PEARLYBALL!?? *Steven Universe Future* Episodes 3-4 FIRST TIME REACTION Rose Buds, Volleyball

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OMG Two heavy hitters! Even though pink/rose is gone her actions have still had a profound effect on those she's left behind. I'm honestly surprised by how great these episodes were. I can honestly see Steven heading to a breakdown with how far he's pushing himself and how he's coping with what happened.
Time Stamps
0:00 Intro
2:54 Episode 3 Rose Buds
18:05 Episode 4 Volleyball
29:04 Discussion
34:04 What's Next?
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Thanks for watching!

[@Makaylalexis]

The fear of Pink being exposed if she was poofed was why Pearl is such a good fighter, she had to "Do it for Her"

[@softly3359]

Aaahh the Volleyball episode always makes me feel some type of way for a bunch of reasons but especially the way Pearl acts the entire time its like on one hand both pearls are dealing with damage emotionally or physically from someone they care about but also we see Pearl seme to overcompensate for not being the standard Pearl attitude. She rejects frills, she leans into being a soldier while Volleyball has no reservations of liking "pearl" things. It's so fascinating (as someone who overcompensated when trying not to be a stereotype growing up)

[@francescawhite4166]

It's so interesting how all the gems go by she/her and whatnot but pearls truly feel like an allegory for women (though it's not one to one)

[@iesika7387]

@@francescawhite4166 She's really inspired by an older anime, Revolutionary Girl Utena, that features a character who really is intended to serve as a thematic representation of all women (the series makes heavy use of arctypes and roles and explores cycles of abuse) The Pearlyball fusion's look is pulled directly from that show. If you're into the themes of this episode, I highly recommend checking out the original show.

[@francescawhite4166]

@iesika7387 oh, I know revolutionary girl utena, it's my fav anime. I could go on for hours talking about it, and it's really cool how it was used for inspiration here

[@izachi-chan2432]

It kinda hurts a bit, this episode. How Pearl slightly shames Voleyball for still being a Pearl who enjoys traditional Pearl-y things. At times even infantilizing her Idk its clear Pearl still enjoys some Pearl-y things but is forcing herself to be seen as superior and "over this"

[@landon29]

I like how you compared Pearls to robots but that's essentially what Gems are. I believe Rebecca Sugar's husband said on twitter during Season 5, that Gems are robots with holograms for bodies instead of metal. You could say their gemstones are computers that contain their data. Makes sense when you think about it. When they get cracked, they start glitching. When they break, they stop working all together, unless you use some freak experimentation, like the Mutants/Cluster. You can also see many uses of data in the show. From syncing (Fusion), to deleting/resetting (Rejuvenation), to even outright overwriting (Steven's birth). It's all just fascinating to think about.

[@SputnikSpyglass]

That really seems to be the case! I recenty watched a video essay that theorized that the Gems were like AI

[@carlalussini]

Interesting, for me, fusion sounds exactly like every channeler and many cultures through time and space that have connected with higher dimensional consciousness explain those beings; you could say there's a Human Consciousness that's a fusion of all of us who ever existed, and so on. Gaia/Pachamama is well known for being Earth's soul consciousness. This is millennial, worldwide knowledge. But not mind knowledge, heart knowledge. That's why it comes up in art. That's why people IMAGINE space civilizations that JUST make sense and connect with us in a deep, illogical level.

[@rebellibrarian]

The Rose buds are all voiced by Kimberly Brooks, who also voices Jasper - and so many others!

[@redram6080]

Quartz gems are usually voiced by either Amethyst's voice actress or Jasper's voice actress since they are all technically different type of quartz.

[@montiigo]

pink/our rose isn't voiced by michaela or kimberly because she's technically not a quartz😁😁 thats why the other rose quartzes arent voiced by susan egan (pink's va)

[@Domi_Nique811]

The classic SU episode "Storm in the room" was already heavy. Rewatching after "Rose Buds" is soul crushing.

