Steven Universe Future is Nearly not a Mess

[@castle9165]

Does anyone call the gempire the gem empire. Okay just me

[@altromonte15]

When it was smaller, it was known as the gem kingdom, the Gemdom.

[@brogandragota9396]

I really have never heard anyone say that and i loved this show

[@Whispernyan]

@@brogandragota9396 Ikr, it does not sound better either. It's supposed to be menacing, something that invokes terror, and Gem Empire does just that. Gempire is just too goofy, you can't take anyone who says that seriously.

[@brogandragota9396]

Whispernyan i think that most of the people who do havent watch the show before because not a single person in the show says that

[@HeilRay]

Gempire is a huge missed opportunity

[@milkbox103]

the thing that always bugged me about the original series finale and how white diamond says that steven is acting like a child. gems don't have the concept of children and families, so it wouldn't make sense for white to compare steven to one.

[@joolsthebass]

That's a very good point that had never occurred to me

[@milkbox103]

@RedIAnima YT how would she even know the term?

[@milkbox103]

@RedIAnima YT even if you were correct, that contradicts your first reply. saying that she didn't understand what the term "child" means when you also said that they analysed earth for 5000 years doesn't add up. the context in which white used the term implies that she knows what it means and used it to try and belittle steven, when she shouldn't know what it means because she is literally an alien who stayed shut in her alien room for those 5000 years.

[@leamonshleamon7806]

milk box let’s not forget the zoo

[@noonebossesthegarnet2890]

What pisses me off was that I expected a heated fight scene or literally anything groundbreaking just to defeat White Diamond, only for her to be caught off guard by a simple “No u” response.

[@MistbornTaylor]

Hey I just realized something. How does White Diamond know what a child is?

[@Abyssal86]

YES! I've been saying that for ages.

[@Blue_910]

Wtf... I’m woke.

[@ethelgalan5330]

Shitty and lazy writing.

[@vovabars1234]

Poor writing

[@8ballman232]

probably in gemlish it means young gems

[@BuzzabeelYT]

Aren’t we glad the crewniverse ignored Lars’ character for an entire season, brought him back to Earth at the very end, ignored him in the movie, then sent his character back into space at the first opportunity to get him out of the show? Being dead and potentially outliving everyone you love with only a lion understanding how you feel is no big deal. Why would they want to focus on that? It’s fine. I’m fine.

[@Whispernyan]

The whole outliving thing is probably why he fell out with Sadie and wants to back into to space. Cutting off ties with all the humans who know him so he doesn't have to deal with the pain that would come watching everyone he knows pass away. Thou at the same time this also most likely applies to Steven.

[@BuzzabeelYT]

@@Whispernyan The problem with that is that what you said is all speculation. We can guess and theorize about Lars' motivations all day, but the crewniverse couldn't be bothered to devote any screen time to, you know, _showing_ it.

[@djdragondrawer9339]

@@BuzzabeelYT The crewniverse never likes to show shit. It always has to be at Steven's perspective. Stuff just happens off screen and you'll just have to accept it because Steven wasn't there to witness it. Like the talk between Sadie and Lars or the Diamonds reversing their powers. That shits not important, huh? Instead focus on a mistake of a character fuck with Steven by trying to feed him grass for an entire episode!

[@Uncompromising_Mode]

Don't forget getting cucked by Rebecca Sugars self insert because she didnt like how other writers were writing Lars and Sadie.

[@BuzzabeelYT]

@@djdragondrawer9339 Except that's not an excuse either. Who is the only character in the entire galaxy that could reach Lars no matter where he is? The connecting bridge between Lion and Lars? Oh right, it's Steven!

[@stolstice2071]

One of my biggest problems with SU:Future is how all of the diamonds get completely redeemed, yet the only diamond who has no chance to advocate for herself, Pink Diamond, keeps getting more and more shit piled on her and she becomes the sole symbol of all that is bad in the Steven Universe universe. Steven is allowed to do horrible things (commit manslaughter on Jasper, almost commit manslaughter on Greg, attempt to murder White Diamond) with the expectation that he is only human and allowed to change and improve, yet the same empathy is missing for Pink Diamond. Was Pink perfect? No, but she wasn't a genocidal dictator who eradicated PLANETS worth of life and oppressed gems for wanting to be themselves, yet no episode is given to her in Future as a rebuttal. Steven, after having a melt down and causing a lot of pain to those around him, could have had a moment of understanding and empathy for his mom, who he seems to have nothing but loathing for in Future.

[@chickenstripz1961]

Pink's redemption is in reverse. But to the cast they don't see it like that. Once you start hearing bad things about a person, it's hard to look at them the same way.

[@Nionivek]

It was even worse in my mind when the Rose Quartz are suddenly all really mad at Pink Diamond... even though it has been established that they don't experience the passage of time while bubbled.

[@Whispernyan]

​@@Nionivek I don't see why experiencing all that time matters or not. It's still thousands of years just gone because of something you didn't even do. Look at Bismuth, who woke up to a world where most of her friends we're completely different people, or at Spinel. Yeah she wasn't bubbled, but she might as well have been. If you randomly got shoved into a cryogenic sleep chamber and woke up thousands of years later, would you not be upset.

[@chickenstripz1961]

@@Nionivek perhaps someone told them?

[@Nionivek]

Because absolutely nothing actually changed for them. All their friends are still there, their home is still there, etc.

[@dollors1]

Why was a whole season at a barn and treated like episodes of the rugrats but then the later season barely explored the gem homeworld

[@Debicus]

For some reason, Sugar finds Beach City much more interesting than the homeworld of a strange and interesting alien species.

[@TheDanteEX]

@@Debicus There's a lot of groundwork to creating an entirely new civilization to be fair. And the more we see, the more it'll probably feel similar to Earth society because it's very difficult to write interesting stories without relatable events and understanding. And taking the alien out of an alien society that we aren't meant to entirely understand could do more harm than good. And having a world that's too different to the point where everything has to be explained or doesn't make sense isn't much better either.

[@Debicus]

@@TheDanteEX Fair. I think it comes down more to Sugar focusing on, at least to me, mostly pointless subplots, while the main and more interesting plot is treated like a subplot.

[@Yipper64]

the whole show was unfocused to say the least. It kept building up to all sorts of different things, and keep going and going and then *oops* we are out of episodes and all that build up was for next to nothing.

[@manolgeorgiev9664]

3 reasons I can think of: 1: the writers figured out that they were dragging too much and wanted to increace the pace. 2: they ran out of ideas and don't really know themselves what homeworld should look like. 3: They wanted to get to the ending faster because of financing, burnout or just getting almost as tiered of the show as the viewers were.

[@RolyatSille]

I still can't take the emotional payoff of a dramatic, heartfelt "I may never come back." seriously when Steven has like 6 different ways to visit people instantly. He has actual functional, self powered teleporters, a magic lion, astral projection, super speed, actual spaceships, and possession. Even if he doesn't want to use his powers regularly, the lion and teleporter are still options. And he has Uncle Racism with his personal plane who's casually okay with just taking him places.

[@Phasmania]

Remember, he was just trying to scare the gems into feeling bad for him. Garnet sees the future and ensures that they will eventually be with Steven in every foreseeable timeline. Also, “uncle racism” lmao

[@discountchocolate4577]

@@Phasmania Speaking of "uncle racism": Peridot's character arc demonstrates that, if the Crewniverse really wanted to, they could have given Andy multiple episodes to develop from a bigot to a more tolerant/accepting person in a believable way. They (probably correctly) chose not to, because Andy is a one-off character. But what little character development we did get was barely believable and unsatisfying. It's like a microcosm of the anti-climatic insta-redemption problem that plagues much more important characters like the Diamonds.

[@Jdudec367]

@@discountchocolate4577 I thought andy changed in the episode he was in? like I thought he got more open minded by the end of the episode

[@discountchocolate4577]

@@Jdudec367 Yes. My point was Andy's character development was rushed to fit into one episode.

[@Jdudec367]

@@discountchocolate4577 eh...for a side character not sure if I would call it rushed

[@_______________315]

White Diamond is a cursed character. Everything about her is wtf.

[@Red-vo9gy]

I literally hate her. She’s extremely annoying in general and I think of how much better the show could be without her.

[@KaseyC.]

I liked her introduction, where she just doesn't let Steven say anything, but then after that makes me wish Steven didn't destroy Bismuth's newest weapon.

[@theamazingcowlet]

@@Red-vo9gy White Diamond was good when she was bad and the design is dope af

[@ValenArtsAnimation]

@@theamazingcowlet I think the Crewniverse put more effort in to her design than her actually character

[@theamazingcowlet]

@@ValenArtsAnimation True, kinda wasted potential

[@cretinouscretin9677]

Steven’s entire support network: “We’re here to help you whenever you need us!” Steven: *repeatedly continues to refuse help and lets his problems build until he finally breaks* Connie: “This is OUR fault for not being there for Steven when he needed us!” I don’t understand. You can't help someone if they don't want to be helped.

