#sorry I just did this because I saw a rewrite of SU future and it pissed me off how they characterized spinel and the diamonds

[mangysah]

I will say this. I absolutely despise how there’s barely an inbetween when it comes to the characterization of the Diamonds post canon. It’s like people either want them to be dear loving aunt figures who did no wrong ever (they literally abused Pink and were essentially otherworldly tyrannic dictators but okay sure ignore that 😐), or completely ignorant creatures who can’t form a single decent opinion and will hurt everyone at every turn on PURPOSE, forgetting any development they’ve ever made in favor of calling others lower lifeforms (like girl then what was the purpose of the last season and SU future then)

Listen I know they’re not perfect and far from that, especially with how the show tried to redeem White because it didn’t turn out as well as we hoped, but WHEN WILL YOU ALL UNDERSTAND THAT FLAWED CHARACTERS EXIST! It’s obvious that the Diamonds were more wrong than good, but with the context of the movie and SU future it’s obvious they’re trying to be better. Even if they haven’t figured everything out yet. You can’t just deny any of that and make them to be completely irredeemable or completely wonderful when the entire message of the show is anyone can change their mind.

[goggles-mcgee]

So, I just read through your rewrites, and the last one I saw was for "Reflekdoll" -- except you covered "Reflekta" from season 1 instead. So, bearing in mind the "Reflekta" you've already done, how would "Reflekdoll" from season 3 proceed? Bonus for Lady Noire having the legit hots for M. Bug, please. (Sorry if this sent multiple times, I was getting Gateway Timeouts from Tumblr!)

Ah see I didn't catch that, thank you for telling me I did the wrong episode. Anyways let's get into Reflekdoll!

First and foremost let's talk about Juleka, I totally love her as a character and all but they use her shyness somewhat as comic relief. Examples being Dark Blade,Gigantitan, and of coure, Reflekta. As someone who suffers from social anxiety it kind of made me mad, it still does but that's besides the point. This episode was supposed to be her trying to overcome that shyness to do something that she dreams of doing. This episode gets some kudos from me for showing the sibling relationship between Juleka and Luka. Juleka has a little pressure on her to begin with though because of it.

Some may disagree with me on that, Luka didn't intentionally place pressure on her but Juleka is taking his advice and she tries to through with the whole model thing because it's not just her dream, she doesn't want to disappoint Luka. We all now he wouldn't be disappointed in her, and Juleka probably knows it too, but anxiety is like that folks. For the sake of the episode this will all be the same but I do want to change something(s) or there to be actual effects of causes on this gosh darn show.

Enter in my problem number 2 (as Juleka's portrayal being 1) Alya, Adrien, and the All Timr Betrayal. Am I being dramatic? Yes! But I'm a dramatic person! I flourish in it. Anyways, Alya, I get she's just trying to be helpful but the reality is she wasn't, and this was another example of an instance where she shouldn't have forced Marinette into something she showed clear disinterest in. This photoshoot wasn't just for shits and giggles. It was for Marinette's future website. Alya knew that. Yet she still tried to make it into a matchmaking session. Adrien should have said no. I know shoppers may be mad at me saying that but Adrien is a professional model, and what do professional models have? Contracts. Gabriel doesn't seem the type to just let Adrien model for anyone and we've only seen Adrien model for Gabriel brand things. It's safe to assume that it's in his contract. He may be an Agreste but Gabriel is professional and would absolutely have Adrien on a contract. I imagine in the contract is states he is only to model the Gabriel brand or any brand Gabriel approved of as he is a minor. Marinette could have been sued if Adrien did model for her and the pictures were used. You can say they're friends all you want and point out that it would be immature of Gabriel to do so but I argue that Gabriel is that immature and it's not a matter of Adrien modeling it's about his Brand and his brand is the second most important thing to him besides the miraculi (I refuse. REFUSE. To say miraculouses. It's dumb and I hate it)

So Adrien should have said no, which could have resulted in Alya trying to get him to do it despite him saying he can't and maybe it takes the a while to the point where they can't do the shoot anymore resulting in Juleka's akumatization. The Miraculous mix up could still be accomplished let's say Adrien gave in last minute, the only thing he takes off is the ring, Marinette took off the earrings and boom Reflekdoll happens they run out without thinking, leaving their Miraculous behind. Same situation happens where Mari and Adrien get shot by the ray and Plagg and Tikki go off with their Miraculous to find their holders. The mix up happens and we still get Mister Bug (hate the name) and Lady Noire. Now the other option is it starts off the same as the actual episode, Adrien agrees because he wants to help out his good friend Marinette. But Marinette resists and is mad at Alya because she told Alya to not involve Adrien, not only because that is super messed up to Juleka but because Marinette actually wanted to get work done and Alya knows how she is around Adrien. Marinette giving in because of Alya and everything else and she doesn't want another friend hurt and the mix up happens again.

