The Problem With Human Decency On Steven Universe

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[@Icecream_5]

i love ur vids

[@TheCrowReviewer]

Thanks, I appreciate that icecream! ❤️

[@loganon2216]

"The only episode of season one with jumpscares" One word, Fry-bo.

[@ShitEatingGoblin42069]

Frybo was fuckin' dark bro.

[@TheCrowReviewer]

@@loganon2216 Real

[@Zeno11Salazar]

I don't care how they twist it, Stevonnie wasn't an adult, they are two kids in a trenchcoat.

[@TheCrowReviewer]

Completely agreed, that adding up ages excuse doesn't fly by me either. 🤔👌

[@Lolbitdrangonmaster]

​@@TheCrowReviewericehouse

[@Æuvelity]

Two kids in an adult body is still two kids because they’re mentally children.

[@tikimillie]

Im guessing they’re thinking of it more like two times the same amount of life experience. Though in reality i think it would add a year or two of life experience to the fusion due to two different experiences growing up n shit, but would still be a child for sure.

[@Chris-55]

I HATED that Lion took Connie's side, I like Connie, but Lion cmon, he used to be rose, the one that revived you, and he found you, gave you a home and everything and Lion pretty much just abandoned him because of Connie's entitlement

[@vincegardinangle1442]

Precisely. Like I understand Connie’s point of fighting with Steven and the giving himself up thing, but he QUITE LITERALLY, returned ALIVE, UNHARMED, from a place where we could have DIED, or been TORTURED, with a probable ATTACK on Earth afterwards, and yet, the ONLY thing she thought about at that moment was “ why didn’t you let me fight with u :( “ not even 10 seconds after his CONFIRMED NON-DEATH, did she think “ thank goodness your alive “ I know she did, but still, realistically a NORMAL human would have taken multiple days to have the argument and resentment that she did, all a NORMAL human would think about, would be the fact that YOU. ARE. ALIVE. even though, still, I understand (kind of) Connie’s point with her argument, that should have came WAY after the fact that Steven returned, like ACTUAL MONTHS (days at the LEAST) this is one of my main reasons why I have a love-hate relationship with Connie, she can be so unnecessary to the point of hatred, but then a episode later she’s saving the world and being adorable with Steven, LIKE WHAT ,:/ and for lion, he didn’t even need to be there, honestly, if he wasn’t I would have been a little less upset with the end of the episode, taking Connie’s side was just unneeded and stupid ‘:l but I agree with your point especially this one completely :)

[@Kyss111]

How is that Connie's fault???? Lion have his own free will don't blame Connie that he chose her, and it's not entitlement, Steven broke his promise and forsake his own life, Connie have the right to be upset, he is a child and he shouldn't have to go through it alone

[@Chris-55]

@@Kyss111 I'm not blaminc Connie, I'm blaming Lion, it really pissed me off that he abandoned Steven, more than Connie

[@N1stargril]

I thought rose gave up her physical form to have Steven? Steven isn’t rose?

[@Chris-55]

@@N1stargril But he carries her gem, her legacy

[@jasperzombwolf5422]

Lion can't be blamed, though he is a lion.. He's a cat.. they are switching it up like this.. one time they be loving on yah then the next they bite lol

[@TheCrowReviewer]

@@jasperzombwolf5422 As a cat enjoyer this comment cracked me up, you're right if you think about it that way. Feline realism. 😺👌

[@tamirisgaelzer1902]