[@jingusflorpus4274]

There are a lot of times where things like this happen and the people around the hurt person blame themselves even if they didn't really do anything wrong. Their logic may be flawed as they TRIED to help, but it's really only natural for someone who failed in a mission to feel like they screwed it up no matter how out of their hands it may be. I think that was a part of SUF that was fairly realistic of the emotions of the people surrounding a victim, even if they laid it on really thick.

[@VagrantWulf]

Like I said, it feels like narcissistic sociopaths writing apologism for narcissistic sociopathy. "It isn't our fault we're like this! It's the fault of the people who fail to support us! We're perfect! We're beautiful! We're incredible! We might be monsters but that's okay because tHaT's YoUr FaUlT."

[@hanna-liminal]

Hey, maybe blaming a mentally ill and traumatised person for being unable to even realise they need to accept help is kinda a shitty thing to do there, sport Not really in defense of SU or SUF, just speaking from my own experience here (on both ends)

[@rhondahoward8025]

@@hanna-liminal This dude has been on quite a few threads calling Steven a narcissistic sociopath which is a pretty steep and damning label, but won't give examples. And for the record I actually _know_ people like that and Steven's behavior, however extreme, doesn't even come close!

[@hanna-liminal]

@@rhondahoward8025 yeah i noticed that person's everywhere! I hope they figure things out. Thanks for chipping in! :)

[@PossumReviews]

If Gems are created to serve a specific function within the Gem Empire, why are they made sapient? If you're making an army of robots to do your grunt work for you, you don't make them any smarter than they need to be to do whatever it is you need them to do because that's just asking for trouble. So why not just make the lower Gems mindless zombie slaves?

[@Jdudec367]

need to make them smart to understand stuff but they still basically all still acted like there main purpose in life was to be tools. also how do they make a gem be a "robot"

[@Jdudec367]

@燈籠草 what do you mean? bubblegum doesn't turn her subjects into robots

[@Jdudec367]

@燈籠草 how would she do that actually?

[@Jdudec367]

@燈籠草 really? I don't remember her saying something like that or acting like that. honestly if im truthful there are already people in the kingdom who don't have the highest intelligence

[@Jdudec367]

@燈籠草 oh yeah true....well that makes sense in case they turned evil and attacked the candy kingdom. fear of robots taking over has been a thing since forever and unlike the diamonds PB alone isn't powerful enough to take down armies of soldiers like that

[@ningigamer6473]

"those extra episodes would have done so much for the show" -also true for basically the entire series

[@mikaila6655]

agreed. its not even that they didnt have enough episodes, its that a ton were wasted on pointless filler that nobody even liked, like seriously what was the point of rocknaldo, future boy zoltron, and onion gang? nobody liked or wanted those episodes and they wouldve been better spent on the cool gem story that we came for

[@amirshulman4676]

@@mikaila6655 mostly agree, except onion gang. We needed onion gang.

[@MustacheDLuffy]

They use filler to draw up time but that is NOT how you user filler. A show like this doesn’t even need filler with the writers being able to not worry about writing within the confines of anything Just not having good ideas and filling up space with random ideas

[@Natjwaaulias]

YES! Adding another season about the diamonds redemption arc to the original series will improve the story A LOT

[@elephantpowerproductions]

They did have extra episodes for the rest of the series. They just wasted it on side characters no one gives a shit about

[@Knollock]

Connie is probably the character who is done the dirtiest by SU:F. She's not really a character so much as she is a plot device and a mouth piece for How To React Good To Issues of Mental Health. She's infinitely wise and patient and has no reaction to Steven lashing out at her. She experiences no real emotion to Steven's sudden proposal, to the point that she ditches what should be a serious conversation because, welp, her 15 minutes are up. Steven is horribly traumatized by his experiences in SU, but Connie is perfectly fine. She's not a character in SU:F ... just a shallow love interest.

[@Abyssal86]

Also they gave her a new sword that never got used.

[@Knollock]

@@Abyssal86 The sword thing is definitely weird. Symbolically, Rose's sword being broken indicates a break from Rose's way of doing things. That her legacy is being abandoned in favor of something new. ...But Connie is the wielder of Rose's sword. But why? She doesn't ever symbolically take over leadership, nor does she introduce a new element that ultimately changes the way that the Crystal Gems handle things. She wasn't especially invested in Rose as a person or in her ideology. So why is Rose's sword broken and reforged for Connie? It's especially galling because Connie is barely present for the show's fights, so her wielding the sword doesn't even pay off in shallow, 'She's a badass swordfighter' kind of way.

[@Knollock]

@@simonm7917 Can't speak to where your personal feelings on the character are coming from, though I do think that she was really underutilized as a character. She becomes less and less relevant after season 1, despite her sword training theoretically giving her more to do with the group. It's also kind of weird that her primary conflict ends being that her mom is too strict (especially in light of Future throwing shade at Greg for letting Steven when Connie ' s mom does the exact same thing for her non-superpowered daughter). Basically, the show didn't really give much to do. All she really ends up doing is being kind of nice to Steven.

[@Jdudec367]

well connie does experience emotion she found it funny remember? but she was also confused and made it clear she said "not now". didn't she react to her mom finding out what happened and then later reacted to the gems not finding out he went to a hospital. wouldn't say she is jsut a love interest or plot device but a character who is busy doing her own stuff

[@Jdudec367]

@@Knollock if anything I found her using the sword symbolic for her and steven being a "team". also I feel if anything after season 1 is when she started developing more and got more used. she isn't my favorite character but she isn't bad. also I feel like the whoel conflict with her mom worked well. but later with greg it's to show they were both two opposites basically

[@pugmcmuffins9282]

I really hated how Steven reacted to Greg's childhood. By all means, I understand him being mad about how extreme Greg went to give him personal freedom because he should have been going to check ups and school. But what pisses me off is that Steven simply pretended Greg had a "normal childhood". No. Just no. My heart ached seeing Greg's graduation photo completely depressed. At a major life achievement. He had no control over his interests, his parents chose his hobbies, he wasn't even allowed to have his hair the way he wanted at graduation, y'know at a time he was between 17 & 18 where legally his parents have no say. When he left but wrote letters to reconcile, they never even opened them. Then Steven complained that Greg never let him see them. Why would he? They didn't even care if their son was alive and well. "Wah wah my son left after he came of age to go live his life and make his own choices. Now we don't have our puppet so we will completely disown him." Jeez no wonder Greg left. A cartoon portrayal of a Karen and Darren if I ever saw one.

[@PlasticSinks]

It makes sense. Steven always had his freedom so he doesn't really understand what that feels like.

[@meghanrodriguez2393]

Finally a comment that perfectly described my frustration over that moment

[@XeroGravity_Orange]

@@meghanrodriguez2393 Same, I felt really angry when I saw that. Saying that that's "normal" is just gross.

[@asaknight321]

Greg was a chad but that just felt very off. Nothing about that was normal and he just wanted his son to have the freedoms he never did growing up

[@_kenemon_]

The biggest criticism of Future that I've seen is that there were actually plenty of times that the gems helped Steven with his problems in SU proper, and even in this show there were plenty of genuine attempts at help that Steven turned down. In addition, the show kind of labels his adventures in SU as extremely traumatic even though within SU they weren't presented that way at all. It's a very weird, almost fanfiction-y turn.

[@jeremiahvaleska8464]

Kenemon let’s not forget the fact that all of his built up PTSD is solved by a literal fucking hug. He gets over all of that trauma... due to a hug. I had an extremely traumatic childhood, and let me tell you: *_I wish it was that fucking easy._* Edit: I should probably clarify, when I say a hug solved his PTSD, I obviously don’t mean that they get rid of the PTSD through a hug, I mean that it solves the conflict, which is just as awful in my opinion. They were literally able to pierce through and get to him through a literal amalgamation of his trauma with a simple group hug.

[@Antiformed]

@@jeremiahvaleska8464 Not that I am defending the show but, consider that SU is a show made aimed squarely at a specific demographic whose emotional wellbeing is so fragile that the slightest shake could shatter them on the floor like a vase. It's escapist media for emotionally unwell people.

[@jeremiahvaleska8464]

Antiform that still doesn’t make the writing not bad. When you’re talking about a subject as touchy as this one in media, you should either: 1. Treat it with respect, no sugarcoating or tiptoeing around the problem, or 2. Not fucking touch the subject at all.

[@Dr.Oofers]

Antiform Well...isn’t the fandom the same one that literally bashed a person’s fanart (and something worse if I remember) for making someone slim or something?

[@hiiamelecktro4985]

Jeremiah Valeska But he doesn’t? He calms down from the hug. Afterwards the time skip happens where everything is solved because of therapy (which we don’t get to see) It’s not particularly good but not as bad as you make it out to be.

