyone lost their shit over it)

pearl revealing the truth about her and pink/rose

ruby rider and the proposal in the question (oh and ‘psst. it’s me. i’m a horse’)

the rupphire wedding, lapis coming back, how greg put steven to sleep, and ‘THIS IS OUR HOME! OUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY! WE ARE THE CRYSTAL GEMS!’ in reunited

pink’s leg ship

familiar (the song)

connie convincing steven to fuse in together alone

everything- just EVERYTHING- about change your mind and the movie. i can’t even pick favourite moments from either tbh they’re both just gorgeous from start to finish

jasper getting ludicrously excited about fighting in little homeschool

amethyst, pearl and greg’s reactions to the rose quartzes in rose buds

steven naming white pearl volleyball, and pearl and volleyball comforting each other and bonding

eyeball and aquamarine basically fusing out of their hatred for steven and his done look when they do

steven ‘dying’ in a very special episode

pearl overcoming her dislike of fusion to play steven tag

why so blue (the song)

the off colours graduating, shep and looking forward now from little graduation

steven and peridot bonding over how much the cph reboot sucks

stevonnie’s dance in bismuth casual, idk about anyone else but i literally cried

i’d rather be me with you and connie and garnet comforting steven after the proposal (’is it a no?’ ‘it’s a not now, steven’ still kinda makes me cry)

priyanka inadvertently making steven confront all his childhood trauma at once and greg coming to comfort him in growing pains

steven and greg’s argument about their upbringing in mr universe

‘i bow to your strength, my diamond’

basically everything spinel does in homeworld bound she’s a slapstick queen

all the dumb stuff steven does by accident in everything’s fine

THE GEMS RECOGNIZING THEY HURT STEVEN AND ALL OF THEM COMING TO HELP CORRUPTED BOI

just all the callbacks and cute stuff in the finale, i defy anyone not to cry

just. this whole show is wonderful and amazing and i’m never gonna get over it, thank you for everything crewniverse

[zombieratt]

Uhhhh, BNHA and Steven Universe AU

I had this idea mo n t h s ago and its just been sitting in my notes so fuck it right?

I pulled this out of my ass after watching the SU movie, its very inchoherent and jumps around loads, sorry in advance. I did t r y to keep it relatively organized but i dont think I succeeded.

Ask box is open if u have Questions

(ask me things. please, im so lonely)

Deku is 'Steven' and the inheritor of Citrine

Probably about 18/19 in the AU for the reason that i refuse to write a child fighting a W A R

By the time the movie events happen hes in his 20s

All Might is Citrine and Yellow Diamond

Black Pearl! Aizawa

Tanzanite! Iida

Rose Quartz! Uraraka

Cinnabar! Kirikami (Carnelian!Kirishima and Amber!Kaminari permafusion)

Connie! Bakugo

Im also capitalizing on Ace!bakugo for this as a point of contention between him and his family

they canstantly ask if he has a girlfriend and he is Real Sick™️ of their shit

Hes alloromantic tho sowy

Two years older then Deku bc it feeds into the inferiority complex for that tasty a n g s t

Baku is more repressed than connie, and more resentful of it

He Desperately wants to be accepted as a crystal gem and gets mad when reminded of his humanity

He’s mad that deku is physically stronger than him, so they spar a lot

But the core of it is that he thinks of the gems as family, and would absolutely sacrifice everything for all of them

Endeavor is red diamond

Rei is a blue pearl that was damaged by RD, he bubbles her and she’s replaced by Blue Pearl!Tensei

Strawberry Quartz!todorokis (red diamonds perfect soldiers)

Shouto is the best one (jasper but good)

AFO is black diamond (hes cracked, but thats a secret shhh)

Can use any power her sees used before him with the exception of healing capabilities due to his photokenesis ability

Onyx!shigaraki

Temple fusion is one for all, and is the same size as afo, made up of rose quartz, cinnabar, tanzanite, black pearl, and citrine

Green diamond is nana

Losing yellow diamond devastated her

Her power is called envy she can mimic a gem’s voice perfectly

Her pearl is Pink Pearl! Midnight

Purple jade! Shinso

Yellow peridot! Mei

Onion! tsuyu

Tourmaline! mina [

Gold!sero [bismuth]

Mirio, tamaki, and nejire are the cool kids

Ronaldo! Mineta

Sadie! Jiro

Lars! Momo

Yellow pearl! Present Mic (under BD Currently)

Mama inko owns a bakery that sits at the top of the mountain above the temple, she offers tours of the light house, and runs it in her spare time with her second husband hisashi

Hisashi loves deku like his own son, but has a hard time understanding him sometimes

Deku appriciates hisashi, but he wishes he had gotten to know his birth father

No one is exactly sure how deku came to be, inko turns scarlet anytime they ask

Its basically vore. No, i will not elaborate

When deku and Katsuki fuse for the first time, its the first time they really understand each other

Their relationship begins to improve drastically after this, because they can fuse and feel each others feelings in a much deeper sense than just conversation

They call their fusion katsumi

Aizawa is Bakugos favorite

Bakugo is kirikami’s favorite

Aizawa and shinso end up real close after change your mind

Yellow Spinel!Sir Nighteye

Not very ship centric, more about friendship and family more than anything

That being said, the relationship dynamics explored are: Erasermight, Erasermic, inko and all might, Rei and endeavor, BakuDeku, TodoDeku, Iideku, UraDeku, UraIida, inatodo, KiriKami, Todoiida, shiniida, SeroMina, MomoJirou, todoshin, meiida, Miritama, Big OT3, micnight, Shigaraki and AFO, NightMight, DaveMight, and m o r e.