Fight is basically the same for each version. Except Adrien is called either Lady Beetle or Red Beetle. SOMETHING OTHER THAN MISTER BUG! That sounds like a name a kid would give a superhero. ("Hey Manon what would you call Ladybug is she was a boy?" "Weird question mom, but I shall answer and his name shall be Mister Bug." "Thank you for your time Manon." "Always a pleasure mom.") His design was legit though, that was a great suit! (So why couldn't they do that for Ladybug?????????????) Lady Noire is cute I like the name, it makes sense and doesn't make me want to rip my hair out, i would have also been okay with Kitty Noire, Kitten Nuit etc. BUT THAT SUIT!? it was nice I guess but simple, and I love Mari but that green did not work well with her, they should have given the outfit Blue highlights and such! And maybe made it not as simple??? Like they give Adrien armor, they couldn't have given Marinette some flare????? The suit for Mari is my only complaint switch wise. I loved the fact that Marinette got to relax somewhat during the fight and actually have fun with it, which is why I don't understand why so many people were mad at her and being mean, like she was just doing what Chat Noir does! But because she does it she's suddenly unprofessional and mean?? Huh, cause that makes sense. Adrien getting frustrated? Thank you for giving the boy some emotions other than Happy or fondly annoyed or lovesick. It was great that they both got a feel of what the other has to do in a fight and it shows that they have the wrong Miraculous but are trying. It shows us that they are the right people for their given Miraculous.

Now I know you wanted shippy stuff but honestly that's one thing I would change for the episode, it being less focused on them and more on Juleka as this was supposed to be about her, give me her mom seeing the giant doll and knowing it's her baby and rushing over along with Luka. Luka asking what happened and Rose telling him what happened. I'm not saying this just because I love Luka, but because, this started out with him and Juleka. Maybe have him think it's his fault and try to apologize to her and that's what makes her hesitate and that's what helps Adrien and Mari get inside the doll and what not. Maybe her shooting her mom with the ray and pausing because she didn't want to do that to her mom. Maybe Juleka is the one who breaks free from Mayura and when she does Mari and Adrien get to her akumatized object. Also give me shorter time limits after they each use their special power because they are not using the right Miraculous and the Miraculous knows that. Maybe they can't hold the transformation as long as they would normally be able to. I can see Mari looking at "Chat" and the changes he made to her suit and being like "That's actually super cool" and complementing him on it and next time we see her, we get a suit upgrade.

And finally the end of the episode. Instead of Juleka and Adrien modeling, which I have nothing against but again the whole model contract thing and the fact he has to go, I want to change. Adrien does leave and he feels super bad for it but maybe this is the thing that makes him asl his dad to maybe help out Marinette or give him pointers to give to her, or maybe even him asking his dad if he could work with other designers like with the hat competition. End of with either Juleka and Luka, Juleka and Rose, or Juleka and Marinette. The Juleka and Luka would be cute because the episode started with the siblings and it can end with the siblings and it would still show off Marinette's designs on both females and males. Juleka and Rose because it would be nice to see the couple look on them and it would show a same sex couple which would be super cool and cute as i think they could totally pull it off. And Juleka and Marinette would be cool because it would show people that Marinette wears her designs herself and is proud of them and the added bonus of Marinette and Juleka having a heart to heart while changing or after the shoot and Marinette asling Juleka to model more for her. And maybe an apology from Alya to Marinette or Juleka or both after Marinette apologizes to Juleka. Maybe a group apology? Idk just...an apology please. Kids need to know that some actions have consequences and it's okay to admit you were wrong and friends do apologize to one another.

But yeah! I did like the episode overall though! I think we were all looking forward to the swap I just think they could have handled it better.

[monkey-network]

Steven Universe is Anime Garbage (And That’s Okay)

WARNING: This is gonna be a very weebish brain fart. I didn't come into writing it for any purpose, I just decided to write out my general stream of thoughts to see where it took me. This was the result. Thank you, take care out there, and enjoy.