[@takahashierik]

It still bothers me that Steven said he was a vegetarian and then a few episodes later we see him eating hamburgers and fish

[@says101]

WAUIT IAF IT Waujs aA vEgGine bUrgEr aNd FiSh

[@CKVanilla]

Wait when which episode

[@takahashierik]

@@CKVanilla if I remember correctly, he says he's a vegetarian in the episode they play Steven tag

[@CKVanilla]

@@takahashierik no I meant when does he eat a burger and fish

[@takahashierik]

@@CKVanilla I think it was the episode he goes out with Greg and the one he lives in the forest

[@adwitatherealadwita]

"Gempire" sounds weird and is too short, why don't you just say "Gem Empire"?

[@gub4941]

Jebediah Jens here before you edit it

[@oswald2799]

Jedediah, idk what you're on about

[@terrariaskeletonpre1.0.39]

eh, gem empire sounds too short too, how about "gempire, the empire that is made from gems"

[@ChrisTheMemeMan]

Gem empire sounds better

[@tidesohorror9499]

Sounds more like a gem vampire rather then gem empire

[@frostybro9217]

Jay Exci is the embodiment of chaotic neutral and I’m loving it.

[@elephantpowerproductions]

Frostybro YES. He and Mauler are my favorite of the EFAP cast is you don’t count cameos like the queen that is JLONGBONE

[@Unknown-hb3id]

ELEPHANT POWER PRODUCTIONS🐘 Imagine acting like Jay and JLongbone are different people...

[@catguy1471]

Ong yes! Someone make him a d&d character hahs

[@goosle]

Ehin my opinion hes a weird mix of chaotic good and chaotic neutral

[@TurtleGod2]

I agree

[@Anna-tk7ui]

I dropped Steven Universe after Change My Mind so I can't comment on it. Will I watch someone ELSE comment on it? You bet your hamfisted redemption arcs I will!

[@LazerpawX7]

This is me

[@eatatjoes6751]

*YES.* I stopped watching after Volleyball, so I'm stuck with this, and that's fine by me.

[@chickenstripz1961]

@@eatatjoes6751 wait Volleyball? That was one of the best episodes of Future.

[@ethelgalan5330]

I lost interest in the series after the White Diamond shtick only watch it just to see what my SU obsessed friends are going ape shit about. I do admit, i like some ideas that the writers are going for in Future, if it weren't for the fact that the quality of the writing dropped into that of late 2000's fanfiction written by a disney/anime obsessed teenager. SU wants to introduce themes to children that most children's shows today don't usually do, but they did so in the most lazy and flimsy way at best and borderline toxic and offesnsive at worst. There's a reason why people don't like how the Diamonds were redeemed, why people don't like how the themes are so lazily done, why some characters behave like tools just so a plot can happen. It's like a bunch of teenagers on tumblr are given a budget to make a show on a children's program, and bring in their shitty ideals like the glorification of toxic relationships, woobying terrible people and murderers, making LGBT characters look like complete loonatics and having it's minority characters behave like cute ugly pets than being actual humans. SU and its creator now just makes me uncomfortable, because the problems people have addressed and pointed out and i realized that this show is not only bad, but outright toxic. And the thing is, when these unfortunate implications are bought but, obsessive fans either sugarcoat and ignore these obvious issues and went full on defensive mode and praise Sugar for her laziness. I think SU shouldve just been a webcomic and a show on a children's program, that way Sugar can do all of her supposed points of something freely without the rush of air schedules and limitations of being on a childrenvs program.

[@samt3412]

I thought it was the finale and between then and Future I got into watching anime and never really cared to watch the movie, so this is why three seperate endings suck

[@FuturamaFan2010]

Why I thought this epilogue season was okay it's biggest flaw was the same as the final, that being rushed. A hug doesn't get rid of years of trauma, mentioning the counselling and time skip was a nice touch but we didn't even see Steven going there. It would have good for us to see the value people can get from it as well as informing children that you can't hug your problems away.

[@Jdudec367]

yeah a hug doesn't get rid of trauma, which it was clear in the show the hug didn't get rid of the trauma honestly. it would have been nice to see the counselling I will say. overall though not a bad season

[@bassmantjox1299]

He was getting Therapy in The Final episode

[@nuttynutsnutstache]

Well, yes, of course, a hug doesn't get rid of trauma, but, its symbol of love and care, at least, enough for Steven to turn back, yes, we are still waiting for the time when the Steven X Therapy is canon so that he can heal as much as he can from the trauma.

[@kalo_vera]

The Nice Lapis outro was adorable

[@JayExci]

I saw the clip in the show and immediately knew she would be the outro

[@jemm113]

Her design is absolutely adorable. So is the earth's lapis and the Crystal Gem B team got shafted. Frankly, there should have been a season 6 that focused on home world exclusively and season 5 could have spent more time wrapping up plot lines on earth. Hell, maybe that would have needed it's own other season, too.

[@Valtuem]

My main problem with the finale is that the solution to Godzilla Steven, and what gets him on track to recovery, is all his friends and finally being there for him and letting him know they'll support him through whatever troubles he's going through. The problem with this is that this is what they've all been doing THE ENTIRE TIME. They have been nothing but loving, supportive, and patient for the entirety of SUF. Why is it suddenly effective now and not before? It seems arbitrary. It would have made much more sense if the other characters were dismissive of Steven's issues, taking him for granted, for most of the show. Then, the ending where they go to help him in his time of need, as he helped them in their times of need, would be much more satisfying. It would feel like the conclusion to an arc rather than just business as usual. And it would explain why the Godzilla incident is finally able to get him on the road to recovery when nothing before seemed to help.

[@jamescallanan2443]

It's not that they weren't there before. It's him. He's feeling and experiencing so much new stuff he has no idea how to handle but thinks he has to handle solo because he's Steven Universe. He had to realise that it's OK to ask his friends for help, he won't be a bother to them and they don't expect him to be perfect all the time. You might think this is stuff he already knows, but puberty (and slowly corrupting in this case) can mess with your head a lot. That's not even mentioning the PTSD

[@jamescallanan2443]

Also, having the others be dismissive of his problems would have been way out of character for everyone involved

[@Valtuem]

@@jamescallanan2443 I don't disagree that Steven believes he has to handle these problems himself. What I don't understand is why it's only the Godzilla Steven incident that makes him realize he can rely on his friends. We've had characters say things to Steven like "you know you can tell us anything," for 18 episodes. There's no reason why Steven wouldn't just brush off his friends' words during "I Am My Monster" just as he had the rest of SUF. In fact, one might argue that since Godzilla Steven is the most mentally unstable we've seem him so far that he'd be even less likely to listen to the others than before.

[@Valtuem]

@@jamescallanan2443 I do concede that the others being dismissive of his problems might be too out of character, at least concerning Greg, Connie, Amethyst, Pearl, and Garnet. They've been pretty attentive to Steven's issues. Everyone outside of them, I think, wouldn't be too OOC to have them be dismissive. I don't think it's unreasonable that they might take for granted that Steven has issues of his own.

[@flamefwend6821]

Valtuem I think the reason why he listened then was because of the hug that garnet gave that stopped him from running away and then the gems talking to him then (and the kiss from Connie can also be put into consideration)

[@DrinzenDrawz]

Honestly shocked that you didn't mention that Steven commited murder but alright

[@Shizzy5321]

Me too

[@irmacastro5387]

Brian Sear, WAIT YOU COMMITTED MURDER

[@Jdudec367]

I mean...it was more so man slaughter then anything...I feel like murder makes it sound it he WANTED to kill Jasper

[@frindjinny6]

Hello this is not the FBI, there’s a murderer nearby?

[@Shizzy5321]

@@irmacastro5387 YEA AND I'D DO IT AGAIN

[@Peridot5xg]

*[If only the finale had more of... me...]*

[@manolgeorgiev9664]

I actually unironically agree. Best character in the show 👍

[@_-Lx-_]

Perri is the only character in the show that hasn't been ruined for me.

[@wook5676]

LX BDK agreed

[@barrelbar4334]

No i dont want you to appear in the show more Cause the crew will find a way to screw you up

[@ReardensmolhauzLLargo]

You aint wrong

[@lulin2546]

steven universe's use of subtlety, unfortunately, really seemed to decrease as it went on. if i can tell what someone is thinking without you saying it explicitly, that's much preferable over the alternative in my eyes. watching a show with subtle storytelling makes me enjoy it that much more. the kind of interaction between steven and connie, or steven and greg is something i really appreciated. maybe what i disliked most about steven's representation of ptsd is that he didn't respond nearly as negatively to the events that he went through at the time of them happening, but when he recalls them later they seem to have some sort of weight associated with them that affected him but was never shown.

[@VagrantWulf]

I feel somewhere around early-to-mid season 3 they lost certain writers that really defined Steven Universe in the earlier episodes.