I think you're missing a lot of messages of self love and mental health that SU tries to teach. Regarding Connie: emotions aren't supposed to "make sense". You can always try to get to the bottom of why you're feeling something but you don't NEED to do that to validate your emotions. Connie is a person, not a machine or yeswoman for Steven, her disagreeing with how Steven chose to handle the situation is a completely normal thing to happen. No matter how level headed someone may seem or how much they are kind, sometimes they WILL feel something "irrationally" and they will disagree with other people in their life. The best person in the world can also be selfish, prideful or "irrational", it's part of being human, we are flawed creatures with a sense of self (and it's healthy to have one). The issue is society at large has a problem with emotions that are considered negative (sadness, anger, jealousy, pride etc) and we're only allowed to feel those negative emotions only if they make "complete logical sense", which is bullcrap because emotions aren't logic. Therefore a ton of people pretend to not feel things either to not upset other people or because they fear conflict (or both), which only leads to people-pleasing behavior which leads to long term resentment. Homeworld is an exaggerated representation of our society, and Rose fled Homeworld (also) because of such harmful impositions on human (gem) behavior and feelings. Steven Universe (the series) is literally showing how to undo these harmful teachings that cause emotional and psychological suffering, so it's really on brand for them to show characters having "irrational" emotions and being allowed to feel and process them in their own time without having to people-please others. You don't have to agree with someone's emotion for them to be allowed to feel it and take the time they need to process it. Still on this topic, I think you also misunderstand what apologies are meant to be in healthy relationships: it's not about admitting to fault, it's about acknowledging the feelings of the person you want to have a relationship with (not only romantic) and taking >accountability< (not fault) for your part even if you didn't mention to cause harm. Regarding the Cluster and Peridot: again, Homeworld is a representation of our society, they overwork their people and deem doing things that aren't seen as productive to the expansion of the empire as a "waste of time" - which is very very very close to our society which does the same to any activity that's not about earning money or doing chores. We >NEED< rest. Every animal needs it and we also are animals. Rest is extremely beneficial to our physical and mental health. It wouldn't matter working non-stop on the drill to stop the cluster of the work were to be worse in any way due to tiredness or mental stress. Quality over quantity. Steven Universe (show) is about unlearning harmful practices that are considered socially acceptable (or even positive) such as overworking yourself. Feeling good is super important to our personal health and, therefore, is super important to the health of any project we work on. Other than that, I agree with the other things you pointed out!

[@allanalbuquerque6620]

Wow... 👏🏻✨

[@TheCrowReviewer]

This comment is art. 👍✨

[@radjiledessinateur6155]

Yeah, not reading

[@lifeisadrag7705]

@@radjiledessinateur6155 Woahh, who asked???

[@Vex-Trixztra]

​@@radjiledessinateur6155 bro watched a 20 minute video and can't even read a comment that takes less than that lol /lh

[@Barakon]

I always hated how Steven never called the gems, the 1s who raised him, & even his own father, his family. They always say “my friends” but aren’t they more than that? Aren’t they your kin?! WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH YOU?!

[@LadyLeomon]

But none of the Gems ever refer to Steven as family either? When they speak of Rose they nearly always refer to her as “our friend” or “our Leader”, that axe chops both ways, I think the only exception to this is Pearl during that Uncle Grandpa episode when she called Steven “my baby” (her exact words were “that’s not my baby!” when Pizza Steve showed up dressed as Steven)

[@mr.exeggutor7780]

The episodes side characters refer to the gems as mom's seems more accurate as their relationship with Steven but they don't know the concept of mothers like Steven and other humans would

[@CherieYuan-gz6iz]

I loved steven universe (...still do, tbh) and really really enjoy your takes on the characters and writing, great work! Super high quality

[@brickbladestudios7690]

This is overall a solid video but I do disagree with you on every point. Mainly the Connie stuff. Connie's actions make perfect sense she's not mad that Steven went to space or that he didn't fuse she's mad that Steven fully gave up and accepted his fate abandoning earth and her right after promising that they would be in this together. From her perspective Steven handed himself over to die rather then try and fight. I also disagree with the argument that lars and sadie didn't deserve their character arks because sadie didn't do anything bad so her ark was already justified and lars still went through major character development sure we could have seen him apologies to ronaldo but when would that have happened lars doesn't return until the last 5 minutes of the final episode and there was no space for it in future.

[@TheCrowReviewer]

Fascinating to read a fresh perspective, I never saw it that way for Connie but that does make sense. The key difference was that they fought Aquamarine and Topaz after they committed to earth other, really cool stuff. As for the Lars content, I understand adding it into future would've been a bit jarring but that's why they should've added an apology into the original show. This isn't the first time the series refused to make people who should apologize actually do it, Lapis and Peridot also comes to mind and there was plenty of time for an apology between them. Thanks for your thoughts! 🤩👍

[@gimmekromer1151]

Its pretty realistic actually,people often dont apologise

[@paranaenselol]

​@@gimmekromer1151 but it isnt good message for kids, the kids will learn to not apologize and make the victim apologize instead of themselves

[@lifeisadrag7705]

