Give me simplicity and clarity in storytelling every time. Clever and complicated tales have their place, but 9 times out of 10 the stories that resonate and stand the test of time will be the ones that that stick to the basics, that build relatable characters and the world they inhabit, that follow through on conflicts and setups without trying to shock or impress. Simpler, clearer stories will even be more profound most times in handling serious real-world subjects than tryhard works; their depth arise organically from the characters and the unfolding of the narrative, not from the creators preaching at the audience. We’d really gain a lot from writers being less interested in showing off their brilliance and engaging more passionately with the characters, their relationships, and their world.
For me a big turning point was the portrayal of the human zoo and the woobification of Blue Diamond. The human zoo was presented as a fairly good and humane place to live and the human inhabitants as childlike and not suffering too much from their captivity. The one time they were shown to be in pain at the “choosening” their grief was treated as ridiculous and incomprehensible. This leaves an especially bad taste in the mouth given that human zoos actually existed in Earth’s history and were sites of terrible injustice and racism.
Compare this to the treatment of Blue Diamond’s grief over losing Pink Diamond. Her pain, despite the fact that we know she literally owns humans and co-leads an organization that wanted to obliterate all life on Earth, is treated as serious and worthy of empathy, with an actual song and dance about how sad she and Yellow Diamond (the instigator and driver of the plan to destroy Earth itself) are. After the 10,000th time Blue Diamond fan art showed up on my dash with people calling her “space wife” and such, I unfollowed the tag and a bunch of blogs and my SU fandom activity went into indefinite hiatus.
The Blue Diamond arc was the tipping point, but there was also plenty going wrong with SU before that point. The Bismuth arc, for instance, and specifically the confrontation scene where we were asked to identify through Steven with the Diamonds who were her targets, was not well-handled at all. I still like aspects of the show, but I’m too angry at its biases to give it my undivided support.
Also can I just say there’s a really creepy implication behind the Diamonds making human zoos where an unseen gem instructs the humans how they can decide who they can date? I wouldn’t notice the implication if it wasn’t highlighted by the writers and the narrative too. The implication I get is that the humans in the zoo aren’t allowed to say no to this arrangement. ThIs is incredibly nonconsensual and even Greg points this out. He refers to it as the “catch” to this “utopia.”
What makes me heartsick is that the human zoo’s inhabitants having a collective breakdown was a sign of how deeply, deeply broken and fucked up (in many senses) they were by their captivity. Greg first introduced them to the concept of sexual choice and consent. Their mass-“choosening” Greg was the first real agency for them in their lives, in generations even, and I don’t think they literally meant they all wanted to have sex with him. They were reacting to this new-old concept in a way they understood, and their reaction to Greg’s rejection was much deeper than “wah you won’t sleep with me.” I saw it as the painful crack of a shell, the realization that something fundamental was missing from their lives and they had not even known.
So what’s the narrative reaction to this? Inviting us to laugh at these childish, simple peaple (UGH) and using the occasion as an opportunity to tell us how nice their captors are for giving their captives a pat on the head and then keeping them right where they are to have their every move controlled and (possibly, depending on how this choosening crap works) to be raped over and over again. It turned my stomach and I couldn’t enjoy the show like I used to.
Yeah. This is still a shit twist. Cuz thanks to her so many gems suffered. A whole line of Rose Quartz gems possibly will be shattered. And she used so many of her own gems to fake her death. What fabulous writing. -__-
Morally complex characters making dubious choices with bad consequences doesnt make the WRITING bad. Stories have conflict. Complex conflict isnt a bad thing, even if it is unusual in media for kids.
“Complex” fuck that noise. This was shit. This was the shittiest of shit that I’ve ever seen in a kids show. I’ve seen plenty of other cartoons do complex better. This was horrible. This was disgusting.
This show has HORRID writing for KIDS. Kids deserve BETTER THAN THIS. Especially when one of the messages is forgiveness. Especially when the creator wants the star to be friends with tyrants who kill gems for any perceived slight. That is BAD WRITING. This show has gone to utter shit a long time ago. Now it’s digging itself into a deeper hole. -__-
Look, Im not going to tell you how you should feel about this new revelation.
But from a writing perspective, it was well foreshadowed and consistent with what we have been shown before. Right now the show is really focusing on questions of how people can change, grappling with the past, and questions of agency. This plot development furthers these conversations, and I think it will be interesting to see where it goes.
You are allowed to not like it. That’s your opinion. But thats what it is. Your opinion.
It’s terrible writing and it’s a terrible idea. For crying out loud how good writing is it to have the freedom fighter be the tyrant that supposedly was murdered? It isn’t. It’s crap.