[@roiking2740]

@@VagrantWulf didn't lose shit, they just realize that they were writing about a war against a socialist tyrannical government and they didn't want to do it cause they are socialist. so at one point of the other, they had to lead the show into major changes to prevent demonizing socialism

[@quorryraphael9980]

@@roiking2740 uh huh. Could you define "socialist"?

[@roiking2740]

@@quorryraphael9980 one who believes that a government should supply its citizens with every need, that is including a job.

[@catcactus1234]

roiking2740 C’mon no need to drag politics into this. People can be shit writers regardless of their political affiliation. It definitely seems like they lost some core members who were holding the story together at some point in the series.

[@drdeesnutts48]

Jay Exci is too long, can't you just shorten it to Jayci?

[@Shizzy5321]

Nah Jaex

[@Debicus]

He must be the long man

[@waterlemonandfriends]

JC

[@bazinga7194]

Man that’s like a whole 2 syllables let’s change it to *J*

[@Anipixelz]

Shorten it to J

[@Nionivek]

I hate the Greg thing if ONLY because it entirely forgets that he actually wanted to be around Steven and that the Gems, for the most part, didn't let him. To the point where he faked an injury just to be around Steven. I could understand if, say, he didn't put up much of a fight and bowed down to the Crystal Gems immediately, that he never questioned why Steven didn't need to go to school or go to a hospital... Yet I don't picture him being this kind of negligent that he PERSONALLY decided not to do so.

[@christopherauzenne5023]

Nionivek yeah I really hate how they totally messed his character for the stories sake, ironically that similarly what happened to rose, like I got to say he should have had Steven go to the doctors but in fairness he was dealing with a have alien life form so hard call, and it wasn’t his fault entirely when it came to schooling since the gems wanted to train him to be a guardian of earth so it wasn’t entirely his decision, but the crowning problem was they made it seem like he didn’t cared about what Steven was going through & when he crashed the van he went “awesome man real proud” like what the hell. Greg might have been an old school rocker hippy but he wasn’t negligent/this idiotic in the series when Jasper and peridot first came to earth he wanted/tried to take Steven away from the danger and after the jail break he nearly had a panic attack over what happened to his son so that whole ending was b.s. again they wanted to a story so bad that they ignored what it would mean to the characters

[@Nionivek]

It is the common problem of "The characters aren't where we want them... so we are going to force it" that the ENTIRE series has had. Example: Jasper is the abuse victim? Well, we are just going to pretend she was the abuser. Lapis is scared of the diamonds? Well... she is just going to do it anyway. Bismuth is a genocidal racist? Well... You know... do we HAVE to remember that? Aquamarine is one of the most powerful villains in the series? But... does she HAVE to be? It seriously makes the points where the show remembers characterization, follows through with its own plots, and handles it well... a rarity.

[@christopherauzenne5023]

Nionivek yeah funny you mention aquamarine because on a minor tangent I didn’t get why she wanted revenge on Steven like eyeball that makes total sense he has repeatedly acted as a thorn in her side for several events but aquamarine? She only had one interaction with him and that ended with her delivering “rose quartz” to the diamonds & doing her job. in those she viewed him as more of a annoyance then someone she hates. Like you said “we have to get these characters to do these things regardless of what it means”

[@Nionivek]

@@christopherauzenne5023 I can understand why Aquamarine wanted revenge, she was exiled from the Gempire for the crime of "Not knowing Steven was Pink Diamond"... But what I don't understand is: Why was she exiled from the Gempire? She was acting under EXPLICIT orders from Yellow Diamond. Certainly I can imagine why this might politically be the case (Politics isn't fair) but wasn't the Gempire supposed to be reformed? Why is she a War Criminal for following orders (and not actually killing anyone)?

[@Jdudec367]

I dunno steven was kind of always like this. but he isn't dumb greg would have atleast taught him basic human stuff

[@pikemand1410]

SU Future was a flawed but mostly good show that, once a-fucking-gain, completely flubbed the landing. The climax and resolution of the main arc, Steven's repressed issues, are COMPLETELY ass-backwards compared to what the show is actually building towards. They build up through the entirety of Future that Steven's issues are rooted almost entirely in a combined martyr/inferiority complex that has developed as a result of the world changing around him and him no longer being able to recognize what he's 'good for' so-to-speak. He keeps pushing other people away, even as they continue to offer him help and unconditional support, because he thinks they'll be better off if he doesn't burden them with his issues and because he thinks it's his job to help others, not to accept help from them. His issue is NOT rooted in a lack of love and support from his friends and family, his issues are rooted in himself. And yet despite this the climax completely strips Steven of agency by literally turning him into an unthinking animal who then needs to be 'saved' by the unconditional love and support of the rest of the cast, something he's already had through the entirety of Future. Steven's internal, self-inflicted issues are NEVER actually resolved because the climax quite literally robs him of the ability to resolve them.

[@EvilParagon4]

What the writers were getting at was that Steven wasn't accepting their support, he needed to be forced. Obviously they meant it in a much nicer way, but that's it simplified. Steven was pushing others away, he needed to not do that. He was having internal conflict but it was due to lack of capability to express oneself, whether it be by how they communicate or who they can communicate with. Steven is the hero in everyone's eyes, Steven didn't want to damage that view because that's what he sees himself as, and thus, Steven has no support he can talk with because the people offering the support are people he thinks see him as perfect. In the end, the resolution makes sense. Steven still being loved even when he's literally a monster forces him to realise his support will genuinely help him no matter what. It's a very real issue that people with depression or anger issues do not accept support from people who have only seen the good side of them.

[@patiencewallace8453]

Yeah that makes plenty sense, but it was executed terribly. I wish that had been addressed

[@Jdudec367]

thing is..he wasn't accepting there support like paragon said beforehand. so they tried harder

[@alexanderinoa7850]

Is anyone else having a problem where they sometimes can’t tell if the scenes are from the new show or the old one due to Steven sometimes looking as small as he used to as a child, even with the new outfit?

[@juanpablorobayo9891]

HeS oN mOdEl!! The Crewniverse says that as long as height differences are maintained, then they're on model. That's how we get that cat episode where steven is both reaching garnet's hip and then her lower leg

[@animeking1357]

Proportions in this show are a mess.

[@EPM_Mashups]

that’s probably the whole reason he has a different outfit, so people can tell it’s a Future episode

[@Jdudec367]

I...don't get what you mean. I don't get it

[@veetree850]

EPM Mashups No. it’s because his voice actor dresses like that.

[@TheVirtualCelebrity]

"Of course it wasn't flawless, Sunstone was in it!" Shots fire!! I repeat-SHOTS FIRED!!! 😂😆🤣

[@Ramsey276one]

Shots FIYERD!!!

[@rosykindbunny1313]

Kinda ironic how the fusion that looks like fire got burned.

[@JakeRat-xo2bw]

Jay: I'm glad Steven Universe didn't try to tackle an issue with a real-world parallel. Also Jay: Gems are trying to terraform a planet and destroy natural wildlife to make it suitable to them.

[@kade-qt1zu]

Oh. Oh god.

[@Evanz111]

Thanks for the opportunity to record some lines, although I won’t say thanks for how many times I had to say “gempire”. I’m pretty sure I heard that word echoing over and over again when I went to sleep the other night. :I

[@JayExci]

Gempire

[@Evanz111]

Jay Exci d e a d t o m e

[@SimonBuchanNz]

Your sacrifice was not in vain. o7

[@exuveum5875]

~Why are we still here just to suffer.~

[@Keijikrall]

I actually dont think SU has the capability to tell this story. A lot of characters are hyper simplified and have their emotional awareness scaled back to 0 just to allow steven to get as bad as he gets in the epilogue

[@PigOfGreed]

I actually don’t think life has the capability to tell this story. A lot of characters are hyper simplified and have their emotional awareness scaled back to 0 just to allow people to get as bad as they get in the final season

[@Keijikrall]

@@PigOfGreed I have absolutely no idea what you're trying to say

[@reactionboyguy]

@@Keijikrall maybe they're trying to be "deep"? "oh people are so simple but they really just wanna use you, they are actually awful", sounds like something a 14 year old would post on instagram with the caption, very sad rn.

[@Keijikrall]

@@reactionboyguy I dont know. I think they were trying to be deep by saying "wow the kinda kid who goes through all this kinda stuff would develop ptsd and be fucked up hahaha :)" but the show is filled with incredibly emotionally sensitive and aware characters who WOULD notice steven is having problems and WOULD strive to assist him in a helpful way. The way they act they end up pushing HIM away from them. I thinkt he show is trying to express that he isnt accepting the help but he consistently tries to GET help. It just, artificially so the show can get him to this point, is always help he doesnt need

[@carlacarrero4975]

Low res smug yes yes I agree most of the characters like garnet and amethyst had to be made ooc in order to justify Stevens arc and boy does it show

[@milkbox103]

100% agree about the diamond's characters. one of my biggest annoyances with the show is how they gave a whole season's worth to show the redemption of peridot, a relatively minor villain, but redeemed the big baddies of the entire series basically off-screen.