@@paranaenselol Not necessarily

[@guerreiroazul3230]

The problem with Connie is that the show treats her as being 100% and Steven as being 100% in the wrong, which isn't true, humans are both logical and emotional, and as emotions cooldown Connie and Steven should have had an actual argument where BOTH apologized

[@xpandorasboxx]

Yeah, gotta disagree with you about Connie. He did run off to a situation where he effectively thought he'd get unalived, without even trying to fight, to sacrifice himself for everyone else, right after saying they were in things together. Of course she'd be mad! She had every right to be. With Bluebird, Rubies don't seem to be all that.. smart. Clouded by hatred and effectively having everything Aquamarine had ripped away from her, Eyeball's thinking likely overtook most of the critical thinking there. Grief and hatred do make people make dumb decisions and thoughts. Loving your videos so far though, just got recommended your stuff

[@generalmississippi5204]

While Connie did have the right to be upset, she was in NO place to straight up ditch Steven after he risked his life just to save them. It really annoyed me how she was only thinking about herself in that moment of reunion and not even bothering to properly communicate with him instead of just actually being glad Steven even had the opportunity to come back in the first place. Yeah, they're both children and yeah Steven made mistakes too, but I really hate how that scene was portrayed. Both of them were in the wrong, not just Steven. I feel like it should've been addressed that Connie's response to that ordeal was not the best way to handle things. Leaving with Lion was honestly one of the worst things she could have done in that moment. Like come on, he just came back after he risked his life for all of them. And Connie couldn't even wait to talk about it at a better timing. That's gotta be really hurtful in an actual situation. She didn't even say she was happy to see Steven until he himself had to ask that. Really pained me to watch that scene at the beach.

[@Starluxious]

Bob thinks Bob is Bob is Bob is bob

[@TheCrowReviewer]

You know what, this is giving Bob. 😆👍

[@kawaiizzythefrog8952]

How did you get started with KZbin? Love most of the stuff you’ve been posting so far!

[@TheCrowReviewer]

I fell in love with making videos on my phone and since I was already also obsessed with cartoons I thought I'd be cool to turn that random knowledge into content. 😆👌

[@SilverScribe85]

In my fanfic The Contest of Champions, there's a moment where both Connie AND Lion get chewed out for leaving Steven the way they did. I'd say who did the verbal lashing...but that would be spoilers

[@FinestFantasyVI]

That name reminds me if a Linkara arc

[@joeskys2362]

I still hate Ronaldo!

[@desldonner]

Bro I'm the same way.

[@Silvercomet251]

Oh so I'm not the only one

[@2sinfulsansYTGOD]

Oh no, you're summoning hate from the mud dimension.

[@123youbia]

I can't agree with anything you said... but I will just talk about Connie. Connie is very well allowed to be mad at Steven. Steven GAVE UP all their work and progress to try and resolve a conflict the "easy" way, dying to the diamonds. Imagine, you are working with your partner for this one big project, but suddenly the other person says "I am doing this all alone, nvm you can't so anything about it" all your effort are gone to waste. I'd be mas too if everything I passes through meant NOTHING to that person. Also, besides the value side of things, there's also the idea of how stupid that idea is, to simply die to the diamonds. I'd cry the shit out and be mad for losing someone just because they stopped trying, of course.

[@guerreiroazul3230]

I disagree, Steven didn't take the "easy way", he took the ONLY way, Steven didn't take over project, he sacrificed himself because he was in a dire situation witu no solution in sight. To see what Steven did as him no caring about you is delusional because it's very clearly the opposite

[@WhirlwindExtreme]

Honestly ik that steven took on a feminine roll but i think they shouldnt have made him a bit too girly and respect his gender

[@marocat4749]

And its really weird how all space gems that are way more interesting exploring gender, all women, despite them switching kinda would have been way more interesting. And he can be kinda feminine and a boy

[@Sinister_Shortee]

Subscribed!

