The Toxicity of Alone at Sea (Steven Universe)

[@delphoxhoopa7289]

I love how there's no unambiguous victim here. Jasper convinced Lapis to fuse with her to defeat the Crystal Gems, but Lapis only agreed for both selfless (Saving Steven) and selfish (Hurting Jasper) reasons. By the time they're unfused, they both miss it for clearly unhealthy reasons: Jasper for both a desire to get stronger and a warped sense of respect for her, which fits into her mindset of following anyone stronger than her, and Lapis got a warped sense of catharsis from having someone to take her anger and trauma out on, which is her essentially exerting control over someone else to take back the control she lost up until this point in the series. Malachite is a blatant case of a relationship where the partners in it clearly bring out the worst in each other, creating a relationship that's both mutually abusive and dysfunctional for both sides, and dangerous for anyone that tries to interfere with it.

[@DBArtsCreators]

I'd actually say the show is pretty unambiguous in saying that Jasper is the victim of Lapis. Lapis was a victim of the crystal gems & homeworld, yes, but Jasper didn't do anything to her except keep her prisoner on homeworld's orders (as did Peridot), and convince Lapis to originally fuse with her. Lapis, on the other hand, openly admits to torturing Jasper with their fusion for months, so much so that she says she enjoyed torturing her and misses being fused with her. She isn't reacting to Jasper with fear that she (Lapis) is going to be hurt. She's reacting with confusion & utter horror that her victim wants her (Lapis) to hurt her (Jasper) again, all while grappling with her own conflicted feelings on the situation (said feelings of which do scare her). Malachite is definitely an example of a toxic relationship in the form they took though. It is one that could have changed to something healthy perhaps (BDSM is a thing, and even a healthy Lapis & Jasper would prefer it to some degree, I think), but all chance of that sank along with the boat once Jasper threatened to lash out at & hurt Steven.

[@delphoxhoopa7289]

@@DBArtsCreators To be honest, I've seen a bit of division on this in other parts of the fandom. Relationship like this are definitely complicated, especially from an outsider's perspective. I must respectfully disagree with the possibility of them getting back together, though. Speaking as someone who's had experience with distancing themselves from toxic people, it's definitely healthier for them to be apart. If they both work on self-improvement, I can see them getting in healthy relationships with other Gems, but absolutely not each other.

[@jamestolbert1856]

So that’s why the fans don’t like her, but I do. I love her character and how she moves on from her trauma

[@beebs4283]

this is why i have always been frustrated when people call lapis the definitive victim in the situation- it clearly hurt both of them!

[@Anonymissus]

​@@delphoxhoopa7289Agreed

[@HarvestPeiskos2209]

Considering malachite is a gem that becomes toxic when in contact with water, Lapis and Jasper's relationship is another show at Steven Universe's skill with certain symbolism.

[@GoticoArrombado]

Interestingly enough, Rebecca Sugar didn't know that Malachites had toxic proprieties, which i find to be a really good unintentional lore coincidence.

[@kumakuma4260]

I do agree, but I believe rebbeca said it was just a coincidence

[@HarvestPeiskos2209]

@@kumakuma4260 Someone already mentioned that she had had no prior knowledge of this when making the fusions and dynamics. *I know* lol.

[@kumakuma4260]

@@HarvestPeiskos2209 ah alrighty sorry then, just wanted to point out it was less skill and more coincidence this time around

[@HipsterShiningArmor]

@@kumakuma4260 i think the much more obvious nominative significance is that if a character's name has the word "mal" in it, they're usually someone you don't want to be around if you can help it.

[@ghosttornado]

I like when Greg asks Lapis to help with the boat but she screams "don't put me in charge", that's a small forshadowing about how she feels about Malachite

[@randomname1201]

I think the hints started earlier than that. For me, at least, Lapis looking at Greg weird at the handshake before they got on the boat got me thinking "omg this better not be giving her flashbacks from her fusion with Jasper"

[@fern_doc]

I think the whole debate the fandom had with “Jasper was the abuser / Lapis was the abuser” a few years ago completely misses the point of Malachite. Jasper and Lapis’ relationship didn’t start when they formed Malachite, at different instances they have been abusive towards each other since they crossed paths.