These dynamics are explored both Romantically and platonically, but put heavy emphasis on the idea that platonic love is just as good as romantic love

there’s more than this but i ran out of energy, if y’all want i can make another.

[linsneedshugs]

Although the last episodes of SU Future don’t come out til Sunday and April 5 for my region, I want to thank all the folks who worked on this show for giving me immense amounts of inspiration. I’m gonna talk a bit (cough cough understatement) about my experience with Steven Universe these past 7 years so feel free to read or not.

Like everyone in this wonderful community, I will miss SU so much and it will always be a series that will be cherished in my heart for years to come!

It really is over, isn’t it?

This is almost like a recap of when my life started haha. 2013 was an important year for me; like all preteens, I was going through so many changes. I found comfort in watching anime and cartoons. My earliest experiences with Steven Universe was watching the Season 1 episodes and laughing. But Cartoon Network kept replaying episodes and SU became background noise as I played games on the computer and I forgot about the show for a year (thanks Five Nights at Freddy’s 2014 ftw).

Fast forward to March 2015 (around the release of Jail Break but before Full Disclosure) I discovered that Garnet was a fusion the whole time and me, being unware of events since the slice-of-life first half of S1, forgot what a fusion was (ironically, Giant Woman was the episode that replayed the most). Who was Jasper? And who was this Peridot and was she gonna rap?!?! Confused but eager to learn about what I missed, I binged the episodes on YouTube (back when you could watch entire seasons of stuff on there haha). I was caught up and in love with the series again.

Season 2 contained some of my favourite episodes EVER and that was probably because of the gREAT AND LOVABLE PERIDOT! Yes, my blog became Peridot spam. 2016 was the year of Peridot. I loved all her episodes and her arc and I am proud to say my younger brother and I watched “Catch and Release” numerous times in a row until we basically memorized all the lines (I can’t remember anymore but I still love that ep). “YOU CLOD” became a go-to diss. The hiatuses were unbearable but the Stevenbombs made up for them. Oh wait I almost forgot about SARD YARD OH HO HO!

When Lapis came back in Season 3 ... I just fell in love with her. I secretly loved Lapidot a lot because of this vid of Peridot and Lapis singing to “What Is This Feeling?” from Wicked (this leads to more things but I’m focusing on SU ahha). I didn’t tag Lapidot stuff as Lapidot bc of ship discourse but I just fully embraced it at some point. Now, I love that Peridot is aro/ace and I love to think of Lapis and Peridot as platonic besties who goof around haha but will kill you if harm their friends (+Bismuth makes it way more fun). Back to Lapis, I think her Bob persona just got me. Hit the Diamond is another fave episode (I doodled her a lot after this ep). This season was filled with so MUCH... Bismuth, Jasper and some good Beach City folks eps. AND SMOKY QUARTZ AHHH! My favourite fusion design *chef’s kiss* got some development for Amethyst! MWAHHH!

Season 4 was crazy. I remember feeling like ... EHEH.. So Rose wasn’t as great as we thought she was. .. and then Blue Diamond and Yellow Diamond aHHH. And also Pink Diamond WHO?! Is Pink ROSEEE theories.. good times. ARE YOU MY DADDDD?!??? So much speculation about Pink and Rose. I think this season was an okay transition to more plot related episodes.

Season 5 oh gosh the hiatuses. Let’s see.. early/mid 2017, various points in 2018, and finally January 2019... dang. I think while waiting for the next episodes to come, I was busy getting into other series but kept SU somewhere in my head. I feel like I started to draw fanart less as my blog became a site for me to dump all my fandom stuff hehEH 00F. But this season was filled with some great episodes and memorable stuff. Lars big OOF, we learn about what truly happened to Pink, WEDDING TIME (I bought the DVD bc I LOVE), and all that Diamond stuff at the end.. super all over the place but I love it.

And then the movie happened and now HERE WE ARE IN THE FUTURE. (I didn’t talk about songs but know that I love them all haaaaa and even learned a few ukulele chords HAha).

Oh geez, I feel like I just relived some major moments in my life and now I feel woozy ahaa~ Nevertheless, I consider Steven Universe to be one of the important plot points in my life. It really helped me become more knowledgeable in the aspect of LGBT issues and representation and even my own identity. Despite some negative things in the fandom, there were still some positives to it. To all these amazing artists drawing fanart, super cool cosplayers, singers, and other talented folk who are a part of this beautiful fanbase, thank you. And thanks again to the Crewniverse and others who have worked on this show! Now I feel like crying ... and I’m smiling while I type this .. memories.. feels.. 

*Lapis voice* Okay. Bye.

[ick25]

How Steven Universe broke my heart.

So Steven Universe has finally come to an end and people are so happy and crying because of how the show had such a beautiful ending that dealt with real life issues and personal matters that we all relate to at some point in our lives... But I am not one of those people.

