This is why I stay away from large fandoms, I absolute adored the show and when I heard people bashing it because the entire point flew over their heads was really sad to see.
i watched this show for the first time in this year and like so many times the show called out my flaws i just love this show idk why people would think its bad
I just need to say a few things. It's true that Steven hasn't forgiven the diamonds and he doesn't have to forgive them, but the diamonds have made an effort to make up for their wrongdoings for Steven and to make up for their mistakes with Pink Diamond, who they will never be able to make things right with. Also, Steven's relationship with his mother is a lot more complicated than just hating her. Steven definitely hates having to deal with the consequences of his mother's actions, hates being compared to her, and even got mad at Greg for having similaraties with Pink Diamond, but the truth is that no one has more similaraties with Pink Diamond than Steven does. Steven's biggest mistake, particularly in Steven Universe future, is that he is so busy trying not to be like his mother, that he doesn't learn from his mother's mistakes. This leads to Steven making a lot of the same mistakes that his mother did, such as lying, keeping secrets, and even running away from his family. Steven even did something that his mother never did, even if it was by accident: Steven shattered a gem. This was a breaking point for Steven because in his own mind, he can no longer claim to be better than his mother, especially after what he tried to do to White Diamond. The thing about Steven Universe future is that a lot of what happened in that series is a consequence of Steven's actions, not his mother's or the other diamonds. It even leads to Steven's monster breakdown, which leads to Garnet, Amethyst, Pearl, Bismuth, Peridot, Lapis, the cluster, Greg, Connie, lion, Spinel, and even the diamonds to work together to help him and show that they care and are there for him. It doesn't solve all of Steven's problems, but it does help. Thanks to therapy, Steven was in a better place, and even made things right with his dad. However, it was never truly revealed how Steven currently feels about his mother, which may be the point. After all, Steven leaves beach city to figure himself out, so he may come to a different conclusion when it comes to his mother.
I think not having polarizing opinions particularly on this topic can stem from people having an easier time with their parents at the moment they’re watching the show, plus not losing their moms. I can relate to the complexities of steven’s relationship with his mom bc I went through those things to an extent (meaning, when i did get to know my mum she was always extremely hard to get, she was and is a mystery to me, what I can gather is from what she wrote, few things I remember from her and what other people say of her. My grandparents compared me to her a lot, and my dad too even tho not so boldly. When she died I also felt ‘I had to fill her shoes’ but was hurt by her when alive, and now even in death). It’s nice that u point this out. As to the diamonds, yeah they make a lot of effort, but steven still dislikes them to a degree.
One thing I think is important to remember is that Steven kept the Diamonds around for actual purpose. He wanted to heal all the corrupted gems and reverse the damage that had been done by the Diamonds. He literally cannot do that without their abilities. He put them to work to try and undo the damage they had done, something they are seen doing even in Future.
OMG FINNALY SOMEONE ELSE REMEBERS THAT!! ITS LIKE LITERALLY EVERBODY FORGET THAT EVEN THO IT WAS A BIG PART OF THE SHOW & EVEN GOT HINTED AT IN EARLY AS OF S3!!
"He did not forgive them" "Steven universe is about overcoming family trauma" THANK. YOU. I cannot take anyone seriously who misses the big glaring family trauma theme and bitches about Steven "forgiving" the diamonds. You're right and thank you for making this video.
They shouldn't have focused the overcoming of family trauma around the diamonds because they have no redeemable qualities-- cause... there genuine dictators and oppressors.
@@patrick8964 do you think the allegory of the cave was literally about a cave or do you just choose to ignore literary devices when they're used in a cartoon
@@radiantstarlight bro… when you want to redeem a character you have to give us a valid reason for not just the characters but us as a audience to forgive them. Look at zuko from avatar he was developed and did multiply actions to show that he changed. The diamonds cause millions of suffering and I don’t really care for them at the end as neither characters nor villains
Yeah I agree with this, but I really think they should have toned down the brutality of the Diamonds, given the allegory behind them. Their regime is so unbelievably horrible, they have caused mass omnicide on trillions of sentient beings, have the death penalty for their equivalent of being queer, regularly destroy worlds, have a strict biological caste system that literally has "superior beings" given more resources during birth (again, breaking this caste system is the death penalty) and are utterly despotic and totalitarian. These dictators just don't deserve forgiveness, allegory or no. They could have made them way less evil and more simply conservative and elitist, with a snobby, aristocratic society as opposed to space nazis. It just makes it hard to accept the allegory, especially when the Diamonds pull so many things from real life dictatorships. Not to mention they barely appear in the show until near the end, making it less about "abusive family" and more about "my nazi family overseas that I just found out about".
when I was 9 or 10, I remember being so upset when I saw there was people were overhating this show, because this show was so important and comforting for me.
ikr? whenever I'm overthinking about a horrible social interaction I listen to "here comes a thought" and it helps so much, the negativity suddenly shifting into positivity is quite comforting
This show is what helped me during my gender identity and sexuality questioning phase-i dont think people give it enough credit for how absolutely wonderful this media was to queer children
@@gunterxvoices4101 Let's stop pretending it's unusual. An entire generation grew up on the internet when it was a lot less regulated. It's also a necessity in a lot of places for schoolwork and such.
The clip you showed of the hug and Steven crying at the end of future still makes me cry. I genuinely can't imagine watching that scene and coming away from it thinking anything negative. The show makes it clear that this was the start of healing; the calm after the storm, when everything came to its worst. It was the realisation of how deeply wrong and broken something was inside him, and that he couldn't solve it himself or by ignoring it. Hearing a show that was, at least at one point, marketed to children have the main, relatable character casually mention seeing a therapist is HUGE for kids and teenagers dealing with overcoming trauma, both big and small. Also, as an LGBT person, the argument that the show had bad LGBT representation is a completely unfair read. Rebecca Sugar had to fight tooth and nail to keep the show from censoring the explicitly queer, lesbian relationship of Ruby and Sapphire. She had them kiss, get married, and had entire episodes discussing their love and connection. The show has Stevonnie, a character who has, in marketing, been explicitly referred to as intersex, and had characters use they/them pronouns for them, without drama. Later, they introduce a non-binary human character. This show was revolutionary for how hard it rallied for explicit inclusion of LGBT storylines, characters, and love. To argue any differently is unfair, pathetic, and ignores the very real strides that the show did make for inclusivity of LGBT stories in 'childrens' media.
anyway this is a fantastic video and i agree with so much of it. i also felt the shame of loving steven universe in my core as a teenager only to have everyone suddenly come out in support of it and am sitting here with whiplash
Yeah a lot of the backlash I saw for Ruby and Sapphire, calling it bad rep, was the toxicity of the relationship and their heavy dependency on each other but they're literally a fusion, that has stayed fused for god knows how many years and throughout the show really exposed their vulnerabilities as individuals and they work together to be better people, so together they can be a better person. The show has been cut from many countries due to Homophobia but the fact that Sugar fought to keep it and throw up a metaphorical middle finger to anyone that had an issue with it brings me so much joy it's unreal. A friend of mine lives in Qatar and they use to show it until it got "too visibly gay" and then you couldn't find it on TV anymore. And considering many shows would cave to these demands to remove Queer Rep in order for the show to even air, it was a lot.
yeah. i didnt cry the first time when it came out because i thought it was as dark and the fight just didnt look very climactic to me at the time. but i rewatched it recently and i was SOBBING. to me it may be wrong but i think in this case his corruption reminded me alot of harming attempts. becoming so traumaitized and stuck where you become unrecongnisable and end up hurting yourself and others. it kinda healed me in a way knowing that you can have these bad experiences and even you are hurting or just hurt you can get past this and heal.
I remember being a wee bit disappointed by the episode when it aired, and since then I hadn’t really been too into the show (not because it did anything wrong I just moved on to different things). But I recently got super back into it and seeing that scene did in fact make me cry and I do NOT know what I was thinking a few years ago when it aired. That moment was so sadhappy and real.
People who say Steven forgave the diamonds really piss me off. They are the most powerful beings in the universe, so killing or constraining them is not an option. The best Steven can do is try to make them act in a better way while pretending not to hate them
Yes, thank you! A lot of people like to say that they should've received worse punishment, but outside of outright killing them (which even then would be difficult), there's not really anything that can be done outside of teaching them how to be better. The only thing strong enough to kill the Diamonds are the Diamonds, and I doubt Blue, Yellow, and White would care to kill themselves and certainly wouldn't allow Steven to kill them, not to mention Steven doesn't want to kill intentionally. Teaching them to be better is the only other solution outside of murder that is reasonably achievable and has impact. They're certainly not forgiven, but there's no good way to punish them when they're powerful enough it'd just be them playing along without knowing the reasoning behind it, which is what teaching them does.
I'm glad you brought this up. Everyone always says that the Diamonds are the worst characters in the show, and I have never seen that. While their actions in the main series were irredeemable in many ways, by the movie and future, it is clear that they are trying to change their ways and want to be better than they were. Steven doesn't have to like or forgive them for the audience to understand the importance of their will to change how they are and make things right after all of the damage they caused.