[@darwinspain4831]

Garnet being thicc is what saved the show

[@_mango_]

White Diamond’s toes is what saved it.

[@vickywachen3547]

Facts

[@darwinspain4831]

@@_mango_ white diamond has toes

[@uhh4335]

I’m just gonna uuhhh

[@darwinspain4831]

@@_mango_ oh

[@AliceJameson]

I really hate what they did with Pink Diamond/Rose. Much like with the other Diamonds I kind of felt like character whiplash. Like at first they treated Rose like some sort of goddess which we knew there was more to and we weren't getting the whole story, then the reveal that she was Pink Diamond, pretty interesting and we learn that she did some rather questionable things but had good intentions. Fine with all of that so far. But then it seems they just wanted to pile on some absolutely horrible things onto her character to seemingly want to make us hate her, such as abandoning Spinel for thousands of years on some planet, and oh by the way she was a horrible domestic abuser to Pink Pearl. It just seems so out of character and feels like character assassination to me. I also don't see why these reveals were necessary as Pink Diamond's story and arc was pretty much already done and explored enough by this point. It's like they just randomly decided they hated the character they created and decided to take some cheap shots at her. They took what was initially an interesting character with some flaws but who was trying to do the right thing and instead just made her pretty much an all around terrible person and basically the show's villain. And because she's dead before the show starts she can't even defend herself or explain anything, so yeah all aboard the Pink Diamond smear campaign I guess. Like by the end of the show they really do make every single Diamond like the opposite of what they were originally, Rose included. So yeah thanks, I hate it.

[@williamshenk8957]

Im glad someone else agrees because i really like Rose. Her story was tragic because she was this mother figure to everyone around her, her care and compassion touching every person she came in to contact with. Its heartbreaking when you think about how steven never got to know the mother everyone around him so deeply loved. When steven snaps at Lars for bad mouthing his mother, it really got to me that this is a boy who is really torn up about not having his mother in his life. But then the show does a 180 and distances steven as much as possible form those original feelings as they could. Now Rose is portrayed as this abusive and awful person, despite everything she has done for others, and Steven is better off forgetting her.

[@Jdudec367]

they just wanted to show she wasn't perfect. Spinel? she forgot about when she had duties to do. pink pearl? seemed more a accident. I really don't think pink diamond is bad like many say others like me think they were more so evening things out since they praised her so much as if she was completely perfect

[@Jdudec367]

@@williamshenk8957 Steven hasn't forgotten her but now he knows more about her.steven I wouldn't say hates his mom either.

[@williamshenk8957]

@@Jdudec367 i agree but they took it way too far. by the end she looked like the worst person ever while all the other antagonists were forgiven, literally hugging it out with steven in the end. it would have been nice if steven got that kind of reconciliation with the memory of his mom.

[@williamshenk8957]

@@Jdudec367 yeah but theres a very deep resentment towards his mother, to the point where he doesnt even hang her picture in his house anymore. its super sad to see what was such a sad story about a boy being raised never knowing his mom to now he acts like he was better off not knowing

[@internetuserheart]

Missed the opportunity to call it the gem empire

[@erinecho1735]

why have gems when you could have GEODES

[@PauloJrchannel]

I put down agreements.

[@DarylStreete]

Very enjoyable (play many times) for heavy handed gentlemen

[@manolgeorgiev9664]

I can't believe people are memeing about this XD

[@PauloJrchannel]

I actually enjoy the show and saying is that video not truly incorrect the slanderous or just cannot watch the show well. Cartoon Network Steven Universe Future Created by Rebecca is fun and a roller coaster ride for heavy handed gentleman.

[@Da_cocobong]

Someone needs to make a parody with all males.

[@alishabutterfly3569]

"Of course it wasn't flawless, Sunstone was in it." He be stating strait facts

[@ValenArtsAnimation]

Let's be Honest The Crewniverse put more effort into White Diamond design then her Character There i say it

[@sophiarhoads1196]

It makes me so sad, because she had the COOLEST character design but the way they just didn't take the time to develop the character properly was such a letdown....they threw away so much potential.

[@David-jw1xs]

If the show goes up in flames, should we call it the gempyre?

[@milkbox103]

another thing, after seeing how built up homeworld was throughout the entirety of the series, i really thought we would get a season exploring homeworld and it's inner workings, really get us familiar with the society and the treatment that goes on there. the fact that we only spent a couple of arcs there felt.... wrong. if they just had an extra season in the original series to flesh out the concepts they only tip-toed around, i feel like it would have turned out a lot better. remember when a new gem appearance was something we were excited about?

[@Jdudec367]

not sure if I agree with this kinda on the fence.

[@discountchocolate4577]

I would trade a season's worth of nonessential Beach City episodes for this kind of worldbuilding.

[@says101]

they shouldve done a new series after su ended based on homeworld! i would watch that SO GLADFULLY!

[@teaz3139]

"We're starting to push Steven's character now, he's never been one to lose his temper easily." As someone with PTSD, I can tell you that a sign of PTSD is irrational mood swings, especially toward anger or fear.

[@JayExci]

That's the bit I say is fine though.

[@jeremiahvaleska8464]

tea z PTSD was not portrayed faithfully in this show.

[@rhondahoward8025]

I think Steven shows more signs of Intermittent Explosive Disorder, which is characterized by frequent, often unprovoked periods of rage, and can come from an environment of abuse, domestic violence, and/or experiencing multiple traumatic events.

[@VagrantWulf]

I've never known PTSD to make someone aggressive though unless there are other co-morbid factors at play. In other words, if the person is already capable of violence then they might swing that way. PTSD doesn't change who you are. I know, because I also have PTSD. I've had nervous breakdowns because of how bad it can be. I've never been aggressive or violent though because I'm a highly sensitive person. I've had a bit of an angry cry where I've raised my voice but I haven't actually lashed out at anyone. That's the problem, right there. Steven has turned into an aggressive, violent person with narcissistic, sociopathic, and egomaniacal tendencies. PTSD doesn't do that to you. You can ask any accredited expert in the field and they would all tell you the same thing: PTSD doesn't change who you are. It changed who Steven is. That's the problem. Steven was a highly sensitive person who loathed violence and aggression, he'd be more likely to break down, cry, and lock himself away in a shell so that the world can't hurt him. He'd always pick flight over fight because that's his nature. PTSD doesn't change who you are. If that's how it's written, and it is, then it isn't helpful to trying to explain PTSD to those who don't have it.

[@hanna-liminal]

@@VagrantWulf PTSD is different for different people. Trauma is different for different situations.

[@trahshsh6932]

steven tries to do child marriage and falls into a depressive spiral then turns into godzilla

[@pebbles2eletricboogaloo564]

Star boy tried to marry child, gets big s ad then turns into dino modd

[@an8strengthkobold360]

Yes sun stone was definitely... in it. That's all there is to know about sun stone.

[@cami_cosmos]

I hate Sunstone’s design SO much.

[@awesomegaymer5786]

@@cami_cosmos I dont mind the design but her voice and personality are the absolute worst

[@an8strengthkobold360]

@@awesomegaymer5786 this

[@barrelbar4334]

@@cami_cosmos i just straight up hate sun stone

[@Jdudec367]

am I the only one who doesn't hate her? like I feel she could be like a "memeish" character but still

[@Wongwrangler64]

Steven universe was a show with amazing potential to develop new and original characters around a deep story about galactic conflict fought by interesting holographic life forms with unique abilities which proceeded to fart around a seaside town fixing the problems of nobody's while the diamond sword of Damocles dangled over they're heads rendering the meaningless drama of the humans lives almost insulting.

[@catcactus1234]

James Hunter I got the impression that they were trying to imitate the dark, complex themes and silly, light-hearted balance that Avatar: The Last Airbender had, but they failed massively due to poor writing. A lot of the complex topics they tried to tackle were too grossly simplified and underdeveloped that they would’ve benefited from just leaving them out of the show entirely. They most likely meant for the galactic adventures to tackle the serious topics of oppression and racial segregation, while the townie episodes were meant for emotional growth and lighter themes. They were definitely going in the right direction, they just didn’t know how to properly get there.

[@Wongwrangler64]

@@catcactus1234 It's kind of funny if you consider the older way of making shows to sell toys would have probably created enough funding for two separate shows focusing on the town and gempire separately whereas now we get toy shelves full of fortnight figures and toys based on youtubers. Its like how Thundercats roar sucks harder than a black hole in a vacuum cleaner because they know the kids wont get invested enough to buy a toy anyway.