It’s just as horrible as Pearl emotionally manipulating Garnet (when the show remembers she’s more than just a fusion) or the times she’s almost killed Steven. Bismuth’s episode. Along with the gross ‘Zoo’ episode. This isn’t good writing.
That can be your opinion.
I disagree.
My issue with this isn’t that Rose/PD is a selfish narcissist, it’s that I’m not sure I trust the showrunners anymore to give this revelation the weight it deserves. Not after the way they handled the human zoo or the Bismuth episode. Not after the way they seem more interested in “humanizing” the Diamonds and Homeworld than their victims or just actively demonizing people who want to end their oppression. Some of the most empowering ideas in the show–that Pearl liberated herself, that you don’t have to be born a leader to be one–are proven to be lies and I’m not sure the show can salvage them.
If you don’t “humanize” villains, then there’s little to no reason that the audience should care about them as our antagonists? The fact that the Diamonds are somewhat sympathetic is a good thing, or else they’re just one-dimensional Big Bads. The fact that Blue feels so guilty about Pink’s “death” and has been grieving for thousands of years – the fact that Yellow grieves too but smothers that under work and a prickly exterior, these make our villains good characters. Villains who are just evil and that’s that are…boring.
I don’t really understand how you think the victims of homeworld haven’t been properly humanized, though. I mean…basically all of them except the new Off-Colors have had their own episodes to show how everything has affected them. I’m sure we’ll be getting their episodes once everyone finally gets back to Earth.
I don’t think it’s fair to say that Pearl’s liberation was completely thrown out by the reveal. Sure, Pearl never left her Diamond’s side, but she still evolved from a fancy coat rack to an absolutely stunning warrior. Pearl has still shown amazing amounts of growth, most of that being post-Rose. Yes, she still has a lot of “I’m a Pearl and I’m useless on my own” but she proves everyday that she’s more than capable regardless of her station and the wealth of trauma she’s endured.
But, then again, I also don’t really understand how the other episodes were handled poorly, so maybe I just don’t understand in general.
You seem to have forgotten that in the same episode that had a literal song and dance about how Sad the Diamonds were about Pink, the inhabitants of the human zoo–a historical crime committed against actual people btw–were treated as mostly jokes who didn’t have it too bad and then never brought up again. Also Bismuth was treated as a monster who needs to be locked up forever because she’s dangerous and incapable of reason but the Diamonds are just sad workaholics uwu. I don’t object to multidimensional villains, I object to their humanity being put over that of their victims.
I mean if you think liberation consists of being useful and capable of violence, you do you. I was thinking mostly about the fact that she was groomed and abused for thousands of years by someone who has an absolute psychological hold over her and the story we’d been sold about their “love” was a lie.
Hey like. No offense but can you not talk to me with such a condescending edge. This is Fandom talk.
I really don’t know what you mean with Bismuth because I didn’t see it like that at all. She was dangerous. She has extreme views. They were justified, and bubbling her away was not the best choice Pink made. But Pink did not want to shatter gems to defeat them. The Gems on earth were HER colony. Gems she worked with and watched over everyday. It was obvious by the dream sequence that Pink was trying everything she could think of to stop the destruction of earth. But she didn’t want to kill Gems. That’s why she had Bismuth design her sword in the first place. Besides, with new context, we don’t even know if The Breaking Point would have worked. We now know that a Diamond has never been shattered. Imagine Bismuth designing these weapons and some Crystal Gems go up against the Diamonds and nothing happens. They’re fucked. And Pink may have thought of that outcome and chosen the most extreme route to stop it.
Bismuth also, yknow, did try to kill Steven. So in that regard she’s not totally innocent there.
Also that wasn’t my point with Pearl at all, thanks. My point was her evolution of character. Just because she never left Pink doesn’t mean she never liberated herself. She still had the courage to go against the three other Diamonds who are obviously older and more powerful than Pink. She continued after Pink was gone.
Also… We have no idea what Pearl and Pink’s relationship was previous to the rebellion. We can’t say that Pearl was groomed and abused, we don’t know where she was or who she was with previous to Pink (if she wasn’t grown specifically for Pink), and we don’t know how Pink treated her except in context of Pearl being her right hand during everything. And by the way Pearl spoke freely to Pink in the reveal? Contrast that to the behavior of Yellow and Blue Pearl. Those relationships are not at all the same.
I’m just not interpreting things the same way as you, obviously, but that doesn’t make me incorrect. So kindly don’t talk to me like I have no idea what I’m talking about. Interpretation is a big part of media in general so like… All of us are just speaking opinions here and none of us are necessarily right.
When I said “you do you” I meant that–you don’t have to interpret things the same way I do. I’m not the one who came at you trying to “correct” you or whatever.