YES finally someone said it! everyone hates the ending because they resolved it with a “hug” NO they didn’t. We don’t get to see his full and I related so much with Steven, I had that type of moment I spiralled and was a mess and my friends hugged me and helped me till I was capable of trying to find my way of healing!! I LOVED THE ENDING AND THE WHOLE SERIES AHHH
@@WeebkillerMoss okay but sometimes opinions can be wrong and just a complete misread that comes from a lack of media literacy, idk... Like imo you have to be really stupid to think that Stevens trauma was resolved with a hug when he literally mentions 30 seconds later that he still needs therapy.
I think one of the issues is that for a few years fans of Steven Universe did hype up the show to be this incredible masterpiece. Probably from the second half of season one to season three so many people gave the show tons of praise. I think it makes sense there was a backlash and since people often think in extremes the responses made were less “This show does have some flaws” to “This show is rancid garbage.”
@@Doug_Edwards99 I watched SU for the first time last december and LOVED IT, but when I came out of the show I was bombarded with people telling me that it was shit and that Adventure Time was way better. I was already planning on watching AT but because of that it made part of my watching of it painful, because as the show did some really stupid decisions in the middle of it (the whole Flame Princess stuff) I just kept asking myself "is that really supposed to be way better than SU?" Thankfully, I went past that. I watched Together Again a few days ago and came out of that broken but knowing that I had loved Adventure Time, and can't wait to see the upcoming Fionna and Cake show
Yeah! I still have my own little issues with SU, especially Season 5 and Future, but I *LOVE* the show and love how it helped me figure out who I am. There's not one day where I don't do something, or listen to something SU related.
@@NintenSegaPlay Yeah it’s interesting. When I was watching the first two seasons of Steven Universe I considered it an even better version of Adventure Time in many ways, with way more of a focus on plot and a tighter exploration of a smaller but more developed cast. But then I got a chance to watch the later seasons of Adventure Time and found tons of amazing episodes. Honestly I think that Steven Universe could’ve used the mini-series format that Adventure Time did for Stakes, Islands, and Elementals, and use it really well. Like the arc where Greg is kidnapped by Blue Diamond would be a lot stronger if it was eight episodes, rather than five. Now I like both shows and think they have slightly different strengths and weaknesses, though I do think they share some DNA. One of my favorite Universe episodes “Steven and the Stevens” has a lot of jokes that feel like Adventure Time, including the ending on Black Comedy.
So many people hate adult steven for not wanting to play the things he played when he was a child, or eat things he used to eat as a child, or that he literally grew up. Steven's trauma forced him to mature too fast, and now that he's acting mature, people hate it. "But he didnt wanna hang out with the crystal gems!!" he was busy and wanted to work on his work, he never said he'd never play, he just didn't want to play then.
I relate to Steven so much in "having to grow up quicker than he should've" which is why it makes me so mad when people hate on him for it because it really only takes 2 seconds of thinking to understand, when you were a kid did you like and value the same things as you do now? Probably not.
It’s basically people first reaction to Ben 10 alien force all over again hopefully in the “future” people will somewhat appreciate future for what it was and not what others wanted it to be
7:40 Oh my god, THANK YOU. I have no idea how so many people didn't understand the finale of "I Am My Monster". That hug didn't fix anything. It didn't magically cause Steven's trauma to disappear. That hug let Steven know that his family loves him and supports him even with his flaws and problems. It pulled him out of his meltdown and that's it. He literally cried right after he changed back to his normal self, which was a huge sign that he's not okay, but this time he decided to let his emotions out in a healthy way instead of holding them inside. And months after that he said that he has a therapist. Why would he need a therapist if the hug healed his trauma?! But aside from that, the whole video is great! It makes me sad that Steven Universe got so much hate, because just recently I rewatched this show and I had a lot of fun! This cartoon has flaws, but it's still enjoyable and I think that's what really matters.
I like the different art styles, I felt the more detailed and smoother animations helped emphasize more important parts of the show while the rougher animation was used more for comedic scenes
Maybe I was stupid, but I never realized the animation was rough. I thought it was like an amazing world of gumball thing where the animation changes were intended for comedy effect
This show literally changed my life, it showed me everything I know about relationships, I still learn from it daily. I'm proud that I cry a lot when I see good art because this show taught me not to be afraid of being vulnerable.
the critiques of the ending never fail to piss me off because it's literally due to the executives being jerks. The ending of the first show was constricted to 6 episodes by the executives just because Sugar wanted Ruby and Sapphire to get married. Sugar pushed for the movie to spend more time with the characters, but to make it more palatable for advertisers, CN probably pushed her for a cookie-cutter "save the world plot". We already know that the existence of the movie was the only reason we got Future, and Future wasn't allowed to be more than 20 episodes. They did the best with what they could. It's amazing considering how hard they had to push to be able to finish it in the first place.
I still don't like some of the directions this show went it, but damnit you can't deny that Rebecca and the crew who worked on this show put their heart and soul in it, it's admirable. Not to mention it was one of the first children's show to openly have LGBTQ+ characters
I mean, look at the owl house! They still managed to make a satisfying ending even though they were restricted by Disney. It doesn't really excuse the whole cast just hugging it out in the end and then he uncorrupts.
@@3rebella Well, shocking I know, not everything can be as easy as that. The Owl House had its third season turned into 3 hour long specials. Steven Universe had MORE than one season turned into 6 regular episodes. One does not invalidate what happened to the other.
@@3rebella it’s a metaphor for self healing and support. Steven thought of him self as a monster and hated himself. But the support of his family helped him and his healing tears healed him because of self healing he was going through
@@3rebella tan satisfactorio no fue, apresuraron muchas cosas al igual que con steven universe, y dejaron varias arcos sin cerrar completamente, limitándose únicamente a decir "ahora viven felices para siempre"
I recently had my friends rewatch all the episodes and I loved it when it first aired and I still love it now. Steven also cries a lot because he's a *literal child dealing with some traumatic situations where he and his friends almost die (and actually die) every day.* I cry when I drop my ice cream on the floor as a 25yr old.
literallyyyyy ‼️ i don’t think people realize that he is like 14, how do you expect a 14 year old to react when the fate of the literal world is depending on him?? 😭
regarding the critique that SU didn’t have good LGBTQ+ representation, i personally adored how the relationships were portrayed in the show (this is coming from a lesbian). There were healthy relationships like ruby and sapphire, along with toxic relationships like pearl’s infatuation with rose. The show is far from perfect but i do personally think it got a lot right
People act like the show NEVER pointed out how toxic pearl and rose were. When there's multiple episodes completely based around how rose had hurt pearl and how pearl needed to learn to move past her to heal. The episode with vollyball makes it EXPLICIT by having Vollyball romanticize Pink only to have Pearl get upset because that WASNT how rose/pink was. In the end both pearls have to come together to put Pink/Rose behind themselves and heal because rose WASNT GOOD FOR THEM. It was as clear as it could have possibly been, and it very realistic in terms of how actual people deal with abusive relationships. But people saw volleyball blush and smile and assumed that ment the show was painting the relationship in a positive light. I guess
@@lizziescott regarding that last bit, that's because those people don't have any idea what the nature of toxic/abusive relationships are, there's flat out abusive relationships like Lapis and Jasper, and there's relationships like Volleyball and Pink, that are alot more complex
@@astronomical952 I agree. I mean, look at the Lapis/Peridot ship and how overrated it is. Despite Lapis never once apologizing to Peridot for taking away her home and everything she loved. Lapis became toxic yet ppl were still worshipping her, and it was honestly such a shame because she was a pretty cool complex character in the beginning. That’s something I always see happening with the ‘dead inside emo x hyper crackhead’ ship dynamic. The dynamic becomes toxic and both characters would be better off as friends. Opposites don’t always attract, and that’s okay.
@@lanAdraHrepuS exactly, I love both lapis and peridot and we can all admit that best friends is what they are and what they'll stay, Peridot even admits that she considers lapis her best friend at one point, in Alone At Sea lapis admits she was toxic, that she isn't ready for any sort of relationship like that again.
Garnets marriage is the reason there is lgbtq+ allowed in new disney shows so I don't get the hate for steven universe. I like the variety of relationships in the show
I remember crying when the show ended cause I felt that a lot of Steven’s struggles in the end were similar to mine. Only to feel bad for crying later on when people were calling the show terrible and everyone who enjoyed it an idiot. While the show is very flawed, it meant a lot to many people, including myself. It took time to accept that it’s really not as perfect or as awful as some people made it out to be.
The Owl House's ending caused a new wave of steven universe hate that I just wasn't prepared for. It's made me really sad, especially since the show really has very wonderful and complex narratives and themes! So I really appreciate you and other people feeling this way too!
Anytime a cartoon ganks the big bad ppl use it as an excuse to shit on steven universe because they lack media literacy and it makes me mad. TOH HAD A GOOD AND APPROPRIATE ENDING AND SO DID STEVEN UNIVERSE. the diamonds and pink diamond are more like the archivists and the collector, belos is a different and more irredeemable genre of villain. Really annoying that people bring up SU in such a simplistic manner.