I have nothing against teaching children life lessons on how to deal with trauma and anxiety, but what made me interested in the show in the first place was the fantastical elements, the action mixed with comedy, and heartwarming scenes from time to time. From the very beginning, I was never a fan of Steven’s interactions with the people of Beach City who don’t even seem to care about what the gems actually are or why they should be more careful around him. They just feel like characters in a Slice of Life show since they barely make any contribution to the real plot of Steven Universe. It’s like the entire show is split into two different genres, the town’s people only exist for comedic purposes and whenever Steven needs to learn something that the Crystal Gems can’t teach him because of their lack of communication with each other. I know the gems were not fans of making friends with humans, but they’ve had like 1000 years to understand how human society works! Have they been living under a rock all this time?!

Anyway, the show has been infuriating to me many times, but deep down I was hoping that all those questions I had were gonna be answered in a very clever and exciting way in future seasons... That never happened. 

Every time the show woke my curiosity, it disappointing me hard, and now that it’s over I have come to realized that maybe the story that attracted me in the first place didn’t matter at all. This was my emotional struggle throughout the show.

Season 1.

Up: The show started out like a funny cartoon with great promise, likable characters, and an interesting background. My first impression was that the Crystal gems were like part of a secret magical society that travels to other worlds to keep peace in the universe. 

Down: It is revealed that they are actually aliens and that the other worlds where actually places on Earth where the monsters they fight are corrupted gems. This let me down because, being such a nerd, I couldn’t stop thinking about the odds of another planet having the same minerals with the same exact  names and characteristics given to them by humans on Earth.

Too much of a coincidence.

Up: I decided to accept the alien thing and keep watching because I thought it was really cute that both Lapis and Pearl wanted to return to their Homeworld which awoke my interest again.

Season 2.

Up more: Peridot’s secret mission, Malachite coming back again and the introduction of Yellow Diamond got me excited.

A little Down: The slow pacing when we were supposed to be worried about the Cluster.

Season 3.

Down: Finding out that the forced fusion experiments where not relevant anymore because I wanted that to be explored more.

Up: The revelation that Rose Quartz shattered Pink Diamond. I liked this because I thought that Steven was going to learn about the hard decisions his mother had to make in order to keep Earth safe. Oh how naive was I.

Season 4.

A little boring until Blue Diamond appears who I cant help but like.

When I saw her crying for Pink I thought, Ok, she is not what I was expecting but she might become an ally later on. (Turns out she’s my favorite character now)

Up: Pink Diamond’s human zoo intrigued me.

Down a little: Yellow Diamond appears to cheer up Blue and it is obvious that both are gonna become good later on.

Up: Aquamarine and Topaz appear to kidnap humans for the zoo, The town’s people are finally important to the plot.

Season 5, when I started to lose hope.

Up: The mystery that came out from the trial episode to the Off colors being introduced.

Down: Lars basically turns into lion and becomes a shortcut for Steven to go between worlds easily.

Down again: Lars and the off colors suddenly become a parody of Captain Harlock ruining my illusion of having Steven and the Crystal gems traveling to Homeworld to save them.

Slightly Up: Steven gets visions of Pink Diamonds past and how it seemed that it was Pearl who shattered her.

Super Down!: Rose was Pink Diamond and faked her own shattering for no good reason! Everything we were told throughout the show was a lie!

Up: Great battle against Yellow and Blue Diamond, and White Diamond is finally mentioned, and I was like “good, she must be the ultimate evil and maybe we’ll learn more about corruption.”

Crash and burn: White Diamond is forgiven and instantly becomes good.

But a glimmer of hope appears when the movie is announced.

Movie.

Slowly up: New cool villain appears, will we learn more about Pink Diamond’s past?

Down again: Spinel goes to live with the Diamonds which sounds like a terrible idea at first.

Steven Universe Future.

Steven is having trouble with his new power, will we finally address how Pink Diamond was really like?

Down forever: Who cares about Pink Diamond or the origin of the Diamonds, what matters is that Steven is a teenager that finally acknowledges that his life has been terrible and that his family has to comfort him because he is going through puberty and already has a midlife crisis at age 16.

In conclusion, Steven Universe’s main focus ended up being about talking things out in a peaceful matter and that family is the most important thing... But that doesn’t work if you already established that said family consists of aliens who don’t know anything about communication and or have been destroying life forms in the Universe for thousands of years! The message does not fit with what already has been established in the show to the point that it’s unrealistic. It’s nice and all that they’re teaching kids that violence doesn’t solve anything and that talking things out is better, but the truth is, that is not always the case in real life. Even if they are family, some people are not willing to change and won’t listen to reasons. You can’t force someone to “Change their mind” , because you think they are in the wrong, and even if they are, you can’t expect them to accept that what they’ve been doing all their lives is suddenly wrong. The Diamonds had to change for themselves not because Steven tells them to. SU Future showed that they eventually changed for the best and even discovered new powers but it was already too late for me to accept that.