And when I said you seem to have forgotten I meant just that: you didn’t mention the prisoners in the human zoo as victims of the Diamonds despite my bringing them up directly in replying, which says something about the way the Crew handled them. (Re your tags, who said you didn’t know about human zoos lmao? I don’t read minds, thanks, and I mentioned it as extra context of why the show’s dismissive treatment of these characters was objectionable to me.)
You’re… literally repeating my exact points about Bismuth, except you’re making a Watsonian defense to a Doylist critique. @fandomsandfeminism on this very thread has a recent post about why that’s disingenuous. Yes, the writers chose to write Bismuth as a dangerous extremist who had to be locked away indefinitely for her own and others’ safety. And yes, the writers chose to have her almost kill Steven, framing her as a scarier immediate threat than colonialist overlords. I’m criticizing those choices.
Here’s what we do know about Pearl and Pink: Gems are created to serve the Diamonds. Pearls are tailor made for their masters. And one word from Pink had such an absolute hold over Pearl she could not speak for thousands of years about a subject Pink had forbade her to, despite wanting to for much of the show’s run, and had to use an elaborate ruse to get around the prohibition. I mean if you think a relationship with such an absolute power disparity can be healthy, again… you do you. And I mean that sincerely. Enjoy the show, I sure as hell ain’t stopping you.
Yeah. This is still a shit twist. Cuz thanks to her so many gems suffered. A whole line of Rose Quartz gems possibly will be shattered. And she used so many of her own gems to fake her death. What fabulous writing. -__-
Morally complex characters making dubious choices with bad consequences doesnt make the WRITING bad. Stories have conflict. Complex conflict isnt a bad thing, even if it is unusual in media for kids.
“Complex” fuck that noise. This was shit. This was the shittiest of shit that I’ve ever seen in a kids show. I’ve seen plenty of other cartoons do complex better. This was horrible. This was disgusting.
This show has HORRID writing for KIDS. Kids deserve BETTER THAN THIS. Especially when one of the messages is forgiveness. Especially when the creator wants the star to be friends with tyrants who kill gems for any perceived slight. That is BAD WRITING. This show has gone to utter shit a long time ago. Now it’s digging itself into a deeper hole. -__-
Look, Im not going to tell you how you should feel about this new revelation.
But from a writing perspective, it was well foreshadowed and consistent with what we have been shown before. Right now the show is really focusing on questions of how people can change, grappling with the past, and questions of agency. This plot development furthers these conversations, and I think it will be interesting to see where it goes.
You are allowed to not like it. That’s your opinion. But thats what it is. Your opinion.
It’s terrible writing and it’s a terrible idea. For crying out loud how good writing is it to have the freedom fighter be the tyrant that supposedly was murdered? It isn’t. It’s crap.
It’s just as horrible as Pearl emotionally manipulating Garnet (when the show remembers she’s more than just a fusion) or the times she’s almost killed Steven. Bismuth’s episode. Along with the gross ‘Zoo’ episode. This isn’t good writing.
That can be your opinion.
I disagree.
My issue with this isn’t that Rose/PD is a selfish narcissist, it’s that I’m not sure I trust the showrunners anymore to give this revelation the weight it deserves. Not after the way they handled the human zoo or the Bismuth episode. Not after the way they seem more interested in “humanizing” the Diamonds and Homeworld than their victims or just actively demonizing people who want to end their oppression. Some of the most empowering ideas in the show–that Pearl liberated herself, that you don’t have to be born a leader to be one–are proven to be lies and I’m not sure the show can salvage them.
If you don’t “humanize” villains, then there’s little to no reason that the audience should care about them as our antagonists? The fact that the Diamonds are somewhat sympathetic is a good thing, or else they’re just one-dimensional Big Bads. The fact that Blue feels so guilty about Pink’s “death” and has been grieving for thousands of years – the fact that Yellow grieves too but smothers that under work and a prickly exterior, these make our villains good characters. Villains who are just evil and that’s that are…boring.
I don’t really understand how you think the victims of homeworld haven’t been properly humanized, though. I mean…basically all of them except the new Off-Colors have had their own episodes to show how everything has affected them. I’m sure we’ll be getting their episodes once everyone finally gets back to Earth.
I don’t think it’s fair to say that Pearl’s liberation was completely thrown out by the reveal. Sure, Pearl never left her Diamond’s side, but she still evolved from a fancy coat rack to an absolutely stunning warrior. Pearl has still shown amazing amounts of growth, most of that being post-Rose. Yes, she still has a lot of “I’m a Pearl and I’m useless on my own” but she proves everyday that she’s more than capable regardless of her station and the wealth of trauma she’s endured.
But, then again, I also don’t really understand how the other episodes were handled poorly, so maybe I just don’t understand in general.