[@fern_doc]

I also HATE that the relationship between Lapis and the Crystal Gems was not explored AT ALL during the series. Obviously Lapis has anger directed towards Jasper after everything Jasper had done pre-malachite, but It would have been so interesting to see the gem’s mistakes also be a part of the series, showing that EVERYONE makes mistakes, and sometimes they’re not pretty at all.

[@frenchfries2998]

@@fern_docI really wish it was brought up too cause amethyst didn’t really know anything. But garnet and pearl did. Pearl knew a gem was in there she didn’t care and it was never adressed again. I think Lapis had every right to show some anger towards them for that. Cause like lapis says in ocean gem “your friends they don’t really care about other gems. All they care about is the earth”. That statement is partially true, they jump immediately to violence in every situation. If they had just freed Lapis earlier she wouldn’t have attacked them or been against them. She would’ve felt indebted to them like she did towards Steven. I think it would’ve been a cool plot point to explore about how they make a lot of mistakes. And that they mess up just as much as Steven messes up.(There’s Also the fact that Rebekah sugar confirmed off screen that bismuth was the one who poofed Lapis and they never even address it in the show)

[@dead_channe1]

​@@frenchfries2998 Couldn't have said it better myself! 👏

[@plague_doctor0237]

Yeah they were both abusive to eachother, they bring out eachother's worst aspects

[@mirulei]

dude i'm so baked but readinf this comment felt like it unlocked a part of my brain i started thinking so hard about their relationship like it makes so much more sense now than it did before i read this

[@MusiKube_]

12:54 "...As the ship, in both senses, sinks into the sea" BANGER CONCLUDING SENTENCE

[@tophatgeo]

This episode has so many good lines. "I miss her", "It'll be better this time" and "You're pointing that shield the wrong way" are some of the show's strongest written moments. I love how this explores how twisted and toxic a relationship can be. Lapis clearly has both a strong desire and strong fear about ever getting in control again. And Jasper, this scary and intimidating figure, is on her knees begging to reform into Malachite again. It twists the dynamic from Season 1 in such interesting ways. Jasper might not be a saint, but her calling out Lapis' behaviour is chilling. I love how even the "good" characters in Steven Universe get to be examined and are shown to be deeply flawed people. Also love the description's Hoenn reference. Too much water. 7.8/10.

[@Cole_Is_A_Mole]

I can't believe every single one of your comments has been hearted! (12 comments, 12 ❤ received)

[@SaiScribbles]

I fully believe when Jasper says "I'm the only one who can handle your power" what she means is "I can take the pain you want to inflict on me".

[@dopeydoughnut6334]

Omg hi sai! And yeah that makes a lot of sense, in a really fucked up way.

[@badgerfern6469]

Or you’re terrible and I’m the only person who could ever want you

[@Tugar_Dumkin]

Ouch.

[@omarcogle1965]

What makes it worse when Jasper says that to Lapis is that she's addicted to that pain, and she treats it like it's love. I'm glad Lapis didn't go back to that pain, thanks to Steven's help, had she gone back to Jasper, it would've been worse.

[@rawonions8827]

I really connect to Lapis’s trauma. I remember hearing criticism that Lapis is really unlikeable, especially for her cruelty to Peridot when she first shows up to the barn. But I always felt that she behaved in that way because of how angry she is at the world. Lapis’s rage and hurt from thousands of years of being used and treated like an object, imprisoned physically inside a mirror, then broken (perhaps in her mind, irreparably), combined with her sheer, brute power makes for a character who reflects how I felt about myself. I can both be a victim, hurt by many years of trauma, and also someone who continues to perpetuate the cycle of abuse without invalidating my suffering nor the suffering I placed onto others. I love that Lapis was angry at the world. I love that she does lash out. I love that she’s moody and jaded. Trauma puts people into survival mode. People give all sorts of sympathy to scared and confused animals. We humans are not very different when we’re scared and desperate. And yet the scared and desperate get treated with so much scorn and not enough patience. It’s still vital to recognize how easy it is to hurt someone when your claws are sharp from having fought tooth and nail to survive your trauma. I dislike it when media portrays victims of trauma as more innocent or pure. No person is so blameless. No person lives life free of mistakes. And more often than not, trauma is…ugly. It’s mean and rude, it lashes out, it’s angry and it feels shame constantly. And I love that Lapis is real in that sense. I do wish there was more sympathy for Jasper in the main series. I’ve always admired SU for tackling mental health in multifaceted ways. I always felt a bit bad for Jasper, but it does make sense that if Jasper were to improve, it’d have to happen away from the main crew. Just too much history in there, and it’s not Steven or anyone else’s responsibility to help her. Great video as always! I can’t believe i never realized that Lapis saying “I dont deserve this” was about happiness itself. Super raw. SU is amazing.