This show really wanted me to believe that the gems were the only advance alien race in the entire universe, nobody fought against them? What was the point of making the Cluster which was referred to as Geo Weapon? Doesn’t Homeworld have any enemies? Apparently not, and all that matters in the end is to make amends with your love ones, avoid toxic relationships, and only talk things out when a family member is threatening to kill you and destroy everything you love. ¬ ¬ 

[novantinuum]

SU movie predictions

Okay, we may not have a trailer yet to go off of but trying to predict things is fun. (And it’ll be funny looking back later and seeing how epically wrong I was lol) 

So my predictions of what I think is realistically plausible to happen:

A Gem actually gets physically shattered/we learn what actually happens to Gems who are shattered

Okay, so this may be a little edgy but hear me out... this movie is 90 minutes. And it’s a movie. Some serious chaos gon’ have to go down to fill the time here. It wouldn’t surprise me to see the Crystal Gems caught in a more perilous situation than usual.

There’s been a lot of theories over the years that shattered Gems are actually still conscious. I think we might gain some more info on that.

I genuinely doubt it’ll be a big character. Prob a one-off character. If anything, just a scenario where the villain is showing the audience that she’s not here to play games. 

There are at least three songs.

Change Your Mind had three and it was only 45 minutes. With double the length, how many more might we see?

My bets are on Steven having at least one, an ensemble song, and p e r h a p s a bad guy song.

Steven and Connie get a relationship upgrade.

These two have such a close bond, and are so obviously smitten with each other that I’m kinda surprised it hasn’t happened already. But what better time for even further development for them than a movie?

There’s definitely gonna be a fusion.

I’ll be surprised if I don’t see some past fusion encores.

And what about new fusions? So many possibilities!

It will be set post Change Your Mind.

I genuinely don’t see the storytelling purpose of setting it before Change Your Mind, so I will be surprised if this movie isn’t set in between CYM and s6. 

I am, however, still unsure whether I think the plot events in the movie will be relevant to the wider arc, or a standalone threat.

The movie reveals a fairly significant remodeling to Steven’s house.

We know Bismuth repaired it while everyone else was on Homeworld, but we still haven’t seen the inside yet.

Perhaps there will be more doors in the Temple now, for the newest official Crystal Gems!

The villain actually isn’t ‘Red Diamond’ or related to the diamonds at all.

While those theories are pretty cool sounding, I’m beginning to doubt that we’re going to be dealing with more diamonds after having pretty much half of season 5 dedicated to rooting out the mysteries with the Great Diamond Authority. At this point, what the show needs is to stretch its wings into the greater ‘universe,’ and what better way of doing that than to introduce an entirely new Gem type? Or, heck- even an entirely new species. Let’s go hog wild.

Rose’s chest in Lion’s mane will have some relevance to the plot.

That chest is still a mystery, and I suspect it’ll be coming up very soon because Steven brought attention to it in late season 4. They started teasing the concept of Steven’s gem being removed in late season 3, and that came to fruition in CYM so... I think we’re coming up on some big answers soon.

At least Garnet and Peridot will be poofed.

Perhaps more characters will be, as well.

Basically, I have a feeling that the really wild visors these two got in CYM were more designed exclusively with that episode in mind, as momentous as it was. They were fun visors, meant to represent everyone’s unity as a Crystal Gem at that moment. I predict that future regenerations of these two will have mostly similar outfits, but with toned down visors.

We see multiple new Gem locations.

Self explanatory, really. I’ll be surprised if we don’t.

By the end of the movie, Steven finally goes through a well-deserved growth spurt and looks his age again. (Like an actual 14 1/2 year old.)

This whole show is about his coming of age. We’ve seen his emotional coming of age. We’re yet to witness his physical coming of age. Like buddy, you still look like an eight year old. XD

And logistically, when it comes to CN advertisement... featuring such a significant character design change (if it ever does happen) within a Big Event TV Movie as opposed to a regular episode would be a wise move. That way, more people are likely to watch it and know what’s going on later when they see that Steven Universe’s title character looks quite different now.

Steven and Co. use his leg ship to travel through space at some point.

The kid has his own spaceship now. The whole galaxy is now his oyster! We’re finally putting the Universe into Steven Universe! I do hope that’s a plot point they utilize well...

The Diamonds feature, and we get a glimpse into how Homeworld is faring post CYM.

Could be part of inciting incidents. Perhaps the villain is someone resisting changes there on Homeworld.

The plot is no longer restricted to just Steven’s perspective.

Rebecca Sugar said in the last episode of the SU podcast that the show, as it continues from here, would be quite different from s1-5, because the story s1-5 was telling is done. That story is, of course, Steven’s coming of age. We saw everything from his point of view, because it was his story.

Thus, I’m predicting that from here on out, it’s not just his story... it’s the Crystal Gems’ story. Perhaps there will even be episodes in the far off future that don’t involve Steven at all- focusing on other Gems or humans instead.

BUT as far as the movie is concerned... 

Normally in s1-5 every scene had to be either: something Steven personally experienced himself or within a fusion, a story that a character was telling to Steven, or some interaction Steven overhears/eavesdrops on. I think it’s likely that this rule will be lifted from here on out. Which means, we could see a conversation between, say, Garnet and Pearl that Steven is nowhere around to see. Sky’s the limits.

And some absolute spitballing that really doesn’t have much “evidence” or plausibility on happening, but that I’d think would be pretty cool anyways:

We see Rose’s last moments/Steven’s birth.

If they were ever to flashback to this, now would be the time.

Could be an interesting way to quickly establish Steven’s hybrid nature for any new viewers.

Another human/Gem hybrid exists.

And Steven meets them and takes them under his wing.