[@Jdudec367]

@@catcactus1234 eh arguably yeah but I have seen episodes where they've gotten that kind of thing right

[@omnishyguy]

Honestly, I'm glad for the improvements, but this late in the game it just feels like last-minute over-correcting. It's as if between "Change Your Mind" and the movie, they gathered the criticisms of the show and tried to address as many as possible in one go, which isn't helped by the fact that they seem to fall into many of the pitfalls they hit before, such as inconsistencies in the magic system. Well-done video, as always.

[@reactionboyguy]

This doesn't sound like you're talking about a series on cartoon network, this looks like you're talking about a videogame, with a less than stellar (haha get it because star boy) sequel.

[@mikemorro140]

is there really a magic system in Steven Universe like I guess the diamonds are above everyone else but the rest of the gems kind of just vary

[@omnishyguy]

@@mikemorro140 I mean the way their powers, abilities, and bodies work. For Future specifically, if emotional trauma caused corruption most of the main cast would've become giant monsters at some point. If it could be hugged away, the Centipeedle arc wouldn't have to happen and the Diamonds wouldn't be needed to fix it.

[@Phasmania]

Isaiah Steven is a Diamond-Human hybrid who has gone through emotional maturity and angst that gems don’t have. He was literally born as a child soldier and grew up thinking he has to help people, otherwise he is worthless. Even in the extended intro, he goes, “I will fight to be everything that everyone wants me to be when I’m grown”

[@omnishyguy]

@@Phasmania That Steven has gone through more 'angst' and emotional growth in sixteen years than war veterans older than human civilization is a bit silly, no? Also, he was raised as a human boy by Greg and for a hearty chunk of the series has to keep the Gems from treating him with kid gloves. The line in the extended opening is more akin to wanting to live up to his mother's legacy for his own sake; others love him as-is.

[@sherlocksmuuug6692]

20:30 To be fair, the characters actually talking about their feelings might have solved like... 80% of all non-war related conflicts in the prequel era, clone wars included.

[@RealCoolstriker64]

Yeah, I hate how they had the main character HAD A PSYCHOTIC BREAK after committing MANSLAUGHTER, AND THEN ATTEMPTED MURDER... and they did nothing with it.

[@patiencewallace8453]

Pissed that Steven got away with killing someone

[@RommyRayne]

Not that this will dramatically improve their character arcs or anything, but the "solutions" that the Diamonds are peddling are intentionally flawed ones. Blue's suggestion is essentially a G-rated version of using drugs to make yourself feel better, Yellow's is equivalent to getting a makeover, and White's is essentially venting your anger by hitting something representing the thing you're angry at, which is generally not considered to be a healthy coping mechanism.

[@MysteryToonGamer]

Ok, Blue and White, I understand. Yellow is literally bringing people who were murdered for being "different" or "flawed" back to life lol

[@hastur2905]

Yellow is literally turning deformed mutations back into their normal selves...

[@ApolloDawn85]

Honestly, I found Steven’s whole character arc in Future to be extremely difficult to swallow. I like the idea of him “falling” but it was done so poorly. For one, as mentioned in the video, it kind of comes out of no where in the first episode. Even with that his abusive tendencies and the fact he MURDERED someone and attempted murder in the span of 10 minutes is completely ignored cuz Steven is “suffering.” Just because he suffers from PTSD, anxiety, and anger issues does not redeem him for freakin’ murder and abuse. The show acts as if this is tragic and supposed to be sympathetic which would be fine if the show didn’t demonize Rose Quartz for the same thing. Steven and the cast only have contempt for Rose for her past actions (while ignoring she has changed as a person over thousands of years) but Steven? Oh no! He isn’t like Rose, who I guess she is supposed to be the “bad guy” rather than the real villains, the Diamonds. The fact that Steven couldn’t have any compassion for his mother when he is going through an extremely similar character arc is incredibly mind boggling. I feel like this show wanted to teach kids about mental illness, but did so in a way that it completely backfires. Also, the fact that shattering can be fixed is a stupid retcon and feels ultimately like a betrayal of the the universe of the show in a desperate attempt to make the Diamonds “redeemable.” Sorry for the wall of text, this season and the show really disappointed me after loving the first 3 seasons.

[@Jdudec367]

eh...I get where the PTSD came from in real life it can happen suddenly actually. this season also dealt with him actually going into a downward spiral resulting in him accidentally killing someone.but I doubt he was trying to kill white diamond. him "suffering" doesn't mean what he did was ok though. Rose? that was something else and someone who was more mentally stable. they know rose has changed there just getting used to that she isn't perfect. either way rose wasn't the villian I don't see how whats going on with him is similiar to rose. It didn't backfire in how it taught mental illness honestly. well considering the diamonds were getting "reversals" of there powers yelow diamond's ability requires her to find all the shards of a gem to repair it and she said that won't always work. steven revivng a gem makes sense though.

[@patiencewallace8453]

Yes!!! I completely agree. That’s my biggest issue with SUF. he literally got away with murder. We’d always been told shattering is it but look, there’s a solution now 😐. I don’t understand why they just ignored that. I hated SUF because they ruined Steven beyond repair. In my eyes, he’s past redemption. Having PTSD is not an excuse to kill and hurt others.

[@patiencewallace8453]

@Dark Shadow Storm I agree. I didn’t realize how much Steven made me happy until he was a manic jackass. They ruined his character, in turn ruining the show. And everyone just kinda blew off all the shit he did. I almost feel like the writers basically decided to change his freaking personality just so they could have him have a breakdown. Steven could barely kill bugs now he killing people? It doesn’t make sense. So disappointed

[@patiencewallace8453]

@@Jdudec367 the issue is, it’s teaching kids (this is a show for kids) that if you’re depressed or been traumatized, it’s okay to hurt and abuse people. They’d just forgive you because you’re going through “a hard time”. It paints people who actually have PTSD in a bad light. Most people with PTSD aren’t killing others. If I were young enough I’d assume maybe that this is what all PTSD people are like.

[@Jdudec367]

@@patiencewallace8453 It's not teaching kids that it's okay to hurt or abuse people though. They may forgive you, they may not, heck you may not ever be able to forgive yourself. it doesn't paint people with PTSD in a bad light, But Steven killing people didn't have anything to do with his PTSD.

[@bbbandito353]

The whole future arc of Steven not being able to accept not being responsible for helping people would be easily undone by Peedee if the writers didn't decide to unceremoniously toss him from the show. Peedee in season 1 was one of Steven's only human friends but had a life that wasn't devoted toward needing Steven help find his purpose in life. He was a foil to Steven being 100% still a kid but more realistic and responsible than Steven, but alas he doesn't show up in any meaningful way after season 1. So we get one of the best townies thrown away so we can have more episodes with Mayor Dewey, the Cool Kids, and Ronaldo.

[@Jdudec367]

yeah peedee should have showed up again.but steven's arc wouldn't have been easily undone

[@noonebossesthegarnet2890]

PeeDee was one of the best townie characters, and probably the only one with interesting character dimension. What pisses me off is that they replaced him with Ronaldo. RONALDO.

[@jonathanhall3640]

The biggest disappointment for me was they build such a amazing world and just refused to explore it in any way that was satisfying

[@SHARKBAIT_HOOHAHA_]

This season being abt Steven feels like if in Phineas and Ferb they did a season where Phineas was depressed and needed help. It's just really sudden, and while it does make sense if you think abt it realistically, story wise it's quite jarring to go from the happy-go-lucky optimistic character you've known for several seasons, to an anxious uncontrollable moody character that is just a complete 180 of the previous. Had they built this arc up before as Jay said it'd have made more sense.

[@Sword_Man_YT]

More like, *Steven Universe Needs Therapy*

[@jakobos93]

The fact that gems are manufactured with a set of skills and personality planted into them makes any sense of free will laughable. Especially if you consider that the main 3 were almost always still following their purposes. Pearl was doing all in the service of her master, Rose. She was still a servant, only by „choice“. Amethyst was indulging herself and finding joy in fighting, just like a fighting gem. Garnet was half Bodyguard half Medium gem. And she acted like a protective leader with foresight, looking towards the future and preparing for its challenges. They were still following their programming. Amethyst would never start being elegant, nor would Pearl ever stop. Because they were made like thisy

[@Jdudec367]

eh...not exactly...now pearl is independant Amethyst didn't really have anything to fight as the gem war was over by the time she was born and garnet? she's her own thing then just a bodyguard anymore but a real leader

[@WiloPolis03]

_This comments section is nearly not a mess_

[@raptalos9412]

Rose/pink: fakes her shattering The diamonds: The Gempire Strikes Back!