[@pieflower6419]

I also love how Lapis' arc takes so long. Some people will continually run away, shut themselves out, and take a long time to heal. And I have never seen that portrayed so accurately and with such kindness as here.

[@fern_doc]

Barn Mates was a completely misunderstood episode with not the best execution imo. Lapis constantly set boundaries, stating that she was not ready to live with someone who caused her harm, but Peridot and Steven kept pushing those boundaries until Lapis snapped, then the episode goes to try to teach the viewer a lesson about forgiveness (???). I don’t know if it’s just me who thinks that way.

[@AstralSoulace]

@@fern_doc Yeah I wasn't a fan of how much that episode was used by people to demonize Lapis for... not wanting to live with someone who literally kidnapped and imprisoned her. No one would get over that immediately, yet apparently she's the bad guy for being rude to her kidnapper.. okay... and then steven and peridot trying to push her, was not a fan

[@fern_doc]

@@AstralSoulace Exactly, and Peridot’s only argument was “I’m changed now” Like, I do believe Rebecca and their crew are amazing at portraying these dynamics most of the time, but Barn Mates just wasn’t one of those times. I wish SU gave Lapis and Jasper the same amount of care they gave Peridot’s arc, we basically got episodes where Peridot interacts with each one of the CGs one by one, and yet we never see Lapis even talk to any of them directly in the entire series.

[@AstralSoulace]

@@fern_doc Yeah. I'm a big believer in "even if someone who hurt you changed, you're not obligated to forgive them" so that episode was really frustrating. And you're right, I really wish she'd gotten more episodes interacting with everyone :(

[@RockEgg567]

A chance for happiness over the certainty of misery - really liked that line

[@monsquidchr6533]

"malachite in water becomes toxic" they all say in unison

[@CuddIebone]

In real life, when malachite is exposed to water, the water becomes toxic. Not sure if its intentional, but considering Rebecca's research into gemstones, they very well could have made their fusion Malachite for this reason.

[@queenperrytheplatypus458]

Rebecca stated in an interview that she had no prior knowledge about that. So, pretty good coincidence for her

[@TNTz1ooChannel]

One thing that's crazy is Greg gets 10 million dollars and near the end mentions he has 9 million left. So throughout the entire show he spends roughly 1 million dollars.

[@Cane4092]

Thats really good considering that the show was basically a year and people usually blow all that money in a week when they get it

[@EeveeFlipnoteStudios]

A video about Lapis with a thumbnail that says “Toxic”… that is actually good analysis and not character slander??? More likely than u think. Looking back at SU now, I am continually impressed by the quality of writing in the show, especially the work in creating multi-faceted, complex characters who aren’t perfect, but “good” nevertheless. It’s awesome to see the appreciation for this show after years of unfair, bad-faith… “critique”.

[@Callia_Cat]

You can say Lily orchid we all understand

[@CorVids1031]

I remember identifying with Lapis when this episode came out, as I was in what I now know was a toxic parental-child relationship in my family and was diagnosed with depression and anxiety as (what I now know was a) result. My confidence was non-existent and it was hard for me to make and keep friends. But, in high school, I briefly had a friend group I would have done anything for, and when relationship drama ripped it all apart, I was devastated. Part of me wanted to go back to being a recluse in my parents' house, thinking no one else would tolerate being around me and that I'd just end up feeling this pain again with different people, but I chose to be uncertain and try to continue to keep my head up at school despite the sadness it had resulted in previously. Until the later episode came out where Steven confronted Blue Diamond about keeping Pink locked away which more directly depicted what I had been through, this episode and Lapis in general made me feel seen. She was depressed but was willing to keep going in the hope of a happier future. Would love to see an analysis of that episode btw. Found your content earlier this week and have been devouring all your SU videos.