This could perhaps be linked to his physical coming of age. Perhaps the thought of this new responsibility... of watching over/helping show the ropes to someone... is what moves him to finally grow up. Shifts his mentality a little older.

[joshhhhhhhhhhhhhhh]

I watched episodes 7-10 of Steven Universe Future.

Snow Day kinda made me feel like a prick since I didn’t really like Steven in it, nor have I for most of Future so far, but like the episode’s “happy end” moment is him basically saying he is who he is now, the Steven back then was from the past and that’s not now, etc, and he doesn’t want to be treated like a kid anymore. It was I guess a nice enough ending, the rest of the Crystal Gems are sweet in it, and all their various Steven transformations were nice, Steven Ruby especially is really cute, but like, this obviously wasn’t the case based on release schedule but the episode definitely feels like it’s calling out people that are being critical of Future Steven, even though I feel like we’re all more or less justified in doing so. Idk. Okay episode I guess.

Why So Blue was interesting because Lapis is my favourite character since she’s moe as hell and imo has some decent character development, but then she’s weird in this episode. Her eagerness to fight is one thing, but then she has a pretty nice song afterwards that I liked more and think fits her character better as she’s been developed, but then they cancel that out by having her be all “we should have just been fighting from the start” which like, I don’t know how much I’m supposed to be able to buy that from her character now, let alone immediately after she sung a sweet song. But then when they do have her fight, she stops because she sees Steven looking on in sadness, which like, cool, she didn’t go to far because she recognised her actions as hurtful to others, I feel like we’ve kinda been over that but whatever. But then when the other two Lapises (Lapes? Lapses? Lapis Lazulis?) who I thought were pretty cool by the way, when they admire her strength she’s all “no my fighting is my weakness” and sort of just regrets everything, which like, I get, I think that’s fair enough. But her arc this episode is just “eager to fight, and then regrets it” it feels done before, I think the song works way better for her character but also doesn’t blend with those other two parts, so the episode just felt unstructured. Man it’s tough shit having Lapis as my favourite, maybe I should just convert to a Peridot stan and be done with it. Hey at least Steven wasn’t insufferable this episode.

Little Graduation was fucky as hell. First off, it’s great that Sadie and Lars and all that have lives off screen. It really is. And it’s cool that Sadie specifically has both disbanded Suspects (thank god, their music blows) and also is dating a nonbinary person, like a regular human one rather than a fusion or something. But then the main thing of the episode is Future Steven being a prick again. I get that he’s older, and more specifically I get that he’s a teenager who’s afraid of what the future has to bring for him and also seeing his relationships drift apart as his friends pursue their own futures. I get that, I really do. But holy shit they could not make Steven more unlikable about this. The fuckin “I know her better” type thing he says to Shep when he learns they’re dating Sadie is just such a vile, almost incel-caliber thing to say, pinning the blame on Lars for the bubble cage trapping them all in together is also just a really shitty thing to do. And like yeah characters are allowed to have flaws and do bad things, unquestionably, and I actually kinda like Steven feeling entitled to know everything about everyone’s lives since it’s a problem that actually ties into the fact that nothing ever happens in this show without Steven being there for it. That’s a character flaw born naturally from the narrative. But the rest of it is sort of just, him being an insufferable asshole for the sake of it. Even the stuff about the relatable teenage experience of being afraid of the future feels weird specifically because Steven in the movie was pretty damn content with the new status quo, and this isn’t much later and yet he fucking loathes being alive. At least the ending with everyone reaffirming their friendships with Steven was kind of sweet, even if Shep telling Steven exactly what his problems are sure as hell felt lazy. Overall the episode just wasn’t great and had almost the most insufferable Steven yet. Almost.

Based on how I ended that paragraph, I wonder if you can infer what I think about Prickly Pair? Man, fuck Steven in this episode. First of all if you’re gonna have last episode end with him deciding to quit Little Homeschool and accept his friends’ decisions to move forward with their lives, it’s hard for me to accept that Steven also names all of his plants after his friends and talks about how great it is that none of the plants are leaving the earth or disbanding their bands or anything. Yeah blah blah blah he’s confused and weirded out, but can we lay off for just a bit? I cannot possibly imagine whatever end we get to Steven’s arc being at all gratifying after this, we’ve been dragged through the mud so hard and the dude’s made next to no fucking progress that I literally don’t see an ending that satisfies me, you can fully “redeem” Steven and all I’ll get is a feeling of “thank god that’s over”. Christ, way to drive the nail into my head. Specifically I’m pissed about the way he talks about the Crystal Gems in this episode though. He doesn’t want to talk to any of them about his feelings because:

Garnet; will just act all high and mighty - but literally when has she ever not been helpful in times like these.

Pearl; will just blame herself - a problem you should know she’s managed to overcome by now?

Amethyst; will just act like she’s so mature now - provably fucking false you sack of shit. “Act like she’s so mature now” sorry did Guidance not happen? Where you underestimated Amethyst’s maturity and caused dozens of problems because of it? I appreciated that Steven seemed to learn a meaningful lesson at the end of the episode that challenged him in different ways than usual but I guess the fuck not because he’s still a whiny fucking prick here that hates Amethyst for some fucking reason.