You seem to have forgotten that in the same episode that had a literal song and dance about how Sad the Diamonds were about Pink, the inhabitants of the human zoo–a historical crime committed against actual people btw–were treated as mostly jokes who didn’t have it too bad and then never brought up again. Also Bismuth was treated as a monster who needs to be locked up forever because she’s dangerous and incapable of reason but the Diamonds are just sad workaholics uwu. I don’t object to multidimensional villains, I object to their humanity being put over that of their victims.
I mean if you think liberation consists of being useful and capable of violence, you do you. I was thinking mostly about the fact that she was groomed and abused for thousands of years by someone who has an absolute psychological hold over her and the story we’d been sold about their “love” was a lie.
Yeah. This is still a shit twist. Cuz thanks to her so many gems suffered. A whole line of Rose Quartz gems possibly will be shattered. And she used so many of her own gems to fake her death. What fabulous writing. -__-
Morally complex characters making dubious choices with bad consequences doesnt make the WRITING bad. Stories have conflict. Complex conflict isnt a bad thing, even if it is unusual in media for kids.
“Complex” fuck that noise. This was shit. This was the shittiest of shit that I’ve ever seen in a kids show. I’ve seen plenty of other cartoons do complex better. This was horrible. This was disgusting.
This show has HORRID writing for KIDS. Kids deserve BETTER THAN THIS. Especially when one of the messages is forgiveness. Especially when the creator wants the star to be friends with tyrants who kill gems for any perceived slight. That is BAD WRITING. This show has gone to utter shit a long time ago. Now it’s digging itself into a deeper hole. -__-
Look, Im not going to tell you how you should feel about this new revelation.
But from a writing perspective, it was well foreshadowed and consistent with what we have been shown before. Right now the show is really focusing on questions of how people can change, grappling with the past, and questions of agency. This plot development furthers these conversations, and I think it will be interesting to see where it goes.
You are allowed to not like it. That’s your opinion. But thats what it is. Your opinion.
It’s terrible writing and it’s a terrible idea. For crying out loud how good writing is it to have the freedom fighter be the tyrant that supposedly was murdered? It isn’t. It’s crap.
It’s just as horrible as Pearl emotionally manipulating Garnet (when the show remembers she’s more than just a fusion) or the times she’s almost killed Steven. Bismuth’s episode. Along with the gross ‘Zoo’ episode. This isn’t good writing.
That can be your opinion.
I disagree.
My issue with this isn’t that Rose/PD is a selfish narcissist, it’s that I’m not sure I trust the showrunners anymore to give this revelation the weight it deserves. Not after the way they handled the human zoo or the Bismuth episode. Not after the way they seem more interested in “humanizing” the Diamonds and Homeworld than their victims or just actively demonizing people who want to end their oppression. Some of the most empowering ideas in the show–that Pearl liberated herself, that you don’t have to be born a leader to be one–are proven to be lies and I’m not sure the show can salvage them.
Okay I’ve had some time to think it over and here’s why I don’t like the “Rose is Pink Diamond” plot twist.
For one thing there wasn’t enough build up for it. Rose has been seen and mentioned since the beginning, but Pink Diamond wasn’t even confirmed to exist until far too late.
Second, it doesn’t make sense. There were so many other, better ways Pink could have saved the Earth. It makes all the gems who couldn’t tell who Rose really was for all those years look like idiots. It ruins the whole Rebellion by making its leader an imposter with selfish intentions. Pearl the renegade was loyal to her Diamond the entire time, Garnet was lied to by the first gem who accepted her, and Bismuth got bubbled for wanting to get rid of the other Diamonds and free all the gems. Because of Pink/Rose the Human Zoo exists, the Cluster exists, and the Corrupted Gems exist.
And now Steven is stuck with fixing all the messes his mother made because she didn’t want to do it herself.
I would have more faith in the show to treat all of this with the gravity it needs, but it’s proven too many times that it can’t do that. Despite how much damage Rose’s choices cause for others, the show never frames her as a bad person. We’re always expected to sympathize with Rose. The characters she hurts always forgive her or are punished for refusing to forgive. And since she’s not even around anymore no one can punish her for anything.
And the way the other Diamonds have been presented to us, I fully expect they’ll get the same treatment. This isn’t gray morality. This is treating characters who are objectively bad as “not that bad”.
So yeah I’m pretty much done with Steven Universe now. I might check in once in a while but I can’t enjoy it the way I used to before all of this happened.
And I’ve just now realized Rose didn’t bubble bismuth because of moral differences or thinking she was dangerous, she legit bubbled her to save her own ass
Debating whether to save a few posts from my SU sideblog before I delete it or just explode the whole thing altogether. The recent PLAHT TWIRST has me not wanting to have anything to do with SU anymore and especially not keep a Rose-themed blog, but I did write a few pieces of meta that I might want to read over later on.
L.J.'s Obsessions 