[@CptnCardboard]

When I found out Steven Universe Future was going to be a thing, I held out hope that it would start with a flashback episode to the Diamonds being put on trial, perhaps with Steven telling Connie about it as a framing device as had been done once before ("Indirect Kiss"). The episode could've had Steven trying to convince the gems of Homeworld to have mercy on the Diamonds, who would be depicted as being guilt ridden after their redemptions and willing to accept punishment for it. Steven would basically be their defense attorney, and could get the gems to agree to let the Diamonds do what everyone else is going to get to do now: find their place in their world, but only after 1,000 years of community service (which could be what they're doing in SU:F). I thought that'd be a great way to resolve the Diamond arc in an interesting and satisfying way.

[@blueThumbnail]

The "steven lose his cool" arc should've happened in SU proper as we built up to the Gempire

[@discountchocolate4577]

A Kaiju-Steven vs. White Diamond fight would have been interesting.

[@Jdudec367]

eh...not sure I mean it works here I feel

[@a.a.o.t-1213]

Imagine a story with a cartoon horse manages to make a more compelling and realistic story about mental illness/issues than a show that’s “tries” to focus on said issues.

[@decentgamer5640]

bojack horseman was also very much about mental illness...

[@teaz3139]

Yes but that's a show for adults that can address it directly, not a children's show that has to tiptoe around it.

[@Trecherousbeast]

@@teaz3139 well then if you're making a show for kids, and know you would have to tiptoe around a subject as deep as this, then why even do it? If you know you can't go as deep as you would like, then literally what is the point.

[@jaybee27D]

Michaela Worsley so that kids can get at least a lite version of the content they want them to have, since kids can’t watch Bojack Horseman.

[@darshdabro3765]

Ainsley Felds but they failed horribly by making Steven not getting any punishment, not showing the most important part of his arc ( him going to therapy) and that make it look like Steven problem were solved by a hug.i can go on.

[@theloserthatdraws987]

The sad thing is, I can't help but see why the show ended so abruptly. Rebecca wanted Ruby's and Saphire's wedding to be done but the network kept telling her and her crew that they couldn't add it in and they would cut off their budget if they put it in, so Rebecca decided to put their wedding scene in the climactic episode where the Diamonds came on Earth since there was no way of censoring a wedding in one of the show's biggest and important episodes to date. Of course, they ended up cutting their budget so they had to rush the final episodes of the show. SU Future was a way to show some of the episodes they had to cut in the original but SU Future ended up being a weird poorly done development of Steven's mental health and PTSD and also ended pretty badly.

[@perlinfall]

I know you probably won’t see this, but I would like to see you make a video criticizing Minecraft’s current world generation you mentioned in your last Minecraft video. The way you break down the game’s current problems is really well done

[@TheVeryAngryShrimp]

Wait what? I play FTB and not OG Minecraft so I'm in the dark about the world gen.

[@perlinfall]

@@TheVeryAngryShrimp Modern Minecraft world generation is a lot less interesting now since each biome looks the same, and the same biomes generally spawn next to each other. There's less vertical randomness now too, which makes the problem even worse. Ideactivatemc does a good job explaining what I'm talking about in this video. kzbin.info/www/bejne/f3ubmZ-YZb6gj6c

[@LGMSTR-bx6bo]

If you enjoy the style of Minecraft reworks that Jay talks about, check out Whitelight's video(s) about minecraft. I He brings a lot of unique ideas.

[@perlinfall]

Whitelight’s videos are good, but his ideas are ideas for making Minecraft more of a progression and conquest game, rather then survival. I miss when Minecraft was a simple survival game, but Minecraft has changed so much now, Whitelight’s ideas would work now, but not in classic survival Minecraft. (Not without changing the game’s original identity anyway)

[@emilymonahan5232]

lancer gang

[@berilsevvalbekret772]

You know I would have bought 'Steven has PTSD' a lot more if he showes an iota of tension and reactions to actual tense moments like...idk cluster? Gem fusion experiments? He never once showed trauma responces in the OG series.

[@geminijones3414]

*Even after a garbage fire, you can still rearrange the ashes into pretty shapes.* [insert slow clapping] That was the most inspiring thing I’ve ever heard.

[@Vontux]

Steven Universe in general has got to be one of the all time best examples of squandered potential. I would love to know the behind the scenes story, did it unfold as the creators intended or was there stuff behind the scenes tripping them up and eventually making them just say "fuck it".

[@notmocka]

You should look up how Sugar develops the timeline of episodes The show is exactly how she wants it to be

[@Vontux]

@@notmocka If that is true it is really bizarre since towards the end of the series it feels rushed, there is a definite quality drop. So if that was intended, really strange....

[@absolutelydegenerate1900]

“Giant Godzilla monster” I think you mean near blatant rip off of death claws from fallout

[@reactionboyguy]

Looks exactly like a deathclaw, except he ate a little too many prospectors.

[@ShibuNub3305]

I finally found someone who acknowledges this!

[@Jdudec367]

I can kinda see the similarities but what about godzilla? doesn't mean pink steven is a rip off of anything in particular

[@themagicpencilanimations192]

I have never seen Steven universe but I still enjoy these videos.

[@popezosimusthethird269]

10:13 - While in-character, whiel it was more than fair to have Greg being taken for a ride for being an overgrown teenager, Steven lashing out was possibly one of the most infuriating in the series especially as it's not followed up by A N Y questionning of the Gems' parenting. Hey, you know how Steven's sorry state in the x-ray photo is kind of a shocking image? You know how that's all caused by the Gems taking a child on life-threatening walks in the park? You know how the Gems have no clue how a human body work, or how human society is set up and what is socially expected and accepted? Well apparently all of that is Greg's fault. This is one of the cases where you really do not want to draw real-life parallels otherwise the situation becomes a lot different with Greg losing custody, paying pensions (all them video games won't buy themselves and none of the three lesbian moms have a job) to his dead wife's son to her alternate-lifestyle lesbian exes who keep the kid homeschooled, yet he's the one who is going to be blamed for not having custody in the first place when people find out the three lesbian moms gave the kids alternative diets and medicine that fucked him up in the long term. All in all, Steven didn't grow up in a van, never went to school because his effective guardians don't know what a school is, yet poor old Greg takes the blame because he listened to David Bowie too much when he was 17. Never have I seen a stick with so short an end. Poor old Greg.

[@Splonton]

I always kinda figured the diamonds acting the way they did in future was them overcorrecting without actually understanding what they did wrong in the first place. They're not better, they're pretending to be better by acting like what they think better looks like

[@boofboo5556]

Honestly Greg should have had a better reason to why Steven wasn't in school or didn't go to he hospital. Maybe they should have done it where because Steven was half gem and therefore didn't know what to expect, because of his strange anatomy. That's how I always thought of it before that particular episode came out anyway.

[@lisaoreilly8380]

I personally thought all of Future was flawed but understandable, but I had to draw a big, red line at them trying to tell me that Greg Universe is a negligent parent in "Mr. Universe". Because how?? Steven is a half-human, half-Gem hybrid. According to Rebecca Sugar herself, he is the first and only organic/Gem hybrid in all of existence. He was born with a BIG PINK GEM THAT WAS FORMERLY HIS MOTHER FUSED TO HIS STOMACH. How do you explain that to a doctor? Or to educators? Or to Child Services? Humanity in general doesn't seems to really know about the Crystal Gems or Gems at all, despite all the ruins the Gem War left around Earth. Even the people in Beach City seem to barely acknowledge them, despite their headquarters being in the one same spot for millennia. If anything, raising Steven quietly away from civilisation with the only three people left who would have some idea of what do with any Gem abilities Steven could develop (which DID end up happening) was really the best choice Greg could make. Was it best way to raise a child like Steven entirely? No, probably not, but I'm inclined to think was the wisest. As for Greg's part in raising Steven, the man was living out of his old van by his carwash for YEARS. What are the odds the majority of his income went to just Steven and his lovely spacious beach house? Greg was apparently always there for his one-of-a-kind half-alien son physically, emotionally and financially no matter what happened or how weird things got, so NOW you're trying to tell me he was negligent?? I do agree with the idea that Greg's experience of his far more rigid upbringing and clearly miserable childhood made his approach to parenting more lenient, but his entire situation is a far too fantastical to make that kind of comparison. The man's flawed, but all things considered he's a darn good parent. It's just a shame there wasn't an episode where Steven was being properly homeschooled or something. ...actually Steven was homeschooled, wasn't he? it was just he was only ever taught about Gem history and culture. Whoops. TL;DR Greg Universe is still the best character in all of "Steven Universe" and one of the best dads in fiction. Thank you for coming to my Ted Talk.

[@riccardoleone4265]

Drinking game for every time a show about magic warriors tries to wrap up the last season with a PTSD-recovery arc.

[@_mango_]

Jay S. Exci, I pray you live a full long life. Thank you for this. Good day.

[@genericname2747]

I remember being so excited for the big fight between Monster Steven and everyone else. And then they ended it with a hug.

[@opinionofmine3238]

Gempire? What's that? A Gem vampire?