[@damthatssick]

In future episodes, Volleyball is frequently a background character experiencing and being fascinated with the Earth. You can't see her eye, though. One time, she was taking a picture with a camera, smiling at the result, or would have her back turned. The intention was to keep it ambiguous whether or not the crack is still there. A redditor found a stillframe of volleyball in a future episode where the left side of her face is obscured by a plant, however you can see that the crack is indeed still there. I think that's big. One turning point experience doesn't heal your trauma. Sometimes, traumas never "heal". Just because they don't, though, doesn't mean that someone can't live on, still carrying that trauma. It doesn't need to debilitate you, you can still live.

[@aarw4907]

I believe the Pearl fusion is called “Mother of Pearl”. I love how no one is ready to deal with the rose quarts, the trams is just too deep. And I like to think volleyball is not completely fixed but the cracks might have gotten smaller

[@WraythSkitzofrenik]

Officially it's Mega Pearl, but my headcanon is "Royal Pearl" I've also heard "Prince Pearl".

[@estebanco6937]

​@@WraythSkitzofrenik the official name that appears in the episode credits is Mega Pearl; Prince Pearl is the name of the official soundtrack of that scene

[@k.p.5069]

this is just a personal theory, but if you noticed, the rose quartz that looked exactly like the rose we all know, she has the same exact gem placement. maybe pink “mimicked” that specific rose quartz because of the gem placement. i always think about what that rose went through from the time span of pink lashing out to the roses getting poofed.

[@simonsonian8977]

But Rose(Steven’s Mom) based her form off of Amethysts, as Rose Quartz didn’t seem to exist yet. The Rose Quartzes were likely created for the purpose of hiding our Rose, as she couldn’t get away with being a pink and white Amethyst for long.

[@thegrumple5862]

@@simonsonian8977 and also we see that pearl came up with the idea anyway so it couldn't be that she copied this one rose

[@-i_own_you_-]

Mega Pearl! 🩷💖 My favourite episode of future

[@somethingrandom6380]

Sammmeee🤩

[@sebastyann123]

Still to this day SU fandom fail to understand Rose/Pink's character. They literally love Blue and the other Diamond while They HATE Pink. When Pink is the literally Hero of the story.

[@gothicMCRgirl]

Yeah, people just can’t stand characters that have flaws, I guess. Like, you can be upset with a character’s decisions, that’s totally understandable, but to completely misunderstand a character as a whole and only focus on the bad that they’ve done is really doing a disfavor not just to the character, but to the story as a whole. Pink Diamond/Rose is the REASON we have Steven today. She saved the world. Her story is a redemption story. She redeemed her past and the horrible person she was, and left behind a brighter future for her friends and her son. Yes there was a lot of collateral damage, and yes it’s normal to be mad at her for that. Doesn’t change the fact that she died a better person than she was, and it’s unfair to ignore that in favor of pointing out her flaws.

[@WraythSkitzofrenik]

If her story was told chronologically they'd love her

[@capn_toad]

episodes where steven gets truly angry always appeal to me. zach's voice acting during Steven's breakdown was superb.

[@MysticJhn]

I love how they purposely never show Volleyball's cracked side. You never know if it's fixed, but it doesn't actually matter because she's psychological better now that she can connect with Pearl.

[@DaZebraffe]

Greg's "NOPE!" sends me every time. XD

[@narbeep8313]

"Seeing fusion represent like a consensus" is an amazing way to put it. one of the best i've ever heard. i love that!

[@LoremIpsum905]

I very much appreciate how affected y'all were by Rose Buds. Most commentators are like "oh haha funny and awkward" but y'all are (rightfully) just as overwhelmed as I was. I also love "it's not the placement -- it's the frame[ing]"

[@Blaker36]

I just found you two, and I freaking love yalls reactions!!

[@jordiano.]

It would’ve been so interesting to see blue pearl and yellow pearl have more interactions with Pearl and volleyball

[@Pvydrow]

the volleyball and pearl fusion looks straight out of Revolutionary Girl Utena, it's literally just Anthy Himemiya's design.. and I just realized it makes SO much sense because himemiya in the anime is the Rose Bride, which in Steven Universe, Pearl and Volleyball had such a deep connection to Rose/Pink...