[@kataminedj]

Lapis is one of the best characters in Steven Universe, and it is SO nice to see representation of traumatised characters having their own dark elements as a result, and being desperate to never become their abusers. Prof. Van der Kolk wrote in the Body Keeps The Score that what traumatised Vietnam vets the most were not seeing their friends die or getting injured, but the things they did themselves when in the abusive trap of war. So many traumatised individuals are haunted by feelings of being a bad person, either from sharing behaviours of their abusers or because of the coping mechanisms they have developed (negative self talk, destructive, impulsive behaviours and disassociation). Having them be shown as NOT bad people, but rather complex, is amazing. Way more accurate to life than some redemption arcs.

[@iceluvndiva21]

This actually a pretty good example of how exposure therapy might go wrong. In ideal situations? Gradually reintroducing elements around traumatic events can help a person move past those events. Unfortunately in this situation? Steven didn't really understand why lapis was avoiding water and more importantantly being in control over interactions with other individuals. Lapis has a LOT of trauma to work through but they can't help her if they don't know what exactly the root of it is.

[@nicholsonastrid]

I keep forgetting that this is a pretty small channel because of just how clean and well made the videos are

[@XxEmoGothOutcastxX]

Lapis rejecting Jasper and acknowledging how unhealthy their relationship was is one of the strongest things she's ever done.

[@TheMoonHut]

I remember first watching this episode when it aired live and audibly going 'wait, are they doing this? Is this actually happening? Are they seriously doing this so transparently in a kid's show??' In hindsight maybe it feels a little less impactful but at the time even with some of the series' darker episodes up to that point having them blatantly go 'this character has PTSD from a history of abuse and a violent codependent relationship and doesn't believe she deserves to ever feel happiness because of it' felt like such a radical plot point to include and played fully seriously

[@jamestolbert1856]

I love how Lapis struggles with her self-value

[@Purpie_Slurpie]

ahh, back when Lapis's color pallet didn't hurt my eyes to look at

[@Sootielove]

This episode was fascinating and a brilliant showcase of how Steven Universe does imperfect relationships. I like how the show allows things not to be fully settled for a long time to let the characters really process things. Jasper is the instigator, the antagonist, and unsympathetic from the audience's view vs Lapis who was more passive, a protagonist, and highly sympathetic, but their relationship still isn't black and white. Lapis *did* like some aspects of Malachite: the power and punishing Jasper is cathartic and a high, and one that Jasper also grew dependent on. It's something that could easily have warped both of them and encouraged Lapis to indulge in violent habits, but her friendship with Steven gives her the support to tear herself away, even if she still struggles with the left over baggage.

[@FatherSonandHolySpirit]

When I send Jesus back down, I'm gonna send him as Ample's apprentice. That way he'll learn a thing or two about incredible content creation

[@alexanderleonardi3625]

@@TheRealRustyIsHere you are a liar and a non-person. self-destruct, you THING

[@TheRealRustyIsHere]

@@hinatasuzuki5344 It sounded forceful but that wasn't my intention.

[@TheRealRustyIsHere]

@@hinatasuzuki5344 Alright, alright. I apologize for saying something that was apparently so appalling.

[@TheRealRustyIsHere]

@@hinatasuzuki5344 Look, why are you even talking with me about this. I apologized, alright?

[@TheRealRustyIsHere]

@@hinatasuzuki5344 I already apologized to God for it. I have no excuses and I said I was honestly sorry. What else do you want from me, dude? I now see it was wrong of me and I repented. Can we be done now and move forward?

[@clairemercer3099]

Alone at Sea made me worry about Peridot's safety. Lapis clearly had a grudge against Peridot and without her limbs Peridot is small and powerless until she discovers metal bending.

