The Steven Universe Thread

[Valrifell]

nonbinary people are those who do not align fully with either gender, but rather often fall somewhere in between.

Nonbinary means that someone doesn't really align with the standard main gender binary. For reference: Androgyny accepts both standard male and female traits, while Nonbinary rejects standard male and female traits.

...This stuff is getting hard to keep up with.

Also, what do you expect? He has an entire school to run and also needs to act as an intergalactic dignitary.

I expected him to not be an asshole. But for like the last 4 episodes, he's just been this colossal buzzkill and it's getting tiresome.

• He's been running the school, stressing him out
• His friends all have things going on without him, he hates feeling like they're drifting apart, which is something that happens to all teenagers
• His purpose has been fulfilled. What happens to the kid who was destined and made to bring peace to the galaxy after he's already done that?
• Steven's also been used as a tool to drive the character arc's of the gems, which are now complete.

He feels purposeless and as though his life is losing meaning, since the conflict and growth through the first series gave him that meaning. As his friends leave Beach City, he has to do some uncomfortable introspection on where his life is going and where he wants it to go, and if you've even been a teenager these kinds of things are relatable and grounded, at least that's how I saw them.

What did you want, if not emotional growth and stories like these? Because you can't have the more character drive moments if Steven has no inner conflict, which you apparently hate, did you want to go back to the S1 monster of the week style?

[Ameriganastan]

• He's been running the school, stressing him out
• His friends all have things going on without him, he hates feeling like they're drifting apart, which is something that happens to all teenagers
• His purpose has been fulfilled. What happens to the kid who was destined and made to bring peace to the galaxy after he's already done that?
• Steven's also been used as a tool to drive the character arc's of the gems, which are now complete.

He feels purposeless and as though his life is losing meaning, since the conflict and growth through the first series gave him that meaning. As his friends leave Beach City, he has to do some uncomfortable introspection on where his life is going and where he wants it to go, and if you've even been a teenager these kinds of things are relatable and grounded, at least that's how I saw them.

What did you want, if not emotional growth and stories like these? Because you can't have the more character drive moments if Steven has no inner conflict, which you apparently hate, did you want to go back to the S1 monster of the week style?

This isn't growth. This is teenage whining. And I'm about sick of it. For cripes sake, the little hypocrite sang a whole freaking song about how nice it was not to fight anymore. But now he's getting all pissy and rude cause he's not fighting anymore. Screw him and his bullshit.

[North German Realm]

• He's been running the school, stressing him out
• His friends all have things going on without him, he hates feeling like they're drifting apart, which is something that happens to all teenagers
• His purpose has been fulfilled. What happens to the kid who was destined and made to bring peace to the galaxy after he's already done that?
• Steven's also been used as a tool to drive the character arc's of the gems, which are now complete.

He feels purposeless and as though his life is losing meaning, since the conflict and growth through the first series gave him that meaning. As his friends leave Beach City, he has to do some uncomfortable introspection on where his life is going and where he wants it to go, and if you've even been a teenager these kinds of things are relatable and grounded, at least that's how I saw them.

What did you want, if not emotional growth and stories like these? Because you can't have the more character drive moments if Steven has no inner conflict, which you apparently hate, did you want to go back to the S1 monster of the week style?

This isn't growth. This is teenage whining. And I'm about sick of it. For cripes sake, the little hypocrite sang a whole freaking song about how nice it was not to fight anymore. But now he's getting all pissy and rude cause he's not fighting anymore. Screw him and his bullshit.

Well I mean yes. He's a teenager, and he's under stress. What part of this is out of character for a teenager with so many responsibilities (especially considering a fair part of them are his responsibilities by the virtue of existing alone)

[Ameriganastan]

Well I mean yes. He's a teenager, and he's under stress. What part of this is out of character for a teenager with so many responsibilities (especially considering a fair part of them are his responsibilities by the virtue of existing alone)

Oh, give it a rest with this "He's under stress" excuse. You know what's stressful? Almost being killed every other week, getting your Gem ripped out and then convincing a totalitarian alien empire to stop being such.

And I'm supposed to believe his little school is more stressful than that? No. He's just being a douche.

[North German Realm]

Well I mean yes. He's a teenager, and he's under stress. What part of this is out of character for a teenager with so many responsibilities (especially considering a fair part of them are his responsibilities by the virtue of existing alone)

Oh, give it a rest with this "He's under stress" excuse. You know what's stressful? Almost being killed every other week, getting your Gem ripped out and then convincing a totalitarian alien empire to stop being such.

And I'm supposed to believe his little school is more stressful than that? No. He's just being a douche.

I mean, he is. It's just that he has every right to be one -which is the only thing I've said.

[Ameriganastan]

I mean, he is. It's just that he has every right to be one -which is the only thing I've said.

No, he doesn't. Everyone has grown as people, stopped fighting (Well, except for Team Twit, AKA Aquamarine and Eyeball) and everything is cool now. And suddenly he's turned into a raving asshat cause he doesn't get to play Mr. Savior anymore. He's on a freaking ego trip is what it is. Badmouthing all the Gems to his stupid cactus proved that. He wants everyone to rely on him, and now that they don't, he's being this guy.