People use TOH to hate on SU because they can't seem to grasp the fact that they're TWO DIFFERENT SHOWS, the ending of TOH was good and made sense for TOH, the ending of SU was good and made sense for SU.
Seeing straight dudes liking SU always makes me very happy. It's the year 2023 yet young boys still don't have enough silly, sensitive male characters similar to Steven to look up to . He is kind and emotional and is also allowed to be wrong about stuff and grow. SU is pretty cute and sweet and I'd even describe it as "girly" (though SU obviously want to defy those kinds of gendered concepts). Lots of boys are told they shouldn't like shows like that or that they shouldn't relate to female characters. Despite that it seems like SU captured the hearts of many boys and men too. That's the kind of change I'd like to see. I'm glad this show found its audience among so many different demographics. I'm sorry SU fandom was so intidating when you were so young and just wanted to enjoy a show. As a bi woman it really annoyed me how shitty people were about the queer rep when, back when I was twelve, there was absolutely zero LGBT+ rep in kids media. and that was just 10-15 years ago. I almost lost my mind when Pearl/Rose was confirmed 'cause I was sure something like that would never happen. People should chill about representation, seriously.
I grew up in a very conservative household, so being a young kid and watching a show like SU really did make it easier for me to be myself, for me to KNOW who "myself" even is, It holds a special place in my heart for that reason, for the message that you should simply BE YOURSELF. As a nonbinary person (AMAB) I really hate the fact that more young boys don't really have any male characters or anything to really look up to when it comes to that emotional side of themselves, I was always taught to "suck it up", to never let my emotions show and it sucks to know that so many other people are being taught that exact same thing.
We don't really "need" people to look up to in cartoons. Or relate to. Some people aren't as a emotional as others, and its not because they were "kept from expressing themselves" or didn't get the chance to. People are just who they are. I'm living proof of a person who isn't too emotional but enjoyed the show. I thought the show was good at the time that I watched it even without the representation and Steven being overly emotional. It adds to stuff, but its not what makes the show, the show. A lot of cartoons that you get invested in are expected to be these all-encompassing parcels for our own selflish desires to slake. Art should serve a greater purpose then just to invite an audience. Making anything relatable is the opposite of what art is.
@@TrifectShow there’s nothing wrong with making art something relatable to an audience though. Of course you can still enjoy something that you don’t relate to but others might enjoy it because of that relatability. The whole point of art is just to express yourself and you can do that in many meaningful ways. Younger generations generations audiences especially might like that there’s characters like them in media. Like with op mentioned there’s usually not a lot of cartoons with emotional boys so seeing Steven might’ve been really exciting as a kid, someone that they relate to a lot that isn’t often seen in media is being shown.
@@peanut4668 Its not about soley expressing yourself but expressing what you want to expression. Art is very personal to the person creating it, yea, and while its an extension of you. It isn't you. There's nothing wrong with that, but that doesn't mean its a good thing.
When I first started watching the show I absolutely loved it and it seemed really popular online too. As the series went on it seems more haters started popping up trying to ruin the show for any reason. Some of it was because of the animation or how they thought the characters were “always crying and annoying”, or how Season 5 and Future were “bad”. I never listened to any of it and loved the entire series from beginning to end.
YO BUT THE FACT THE CREW SPRINKLED IN JOKES ABOUT PEOPLE HATING THE SHOW FOR THE EMOTIONAL ASPECT OF IT. Remember the crying waffle cartoon within the show and i think several comments about "Who would watch a show that always has crying in it?" line by, iirc, Pearl?😂
Like I get the animation comment, it does look weird sometimes, especially with Connie and Steven, no idea why them. But it also got less bad as the show progressed, so I don’t really get why ppl are still angry about it. Like, look at the later seasons, the movie, Future, they all looked great! (I mean the animation when I’m saying better, not the writing)
Honestly the show only gets good around episode 52 in my opinion, after peridot became good it became crap immediatly and stopped watching, so basically season 2 was the only good season of this show.
I don’t know how to explain this, but watching this video kinda healed my inner child/preteen, because I also felt bad about genuinely loving Steven universe for a variety of reasons involving my own personal feelings and the outer impact of feelings that it brought to everyone else.
Steven getting that hug from everyone and words of encouragement were so powerful to steven and enough to snap him out of the rampage b/c it proved his fear of constantly needing to be perfect for others and fix them and fake smiles and keep things to himself when he’s suffering and having doubts about his character were really nothing to worry about. He called himself a monster before he became corrupt, he felt ashamed of the negative feelings he had and even more-so breaking down in front of close family and friends who always looked up to him and turned to him to fix things and be the moral rock. So he turned into the thing he thought he was. He thought seeing and hearing of that would make his friends and family not respect or love him anymore and view him like a monster too, but the fact they were all willing to listen and stay with him through his mental breakdown and affirm that all of this changed nothing about how much they loved and cared about him and how they were willing to blame themselves for the pressure they put on him made him realize he isn’t as irredeemable as he thought, and that he does have a support system who now fully understand even the darkest side of him and aren’t afraid to stay and help him no matter how much he hates himself. THAT in my opinion is a powerful moment and message to others struggling with trauma and trying to hide it and avoid talking about it or mental health struggles out of fear it’ll chase everyone away if they see u at your worst. So no, Steven’s entire ptsd traumas and self-esteem issues weren’t instantly all solved in that one moment. It simply was enough to confirm to him that there was hope for him and brought him out of a mental breakdown atm. But he’ll still have a long ways to go with his therapy and such to fully accept and learn to deal with all he’s been through. But this time he has the support system from friends and family that he needs who are there to talk and root for him as he heals. A lot of people suffering with mental health issues try to keep it in and deny they need help and think they can handle it so they avoid telling others to avoid overcomplicating things for them, especially if you’re a caregiver or have assumed that roll for the majority of your life in your relationships like Steven had. The last thing they want is to make others think they aren’t capable or risk burdening someone them. But admitting you’re struggling and asking for help is still important. You gotta take care of yourself too. Even if that means leaving everyone for a time to get help and detox (like Steven did). So cudos for Steven U Future’s ending for being so real. Sometimes it’s the little things u do for someone that can make all the difference to touch them and set them on a healthier path. By allowing them to not be okay and realize that’s valid and fine and that you’re there for them through the good and the ugly.
This whole comment is perfect. And it exactly describes what’s going with me at the current moment. Thank you for writing this I Truly Appreciate your words from the Bottom of my Heart 💚
I’d just like to point out that even if the LGBTQ+ rep wasn’t done well (which as a lesbian I don’t understand but ok) just IMAGINE what they were dealing with behind the scenes. Imagine the number of people forcing them to change things to make it “appropriate for television”. There is no way that trying to get good LGBTQ+ representation on screen, when a ton of people are not even wanting it there in the first place, is easy.
I just wish they gave us more ruby and saphire and kept OG garnet in general. Easily the best charcter from the first 2-3 seasons but Somehow by the second to last half of the series (except for a few moments being said wedding) it feels like she's used in a way just to talk about fusion episodes where it's more like "Oh, were talking about fusion today? Better bring out garnet"
ruby's pronouns were changed to he/him just to make her relationship with sapphire straight in countries where it's not accepted BRO (dont take this as fact I heard it once and believed it entirely)
Rebecca fought so hard for LGBTQ+ themes that they were willing to let their entire vision be rushed and derailed just to include the Ruby and Saffire kiss. People who pretend SU did nothing for the community are just straight up ignorant. CN has a habit of including themes themes now but that was NOT the case when the show first came out- or even while it was airing. SU single handly made it so that these themes could be explored openly in children's media. Alot of people's complaints about it is "Well the gems aren't aren't human so that's like saying gay people aren't human" When no. The gems aren't human, and happened to be gay. We later get human queer relationships- and those same people still complain. SU wasn't PERFECT. But it was as good as it could have possibly been given the time it was airing. It's easy to forget now, that there's so many more shows dealing with these topics head on, but Steven Universe was the FIRST to do so. Back when it did it- It wasn't nearly as normalized.
this show was ahead of its time; i remember when a lot of people (including myself in highschool) just wrote it off as a show for younger kids. but a lot of the themes of self-love and not feeling like you belong resonate with me more as someone in their late-20s. the other day i watched a clip of the steven universe movie and absolutely broke down when i heard spinel and the diamonds sing... "today, right here, right now, i'll love again..." i fucking lost it as someone that has struggled with depression and began feeling very angry and spiteful at the world because of circumstances (rejected from grad school, can't find a great job related to my major... etc). i very much felt i was being left behind in my health. a lot of the themes are, i feel, are toned down because it aired on cartoon network and its last season was rushed out. but the show is so good at its core and it deserves to be watched to anyone who hasnt watched it (maybe just not the filler lol). it suffers from a lot of issues related to pace and story but it is stilk great in spite of it.