[@jamescallanan2443]

Gempire sounds too goofy to me

[@auroratheawake8981]

I was really kinda confused when I didn't feel much at the last episode when Steven left. Like, shouldn't I feel anything? I've watched this character go through all this stuff and he's gone, like the show? I should feel something right? I guess this is why. It makes sense. It's oddly anticlimactic, despite Godzilla-Steven and everything.

[@raptalos9412]

Yellow and blue diamonds’ redemption would have been quicker than white diamond’s seeing as they started to redeem themselves in the final few episodes but it was totally rushed

[@jamesbenis3734]

That part where Peridot took off her visor after Steven’s bad dream legit made me cry, it was so wholesome.

[@JetblackJay]

Steven wasn't a Pacifist till season two starts season 1 he wasn't a no violence type

[@MarcMagma]

Yeah, the Crystal Gems were REALLY good at doing something they weren't programmed...I mean: made to do. Sapphire decided to look into the future while fused, instead of doing so while being alone, just as Ruby decided to guard people and a planet while fused instead of guarding something while unfused. Amathyst decided to guard, fight and eat stuff instead of just guarding and fighting. Pearl chose to serve...I mean: follow first Rose than Garnet instead of serving the Gem she was given to...wait... And let's not forget Bismuth who decided to build weapons instead of building buildings. And also let's not forget that except for Bismuth, every CG followed Rose without question and accepted everything she did referring to her as if she was a perfect, flawless being who couldn't do wrong (kinda like a Homeworld Gem treats their Diamond). Truely, the definition of freedom of choice.

[@rhondahoward8025]

And that's where they fucked up. The gems are data. Not organic. And they _were_ programmed from birth. Pearl saying "I need someone to tell me what to do" isn't just an insecurity. That's how she was actually made, like a robot

[@MarcMagma]

@@rhondahoward8025 Exactly. I don't know why the people in the SU fandom pretend as if the Gems were actually comparable to humans when they have far more in common with robots.

[@GingerbreadGerard]

You know what hasn't been touched on often in a show like this? Ways of dealing with PTSD that's not exaggerated fear or anger. I wanted to see Steven start to lose hope in himself, start succumbing to his trauma, fall into deep depression, then wakes up in a hospital one day with his loved ones around him, tears in their eyes. "Steven, maybe... maybe you need some help. Help that I nor the rest of us can provide." Greg says, then we start working towards the healing process and steven learning to Express things in a healthy way. I suffer from PTSD, severe depression, and anxiety. I want to relate to Steven but i can't help but feel insulted of how abruptly his character changes and he's super angy and fights people but he also good boi and helps people but messes up everything. This isn't realistic, i can't relate to this at all.

[@Pewiling-]

Did you guys remember when Steven said that he’s vegetarian? Yeah we literally saw him eating hamburger(on the trip he had with his dad) And fish(his training with Jasper)

[@strawberrypieart]

I actually got really mad for some reason that they suddenly made him vegan out of nowhere

[@a_person5285]

I’m disappointed he didn’t mention jasper being shattered

[@connorhudock1950]

The "what happens when you topple an evil empire" question was handled really well in the Mistborn series of books by Brandon Sanderson.

[@coolzinc2893]

Peridot +lapis= we'll never see it

[@history_enjoyer_]

when steven was trying to make the gems freer he kinda felt like Nikita Khrushchev you know the whole "lets make them more free but in my way" stuff

[@spoookley]

The main issue that you had with the diamonds is an issue that Steven also had with them. He pointed out that they recovered too fast for him, and that was a major part on why he felt like he was a horrible person was because the three people that he thought were the worst out of literally anyone in the universe are now reversing all that they’ve done and are now doing better than him.

[@iwannaseehowlongyoucanmakethis]

@Dark Shadow Storm thousands year old being controlling thousands year old empires would do anything to keep that thousands year old empire going, like any good ruler would, especially so when it's literally their life's purpose to keep it going.

[@Kaneland2014]

My biggest issue with SU: F was that the majority of episodes can be boiled down to "Epilogue for Insert Character Here", with many characters having little to no impact/presence in the show outside their 1-2 episodes. I didn't get the sense of community the original show had, where characters could and would show up at anytime which fit the small town setting. In Future, you get 1 episode for White Pearl/Pearl and then you barely see them again, you get 1 episode for Peridot (which is easily my favorite episode of the season) and so on.

[@vicenteisaaclopezvaldez2450]

Going to say it: White diamond's dialoge in change your mind; "you're just acting like a child" is very obviously a forced getaway so they can give her that 180, any other (smarter) word choice and it'd require more time to sort it out.

[@Hegataro]

The "Gem Empire" is a pretty dumb name considering that most likely the empire existed on the gem homeworld before the entire planet unified under its rule (unless it formed once everyone was peachy keen with one another, like the federation from Star Trek) It's not like Rome renamed itself the Human Empire once it captured like 90% of everything near them

[@jaybee27D]

Pretty sure the empire existed with the creation of the diamonds, which have always been portrayed as the first gems. I don’t think we’re led to believe there have been gems outside of it until the Crystal Gems rebelled

[@sakareeh]

Hegataro that Rome analogy made me laugh Ngl I love it

[@6pades]

personally i like to think steven’s characterization wasn’t all that off in the first episode, since corruption (in the form of becoming pink and glowy) was getting to him and making more unstable

[@swiftlyaswiftie]

I'm convinced shows hate abuse victims with She-ra PoP Catra & Shadow Weaver and Pink diamond & the Diamonds. Like "oh you did something bad because you were raised in an abusive environment and didn't know better? Yeahhhh but your abuser did ONE good thing so they're redeemed"

[@BWMagus]

It's the actual reason (not the stupid, but common, reason) people hate virtue signalling--if aren't actually talking about the thing, but mouthing off canned lines or quoting Wikipedia, you're likely doing more harm than good. There's no nuance, there's no deep understanding, and often as not, the very people that are supposed to be the benefactors are the victims, because their issues are turned inside-out and upside-down and it's just a clusterfuck.

[@comic6571]

I’m probably the only person who wanted this but, an episode with the diamonds making an actual visit to earth would have been neat. Imagine the possibilities with the townies meeting the diamonds

[@ResidentTarantino]

I'm surprised this video wasn't going to massively trash on the finale. Especially because that finale was executed in such an unintentionally comical manner that I felt like it accomplished the opposite message it was going for; those parts where I was expected to be emotionally invested only made me laugh. Jay, are you okay? Is a Tumblr stan holding a gun to the back of your head? Blink twice if "yes!"

[@Phasmania]

Veteran Nintenerd Wasn’t the WD scene intentionally overboard so Connie could tell everyone to shut up? Maybe it was a matter of opinion. Clearly he found it to be decent to pretty good, and there were more things to appreciate about the last few episodes than the tone of that scene.

[@Jdudec367]

nah the finale wasnt bad. but the whole crying scene in " I am my monster" was overdone and honestly kinda annoying/don 't think I would call it dumb though

[@jpickens189]

I think the point of him snapping in episode one is that these problems festered during the time skip and the series is only drawing them out of him and resolving them. When you have a time skip many of the stories you have after that are generally about unpacking the missed time, not just telling a whole new story with older characters.

[@imtheflu9883]

steven: im vegan two episodes later... steven: *eats a fish*

[@christheleavittman7080]

I mean gems turning into monsters when they're unstable or, dare I say, corrupted, has been a stable of the show since the beginning. Just throwing that out there, keep up the good work Jay!

[@awesomegaymer5786]

they were only corrupted by the diamond blast, wich is why yellow asks how he was corrupted

[@madisonsellers1714]

@@awesomegaymer5786 well yeah, but Garnet says corruption says it similar to breaking the fabric of your mind, so we can assume great mental stress/trauma can cause corruption

[@awesomegaymer5786]

@@madisonsellers1714 then why didnt it happen to jasper lapis pearl or spinel

[@madisonsellers1714]

@@awesomegaymer5786 oh make no mistake I didn't say it wasn't poorly explained, it's just something that could explain why it happened. It's still a bad explanation

[@christheleavittman7080]

@@awesomegaymer5786 It did happen to Jasper. Remember Earthlings back in Season 3? Also, who's to say Spinel with the upside-down heart isn't her corruption? Or at the very least, semi-corruption a la Nephrite?

[@loganshalloe5927]

we can all agree that outro/credits was the cutest thing ever

[@joolsthebass]

100%

[@AT-rp8zy]

@@joolsthebass 0%

[@dominothealphaandomega5512]

It would have been cool if this show showed how the rest of Humanity reacts to the Gems Existing, and the existence of Alien Space rocks

[@CyanicCore]

Yellow = Physical Health Blue = Emotional Health (Pills) White = Mental Health (Therapy) It's interesting how these come from the opposite of their old powers, makes them feel planned. They certainly put a lot of work into the sequence, too bad it had to involve such controversial characters.