[@DBArtsCreators]

Something that I found interesting about this episode is that it was also made clear that Steven had no interest in helping or even trying to understand Jasper. Even as Lapis admits to not only missing Jasper/Malachite moments before, but also outright says how much she hurt Jasper during their time as Malachite, Steven just defaults to a "Jasper bad person, make her go away" mindset. Lapis, the stressed & socially awkward survivor with PTSD, then sends Jasper flying the moment its made clear that Jasper is going to lash out at Steven - the right decision under the circumstances, especially with so little time to think/react. I can't help but wonder if things would have gone differently if Lapis hadn't just told Jasper no & Steven hadn't just treated her as a one-dimensional bad guy. If they simply been cautious and told Jasper that they needed to talk and not simply jump back into something like that (a relationship that was toxic in the form it was in, yes, but in a healthy form would have basically been some degree of BDSM). Throughout the series, the only people Jasper has shown herself willing to listen to are the Diamonds & Lapis (eventually Steven too, but he never tried to connect with her until he was a teen pressured her into teaching him to be more violent) and, even if for the wrong reasons at first, I think Jasper would have taken Lapis & Steven up on such an offer. Maybe Jasper would have still gone off the deep end and have gotten herself corrupted, but I feel it would have been an interesting side-plot (since one of the biggest issues brought up with Jasper is that she is desperate for connection & purpose, and that she's suffering her own form of PTSD after the death of Pink Diamond).

[@delphoxhoopa7289]

That's a really unique way of looking at Japer's character! That sounds like it would've been interesting to explore more!

[@merlumili]

Oh fuck this comment is reviving all my old anger/hurt over how Jasper was handled in the show..... I still can't process how she was described to be so deeply insecure about her own worth, but every single moment they give her in the show is a "bad guy of the episode" type of thing with barely any depth (literally the only one I can think of is what was virtually her last appearance, when she's sad(?) about her fusion partners always leaving and her freak out over Pink) Having Jasper as your favorite gem really was/is torture.

[@DBArtsCreators]

@@merlumili Ya

[@toby1004]

if i had a nickel for every time you brought up jasper and lapis doing bdsm in this comment section, i'd have two nickels, which isn't a lot but it's weird that it happened twice /lh

[@idontknowleo]

malachite disintegrates and gets really toxic when it touches water

[@darinescar]

Psycologicaly speaking, your analysis is by far the most epic and simplistic but with a lot of context and intelligence both emotionally and neuronaly.Congratulations once again!Keep it up✊🏼💜

[@LinWarai]

i just noticed that greg wore his only nice shirt for this episode, that’s adorable

[@nicognostic]

i'm really glad that you understand lapis' character- a lot of people mischaracterise her which really hurts since i relate to her a lot :,) in short i appreciate your analysis a lot and love your videos!!

[@Truzyxx]

I’m not sure I can think of another show, animated or otherwise, that’s addressed how someone who was in an abusive relationship and knows that’s what it was can still miss it. (And, more importantly, can choose not to go back to it despite missing it.)

[@albedozer0708]

Love these analysis videos. This show handled topics like this so well. It is truly a beautiful story

[@lauraduarte712]

Thanks for another great analysis ❤

[@AmpleSamuel]

❤️

[@merlumili]

ahhh good memories. Alone at Sea made me ship these two so hard......both when Lapis admits she misses Jasper and when Jasper gets on her knees to beg Lapis to be Malachite with her again, ahhh they're so delicious. A part of me back then wanted another moment between Jasper and Lapis before the series ended, but tbh I don't think it would have been as good as this episode. I love that malachite went out with a bang.

[@starpearlinterlude]

YAYYY NEW STEVEN UNIVERSE VIDEO LETS GOOOOOO🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥‼️‼️‼️🗣️🗣️🗣️🗣️💯💯💯

[@snartie]

watching you cover the lapis episodes makes me so happy

[@thevarietychannelofyoutube4769]

I don't think I've seen another kids show or movie that tries to be relatable for the adults watching this much and I really like how they manage this. I hope that this episode isn't based on any actual relationships Rebecca Sugar had though.

[@marcelineenjoyer]

amazing video ! one of my favorite eps i wish there was more lapiz :/

[@Cat_Steven]

also, the music in this episode is absolutely amazing

[@parafox3829]

didnt anyone see jaspers right arm stripes disappear on one frame? 8:52

[@upumpkin]

Underrated channel

[@greb4]

What i interpreted in the fishing scene, specifically when the pole broke, was Lapis feeling like she was being pulled back underwater ans that scared her? I dont know, just something i could see as a probability on my second watch. 😅

[@alexmcdonald4707]

100000/10 video! Great job!