I watched SU Future recently coz I kept putting it off for ‘a special occasion’ and decided that was enough of that, and I love it but since it hits so close to home on almost e v e r y t h i n g I don’t think I can watch it again soon. I get u, you’re not alone and defs not late for your life, even though in this postapocapitalistic world we’re led to believe we are. I’m glad u exist, I’m glad I read you today💞
I hate the critique that future “made Steven unbearable.” Growing up, I was horribly abused, and that made me hurt people around me because I had no way to cope or control the feelings I had. I lashed out, I hurt myself, I isolated, THATS WHAT MENTAL ILLNESS IS. THE SHOW DID AN ANAZING JOB AT SHOWING THAT.
I wish they made it part of the show earlier. I felt kind of crazy for thinking that Steven was not okay during most of the show, while they didn't really address it. It's definitely realistic to have someone struggling silently, but it would have been very nice for me personally to see more of his specific issues be referenced or explored for more time.
@@Numbabu I think what they wanted to get at is that Steven Just didn't notice his issues earlier because back then he was still focused on the whole "saving everything" aspect and then rebuilding and being an ambassador afterwards. The time afterwards when little home was already almost done and when his help wasn't needed anymore and he was able to start relaxing was what caused his body to finally react. Just before that his mind was like "I need to help, I need to help, I can't care about myself rn". And I don't mean to invalidate your opinion at all, it's totally valid and in some way I also wished they would've shown signs earlier. I think both ways are/would be good ways to show how these things work
@@Numbabu I rewatched SU a little less than a month ago and there are defs signs in there. Steven is not really all happy as in season one at later seasons, he also lets out phrases that show his opinion of himself is really low and is afraid of not being loved for making any mistake. Even when Amethyst in that one episode wants him to talk about how he is, the episode doesn’t end on a high note. I think it’s very subtle ways that this shows but oh boy it’s there, and I do agree with diemmsee that also bc he was so all hands on everything and anything stronger signs of dealing with mental health can not be shown, coz at the time you’re not really processing
Thank you, christ. People are like "but it shows mental illness as a bad thing" mental illness IS a bad thing and if it's not treated properly can make situations pretty bad!! But if you take care of it, work on yourself, you can bring stuff back under control! Also, if you have a good support system.
i may not like what they did with the plot in general, but the atmosphere, music, art style, it’s all beautiful and is the reason why i like this show.
The animation is so dreamy and calm at times it mesmerized little 6 year old me. I love this show just for the style and storyline and seeing people basically crap on it breaks my heart.
As a person who is a part of the LGBT+ community - this show has some great representation, especially the Marriage scene, and most of the lack of certain forms of representation (Human non-binary folk and trans people) can probably be pinned down to CN being more than a little homophobic at the time (Rebecca Sugar and the Crewniverse *fought* for that wedding, and even when they got it the network decided to cancel the show only a few episodes later! More people need to know this!)
Yeah. To be honest I do disagree that the show had poor LGBT rep. LGBT marriage became legal in 2015 which is not that long ago so for it's time it was great! I don't really like Rose quartz and pearl though 😬
@@exo_eve7575 I disagree. The show continuosly shows that Pearls are in love with their diamonds and it's seen as romantic. An example is when Volleyball is gushing about pink diamond, while blushing mind you and Pearl says "She's still got it bad".
@@3rebella Not all Pearls - Blue, Yellow and Rhodonite's Pearl half didn't have romantic relationships with their "owners"- Pearl and Volleyball both have had romantic feelings for Rose, sure, but those two are meant to have huge parallels with each other.
As someone who also actively hid his love for Steven Universe growing up because I didn't want to be made fun of, I am very happy this show is gaining popularity. There is a lot of valid criticism for this show in regard to some of the writing, but I still think it has some of the best character moments out of any cartoon and so many relatable problems that helped me learn a lot about myself. The soundtrack is also fire and Ruby Rider is still peak and nobody can tell me otherwise.
I loved Steven universe when I was 12 or 13, but my mom banned me from watching it cause the gems, mostly pearl and Ruby and sapphire were lesbians and she’s very homophobic and didn’t want me watching it. I had to hide and watch it. It pained me so much cause I wanted to share my love for my favorite cartoon with my family cause they were all I ever talked to and had no friends, but they hated it also and were disgusted with Ruby and sapphires love. I had to watch it by myself in my room with the door closed to make sure no one was spying on me. Even then my mom would always catch me and then eventually ground me if she ever caught me watching it. I stopped watching it for years and missed a lot of episodes and had to go back. Even then when episodes came out I found out information of the life and story through clips on TH-cam, spoiling myself, never being able to find out about it when it first aired, not being able to be a true fan. This show is the one show where I would literally pay millions just so I can forget about it all so I could watch it all again, without my family ruining it for me
@@artgremlin4750 That's extremely unfortunate, and I hope your situation has gotten better since then. Perhaps one day in the future there will be another show that we can all love just as much as Steven Universe that you can watch along with everyone else :)
@@Robotiger599 Yeah, I remember watching it , but not telling anyone that I actually liked the show 😭 I started watching it around the SU final when I was 9 or 10, however unfortunately I got really into the fandom after the show ended and the fandom slowly died down
It’s true, Steven Universe is nowhere near perfect. But holy sh*t the amount of sh*t it gets is so unfair and mob-like. They’ll go as far as painting the fandom like a mosh pit of hell, while in reality most fans are just chill queer kids playing the ukulele and drawing gemsonas. Sure, there have been episodes of sh*t fans, but which fandom hasn’t? They just saw a cute show and tore it to shreds because they knew they could. 5:08 and on the topic of representation, they’ve got to be kidding. This show is full of different kinds of representation, from sexuality to gender non-conformity, breaking the mould, body positivity. Heck even the crabs on the beach were gay in that one episode. But of course they had to find ways around it like with fusion. Why? Because watch what happened when the wedding of Ruby and Sapphire happened: the network cancelled the show and cut the sponsor.
Steven Universe's fanbase is probably one of the most hateful fanbases, if not THE most hateful fanbase, that I've ever seen. I've watched other people having something horrible done to them by angry Steven Universe fans, and I've had something horrible done to myself by angry Steven Universe fans.
@@carnage0685 Yes. Again, this is a thing that is said about most popular fandoms out there. Trust me, Steven Universe is not the monolith of bad fandoms.
@@carnage0685I'd disagree, I think SU fans are usually more accepting and positive, obviously bad people exist in the fandom but I'd go ahead and say that those people didn't even pay attention to the message the show tried to tell them.
Lily Orchard is not a spokesperson for lgbtq people. Do not worry, the representation in SU is welcome and did good for the community overall. The terminally online left tends to seek clout by purity checking their own, and Lily Orchard is a prime example. Any show with decent (but not perfect! Ree!) representation she's there to tear down in a similar manner to the quartering. She's actively undermining the few things we have to look up to. Not an ally.
@@caravan-madliterally. like idk why she decided to jump on the SU hate trend when the ONLY people mad at the show were fucking alt right/conservatives
I made the mistake of falling into the Steven Universe hate train when I was a teen (curse you Lilly Orchard) and looking back it really is dumb how many people hated the show. Like you said there’s definitely things to critique about it but at the end of the day it was a wholesome show with heartfelt moments and a pretty solid ending. My only gripe is that they didn’t expand on Pearl and Bismuth’s relationship I wanted to see them kiss
I literally never got into Steven Universe because of cringe culture. Back when I was 14 I hated Steven Universe only because I was told those "cringe SJW tumblr-inos" are the only people that watched it and my little tiny teenage ape brain was like EWW!! ME?? NO WAY!! I'm 21 now and I just got done with Steven Universe a few days ago, and I have to say it is my favorite cartoon of all time. I don't even like children's cartoons that much but I instantly got hooked to Steven Universe. I can't believe I missed out, but at the same time I'm glad I was able to watch it when I was finally mature enough to appreciate it's full beauty.
FINALLY SOMEONE WHO SHARES MY OPINION.. i've felt so scrutinized for still enjoying a show that helped me grow as a person and comfort me when i needed it most in my childhood. i always hated talking about the show to other people for this exact reason, i've felt so terrified that people would just call me "wrong" or "stupid" for liking steven universe. and i honestly loved the ending of future, which i know a lot of people would hate me for, but it made me so happy yet sad when watching, in fact i still can't watch the finale without crying- but i'm just glad i'm not the only one in the world who recognizes that the show could be hit or miss at times, but is overall a really great show that showed good representation (before anyone says anything, i'm non-binary and identify as a lesbian) and it helped me feel more comfortable in my gender and sexuality, so seeing ruby and sapphire kiss for the first time almost made me cry.. i'll always love this show and hold it close to my heart
Dude, same. This show taught me to cry again. Mindful Education still makes me cry every single time. We need more shows like SU. Not just for kids, but for adults too.