And I don’t care about Cactus Steven either. On one hand Steven sharing all of his problems with a cactus is fair enough because hey it feels good to say it out loud, people talk to plants and animals a lot at times like those it’s cool, but the fact that it copies speech and Steven picks up on that, yet also responds to what it says as though it’s real speech just makes him look stupid. Like he fucking argues with a completely non-intelligent cactus all on his own because I guess he’s insecure. No matter how insecure he is here he just looks fucking retarded taking shit from a cactus, Christ. At the very least I’m glad Garnet, Amethyst and Pearl didn’t overreact to Steven’s feelings as they heard from a cactus, at least some of the characters have matured. Cherry on top of an otherwise steaming pile of shit episode.

And that actually concludes Steven Universe Future for now. Hopefully not forever because by god I am not satisfied by this ending, the movie gave us a pretty nice end for everything and I was initially excited for Future since I thought it was a new series, a proper sequel to the show and movie. Then I learned it was an epilogue, which upset me, but hey we still had a few loose ends to wrap up, I can take it. But no, Steven Universe Future presents us with way more problems than it does answers and the titular character has become such a massive, cynical bastard who lost his appeal almost as soon as Future started and never won me over again, and like I said I can’t imagine whenever Steven’s arc is complete, whenever, after saving the entire universe, he saves himself, it’ll be something I actually appreciate anymore beyond the fact that it undoes this mess. Future had cool ideas, they give us an interesting direction for Jasper’s character, challenge Steven’s hero complex in some interesting ways, that new shounen rage form Steven has is a fine enough idea, but a lot of the episodes are just, really painful to sit through, until like the last 2 minutes where we get a sort of happy ending, or we don’t and then you’ve got A Very Special Episode or Bluebird which were total wastes of time. Volleyball best episode. I wanna say like 5, maybe 4/10 overall.

[noddytheornithopod]

Thoughts on Steven Universe Future

It’s a shame this is gonna be the last of the show, but all good things must come to an end. I definitely hope they resolve as much as they can in a satisfying way.

New intro is awesome. Favourite part is Peridot’s little ending to it.

This new line up of antagonists in the introo makes me think there’s going to be some kind of “Old Homeworld” faction that forms? Especially since we see Jasper and I assume Aquamarine there.

Speaking of Aquamarine, I’m pretty sure that’s her given the gem placement, though what’s up with the colour scheme? It could be a fusion but it also looks like the size of a normal Aquamarine... except for the extra legs. Yeah, if you look closely it seems like there’s extra legs on whoever this is, so maybe it’s a fusion after all, and the other gem isn’t visible? I’ve seen Eyeball thrown around but I feel like if that were the case her eye gem would be made clearer.

Of course, we don’t know if these characters are all working together. I mean, IDK what this mutant Watermelon... wait, CACTUS Steven has to do with anything yet.

Not sure what the big monster is.

I’m pretty sure White is in the intro, but IDK what this means, especially with the pink colourations. My initial thought was that it would be easy for her to slip into her old ways to give herself a sense of purpose again, but the pink colouration and glowing nose suggest more is going on. I’ve seen a White/Jasper fusion thrown around, but who knows at this point, I don’t know how that would happen.

I’m most curious about the new Lapises, not just because we finally see more of them, but because of what it could mean for OUR Lapis. Seeing these two makes me think we’re finally going to get clear answers on what the role of Lapis Lazulis are, and whether our Lapis’ power is truly abnormal or if holding up the entire ocean is something any Lapis can do. This would also indicate we’d finally end up with some solid Lapis backstory: compared to the other Crystal Gems, her past is still mysterious. She came to Earth for SOME REASON, Lapises are allegedly terraformers, and she was just trapped and that was that. Rebecca Sugar said she was in Blue Diamond’s court, and Blue’s reaction to her makes it sound like something happened between them. We don’t even know her actual opinions on Rose Quartz and Pink Diamond. It will be great if we finally see who she really is in the grand scheme of things.

If we’re digging up Lapis’ past, then it makes sense she might realise Bismuth was who poofed her. Jasper coming back also means perhaps Malachite will be relevant again, maybe we’ll explore more of how Jasper was fucked up by it.

I wonder how long after the movie SUF will take place in? Steven IS wearing a new shirt so maybe some more time has passed. He’s very close to 17 too, so they might end up just going “fuck it, he’s 17”. Wait, what if the show ends when he reaches 18, aka adulthood? That would be cool.

Apparently this miniseries is gonna be more about “Steven’s problems”, so I definitely wonder what that will entail and how it will relate to the new antagonist line up (I guess stuff like Jasper is clear because she refused to listen to him, it might look at the flaws of how Steven interacts with people and how these people he won’t be able to help, kinda like Spinel, but need to be gotten through without him)

Connie at the end with Steven killed me. Just wanted to say that as Connverse trash. However I also want to suggest one hypothetical I don’t even know is likely at this point, but I find Rebecca Sugar’s comment that she can’t answer if Steven and Connie would ever get married quite curious in relation to SUF. Steven’s close to adulthood, and even if Connie would be at most 16 maybe the SU Universe (lol) is more lax with proposals, or the story just wants to end with something nice even if they’d still have to wait. To stop rambling... what if there’s a proposal at the end of the series? Even if they couldn’t get married right away, they could still show how much they love each other and end the show like that. Basically... I feel like Rebecca Sugar couldn’t answer that question for a reason, which makes me wonder if it’s somehow going to play into SU Future. Maybe we even end with some kind of flash forward and they’re ACTUALLY married? Okay, time to shut up before my ship ramblings consume this blog. but Rebecca pls give us a kiss at least

[garnetrena]

[SPOILERS] Steven Universe: The Movie, my thoughts

OK, so I've just seen the movie and my main reaction is "azghqxwjkfdzqk". Let's organize this mess, though:

The songs were AMAZING!! I know what I'm going to listen at during the next weeks. Kudos to all the voice actors

Special mention to the songs of Bismuth (Uzo Aduba) and of Opal (Aimee Mann). I've been looking for these characters to sing for a loooooooong time and they delivered!!