A key to enlightenment is the severance of attachment

Can’t deny it. Steven Universe is a cartoon practically on the boundary with its many fans. Some find it engaging and wonderful, others find it wasted potential and struggling, and others are terrible fans with no sense of control or integrity, like most fandoms really. But I, a fan since its beginnings, wish to make a case that could potentially bring everything and everyone together in somewhat reasonable understanding (a stretch, somewhat). Steven Universe is a trash anime....and it is the best trash out here. Now I’m not saying this because it has an anime look, or that Jasper is a tsundere, or especially...

“Hey it’s a reference to that one anime that’s also very aesthetic™ and sad with lesbians and allegories!”

Nah, I’ll be real with you here. Now we really can’t deny that Steven Universe has its major flaws, not a hard pill to swallow way I see it. Wishy washy in tone, seldom in world building, basic animation, off putting character models, and so forth (though the last point is a malleable nitpick tbh). Furthermore, we can’t deny that the “plot” is up in the air and really not in the mood on coming down with anything truly shaking yet (putting a pin in that). But, I won’t deny that it looks good, some characters are worth my investment, and there is some development to be had in all this, for better or for worse. You could say it’s down the middle, so where am I going with this? Well, I think I found something that may be able to bring this together: Sword Art Online

*imitating Austin Powers* YEAH, BABY!

For those unaware, Sword Art Online is a light novel turned RPG Game turned full series anime about thousands of people getting trapped in a VR game with one seeking to escape by beating the 100 levels of the game. It has action, death, good game feel, wonky gameplay, and fanservice.... I do not and will not recommend this to anyone, nor am I just comparing this to Steven U because both have OP protagonists, a myriad of female characters, and how one character is generally Lars if a better person initially. To repeat, I’m not saying these shows are the same in plot and such. Though the similarities certainly come in their perceptions and reactions.

Also dual wielding

Let me sidetrack a bit and do understand, at the time SAO premiered, otakus, anime fans, and even esports fans were hyped! This was before My Hero Academy blew millions away, before Attack on Titan throttled its theme music onto people, many were stoked and kept up that stokeness for this for quite a bit. This was SAO’s keepsake: Mass Appeal and timing. Then people started seeing the cracks of the show’s true faults, and now we’re at the point where more of the franchise is coming and the fandom is dragging between people that find it sucks or never should’ve been invested in the first place, people that continue to make the lemons into lemonade regardless, and the creeps (you know who they are). Sound familiar?

I mean we could say the same thing for the current Star Wars fandom, but that’s a tad more complicated

But this isn’t enough to say this is trash anime. No, like SAO, there is one thing that can tie everything together to implode into an enveloping infinite wormhole of foolishness and cleverness. One moment that just brought everything together and is gonna put everything together in the end. The definitive proof that...

Rose Quartz was the Origami Killer all along!!

But seriously, this was a twist that certainly cemented itself into being on par in writing with SAO and similar trash series. I mean, from a meta perspective, it’s pretty hilarious that the biggest twist the show presented was mostly considered a joke in the same way people thought The Simpsons could predict the future with the absurdist jokes they made. And really, all the symbolism and foreshadowing from every episode previously doesn’t excuse the blue balls I felt with the recent two seasons. I’m sorry guys, the eye opening revelation can go so far with someone who was only glad something actually came together after so long (even if the episode leading up to it lacked that “special shit”).

But as for Pink Diamond being the real Rose Quartz, the twist admittedly lack that impactful-ness and really shows how they’re twanging a string in the efforts to make you take the story seriously. For one thing, it’s pretty stupid to believe that nobody questioned the abilities the one Rose had compared to a typical quartz, not to mention that it felt pretty convenient that she never lost her form revealing her gem to anyone beside Pearl. Secondly, it kinda bait and switches not just the ideal, but a reasonable idea of Rose Quartz for just being the ambitious dictator turned anti-villain bent on liberating the Earth from her bigger than thou parents and more or less her own armada. Like, “Ha ha, you thought Rose Quartz was an ordinary gem that had to make genuine sacrifices in her efforts to best the higher ups and liberate her kind. But in reality, she had the abilities to win all along and generally did everything for the sake of not being a dictator anymore. MWAHAHAHAAAA” We can examine the complexities behind her motivations all we’d like, but that just feels like rewriting the already stupefying concept to make it sound more sensible.