I love how Steve hugs his pet and cries while stuffing his face in lions face because thats something a lot of ppl that have pets do when they r sad (from my experience) and makes it have even more layers to his character (ik it's small but i still really like it)
im kinda tipsy right now but i fucking love this show. as someone who's mother passed at a young age, i really related to stevens struggle as a motherless son. it's over isn't it resonated with me so much as a child, and i never felt alone through the grieving process because i understood people like steven struggled like this regularly. god i would be such a different (and less developed) person if this show didnt exist and im so grateful for its existence. thank you for the amazing video, there was even some skepticism i had that you knocked out after i watched this. keep up the good shit
Just a reminder, the final season of the original show had to cut a lot of stories, including a whole arc with Lars and the Off Colors against this “Emerald” character, which was teased in like 1 or 2 episodes and I am very sad we didn’t get. But the last season was rushed because of Garnet’s (Ruby and Sapphire’s) wedding, because cooperate was like “You cant put lesbian space rocks having a wedding in a kids show”. As for the movie and Future, they weren’t expecting Steven Universe fans to demand more content, and that’s when CN realized they messed up, but the main series had already ended so- Long Story Short, blame SU’s rushed ending and lack of Diamond character arcs on CN not liking Rock Wedding in a kids show about alien space rocks
Wrong, that episode aired in season 5, 2018, Rebecca was told back in season 3, 2016, season 5 was the last. She talked to the network about an extension and the movie plus future were greenlit in 2018 while the finale aired in 2019. Had nothing to do with the wedding.
Im 20 years old, and saw Steven Universe and Steven Universe Future for the first time recently while turning 20. A lot of the themes hit me deeply : loss, grief, self confidence, the relationship you have with yourself and with others... the show was the main reason I started taking care of myself after living traumatic event that I ignored for too long. I cried, laughted, was hyped with the characters. This show healed my inner child, and also my teenage self. And now, I can enter adulthood with a more gentle way of thinking than before. Steven Universe is not a cinematic masterpiece, but it is a human, emotional masterpiece, and I think this is the most important thing. (Note : english is not my first language so ignore my grammar mistakes and everything lol, love you all)
this show helped me through my own depression and was such a comfort through a really difficult time, I cannot imagine moving forward through that time in the same way without the show. I am incredibly grateful
My real critique with the filler is that Beach City and the gem stories became so separate from one another. The earlier seasons didn't really have this problem because the stakes were lower, so yeah, it makes sense for the townies to defeat a gem by playing volley ball. But rather than allowing the towny episodes to follow suit with the gem episodes and cover more serious subject matter, they remained upbeat and ultimately inconsequential. I'm not even saying that we needed to launch more humans into space, but maybe these characters would've been a good way to reflect on Stevens internal struggles and find support outside of the gems and Connie. I could be wrong, but I don't think Steven explicitly talks about the plot with the townies outside of a joke past season two's episode "Friendship." Jaime is cool though. All the real ones respect Jaime.
I don't understand why so much people hate the show... I mean... yes: it has problems. But like every show. And it's not insanely bad written or bad animated or created bad morals. I can understand that you don't like it because everyone has their tastes and this show has its own vibe. But I can't understand how you can hate it... it's weird. Edit: I had the chance to discover the (first) show years after it ended. So I had the chance to talk with fans like me without having to be scared of haters. And now it's one of my comfort show and I had accept it's not perfect but I still love it.
I personally really like the animation being inconsistent, you get to see the show evolve and recognize it by the arc it was in. It feels fluid and it’s like reading a webtoon where you can see the artists style becoming more and more sophisticated over time. I really love that for Steven universe, you grow with the show.
I have C-PTSD and I watched Steven Universe Future with my therapist. I love it just as much as I love the original series. It’s disappointing that even other Steven Universe fans are quick to hate on Future, especially when I relate to Future Steven so much; it makes me feel like they’d hate me too.
Can we also just talk about how SU (main) was rushed to end? Meaning we never got to get a real look into the Diamonds and what could have came of it? Who knows, if CN didnt end it early, the Diamonds could have been properly punished and pacing fixed a bit
Also CN forced the crew to put in so many filler episodes because they were easier to broadcast than a linear plot. As always, it was fault of the executives that only care about money
Growing up I was super into shows where storyboard artists had tons of freedom to do things in ways that are “off-model” (Ren & Stimpy and Flapjack instantly come to mind.) So most of the complaints about Steven Universe’s storyboarding/inconsistent animation don’t really line up with me. With that said, there are sometimes where the storyboarding feels weak or inconsistent or off-model in a way that doesn’t work. It’s one thing to go off-model in order to draw a really funny face. It’s quite another to be off-model because you just don’t have any model sheets at all. Still, this complaint is blow way out of proportion. You don’t get this complaint about Adventure Time which can also vary wildly depending on the board artist.
This!! The funniest thing to me is almost every person who made out off model moments to be the devil in SU were 80s and 90s kids who loved shows that ALSO went off model. But for some reason *those* shows are considered cinematic gold while SU is considered garbage
Im not even gonna lie I rarely noticed the inconsistencies when watching the show as a kid, and even rewatching now that in older, do I care if something is taller or shorter or wider than usual? No! 😭
despite the audience's hate towards this show i'll always keep Steven Universe somewhere in my heart and mind. there's a few reasons, for example the songs, the character's background stories and how it also helped me find myself while growing up. i've learnt so much thanks to how some pretty serious topics were explained and helped me handle my own problems in a way that other shows would never be able to do. also nice vid, keep it up man
THIS IS ABSOLUTELY UNDERRATED??? ONLY 2K SUBS?? I literally agree with every point made in this video and im glad there's actually people out there whom think Steven Universe is not a perfect but good show, it doesn't deserve the hate that it's getting, literally just stumbled upon your channel in my homepage and oh my god this video is amazing, keep up the good work Jord
it's super refreshing to see a defense of this show, i've watched it for something like 6 years and after all the critique videos i have seen all this is really nice to hear.
I'm glad I'm not the only one who as a kid could NEVER tell anyone I liked Steven Universe or other "girly and emotional" cartoons without getting weird looks. None of us deserve the actual real harassment some of us got over a show who's literal message was kindness above all else
I just started SU like a month ago ? I’ve never heard of the discourse around it besides « ew LGBTQ cringe » and just wanted to know more about Pearl (because I love her A LOT). As an animator, yes the serie is very inconsistent and has some moments that feels weird but honestly focusing on only the animation is forgetting everything else that made this série very nice. The message, the cool charadesigns, the gorgeous color palettes, a simple but efficient storyboard and nice backgrounds. Like you I resonate so much with Steven and the messages and when I lost hope about my situation I wanted to become like Steven. Someone that even in though times tried his best to be nice, to help people and be himself.
THIS VIDEO WAS GREAT LIKE HOLY CRAP, so true. I definitely agree that the show doesn’t deserve all the bad rep it gets for redeeming villains and such. It’s just a memorable show! Ty.
I really like stories that include the redemption of bad guys, so I started off really liking Steven Universe and how it handled it. I really think Peridot’s redemption was well earned. Unfortunately I do think the show over time did the redemptions in ways that felt lazy and unsatisfying later on. Like, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic managed to do way more character growth and development for their former villains when you compare it to Universe. Like Peridot and Spinel were done great but every other redemption in Universe feels rushed and unsatisfying in my opinion.
I never understood why people hate on the inconsistent animation, because if anything the inconsistency made it so it was so much smoother ( like if you actually watch the scenes with weird proportions they're almost always super clean looking and/or are just using smear frames ) Plus I love it when the characters look off model because it really reminds me of season 1 where all the characters look kinda ugly, but imo it just gives character 😭 esp since the backgrounds were always so clean and pretty, it never felt like the quality of the show was disturbed or whatever
To add onto season 1, i don't understand why people dislike it sm It's my favourite season not just because of nostalgia, but I really like the unsure tone of the first 20 or so episodes It's like they didn't know what boundaries to cross or not so you end up with really tonally different and interesting episodes that go really out there with their locations but all remain consistent with demonstrating different parts of the gem world Plus I think townie episodes in the first season work so much better because the stakes were still low ish, they felt a lot more belonging in the actual run Also, the mystery surrounding the gems makes it really fun to watch, I remember as a kid being so excited when we got to learn new stuff about the gems and absolutely losing my shit when we got to see inside their rooms and even when we found out garnet had a third eye 😭 one thing the show suffers from is the need it has to up the stakes and live up to what it had set up, which makes it so it doesn't spend a lot of time being exploratory of the new things introduced and rather rushes the plot and then goes back to a random beach city plotline which doesn't explore any of the things learnt
I get what you mean but seeing the characters look so different just throws me off a lot, like instead of getting engrossed in the show or plot it made constantly be aware that these are drawings and the artists keep drawing them differently, i don't mind minute changes and i agree to not be that strict but there should still be a controlling force at the end or it ends up looking like a mess
I'm not sure anybody's talking about smear frames when they talk about inconsistency. The actual character models are different from artist to artist, meaning that they're different from at least episode to episode. That's not something that contributes to animation smoothness-- _actually, it makes matters more difficult for animators because there's no consistent style between episodes._ If that were the only problem that anybody could cite, it'd likely not be noticed-- or it'd even be considered charming. I think that's what's happening in your case, since you like the show, but for those who don't, the idea that the show is "bad" simultaneously accentuates _and is comprised of_ these individual failures. In isolation, though? It's not the product of a distinct purpose. Other shows with heart put into them have production notes that dictate the do's and don'ts of drawing their characters, and don't struggle with animation fluidity.