[@TheFangirlOtaku]

I forgot about Steg. How dare you remind me

[@wisdommanari6701]

"I've changed you changed me" - yes thank you writers we know you want us to see Jasper as the "bad guy" 🙄🙄

[@Mayo_Nayoo]

i love your content so much....

[@kelpo6304]

personally I agree with Hiding In Private's take that if anyone comes out of Alone At Sea thinking "Lapis was the REAL abuser and Jasper was the REAL victim," it is a huge red flag. I'm so glad that SU explored reactive abuse, which in my experience is more common than a completely one-sided abusive relationship, and how being controlled and hurt can make you control and hurt others. I actually love the part of Lapis' arc where she dinks around and becomes a more superficial character. as we learn in Raising The Barn, the barn with Peridot is a place of both healing and stagnation. for the first time in her life, she's in a safe place with someone that loves her. she makes art! she starts a farm with her girlfriend! she smiles and laughs! but she's also visibly depressed the whole time. she's disheveled. she makes a video someone endlessing repeating "I just feel trapped" but then denies that it has any connection to how she feels. Peridot walks on eggshells not to upset her, which is well-intentioned but ultimately unhealthy for both of them. Lapis is the happiest we see her during the main series, but she's also numb. it's so good tbh Lapis is my fave SU character because I'm just inherently biased towards a deadpan gal with water powers, but also because I love that SU didn't make her take the predictable route of making her an uwu sadgirl waif of a trauma survivor. I know a lot of people started to hate Lapis when it's revealed that she's messy, but that's what makes her a compelling character. she's cruel, she's kind, she's a coward, she's fiercely protective of her loved ones, she's a victim, she victimizes, she is a THREE DIMENSIONAL CHARACTER! my main gripe is that I wish we got at least one more scene in the main series after she joins the Crystal Gems, but I understand that there were time constraints due to the cancellation. I also appreciate her SU Future episode because while I it is a pretty light episode, it really shows us how art has always been the way that Lapis connects to herself and the world. Lapis isn't strong because of her pain, her unusual power for a Lapis Lazuli is directly linked to her inherent creativity. Why So Blue also shows us that Lapis has made so much progress in her recovery and growth, but still sometimes still struggles with triggers like self-loathing or feeling weak. that's a really great message: you can heal and become a better person, but it's also normal to not be over complex trauma after a couple of years. I also love that Lapis and Jasper never interact again after Alone At Sea lol. they don't apologize to each other, they don't become friends, they don't have more conflict. good for them! you just don't need to talk to your abusive ex! block them!!!

[@Dyslexiella]

I love ur videos

[@achlysphobs3887]

Hotel Dusk music took me by surprise lol 😅

[@Mylesperhour23]

The problem with these type of analysis is that yall tend to analyze Lapis harder than Jasper which in turn skews your judgment. The whole Jasper wanted power thing isn’t really entirely true nor nearly as important to what you should be actually focusing on for her character. While yes power is what she BELIEVES she wants most, what she really wants is a relationship. She's lonely. Jasper's entire character has been based around her relationships with others. They give her a sense of purpose. They're the one thing she values over power. That's why she felt so strongly about Pink Diamond, why she was so bitter over her loss. The one person she was designed to be with was taken away. What's left for her to do at that point? No one wants power for the sake of power. There's always a reason behind it. Jasper's being she wants to protect the ones she loves. Hence why the very minute Steven proves himself to her, she devotes her entire being to him without second thought. This is a result of her extreme loneliness. Her coping mechanism is unhealthy attachments to others she looks up to. Thus enters Lapis. First of all Lapis is canonically stronger than Jasper. Very much so. She can deal w Jasper "team rocket style" with very little effort on her part as was proven in this very video. That is an EXTREMELY important factor to remember because in an abusive relationship, the one in POWER is the abuser and the abused always come back or has strong feelings of wanting to even if it's bad for them. Now I know Lapis fans at this point are rolling their eyes going oh boy another bad characterization of Lapis. But you have to recognize it's solid fact that Lapis is the abuser in this situation. She did NOT have to fuse w Jasper at all and this video even mentions teaming up with the Crystal Gems to stop Jasper although that would've been completely unnecessary, because once again Lapis has been proven stronger than Jasper when she has the ocean at her disposal. Lapis being right next to her literal element during Jasper's proposal was intentional and not just to give her a means to trap Jasper. It was to show the audience that Lapis was not forced to do this fusion in any way but she DID force Jasper to stay in a relationship that Jasper initially wanted no part of and tortured her as a result. Jasper on the other hand has been so lonely that she even considers being trapped at the bottom of the ocean better than continuing her solitary existence. And it's not like she wants thing between her and Lapis to stay the same. She WANTED things to be different to be better. Because that's what an abusive relationship is. Hoping that it gets better so that you finally feel that once in a lifetime feeling of love and satisfaction that can only be achieved by being with someone who loves you and you love back. It's that feeling that makes you stay that "what if" that makes you come crawling back on your knees. Jasper did all that and is the clearly established abuse victim in this situation. She has no power over Lapis whatsoever while Lapis held all power over her which in turn made Jasper covet her due to her messed up relationship with power in general. I know yall wanna excuse Lapis, some even saying there's no clear abuser while others claim it's Jasper, but that just simply isn't the case. Lapis' entire character revolves around the cycle of abuse and the question of do abusive people deserve second chances? For you to not acknowledge Lapis as the abuser of Jasper undermines Lapis' character entirely. And if you're a true Lapis fan then you'll recognize that.