The context to the "You can't solve everything by singing some stupid songs" line was so good

SPINEL. We stan one (1) villain. She was so sassy and desperate, cartoonish and endearing. I absolutely adore her

Her redemption was really predictable, but then again it's Steven Universe we're talking about, come on, we all knew that would happen

Rose/Pink was a jerk, proof n° 743258

Cotton Candy Garnet was so cuuuuuuute I wanna give her all the hugs

Memoryless!Pearl was so creepy?? like I related hard to Greg being constantly weirded out by her

Speaking about disturbing things: STEG. Their double guitar was really cool but they're way too sexy for a fusion including Steven. They're basically a bara fanart. Also, what kind of lame name is that??

Little HomeWorld filled with lesbian gems all living together gave me life. Special mention to the Beetle girlfriends

The Bislapidot was strong in this movie. When Bismuth caught the wedding's bouquet in Reunited, it probs meant she'd marry Lapis Lazuli and Peridot, I guess

The Diamonds are these overwhelming relatives you try to get rid of but keep coming back and asking you to live with them

More precisely, White Diamond is this racist/homophobic/transphobic grandma that says problematic stuff and then corrects herself when she sees that you won't give her a free pass for her bullshit

I really enjoyed all these hugs and warm moments between the Crystal Gems

Steven and Amethyst have a secret high five!!!

Connie kissed Steven on the cheek ❤️

That's all I can think about for the moment. I'll add more if I have more ideas.

[edit] First rewatch and I have more things to say indeed:

The fourth wall jokes were ON POINT. Especially the ones about redemption arcs ("it took me months to stop wanting to kill Steven" "a day, a day and a half?" "i'm still on the fence" lol). Also, "I COULD HAVE LOST ALL MY CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT" or "Look at them, they're not even singing along"

Who We Are is definitely my favorite song. Amazing message, great lyrics, Bismuth's voice was incredible and the instrumental including the leitmotif of her character? Awesome. "As long as one of us will standing to brandish the star..." Powerful.

I don't know who was the cutest between Cotton Candy Garnet, baby Spinel or baby Amethyst

The Rupphire fusion scene was MAGICAL

Amethyst calling Rose "the love of [Pearl]'s life" was so important

Spinel's backstory broke my little heart again

The final message about change being Steven's true power was so beautiful

[faelapis]

white diamond’s morality

i think one of the reasons i like SU so much is, i feel its approach to morality is more structural than individual.

cartoons tend to be a bit... “great man history” about its conflict resolution. that is to say, entire systems hinge on their leaders, and the masses are easily led in a new direction if the old leader is dispatched. this is seen as unproblematic, and no one clings to everything they were taught under the old system. unless, of course, they’re one of the “bad seeds” (note again the individualism) and must also be dispatched, rather than understood as part of a context.

su definitely has a bit of that, namely the gems who were inspired by rose and chose to fight with her, but it’s more deconstructive about it. they all have personal reasons for joining, rather than the rejection of their old lives being the “default”. they still cling to fears of failing to be what they’re supposed to (especially pearl), and their leader doesn’t have a solution to the gem hierarchy. 

rose is against it, but she doesn’t know how to dismantle it. she carries seeds of disrespect towards those she protects. she may not even think they can truly break free, judging by her dialogue. she plays the perfect leader, because she’s become depressed enough to think that’s what they want her to be. it’s certainly what she was encouraged to think.

moreover, many on the cg side, including rose, thought that “shattering“ pink would be the end of it. that the dear leader was necessary to keep the system alive. but that thought is subverted - not just by the other diamonds, whose ties to pink are close, but by her followers. the ones whose role became their solace, rather than the thing they wanted to escape from. they don’t all become crystal gems, because that’s not what makes sense to them. what makes sense is to... keep going, as before. that’s what made sense to jasper, eyeball, nephrite.

and yes, they all suffer for it, but the worldbuilding of the show is strong enough that there’s inherent understanding that their responses make sense within their world, and that expecting them to celebrate and change sides overnight is... kind of unfair. it was certainly immature of rose, if she ever had that hope.

which brings me to white diamond.

i love the setup of the current arc. the question is never “can white be redeemed or will we just have to kill her”, because there are actual reasons they’re talking to her in the first place that aren’t merely ideological. like, ok, you defeat white, then what? the corrupted gems are still corrupted. her gems will hate you, maybe even seek revenge. i hope your individual moral purity was worth it, because that’s all you get for refusing to talk to her. by treating her as an individual evil, you’re inherently choosing to ignore structural problems at hand.