I've been a SU fan since the beginning. I literally remember the 2015 premiere ad playing on Cartoon Network. SU is extremely special to me, and while it's not a perfect show, it still holds a special place in the hearts of those who have followed Steven's journey.
i'm a hobbyist/learning animator and the constant vitriol about SU being ~off model~ really hurt and stifled my creative process since i was so busy worrying about every frame being perfect that i ended up never animating and when i did i focused more on each individual frame than on a fluid motion. it's something i'm still struggling to unlearn and i appreciate you bringing it up
*[Oh my stars, great video! 2023 really feels like a great year to start watching Steven Universe, since It's popularity has been rising again in the past few months. Also, it's good to know that everyone's reception to this show is slowly changing too!]*
@@gunterxvoices4101 Finally someone who gets that you can’t just “fight fight fight” for like 75 percent of the show. If they did do that, then earth would explode
UPDATE: It's been a year since I started watching the show and I've finished both the original series and the movie (both masterpieces‼️). I think it's safe to say I'm a big fan at this point haha I'm so happy to see the possibility of this show finally getting the sort of renaissance it deserves! It's baffling to me how invalid and/or inaccurate the majority of typical online criticisms are and it's a shame the show is viewed in such a strictly negative light. I'm no big fan but I saw it for the first time a little while ago and really enjoyed so...nice video :)
Man I didn't even notice the animation inconsistenties bc I was super focused on the story and when people point out a couple of frames that don't look right I'm like "how did I not notice that"
thank you so much for making this video. as someone who has had steven universe as their hyperfixation for years now i really appreciate having someone talk this positively about the show that i hold so dear to my heart after the amount of hate its gotten
7:45 THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT I'VE BEEN TRYING TO TELL PEOPLE! The hug from all his family and friends helped him feel better _in that moment_ so he could calm down and let them help him. He's going to therapy now! It's just the beginning of the process. I don't want to sound all "Oh I like it so nobody's allowed to hate it" because everyone has their own opinions, but I relate to Steven here and it makes me feel like I'm bad because people hate him. (Pathetic, I know, please don't make me feel worse about it) This show isn't the absolute top notch quality, but it's SO important to a lot of people. I really needed this show and I got a whole lot more out of it rewatching it recently than I did when I was like 7 watching it for the first time. 8:17 This still makes me cry ;-; Actually same, I learned SO MUCH about myself from SU when I rewatched it. (I learned a lot from The Owl House too, another kids show lol)
9:22 so nice that you showed a piece of your old video. i feel like young fans get bashed too much for being passionate about things. they don't deserve it, it's actually so sweet that 12 year old you made an effort to create a video about steven universe. for me personally, steven universe was such a huge motivation to draw and write, and thanks to that i'm pretty good at both now. i wanna learn to play piano and guitar too, and again steven universe is my motivation. people really underestimate the inspirational power this show has
Thank you for this. This show was a big part of my life when growing up in foster care after losing my mother. I had a difficult childhood, and it's weird to say but I felt understood by the people who made it in the first place. It's definitely not perfect, not by any means. But I'll always have a soft spot for it 🥺💕
this show was my saviour as a kid. it, to this day as an adult, is my favourite of show. i will never forget the smiles it gave me when the going got tough, and the tears it still brings me to.
the show may not be amazing, it may have some issues and problems that prevent it from ever being one of the greatest, but that doesn't change the themes, messages, and stories it portrayed throughout its entirety. The show is an experience for us to watch and learn from, but also be a source of comfort and familiarity. It always managed to weave it's way into my heart 😊
This video brought me catharsis, and let me release tension and self consciousness I didn't realize I was holding. I loved this show, I really loved it when I was little! I saw all the negativity a few years ago and it made me feel judged and ashamed. So I tried to stuff down the feelings of love I had for SU, and forced myself to view it from a critical lens so I didn't feel stupid. I got so caught up on the negative aspects, I forgot the things I loved about it; the lessons of love, kindness, and respect that show taught me as a kid. The world building and character interactions, the gorgeous colors and background art. Steven Universe was also one of my first introductions to queer themes in media, and looking back I'm grateful I had characters like Garnet introduce these themes to me in a positive, accepting, and kind light. Now as an adult, I recognize that it's possible to love a show while knowing it's not perfect; that you can analyze it and learn not only from its flaws, but also from its positive qualities that made you love it in the first place! I think I'll go rewatch some Steven Universe :) Thanks Jord
I started to tear up towards the ending of this video, I appreciate this so much and these arguments are so true while you stay respectful (with sarcasm here and there). This show was my everything during the worst times of my life and helped me discover things about myself through these characters. I won't go apeshit when people dislike the show but when they overhate for invalid reasons it hurts my heart a little.
Thank you for talking about the end of Steven Universe Future! I have heard so many people complain about it, saying that, "Oh, all of Steven's trauma was just solved with a hug", like the show just said he was magically cured after that moment when that *never* happened. He *isn't* magically okay! The whole point is him and everyone around him acknowledging that he's not okay and that he *needs help!* Steven's family realise he's suffering and Steven himself realises it's okay not to be okay and that he *can* accept help. FFS the ending literally says that he's getting therapy but everyone just seems to conveniently forget that part. I loved Steven Universe Future. I love how it explored Steven's trauma and his struggle with his own self-worth and inability to open up to others. His fear that his family and friends would think less of him or believe him to be a burden because of his declining mental health is something I related to so hard and that moment where they prove to him that he can be his ugliest, most fucked-up self, where he can be honest about his pain, and they will *still* love him? That was beautiful. It is so hard to heal without proper support, and they showed him they were willing to give him that.
I think that some of the critique of shows where you have a protag or character who portrays mental health struggles (especially more realistic representations that aren't sugar-coated or glorified) is based on the existing stigma of those mental health issues. A character lashing out because of trauma is realistic, but not justified. You don't have to agree with everything a character does in order to like that character; that's kind of the point. Shows like this teach understanding where we would otherwise be ignorant. Additionally, you don't have to look back on your own lashing out as "something only a bad person would do" and give yourself that label. It only makes it harder to heal, which makes it harder to prevent future lashing out. My partner and I both suffered a lot of trauma and abuse, and we used to take out our frustrations on each other and people around us. This made us only get along with other abusers because, as it turns out, no one likes being treated like that unless they're using it as justification for their own abuse. We've cleared out our old relationships that made things worse and have begun to build upon our own understanding of ourselves. It's been a little over a year. Both of us are doing so much better. Every time one of us learns something new, we share it with the other. Sometimes we're not both ready to hear things yet, so gentle reinforcement of ideas has been the best tool. Anyone can be better if they give THEMSELVES the chance to be. I think that's the main message of this show, but also. You don't owe anyone forgiveness just because they're trying. But if you can spare the mental energy to at least support their growth, it might be beneficial as long as they continue to try. TLDR: Steven Universe was one of the many things that have helped me in my mental health journey. New understanding creates growth and healing in people who were previously kept ignorant. The show isn't perfect, but its impact IS a net good, I think.
the steven universe future defense section is precisely what i want people to understand. back then when watching it i thought it sucked cause i never understood, and i didnt have anyone to talk to about it to explain to me. but after i rewatched it recently, you touched on every single point perfectly. yes, he may be insufferable. but sometimes when your trauma comes back to you full force as an adult you arent that good of a person! yes, the show was rushed. BLAME CARTOON NETWORK DICKWAD
The crewniverse put their heart & souls into that show. Criticism is important & some people are just gonna have different tastes, but nobody deserves to have their art get torn so thoroughly to shreds like that.
Bro I absolutely love the contrast in animation quality. It makes the show so goofy and funny but also entertaining. The quality is good wherre it needs to be, loved su since it came out
I feel like there was a lot of unnecessary or unearned hate for SU over the years and this video sums up a lot of the feelings I also had on the subject! I can accept and admit the show had it's flaws but it is still my most fondly remembered show from my childhood and meant a lot to me, and the fact that as steven aged I aged with him nearly year for year with him, it felt a lot more personal. I never understood why there was So. Many. People who hated SUFuture because I related deeply to it and thought it was honestly an amazing send-off, even if it was less than the team would have liked to work with. I enjoyed it for what it was, and I still get emotional thinking back on it. I'm sure you'll blow up soon, you seem like a cool guy and I love your sense of humor from what I've seen in this video. Hope you get to 5k before your 50th birthday bro!
i really appreciate you commenting near the end about what it taught you because it taught me those same thing and more it taught me about healthy relationships and to talk to people when you have issues because if you don’t it can lead to worse outcomes. thank you for defending this show pls i loved this show sm 😭
Steven universe has always had a weird ability to make me cry very easily and best believe I was tearing up at the montage with nights playing over it. I think it’s time for a rewatch. I hated the ending and filler episodes but I doesn’t change how amazing the overall show was and I miss the days when it was still so new to me and the hype of waiting for a new season
I'll definitely say that I hold a much more jaded opinion of the show now than I did back when it was airing, but it will still always hold a place in my heart for introducing me to the concept of story-driven cartoons and being one of, if not the, only show I followed from beginning to end (I would've even seen the premiere of the first episode had I not had another obligation at the time)
I am the kind of person that mainly avoids Fandoms. Not even intentionally, I just watch cartoons and enjoy them on my own. Sometimes, I could step into fandom for a little bit, but that's all. SU had a very weird and especially toxic fandom in my local community, so I just didn't let it ruin my watch. But still I remember making your own jem challenge was so huge and popular in 2015 that I took out my jem collection I had since childhood and drew a jemsona of my favorite stone. This character grew up into a full OC for the comics I am thinking of creating somewhere in the future. So I am thankful to SU for that, at least. Legit love that OC.