[@FrozenFennekin]

I like your analysis of jasper a lot but I feel that putting one party as the abuser and the other as the abused fundamentally misses the point of this relationship from a textual standpoint. BOTH lapis and jasper are abuser and abused simultaneously. Lapis is stronger than jasper because of her water manipulation but jasper is also shown to be physically stronger than lapis and manhandling her, both in “alone at sea” and when they originally fuse. They both have power over the other. They are also both capable of emotionally abusing each other. It’s also important to note that jasper kneels when trying to convince lapis to re-fuse with her and the dual meanings of that action. Yes she’s apologizing but jasper is also a soldier, she’s pledging allegiance to someone she views as stronger than her. Jasper, as a quartz, is not made to lead and fully believes that she is a weapon that can only be wanted by being used. And because she is a weapon, her worth is measured in her power AND the power of the one “wielding” her. In depictions of her relationship with pink diamond, she’s shown kneeling. When she becomes steven’s quartz, she kneels. Jasper’s understanding of relationships is incredibly transactional, it’s either two allies banding together for a shared goal (which only lasts until the goal is achieved) or it’s a leader and a follower who will give the leader everything (a permanent relationship). Jasper wants a permanent relationship but jasper can’t lead so she finds (or forces) someone powerful to lead her. Lapis in “alone at sea” says she doesn’t want to lead. This could be (and is in part) because she’s a victim who doesn’t believe she deserves nice things like driving the boat but it’s also because of two other reasons. (1.) Jasper’s only permanent relationship dynamic has only two roles (leader and follower) and she has already decided to be the follower. This makes lapis the leader and she has no desire to return to that dynamic. (2.) Lapis is an abuser who knows that if she’s given power over someone else she will exploit it (her entire character arc is about the cycle of abuse). She knows that if she can hurt someone she will so she’s decided that the only way to avoid that is to avoid relationships all together. Lapis views relationships as chains, the only difference is whether she’s the warden or the prisoner. This is also why she runs from peridot. The way these two view relationships is actually one of their biggest similarities, just with different contexts. They both view relationships as a powerful party who can do anything and a powerless party who must obey them. But jasper thinks of this as a duty she chose (whether she actually chose it or not), something good and necessary while lapis views it as something terrible that’s done to her. Their understanding of relationships is so warped that they hurt each other because that’s what they think relationships are. If Lapis accepted jasper’s offer and jasper did try to “be better”, the only thing I would actually see changing is that jasper wouldn’t fight back (if malachite’s personality changes I could definitely see her being the type to purposely make herself miserable and/or being passively self destructive). The biggest difference between lapis and jasper is that lapis got the support she needed to improve while jasper didn’t. Jasper’s arc ends with her in the exact same unhealthy relationship she thought she deserved, steven just won’t take advantage of it. (I could also write an entire essay about how the Jasper & steven relationship at the end of Future mimics the Rose/Pearl relationship from the start of the series but this about Jasper and Lapis so I won’t (unless asked))