[New haven america]

I mean, he is. It's just that he has every right to be one -which is the only thing I've said.

No, he doesn't. Everyone has grown as people, stopped fighting (Well, except for Team Twit, AKA Aquamarine and Eyeball) and everything is cool now. And suddenly he's turned into a raving asshat cause he doesn't get to play Mr. Savior anymore. He's on a freaking ego trip is what it is. Badmouthing all the Gems to his stupid cactus proved that. He wants everyone to rely on him, and now that they don't, he's being this guy.

Congratulations Ameri, you've just discovered what Character Conflict and Self Conflict is.

[Ameriganastan]

No, he doesn't. Everyone has grown as people, stopped fighting (Well, except for Team Twit, AKA Aquamarine and Eyeball) and everything is cool now. And suddenly he's turned into a raving asshat cause he doesn't get to play Mr. Savior anymore. He's on a freaking ego trip is what it is. Badmouthing all the Gems to his stupid cactus proved that. He wants everyone to rely on him, and now that they don't, he's being this guy.

Congratulations Ameri, you've just discovered what a Character Conflict is.

This is not character conflict. It's shitty writing.

[New haven america]

Congratulations Ameri, you've just discovered what a Character Conflict is.

This is not character conflict. It's shitty writing.

It is character and self conflict.

Character Conflict in that it's Steven vs. the Change of the other characters in the series, and Self Conflict in the fact that it's Steven having to learn to come to terms with the fact that what he wants and thinks aren't going to always line up with the reality of a situation.

Wait wait wait, let me guess your response: "No! It's just sHiTtY wRiTiNg!!1!"

[Ameriganastan]

This is not character conflict. It's shitty writing.

It is character and self conflict.

Character Conflict in that it's Steven vs. the Change of the other characters in the series, and Self Conflict in the fact that it's Steven having to learn to come to terms with the fact that what he wants and thinks aren't going to always line up with the reality of a situation.

Wait wait wait, let me guess your response: "No! It's just sHiTtY wRiTiNg!!1!"

Self conflict over what? There is no conflict anymore. This raving dill-hole is just looking for drama. He's Jerry from that one episode of Rick And Morty basically. Everything is fine now, everyone is happy, no more world ending Gem war, etc. And he's over here being pissy cause he doesn't get to be the hero no more.

[New haven america]

It is character and self conflict.

Character Conflict in that it's Steven vs. the Change of the other characters in the series, and Self Conflict in the fact that it's Steven having to learn to come to terms with the fact that what he wants and thinks aren't going to always line up with the reality of a situation.

Wait wait wait, let me guess your response: "No! It's just sHiTtY wRiTiNg!!1!"

1. Self conflict over what? There is no conflict anymore. This raving dill-hole is just looking for drama. He's Jerry from that one episode of Rick And Morty basically. 2. Everything is fine now, everyone is happy, no more world ending Gem war, etc. And he's over here being pissy cause he doesn't get to be the hero no more.

1. Literally just explained it to you
2. Refer to point 1

[Luminesa]

...This stuff is getting hard to keep up with.


I expected him to not be an asshole. But for like the last 4 episodes, he's just been this colossal buzzkill and it's getting tiresome.

• He's been running the school, stressing him out
• His friends all have things going on without him, he hates feeling like they're drifting apart, which is something that happens to all teenagers
• His purpose has been fulfilled. What happens to the kid who was destined and made to bring peace to the galaxy after he's already done that?
• Steven's also been used as a tool to drive the character arc's of the gems, which are now complete.

He feels purposeless and as though his life is losing meaning, since the conflict and growth through the first series gave him that meaning. As his friends leave Beach City, he has to do some uncomfortable introspection on where his life is going and where he wants it to go, and if you've even been a teenager these kinds of things are relatable and grounded, at least that's how I saw them.

What did you want, if not emotional growth and stories like these? Because you can't have the more character drive moments if Steven has no inner conflict, which you apparently hate, did you want to go back to the S1 monster of the week style?

It’s weird, because now we’re looking at the hero essentially after the hero’s story is over, and he’s having an existential crisis. Steven has to handle being a normal kid, something he was not created to be. At the same time, he has had experience with the life of a normal kid in some aspects. Playing video games, collecting figurines of his favorite characters, watching movies, going to eat snacks with friends. He’s even dealt already with some of the pressures of being a teenager. Dating, identity, trying to impress older kids, even politics. So it’s not like he’s never experienced what it’s like to live a normal life. At the same time, it’s what I kinda think about a lot of mystical experiences. How do you handle coming down from the mountain?

I’ve fallen pretty far behind on SU, but inner conflict can be handled in a lot of different ways. And I think part of the issue is that his identity has always been connected to Rose, whom he idolized until...everything got revealed. So now he has to split himself from Rose, in a sense. At the same time, I think there’s fairness to what Ameri is saying. I would add that part of the problem, beyond Steven being related to Rose and having to save the world, is that he has never really had anyone he can talk to about handling teenage emotions properly. The Gems? Nope. Rose? Flip no. Greg? He tries, but even he has not processed some of the pain from his teen and young adult years.