Funny enough, Rose could’ve definitely working as the Charles Xavier of this series but they never delve into that reasonably valuable concept*

Lastly, it sort of--lack of a better term--irons out the whole show up with Steven being Pink Diamond, if that makes sense. In the back of my mind, I’ve generally lost my suspension of disbelief in believing that a fourteen year old child is not only the reformation of a failed rebel leader, but said failed rebel leader actually being the supposed antagonist and jumpstarting source behind everyone’s frustrations, ambitions, and tragedies. As if Steven wasn’t special enough on the fact that he can revive the dead, like Sword Art Online, it’s already apparent that he’ll generally win in the end due to him being the Special, the Ninetail, the Last Jedi, the Hollow, and the Fullbring all in one. It’s kinda hard getting invested in your story when I can’t care about your protagonists! Maybe he might actually suffer long term consequences, but I don’t have much in the future since it now feels hard to relate to the protagonist, who by the way is the central protagonist meaning no episode can go without his presence apparently.

He’ll enter your dreams if he must

And I’m afraid that Steven Universe has officially sunk to trash tier anime. And frankly, it’s always been anchored to this. I mean with SAO, as much as I saw before quitting, there was plot variety, not plot flips. It is one thing to have your series shift from light villain of the week slice of life to something like Oedipus Rex, but to get this far, nose diving into this belly flop of a reveal, to then ask to be taken with a modicum of seriousness, what? To put so much ambition into your work, that you’re essentially believing your own hype, barely exploring a big handful of your own ideas, until now, trying to make sympathy and reason coincide with the villain(s) instead of making them somewhat real. One could say “Monkey, it’s not about taking on villains, it’s about achieving resolve within the group’s personal struggles.” And while that is a reasonable and pathetic way of saying violence can’t resolve things, it doesn’t bear the fact that the Crystal Gems were essentially fighting villains beforehand while achieving resolve, so why change things up now? Especially when the villains before don’t bear any quirk of their own besides being relative to the plot. Or a plot, since again, it wants to be taken seriously with the “story” it has, but juggles way too many things that it can feel hilariously jarring when the show actually gets somewhere.

And as a character drama, the establishment of its world and idealogies don’t feel as valuable when the importance and passion to them are continuously muddled or dull

And this is the way of trash anime. People shouldn’t have to continuously think of how things could’ve been better, why plotlines and characters don’t mesh well, why it can just feel so contrived. Yeah it’s unfortunate that an SU Critical community exists, and yeah sometimes they deserve scrutiny because some try to make it deeper than it is, but we can’t deny that this all appeared from a vacuum. With criticisms can come a consistent string of logic that some things have turned up wrong, something that the series failed to grasp previously. Like SAO, most Shonen works, and “those” shows that I won’t speak of, this series was and has become a glorified gamble on your interests and the anticipation to see where it lands, how cathartic it’ll be, and what’s to look forward to and look back on.... has somewhat slimmed. While it is most certainly its own thing, it doesn’t bear that evolutionary yet timeless nuance Avatar and Adventure Time has, nor the continually captivating hook the best anime can have with its episodes and characters. This series has gotten stupid...and I say it’s not wrong to think that way.

Anime isn’t that big of a mistake, you guys. Come on.

If there’s anything I learned as one of the smartest idiots around, it’s that stupidity can be enjoyable; trust me, I know. So while I say SU’s anime garbage, I’m not saying it’s the bad kind that kills your mood/investment like the shit I found. it’s the Rocket Raccoon of Cartoon Network (and if you’ve seen Guardians 2 and get where I’m coming from, I love you for it). It’s still enjoyable, for the most part, and I’m not gonna ignore the influence it had on its fans. Hell, Black Panther is a movie I find flawed as fuck, but I and the millions (and the millions) still recognize and appreciate it for what it provided, for black people especially. While it can be predictable, there are some good moments to think over, for better or for worse, like how the Rose Quartz was subtly hinted at throughout the seasons. It’s still competent in some aspects, there are a few characters I still love and, to unpin, things look like they’re finally heating up. It still has that “Fuck yeah” spirit buried underneath, like many anime good and trash. It’s certainly better than Star vs th- Point I’m getting at is that this series sure as hell ain’t bulletproof, but I’ll gladly bandage it up and see it through to the end. Not as some guilty pleasure, but as a series that staggers constantly and consistently but makes up in keeping it compelling (in a way). That’s a quality only the best trash anime achieves, shooting itself in the foot while proudly making that run to the finish line. I’m not just blatantly criticizing it or supporting all the hype it makes, I’m embracing it for going this long with this many bruises, willing to take more hits, all the while never really losing sight of what it set out to do. I’ll still smack it upside the head for the stupid shit it might pull, because I know it can and will, but that smack is delivered with love. And really, is that not a reasonable feeling to have?

Steven U is anime garbage... and I’m fine with that.