[@iesika7387]

There are so many parallels/inspirations from Revolutionary Girl Utena in this series including shot-for-shot fight scenes. I'm always stunned when I find out sommeone who likes this kind of show hasn't seen Utena - there's direct inspiration from it in SU, in She-Ra, in half the smart shojo anime made in the last 25 years. Heck, having seen Utena spoiled me for elements of Steven Universe because the flashbacks used Utena's visual language to tell us "this is a lie, it's a fairy tale."

[@nkanyisoinnocentkhwane3752]

I'm a guy that rarely cries watching media but every time I see *Future* I tear up half a dozen times at least

[@vanb8797]

I watched ya'll react to Volleyball twice. The second time, I paid close attention to your faces when Volleyball says, "...this was all Pink Diamond." The jaw-drops were appropriate.

[@caitrose2198]

Something SU Future does that I’ve never really seen before and is *incredibly* effective is the use of cringe comedy to create a very tangible sense of mounting tension and dread. It keeps coming up in more episodes, there are all these moments where your knee jerk reaction is to laugh but then you go 😦👀😬 and they keep ramping it up and it works so well

[@kaylagaymon4873]

7:24-7:28 I can't stop laughing at Amethyst's shocked reaction to the Rose buds 😲😲😲🤣🤣🤣

[@Jygerthe2nd]

"I WAS badly hurt. How did you stop hurting?" "I didn't." ...That hits WAY too close to home for me. 😢

[@troy6646]

You guys are my favorite ppl reacting too this show. Both of u react so similarly to how I did watching the show so I always look forward to it

[@johnkearns2252]

Pink Dimond had to copy a rose quarts to take the form of and that is why they look so similar to the one in this episode

[@mofongoboy2057]

Episode 4 of SU:F never fails to make me tear up. Such a beautiful episode.

[@hypnobedhead]

I want that Kirby shirt! Also? That Volleyball episode crushes me.

[@andreargente7474]

I love Volleyball episode so much, hit me so hard haha

[@palettesdump]

The pearls episode still destroys me to this day, hit so close to home, when this aired i was still a pre-teen growing up, and it just helped me SO much. I love this show❤

[@carlalussini]

I want Rose's hair too! At least you got the next best human looking thing;that gorgeous hair that looks like a crown, I inherited northern Italian hair; mid brown, almost straight, no body, no hold, no volume. Just mousey white people hair (and I'm mix, could've had had native, jet black hair, which is flat but at least strikingly so; but no dice). And yes, I get the good side of it is not requiring high maintenance.... But my everyday hairstyle doesn't make me look like a queen.

[@HisInfernalMajesty27]

Peridot Log Date 7-10-2 You have an ineptitude for video creation that I begrudgingly respect, though that doesn't explain your spontaneous singing, crying, singing while crying

[@HisInfernalMajesty27]

Sputnik, can you and Indi please feature the above comment in your next video of Steven Universe reaction? ♡

[@TheDeadDandy]

The way that Rose took the form of a Rose Quartz to be “serious” when true Rose Quartzes are a lot like Pink Diamond, A+

[@kayla8402]

It's become part of her self image, and she can't "fix" what she refuses to see as a problem. Also. Even more direct, realistic impact of Pink, of the prior theme of her having grown into being a better person... but she absolutely took her traumas out on others. hell of a followup to the rose buds, and THEIR traumas related to Pink. She didn't mean to, but the damage and hurt was done, and both are true and can be worked through (potentially). Pink/Rose DID become a better person! But. and hooboy, you can see Steven starting to do what Volleyball is doing, what Pink earlier on did, which is... bury feelings, not acknowledge (or even realize) there's a problem, and have it start to explode...

[@wtimmins]

I love dog smiles (at end)

[@DonnaBump]

34:18 I think Rainbow 2.0 would be the best therapist. Mary Poppins style, ya'll! Maybe a fusion of Rainbow 2.0 with Amethyst like she is now "trying to help people find who they are and what they like to do".

