Series creator Rebecca Sugar graciously gave CBR her time to discuss the ending of Steven Universe Future.
CBR: Steven Universe Future has a very different feel that the original five season arc. Future recontextualizes a lot about the first five seasons, both things that were heavily argued about (Steven’s seeming forgiveness of White Diamond, which “Homeworld Bound” shows was a lot more complicated) and things most people weren’t even thinking (I’m still amazed how all those wacky season 1 adventures came up in discussing Steven’s PTSD in “Growing Pains” a few weeks ago). How much of Future’s darker recontextualization was planned out from the beginning of the series versus how much was discovered through developing this season?
RS: I could absolutely never understand where this idea of Steven being a “forgiving” character was coming from, because internally we all understood Steven’s self-sacrificing nature as his biggest flaw, one that related directly to his identity issues. This is all over the show: in “The Test,” even though he’s disappointed in the Gems and feels disrespected by them, he lies to them to make them feel better – a huge turning point for his character, one of the first times he decides that their comfort matters more than his own feelings. Even though Steven will not allow Connie to sacrifice herself for him in “Sworn to the Sword,” he does exactly what he tells her not to: puts himself in harm’s way countless times and ultimately turns himself in to Aquamarine and Topaz. Connie even calls him out on this in “Dewey Wins.”
The toll his adventures take on him mentally is a huge theme. His self-depreciation is evident throughout the show, even in first season episodes like “Cheeseburger Backpack.” He internalizes everything as his fault. In “What’s Your Problem,” Steven is shown to be aggressively repressing his feelings. In “Reunited,” Steven sings that he essentially needs the wedding as a distraction, because he can’t stand thinking about who he is or the situation he’s in. In “Chille Tid,” he explicitly states that he has issues to work out, but then shifts the conversation immediately to Lapis, who he feels needs help more.
At no point does he forgive White Diamond, or any of the Diamonds. He thinks how he feels about what’s going on matters less than the greater good, because throughout the show, he’s not sure if he even really exists. Ultimately, in “Change Your Mind,” you see the moment he realizes he is himself and he loves himself. Steven’s existence proves White wrong and crumbles her entire reality, and with it her authority. And knowing that he is himself, and he does exist, is what he needs in order to respect himself enough to leave those self-destructive patterns behind.
In an animated series with a kid protagonist, it’s easy to take for granted that a child hero is being tasked with saving the world, being antagonized by adults and having multiple near-death experiences. As we wrote the original series we always approached this as if it was real for Steven, and really taking a toll on him. We explored this in episodes like “Mindful Education.” Future was a chance to further clarify that, by having an older version of Steven reflect on those experiences and their toll. I also wanted Future to be a chance to show that his relationship with himself requires maintenance, and that his old habits die hard. Once the story for Future clicked, it felt like a very natural progression.