So Steven doesn’t really know how to do anything but rage, in the face of his coming down from the mountain. It’s one of the negative aspects of his character that developed a bit later in the series, particularly in the episodes after he got captured by Peridot and Jasper, and given that he really has not had much support in fighting that despair and unhappiness (save for Connie and Greg), now we see the fruits of that rot in his heart. I think what will have to happen now is that Steven will have to make choices about whether or not he wants to stay in the darkness, or to come out of his cave.

Some stories do handle this well, and don’t rely as much on one of the weaknesses SU had in later seasons, which was rehashing some of the characters’ internal conflicts instead of resolving them. All-Might in BHA is a good example of how to develop a character after their heroic days are mostly over. He constantly fights despair, but he knows that he has a purpose outside of fighting as well. Even with his mentor old and with his power draining, he supports the main cast and tries to be a wise, cheerful father-figure. I think this is Steven’s chance to maybe play a similar role, or to at least recognize some of his other talents as a hero. And maybe it’s a chance for the Crewniverse to break one of their old ruts.

[Ameriganastan]

1. Self conflict over what? There is no conflict anymore. This raving dill-hole is just looking for drama. He's Jerry from that one episode of Rick And Morty basically. 2. Everything is fine now, everyone is happy, no more world ending Gem war, etc. And he's over here being pissy cause he doesn't get to be the hero no more.

1. Literally just explained it to you
2. Refer to point 1

I refer to nothing. He's gotten exactly what he wanted. No more fighting. He sang an entire freaking song about it. And now that he has it, suddenly that isn't good enough for him. Not to mention he's just generally douchey now.

[Ameriganastan]

Show is back March 6. The last batch of episodes ever. And I don't give 2 shits anymore. Never should have done this spinoff. Let's just wrap it up.

[Maichuko]

Peridot continues to prove why she's the best Gem.

-Thank God Steven is finally getting help from his friends.

[Valrifell]

Peridot continues to prove why she's the best Gem.

-Thank God Steven is finally getting help from his friends.

Curious that the CG "Barn Team" (and Bismuth) have been more help for Steven than the normal CGs so far.

Nevertheless, it must be good to be a Bismuth/Pearl shipper.

[Ameriganastan]

"In Dreams"
Did I not call that?

This entire thing was cause he feels like he always needs to fix something. Everything is cool now, and this twit is pissing and moaning cause nothing needs fixing anymore. What an asshole. Maybe just be happy no one is trying to kill you anymore? Schmuck.

"Bismuth Casual"
AKA. Steven whines some more. Jesus, just shut up. The episode was called BISMUTH Casual and he still ate up most of the episode with his crap.

On the upside, Bismuth is totally into Pearl. Oh, there's fic potential in there. Never even considered those 2.

[Valrifell]

Jesus FUCKING Christ, Ameri.

[Ameriganastan]

Jesus FUCKING Christ, Ameri.

What? It's true. "In Dreams" basically confirmed what I've been saying about this self-involved putz.

[New haven america]

Jesus FUCKING Christ, Ameri.

It is fascinating how he has no concept or understanding of the idea of "In Moderation."

[Ameriganastan]

Jesus FUCKING Christ, Ameri.

It is fascinating how he has no concept or understanding of the idea of "In Moderation."

Maybe if Steven would moderate his bitching, I wouldn't be so annoyed...

[Ameriganastan]

So apparently Peridot is something called aroace?

I'm getting too old to keep up with all this.

...Also, that shitty episode was apparently her big sendoff episode. Talk about a weak way to bow out.

[Penguin Union Nation]

Two excellent new episodes. I miss Steven and Peridot's interactions, and "In Dreams" was a return to form as we get both that and a little bit more of Steven's trippy dream world we've seen in previous episodes, but with a bit more trauma mixed in. I thought it was funny that at the end they decided to just hate-watch the Camp Pining Hearts reboot.

"Bismuth Casual" showed us how far Pearl's come since "Last One Out of Beach City" in interacting with humans, with her fanclub. And Bismuth's crush on her was adorable. More than that, though, we get to see Steven's struggles interacting with ordinary people, and how Connie is sort of his link to them. I've been in a situation where I'm the third or fourth in a group with only a connection to one, so I get where he was coming from. Stevonnie showing her moves off to Emily King's "Can't Hold Me" (a pretty racy song for a children's cartoon if you read all the lyrics) was fun, as was Pearl's love for the commercial jingle.

Next episode looks to be "Together Forever", and if the leak is accurate, it's where Steven's pains start coming to a head.

[Ameriganastan]

Next episode looks to be "Together Forever", and if the leak is accurate, it's where Steven's pains start coming to a head.

Oh, joy. More entitled whining from Steven. What fun.

[Penguin Union Nation]

Next episode looks to be "Together Forever", and if the leak is accurate, it's where Steven's pains start coming to a head.

Oh, joy. More entitled whining from Steven. What fun.

He is actually entitled to "whine". He saved the f***ing galaxy. He gets to have some trauma.