[@Mylesperhour23]

@@FrozenFennekin Wow very stunning insight! I can definitely see the "they're both abusers" viewpoint from this. Honestly I'm just bitter they didn't get back together but like in a healthy way because as you've said they're both so similar and in a perfectly written SU series they could help each other heal. I'm actually slightly surprised they didn't because I strongly feel Lapis could get that sense of redemption she desperately searched for in "alone at sea" but learning not to use her power over Jasper, a person who would actually want that. Meanwhile Jasper could learn she has more value in herself than letting others use her. Idk maybe it would be too good to be true, but one can dream right? lol I just really like both characters and wanted them to heal properly unfortunately the series couldn't wrap things up before ending.

[@eggsnham.]

-Why does reading all this about Jasper remind me so much of myself-

[@yeet9703]

good stuff

[@Lmaoitscoco]

OKAY YOU USING MUSIC FROM HOTEL DUSK- AUTOMATIC SUBBING

[@Lmaoitscoco]

AGAIN

[@mshi468]

omg she’s literally me

[@havenobraincells]

Why the fuck was Micheal Jackson's man in the mirror the first recommendation when i scrolled below the video

[@Minisealover]

Dream Sweet in Sea Major

[@Block_Of_Lapis]

a lov lapis

[@NattiNekoMaid]

Can someone explain to me the reading of this relationship where it's Toxic and not just like... Jasper was abusive to Lapis and Lapis got used to an abusive relationship? When they first fuse Lapis was in the middle of running away after finally getting free of Jasper who essentially was implied to have captured her. Before that when they appear on earth its extremely clear jasper is already being abusive to Lapis.And then as Malachite she spent all of her energy to keep that relationship going, keeping the relationship from hurting anyone else by sacrificing her well being literally chaining Jasper to avoid any agency for either of them, she captured her capturer to sacrifice her well being to not feel trapped. She chose that as the escape because why would she trust the crystal gems anyway, and it was a self sacrifice to trap Jasper. Yes it was abusive, but attempting to harm someone who abused you when they literally just trapped you again is way more self defense than abusive. In watermelon island when she fights the crystal gems, who have done serious harm to her in the past, she does it because of goading from the relationship to make her think that she can take out the abuse she's endured on someone else. Malachite wouldn't become just an instrument of homeworld, lapis would never allow that. The insinuation that her reforming malachite would just put her oh the other side is insane to me, like she would go back to the abusive situation and then be her own entity. No where in Malachite's characterization does it make sense for her to just be an agent of homeworld, she would harm people for sure, but it would be a matter of their combined motivations leading them to enter into destructive habits. And you cannot bring up what we learn about her past actions as a terraforming gem, and how many people she's hurt, and her previous alliances there. Doing harm in the past like that doesn't make you not a victim of some trapping and emotionally abusing you, especially when that entrapment is done through the enforcement of the unfair system of homeworld. Lapis should have to atone for the harm she's done, but all of the harm she did to jasper and as Malachite was a response to Jasper's abuse, and none of it was comparable to the way Jasper with the help of existing power structures emotionally and physically abused Lapis first. I don't see how not to read this just as s is a case of Lapis not being a perfect victim, but still the victim of the situation.

[@lunabruce1804]

The video doesn't say she isn't a victim, and instead talks about her being a victim, and Jasper is too ^^ They both are victims while both being toxic for one another, y'know? They both hurt one another, and wanted to hurt one another, but they are also both victims ^^ They both are traumatized characters and have depth and complexity, the relationship between them was about harming one another, while also harming themselves ;w; Neither of them are evil or horrible people, but just like every single character in the show, they're complex ^^ I hope that helps make it make more sense to you, and if not, I'm sure someone else can explain it better than I did ^^' Either way, I hope you have a nice day or night, whichever it is for you :3

[@lancer434]

Imagine not being uneducated enough to not use ship and boat interchangeably lol

[@diminie_chimket]

Imagine actually caring about a baseless nitpick like this lol

[@lancer434]

@@diminie_chimket good sir, this was a joke

[@Cane4092]

@@lancer434your pfp said it all, my good man