ONLY su positivity here! C:

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY TO RUBY AND SAPPHIRE!!!!!

Day in Fandom History: September 2…

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.

Remember when Ocean Gem came out? Remember how Stronger Than You was everywhere for like 3 months? Remember Ruby and Sapphire's wedding? Remember "Meme Lord Peridot"?, Remember Malachite Vs Alexandrite? Remember Bismuth? Remember the first time we saw each Diamond? Remember the revelation that Rose is Pink?

"Cheeto puff"

SU fans who were also Gravity Falls fans losing their minds when the "Garnet is a fusion" theory and "Stan has a twin" theory were confirmed in the same week

"Japser is a fusion" theory

The first cellphone footage from Comic Con that showed Yellow Diamond's silhouette turning around menacingly and everyone lost their minds

People arguing for or against Pearl Swap theory

The fake leaks

but it mattered, it mattered to see myself represented, and mattered for me to be able to write about it and think about and feel seen by it.

I don’t know how to make that post. I don’t know how to express how Steven Universe was a gentle and compassionate show with queer themes and how much they meant to me.

So I’ll just say this: Thank you Steven. Thank you Crewniverse. You have changed things for the better.

steven: “are you just going to sit here for centuries waiting for someone to give you a purpose? because i’m trying to give you one.”

i’m becoming increasingly convinced this preview image is a reference to the famous imagery of the myth of sisyphus, who was doomed to forever push a boulder up a mountain only to watch it roll down again. 

particularly relevant to steven and jasper’s struggle for “purpose in life” is the famous camus essay based on the myth - which posits that life is inherently void of meaning, but we search for meaning forever nevertheless. 

that’s basically what the both of them are doing - when homeworld’s system fell apart, they gained freedom from their mutual purpose (being their side’s “hero”), but they don’t know what to do with this freedom. they are both “stuck” in their ways, wanting nothing more than to continue being useful and to feel like they have a set reason for existing.