[@wilhelmhedin8845]

Noice. I find my self looking forward to each new episode. ❤

[@mathemago]

26:56 Me rn, my eyes still get misty every time but I still smile

[@iesika7387]

Ya never fully get over your first heartbreak, especially when it's the first unpleasant thing that's ever happened in living memory of your people. Greg's going down in Zoo People history as basically the guy who brought pain into the world just cuz he didn't want to participate in a giant orgy smh My take on Vollyball's scars is that when she reformed, she made the damage part of her new form. Someday maybe she can shed it, but for now, it's part of her concept of self. Also "What did Pink get you, tee hee?" A revolution bish

[@narbeep8313]

"My take on Vollyball's scars is that when she reformed, she made the damage part of her new form. Someday maybe she can shed it, but for now, it's part of her concept of self." I love that idea!!! That's so good

[@AnaBacanazp]

I'M FINALLY CAUGHT UP. I found you guys not long ago, and your reactions are so good! Not only the in depth discussion, but I also appreciate the minimal cuts in the episodes. I'm so glad I managed to catch up in time for most of the SUF eps. SUF is def not everyone's cup of tea, but I have some deep appreciation for it and the thematic. The first time I watched I was so overwhelmed it....actually took me 3 years to watch the last 3 eps, even though I watched all the others just as they aired lol. It was...a struggle. It just hits too hard. That being said, when I rewatched the whole series last year, I was honestly surprised by how good SUF is, cuz I must have repressed most of the memories and forgotten a good chunk of it lmao. But yes, I love it despite its flaws (mostly how short and rushed it is, but it can't be helped) IK a lot of people didn't like it because they had many expectations about new plot and more stuff about the gems, but SUF is basically an epilogue and it is, above all, about STEVEN. Which is wild, cuz even though he's the main character, the og series so rarely tackles his feelings, and that's because Steven himself represses them and focuses on literally everyone else's problems first. Not to mention the constant world threatening issues they have to deal with, on top of Steven trying to figure out how to use his powers and how to essentially be a gem. And the interesting thing is that SUF now puts him in a spotlight even as he tries to focus on others' problems still, and it becomes clear this is his journey processing his trauma and also how to be *human*.

[@utsuita_shadow]

I love you two sm 😭 I love seeing your reactions! Keep this up! ❤

[@calypsolemon9571]

im surprised you guys didn't clue in to how unintentionally ironic/cruel it was to nickname her volleyball considering her trauma...

[@joannrosas9242]

the gasp she gusped lolllll

[@SaveoYousif]

Steven has a lot of sisters now

[@DonnaBump]

Woke up this morning, and the first thing I thought was... I would love to see Sputnik grow out their hair like Indi's and then the two of them can be the two sides of cotton candy Garnet from the movie as they're fusing during "Isn't it Love"; for cos play or Halloween or something. ❤😁 I think it would be so cute!

[@benjaminburwood5722]

the rose quartz and rq/pink diamond arent the same actor

[@redram6080]

They have the same voice actress as jasper though

[@HaifaaAmni]

I was wondering what the quiet breathing was since I'm wearing headphones, I looked for a while then saw that cute lil doggo face 😭

[@reapersmercy]

Prince Pearl ❤

[@ikirbeeburgr]

NICE SHIRT BEST SHIRT LOVE THAT SHIRT NEED THAT SHIRT WANT THAT SHIRT BEAUTIFUL SHIRT

[@ikirbeeburgr]

Kirby shirt ❤

[@wtimmins]

A lot of folks didn't like SU: Future because it really took the gloves off of the emotional elements and consequences of the show. Others of us like it precisely for that reason.

[@WraythSkitzofrenik]

Hippie Rose is a smoke show...damn

[@damascoup]

that kirby shirt is cute. i need to raid yo closet

[@miltt523]

25:26

[@michaelhurstanime5009]

REACT TO ATTACK ON TITAN BOTH OF YOU NOW!!!!

[@michaelhurstanime5009]

REACT TO ATTACK ON TITAN BOTH OF YOU NOW!!!!!!!!!!

[@Howard0Chris]

They're not queers