[@KaTeaPopstars]

charAHCTer

[@milamillionss9133]

YO 5000TH VIEWER

[@yourixc]

moral of the story: connie is a pick me

[@tiantidur]

Um no

[@Relicsplace]

Lol what

[@UrlocaltherianTuT]

Reaalll

[@Zazabazaa]

Dude, Ronaldo may have been an outcast but I don't think he was bullied by the "cool kids"... Literally a huge point of their characters is that they're just chill people who will vibe with anybody as long as they're good people too. The most that would've happened in that case is they wouldn't have vibed with him for very obvious reasons. Ronaldo isn't a bad person, but he's obsessive and shows little empathy to those around him, more focused on his own self interest. It's kinda sad that we don't get a character arc for him. It would've been nice if he and Lars could've come back and grown respect for each other. Cuz yea, Lars was a terrible friend, but Ronaldo wasn't that much better. Also, Lars didn't get rewarded for being a bad friend... He was rewarded for standing up for his friends for the first time ever and putting his life on the line for them

[@sketchyartz5167]

Also the conflict between them as kids, im entirely on Lars’ side with it. Ronaldo was being ignorant and intrusive and lars just stood up for himself. I don’t see what he did wrong at all

[@Mehhhhhhhh]

For a show about being human and the joys of humanity, Steven Universe absolutely SUCKED at writing human decency. A lot of character's terrible motivations come from "i just want to do this no matter who it hurts". Ronaldo, Lars, Sadie... Pink diamond. Their crappy actions always came down to their selfishness and it's never really called out at all. 😭

[@liwkaosmaek9874]

Pink was abused emotionally at least unlike others...

[@Mehhhhhhhh]

@@liwkaosmaek9874 Pink went on to emotionally abuse Pearl, psychologically abuse Spinel, physically and psychologically abused Pink Pearl . And whenever she didn't like one particular Gem she would wait till they were alone and sucker punch them out of existing like she did with Bismuth. She's a victim but a victim who created more victims and didn't even attempt to turn good unless you believe her just making Steven is "Good enough". Everything was for her own benefit. And she'd do this all to weaker more vulnerable Gems or humans. She wouldn't dare do this BS to her stronger diamond siblings cuz they'd actually fight back.

[@yumekyn6283]

i mean, not everyone has a sad backstory to back up every bad action, expecting everyone to have good reasons is less human than it being just out of selfishness or obsession

[@katrinsorokatkat1597]

lapis stole the whole ocean, broke peridot’s record, broke the barn, abandoned peridot on earth, being a coward (with OP water powers) - she didn’t apologised

[@Mehhhhhhhh]

@@katrinsorokatkat1597 lapis was only in that situation because of PINK'S stupid war. The entire war could've easily been avoided if she had the BALLS to tell her diamonds sisters she was leaving them to defend Earth. They became total pushovers when it came to Steven because they knew he was PINK. The diamonds were hellbent of destroying Earth because they believed a random Rose Quartz destroyed their sister. Every Gem that perished or was damaged by the war owes it to Pink being a Coward and starting a proxy war. Lapis destroying an old Barn has absolutely nothing on what Pink's done to millions of Gems. And at least Lapis is alive to change her ways and apologize. And she has! She gave the ocean back, she befriended Peridot, she came back to save her friends because she realized that leaving them was SELFISH. Can Pink come back and apologize to anyone she's hurt? No, she put it on an innocent kid to fix.

[@4125tech]

I hate seeing channels this good with so small a viewer base. A lot of people don't appreciate how hard it is to just get a good script. Let alone to give a good vocal delivery and put good video editing on it. Keep creating man, you've clearly got more going on than just raw talent.

[@TheCrowReviewer]

Thank you so much, tech! I'll keep making videos and improving either way but hopefully all of these recent encouraging comments mean something good is on the horizon. ☺️👍

[@senhoritajose]

Every human episodes in SU had an unnecessary amount of Steven in it. Like why couldn’t we get a stand alone episode WITHOUT Steven. HE HAD TO BE THERE

[@gimmekromer1151]

Well the show is in his POV

[@MTZAnimates]

​@@gimmekromer1151 True

[@Barakon]

@@gimmekromer1151they took that statement so literally that we got no room to breath without him. It’s super annoying.