so the real questions are as following: 1. what would steven need to do to convince white to help him? 2. why does white perpetuate the system, and what does she think would happen without it?

i’m not the oracle who can tell you the former, but the latter is worth discussing. most of the reaction i’ve seen to the idea of white having genuine character motivation is very... well, as the saying goes, “cool motive, still murder”.

but people basically say that about every character before they know that motivation. they said it about jasper. they said it about blue and yellow (some still do, but others substitute that for blaming everything on white). it’s a very easy thing to say, when you assume all it could be is just “maybe they’re sad and lonely :(“... but that’s not what i imagine for white.

to be clear - i do think she’s lonely. isolating yourself in your head (figuratively and literally) for thousands of years will do that to you... and playing puppet with her pearl is kind of a brilliant commentary on what it’s like to be avoidant - you’re there, you can see and hear others, but you’re shielding yourself in such a way that they can’t really reach you. you’re not present enough to open yourself up, or ever tell anyone how you feel. “white never leaves her own head anymore”.

but this isn’t a motivation in and of itself. avoidance is tied to anxiety, so what is white so scared of happening if she lets go of her control?

honestly, i think what she fears is nothing less than the end of gemkind.

becoming a childless god.

the crystal gems are basically ok with that. they have to be, because gem production requires feeding off of planets, and fertile ones tend to be populated - hence the injectors look like irl viruses. they’re a parasitic species. they reproduce by killing their host.

moreover, gem production is highly specialized. you need kindergarteners, and then you need lapis lazulis to terraform in preparation of the injectors, then of course you need armies to conquer the next planet, and then Of Course you need agates to keep those gems in line, and then Naturally you need a court system with zircons to make sure everyone does their jobs, and Obviously guards to keep the peace, and managers, and pilots, and domestic servants, and if everyone doesn’t do these things then nothing will ever get done! there will be chaos and we’ll be defeated and we’ll all die next time we try to reproduce. what’s that, the youngest diamond thinks we should prioritize humankind over our own species? don’t be absurd!

that’s the rabbit hole of anxiety white has fallen down. and those anxieties aren’t merely hers, but everyone who follows the system - and gems seemingly burst out of the ground “already knowing what they’re supposed to be”, which is very much in line with that system. 

we tend to prescribe individuality to the diamonds, that they do things merely because they want to, but i think white is as much part of her court as her court depends on her. she doesn’t just think she’s the leader, she thinks she has to be in order to serve her society. she’s another gear in the clockwork, just like everyone else. why shouldn’t she stay in her room as a perfect queen, shining down on her court without desires of her own? why should she open up about what she wants? such irrational thoughts...

i think how pink creates life (the pebbles, lion, steven’s watermelons) terrifies white, because it’s use of resources without that structure. putting your own desires above your duty, allowing atomic chaos controlled only by each individual, knowing that those individuals could be destroyed and nothing new could be made without a diamond’s essence... feels selfish to her. like. ok, you want individuality and choice, cool, i’m kinda trying to keep everything in its place so we can live on as a species. but go off i guess.

and this is the part where i say what’s obvious but still needs to be said - white’s perspective is flawed. pink may be reckless, selfish, and naive, but white’s system is so deeply collectivist that she fails to see the clockwork as made up of individuals. why shouldn’t she harvest and replace a faulty part, if someone in the beehive isn’t doing their job perfectly? we’re all just machine parts, and we’re all replaceable. naturally. for the greater good. 

it’s fitting that what made her smile in the first place was a synchronized dance of literal machine parts. the end of that order terrifies her.

this is why her design (and homeworld’s) is so heavily inspired by the movie “metropolis” - which was in and of itself a critique of the dehumanization of workers under industrialism. white is the end point of that. that’s also where we got the quote for the configuration of the diamond ship - “the mediator between the head (white) and the hands (blue & yellow) must be the heart (steven)”. 

but it’s not just her. peridot and jasper both think this is perfectly rational, and write the crystal gems off as emotional and selfish (at first). and.. everything taken into account, it’s clear that neither the crystal gems as a collective or rose as an individual have been able to fully cast these ideas aside. rose’s answer wasn’t for gems - it was to put her faith in humanity, who “can choose”. who can reinvent themselves. and she thought right up until her last years that gems are somewhat tied to their purpose. that’s why she wanted to be human, after all.

and that’s why steven makes such a great bridge between these worlds. he’s blunt about how wrong it is, what rose and the crystal gems thought - that gems couldn’t change. of course they can, look at how far garnet, amethyst, and pearl have come! look at how they’ve blossomed, look at how they’ve worked to become their best selves! look at what gems and humans have in common! 

and what’s sometimes a flaw of his - inserting himself into other people’s lives and believing he understands what’s best for them, even before he knows them as individuals, to the point that it occasionally drives people (like lapis and lars) away... who does he have that in common with, if not the diamonds? if not the “impeccable judgement” of white herself?

i think that’s why, ultimately... flawed, biased and shortsighted as he can be (just like his mother), steven can get through to white. maybe not now, but someday. because he understands how these things fit together, how the problems of individuals have structural causes. most importantly, he knows that it’s going to take more than just him to fix things - and maybe he can help white realize that, too. there’s a secret fusion or love affair everywhere you look on homeworld, and so she could never really control a clockwork order... but that’s ok, because she can let go. everything in the world isn’t up to her.