Aaaah! Glad this was recommended to me, thank you so much for sharing this! Espesially after I watched several videos covering SU's flaws (yea, that two-hour-long vid too, haha). Good thing my friends don't care what I watch so it was actually a surprise for me when I found out that some people hate it so much. SU is one of my favorite shows now and it's okay if some people didn't like it, for me it was an experience and I made sure it was a good experience (Garnet's quote reference :DD) (Also, sorry bad english, I usually don't leave comments haha)
Part of why people hate the filler pacing is the insane schedule that Cartoon Network decided to release episodes in - and the fact that streaming services have the episodes in the wrong order. Of course [x] Beach City episode felt out of place, it literally was!
I really like to think that stegs appearance represents Stevens admiration for Greg, it's his dad, of course he views his dad as this super strong guy who is an awesome rockstar
what for me was the problem in su is the shortening of the series, for rebeca to be able to show rubi and sapphire's "lesbian" kiss made the show lose many financial supporters, and even cn is not very aware of lgbt+ rights su has always worked her characters, their backstories, their traumas very well - so just imagine if even with the wedding the series was not "cancelled" we would have change your mind divided into several episodes, we would see more of pink, a white diamond being a more visual villain and not just flashbacks, and the whole diamond/homeworld arc the future has a really good premise, show how fucked up steven was mentally throughout all 5 seasons, but how to do that, show the end of the background characters and deal with mental problems in 20 episodes? steven's mental arc could have been one of the best in the series, a multi-episode arc so in the end it was spoiled thanks to homophobia and prejudice in our world, I really hope this drawing gets a special or whatever 🇧🇷💗
0:40 SAME OMG. I told my now ex-bf i liked and watched the show and he said it sucked and looked stupid. HE NEVER EVEN TRIED WATCHING IT. I didn’t force him nor did i tell him he had to watch it, he ASKED ME and I told him what i thought and he just SLANDERED it ???
Steven Universe was literally my childhood, the reason I started making art (it's been 7 years!! it also inspired my love for animation that i am now pursuing), and was a huge factor in why I accepted myself for being Queer instead of falling into a depression. Even if this show has a few flaws here and there, it is overall an incredible show that does not deserve the ludicrous amount of hate it gets at all.
I've also started making art 7 years ago because of SU. I can't believe that I've been ashamed of the show that made me feel safe and understood me. Zuke in particular was a huge inspiration in my early art style
If you think about it, the diamonds have to spend the rest of eternity to correct their mistakes. Like how Yellow is reconstructing the shattered gems and is planning to reconstruct the gems in the cluster, which could take FOREVER
yep, this is also true. the consequences of their actions are fixed by themselves - it's not only restorative justice but also a power fantasy, where people who are cruel actually realize their wrongs and fix their mistakes. the fact that this mostly happen off screen is not the crew's fault, really.
My issue with the end of future has never been the hug, hell, I really like the end of that episode, it's the fact we don't get to see Steven's recovery, we just cut to when he's a lot better. I get it might be a little bit boring just to have episodes just be Steven talking to someone like a therapist, but it could be quite mature and cause a lot of relatability among the viewers.
point invaild, the animation sux!!!1!
2:53
*[CLOD]*
@@Peridot5xg ok, i l literary saw you in the comment section in every SU video... how??????????? u using your tablet too much peri
real
I'm 100% this is a joke lol
not knowing you had trauma as a child but realizing it when you're adult is something pretty common and real
I HATE WHEN PEOPLE SAY STEVEN CRIES TOO MUCH LIKE HE SHOULD CRY MORE WITH WHAT HE WENT THROUGH AS A CHILD
This!! THIS!!!!
Agreed, it's normal for him to cry
Like Steven once say to White Diamond
"I am a Child, what is your excuse?"
They act like he only cries and never fights 😭
@@astronomical952 FR
YES, HE'S A KID!!
This is why I stay away from large fandoms, I absolute adored the show and when I heard people bashing it because the entire point flew over their heads was really sad to see.
people ask for non generic things but then hates shows that aren’t generic
i watched this show for the first time in this year and like so many times the show called out my flaws i just love this show idk why people would think its bad
yes
@@kritiouzumaki5462
Steven Universe ended generic tho
@@idk-ye7ur Then why don't you write out a better ending
I just need to say a few things. It's true that Steven hasn't forgiven the diamonds and he doesn't have to forgive them, but the diamonds have made an effort to make up for their wrongdoings for Steven and to make up for their mistakes with Pink Diamond, who they will never be able to make things right with. Also, Steven's relationship with his mother is a lot more complicated than just hating her. Steven definitely hates having to deal with the consequences of his mother's actions, hates being compared to her, and even got mad at Greg for having similaraties with Pink Diamond, but the truth is that no one has more similaraties with Pink Diamond than Steven does. Steven's biggest mistake, particularly in Steven Universe future, is that he is so busy trying not to be like his mother, that he doesn't learn from his mother's mistakes. This leads to Steven making a lot of the same mistakes that his mother did, such as lying, keeping secrets, and even running away from his family. Steven even did something that his mother never did, even if it was by accident: Steven shattered a gem. This was a breaking point for Steven because in his own mind, he can no longer claim to be better than his mother, especially after what he tried to do to White Diamond. The thing about Steven Universe future is that a lot of what happened in that series is a consequence of Steven's actions, not his mother's or the other diamonds. It even leads to Steven's monster breakdown, which leads to Garnet, Amethyst, Pearl, Bismuth, Peridot, Lapis, the cluster, Greg, Connie, lion, Spinel, and even the diamonds to work together to help him and show that they care and are there for him. It doesn't solve all of Steven's problems, but it does help. Thanks to therapy, Steven was in a better place, and even made things right with his dad. However, it was never truly revealed how Steven currently feels about his mother, which may be the point. After all, Steven leaves beach city to figure himself out, so he may come to a different conclusion when it comes to his mother.
I think not having polarizing opinions particularly on this topic can stem from people having an easier time with their parents at the moment they’re watching the show, plus not losing their moms. I can relate to the complexities of steven’s relationship with his mom bc I went through those things to an extent (meaning, when i did get to know my mum she was always extremely hard to get, she was and is a mystery to me, what I can gather is from what she wrote, few things I remember from her and what other people say of her. My grandparents compared me to her a lot, and my dad too even tho not so boldly. When she died I also felt ‘I had to fill her shoes’ but was hurt by her when alive, and now even in death). It’s nice that u point this out.
As to the diamonds, yeah they make a lot of effort, but steven still dislikes them to a degree.
I aint reading allat
@@arilololololol your so real for that
A few things… righttttt
@@arilololololol if you aren't reading, then don't respond.
One thing I think is important to remember is that Steven kept the Diamonds around for actual purpose. He wanted to heal all the corrupted gems and reverse the damage that had been done by the Diamonds. He literally cannot do that without their abilities. He put them to work to try and undo the damage they had done, something they are seen doing even in Future.
OMG FINNALY SOMEONE ELSE REMEBERS THAT!!
ITS LIKE LITERALLY EVERBODY FORGET THAT EVEN THO IT WAS A BIG PART OF THE SHOW & EVEN GOT HINTED AT IN EARLY AS OF S3!!
"He did not forgive them" "Steven universe is about overcoming family trauma" THANK. YOU. I cannot take anyone seriously who misses the big glaring family trauma theme and bitches about Steven "forgiving" the diamonds. You're right and thank you for making this video.
They shouldn't have focused the overcoming of family trauma around the diamonds because they have no redeemable qualities-- cause... there genuine dictators and oppressors.
@@patrick8964 do you think the allegory of the cave was literally about a cave or do you just choose to ignore literary devices when they're used in a cartoon
@@radiantstarlight fascist leaders shouldn't have been involved
@@radiantstarlight bro… when you want to redeem a character you have to give us a valid reason for not just the characters but us as a audience to forgive them. Look at zuko from avatar he was developed and did multiply actions to show that he changed. The diamonds cause millions of suffering and I don’t really care for them at the end as neither characters nor villains
Yeah I agree with this, but I really think they should have toned down the brutality of the Diamonds, given the allegory behind them. Their regime is so unbelievably horrible, they have caused mass omnicide on trillions of sentient beings, have the death penalty for their equivalent of being queer, regularly destroy worlds, have a strict biological caste system that literally has "superior beings" given more resources during birth (again, breaking this caste system is the death penalty) and are utterly despotic and totalitarian. These dictators just don't deserve forgiveness, allegory or no.