[@zkme2734]

THANK YOU. That's my first issue with this show, like compare it with The Owl House or Gravity Falls. Those shows had many scenes without the MC involved and it helped a lot with the worldbuilding and character development. You end up caring more for the people of Gravity Falls or The Boiling Isles than you would ever care for the people of Beach City

[@Zistheone2]

I think Connie’s whole issue with Steven surrendering himself was how he handled it after everything they’ve been through up to that point. Yes, his meltdown was valid & Connie was understanding in the season 2 premiere, but at that point she was still basically a bystander who was part of Steven’s support group. As the show went on, they trained and bonded together and, even if they couldn’t beat every opponent, they saw each other more as equals and would face on whatever Homeworld threw at them together. However, when Topaz & Aquamarine showed up, Steven gave himself up thinking it was best for everyone and when he came back he tried brushed it off and acted like it was no issue at all. I know that Steven surrendering himself was probably the only way to stop Aquamarine and Topaz at the time, but the way Steven handled it made Connie feel like he didn’t see them as equals despite everything they’ve been through, and then completely ignored it like her feelings don’t even matter. The whole election subplot with Mayor Dewey was even supposed to make Steven realize how Connie felt

[@zkme2734]

I think this is a problem that the show is very Steven-focus, you almost never get episodes or B plots with side characters, so you just don't know how characters act or think without Steven. So for a lot of people (including me) seeing this scene at first felt like trouble from nowhere, like an excuse to give human trouble to Steven just because.

[@JoshuaA1307]

This useless arc lasted 5 episodes…. THATS FIVE EPISODES WE COULDVE USED FOR THE FINALE

[@TheCrowReviewer]

@@JoshuaA1307 For real, that's one of the most frustrating parts for me too but we have to pretend like it was all Cartoon Network's fault for the rushed ending... 😅🙏

[@AIIied.Mastercomputer]

Your vids are surprisingly high quality for having such low views. I had to do a double take when I saw your view/sub count, as video essays with quality like yours is usually only seen with 100k+ subs. Subbed! Hoping to see more in the future.

[@TheCrowReviewer]

I appreciate that, serpentine! Yeah, I've slowly learnt how to make videos from scratch over the course of a year. At the start I didn't even know what audio leveling was, haha, so maybe one day I'll get good enough to trigger the algorithm but the love right now means the world to me. ❤️🥳

[@emperorscoven]

this is awesome bro the quality made me think i was watching a much larger channel

[@TheCrowReviewer]

Thank you so much, emperor! ❤️🥳

[@medllensaimon1015]

You are wrong She's right to feel abandoned and betrayed, He didn't count on her and just put himself in danger by himself like he has the habit of doing, Connie is right to be mad at his reckless behaviour.

[@zkme2734]

A reviewer that uses Danganronpa music? Sign me up

[@TheCrowReviewer]

A viewer that *appreciates, recognizes and loves* Danganronpa music? Please God give me more

[@lynntheangel4261]

I recognize that Danganronpa music and I love it

[@TheCrowReviewer]

@@lynntheangel4261 Fellow Danganronpa fans are very much welcomed here my friend! 🤩👍

[@petofiarkwright3236]

The information about the Diamonds taking away weapons is probably in one of the official games, I think it was in the last one (Steven Universe: Unleash the Light), I played it for just a little bit and remember some homeworld gems (the pearls and peridots) mentioning how they won't have their weapons anymore and how they were told to just be themselves and that they aren't under the Diamonds' control anymore.

[@cervo5224]

I disagree with you saying connie was wrong by being angry. First, everyone has the right to feel the way they feel. Second, for what she knew, steven gave himself to me murdered instead of fight. I would be furious if that was my friend. Relieved that he is ok, but angry any least.

[@PeriwinkleFairywinkle]

Steven be like: When she breaks your heart and takes the car 💔

[@cajunking5987]

What the hell is this thumbnail

[@Me-vu9st]

Love that you recap the episodes

[@WeebGuru6]

Wow Steven universe supporting toxicity shocking

[@Loast_Toast]

BOLD to use the chimp cutaway with CONNIE. Lmao

[@Loast_Toast]

10:14

[@TheCrowReviewer]

@@Loast_Toast Haha, this the kind of joke that'll get me cancelled 5 years down the line.

[@Loast_Toast]

@@TheCrowReviewer I’d be lying if I said it didn’t make me laugh

[@reikoshadowstar3176]

I like your voice and accent keep up the good work, I'm positive you'll get your footing you sir got a sub

[@TheCrowReviewer]

I appreciate that, Reiko! I'll keep working on this channel, I won't give up! ❤️🥳

[@reesearmstrong912]

10:14 this was diabolical