They could have made them way less evil and more simply conservative and elitist, with a snobby, aristocratic society as opposed to space nazis.
It just makes it hard to accept the allegory, especially when the Diamonds pull so many things from real life dictatorships. Not to mention they barely appear in the show until near the end, making it less about "abusive family" and more about "my nazi family overseas that I just found out about".
when I was 9 or 10, I remember being so upset when I saw there was people were overhating this show, because this show was so important and comforting for me.
ikr? whenever I'm overthinking about a horrible social interaction I listen to "here comes a thought" and it helps so much, the negativity suddenly shifting into positivity is quite comforting
This show is what helped me during my gender identity and sexuality questioning phase-i dont think people give it enough credit for how absolutely wonderful this media was to queer children
The idea that a 9 year old is using the internet is deeply unsettling...
@@gunterxvoices4101 deeply unsettling is definetely a strong way of describing it 💀
@@gunterxvoices4101 Let's stop pretending it's unusual. An entire generation grew up on the internet when it was a lot less regulated. It's also a necessity in a lot of places for schoolwork and such.
The clip you showed of the hug and Steven crying at the end of future still makes me cry. I genuinely can't imagine watching that scene and coming away from it thinking anything negative. The show makes it clear that this was the start of healing; the calm after the storm, when everything came to its worst. It was the realisation of how deeply wrong and broken something was inside him, and that he couldn't solve it himself or by ignoring it. Hearing a show that was, at least at one point, marketed to children have the main, relatable character casually mention seeing a therapist is HUGE for kids and teenagers dealing with overcoming trauma, both big and small.
Also, as an LGBT person, the argument that the show had bad LGBT representation is a completely unfair read. Rebecca Sugar had to fight tooth and nail to keep the show from censoring the explicitly queer, lesbian relationship of Ruby and Sapphire. She had them kiss, get married, and had entire episodes discussing their love and connection. The show has Stevonnie, a character who has, in marketing, been explicitly referred to as intersex, and had characters use they/them pronouns for them, without drama. Later, they introduce a non-binary human character. This show was revolutionary for how hard it rallied for explicit inclusion of LGBT storylines, characters, and love. To argue any differently is unfair, pathetic, and ignores the very real strides that the show did make for inclusivity of LGBT stories in 'childrens' media.
anyway this is a fantastic video and i agree with so much of it. i also felt the shame of loving steven universe in my core as a teenager only to have everyone suddenly come out in support of it and am sitting here with whiplash
Yeah a lot of the backlash I saw for Ruby and Sapphire, calling it bad rep, was the toxicity of the relationship and their heavy dependency on each other but they're literally a fusion, that has stayed fused for god knows how many years and throughout the show really exposed their vulnerabilities as individuals and they work together to be better people, so together they can be a better person.
The show has been cut from many countries due to Homophobia but the fact that Sugar fought to keep it and throw up a metaphorical middle finger to anyone that had an issue with it brings me so much joy it's unreal. A friend of mine lives in Qatar and they use to show it until it got "too visibly gay" and then you couldn't find it on TV anymore. And considering many shows would cave to these demands to remove Queer Rep in order for the show to even air, it was a lot.
I thought Ruby was male😂
yeah. i didnt cry the first time when it came out because i thought it was as dark and the fight just didnt look very climactic to me at the time. but i rewatched it recently and i was SOBBING. to me it may be wrong but i think in this case his corruption reminded me alot of harming attempts. becoming so traumaitized and stuck where you become unrecongnisable and end up hurting yourself and others. it kinda healed me in a way knowing that you can have these bad experiences and even you are hurting or just hurt you can get past this and heal.
I remember being a wee bit disappointed by the episode when it aired, and since then I hadn’t really been too into the show (not because it did anything wrong I just moved on to different things).
But I recently got super back into it and seeing that scene did in fact make me cry and I do NOT know what I was thinking a few years ago when it aired. That moment was so sadhappy and real.
People who say Steven forgave the diamonds really piss me off. They are the most powerful beings in the universe, so killing or constraining them is not an option. The best Steven can do is try to make them act in a better way while pretending not to hate them
Yes, thank you! A lot of people like to say that they should've received worse punishment, but outside of outright killing them (which even then would be difficult), there's not really anything that can be done outside of teaching them how to be better. The only thing strong enough to kill the Diamonds are the Diamonds, and I doubt Blue, Yellow, and White would care to kill themselves and certainly wouldn't allow Steven to kill them, not to mention Steven doesn't want to kill intentionally. Teaching them to be better is the only other solution outside of murder that is reasonably achievable and has impact. They're certainly not forgiven, but there's no good way to punish them when they're powerful enough it'd just be them playing along without knowing the reasoning behind it, which is what teaching them does.
hell Steven even ATTEMPTED to kill White
I'm glad you brought this up. Everyone always says that the Diamonds are the worst characters in the show, and I have never seen that. While their actions in the main series were irredeemable in many ways, by the movie and future, it is clear that they are trying to change their ways and want to be better than they were. Steven doesn't have to like or forgive them for the audience to understand the importance of their will to change how they are and make things right after all of the damage they caused.
@@darkridergames1707They are literal alien tyrants who don’t understand human beings or emotions
And he clearly doesn’t like them. He actively attempts to avoid them.
YES finally someone said it! everyone hates the ending because they resolved it with a “hug” NO they didn’t. We don’t get to see his full and I related so much with Steven, I had that type of moment I spiralled and was a mess and my friends hugged me and helped me till I was capable of trying to find my way of healing!! I LOVED THE ENDING AND THE WHOLE SERIES AHHH
Same......
But be aware of people online who don't share the same opinion...
@@WeebkillerMoss okay but sometimes opinions can be wrong and just a complete misread that comes from a lack of media literacy, idk... Like imo you have to be really stupid to think that Stevens trauma was resolved with a hug when he literally mentions 30 seconds later that he still needs therapy.
@@idontknowwhattoput5851 True... I have often the feeling that people misread alot of the shows elements
spot on, the show isnt the greatest in the world, but it still holds a place in tons of people's hearts
I think one of the issues is that for a few years fans of Steven Universe did hype up the show to be this incredible masterpiece. Probably from the second half of season one to season three so many people gave the show tons of praise. I think it makes sense there was a backlash and since people often think in extremes the responses made were less “This show does have some flaws” to “This show is rancid garbage.”
@@Doug_Edwards99 I watched SU for the first time last december and LOVED IT, but when I came out of the show I was bombarded with people telling me that it was shit and that Adventure Time was way better. I was already planning on watching AT but because of that it made part of my watching of it painful, because as the show did some really stupid decisions in the middle of it (the whole Flame Princess stuff) I just kept asking myself "is that really supposed to be way better than SU?"
Thankfully, I went past that. I watched Together Again a few days ago and came out of that broken but knowing that I had loved Adventure Time, and can't wait to see the upcoming Fionna and Cake show
Yeah! I still have my own little issues with SU, especially Season 5 and Future, but I *LOVE* the show and love how it helped me figure out who I am. There's not one day where I don't do something, or listen to something SU related.
@@NintenSegaPlay Yeah it’s interesting. When I was watching the first two seasons of Steven Universe I considered it an even better version of Adventure Time in many ways, with way more of a focus on plot and a tighter exploration of a smaller but more developed cast.
But then I got a chance to watch the later seasons of Adventure Time and found tons of amazing episodes. Honestly I think that Steven Universe could’ve used the mini-series format that Adventure Time did for Stakes, Islands, and Elementals, and use it really well. Like the arc where Greg is kidnapped by Blue Diamond would be a lot stronger if it was eight episodes, rather than five.
Now I like both shows and think they have slightly different strengths and weaknesses, though I do think they share some DNA. One of my favorite Universe episodes “Steven and the Stevens” has a lot of jokes that feel like Adventure Time, including the ending on Black Comedy.
Except Future
So many people hate adult steven for not wanting to play the things he played when he was a child, or eat things he used to eat as a child, or that he literally grew up. Steven's trauma forced him to mature too fast, and now that he's acting mature, people hate it. "But he didnt wanna hang out with the crystal gems!!" he was busy and wanted to work on his work, he never said he'd never play, he just didn't want to play then.
I relate to Steven so much in "having to grow up quicker than he should've" which is why it makes me so mad when people hate on him for it because it really only takes 2 seconds of thinking to understand, when you were a kid did you like and value the same things as you do now? Probably not.
@@astronomical952 exactly, its so annoyiny because they act like hes a villain for not enjoying childhood things no more
@@milkaa8335 yep. He simply grew up, these people criticizing the show need to do the same thing
It’s basically people first reaction to Ben 10 alien force all over again hopefully in the “future” people will somewhat appreciate future for what it was and not what others wanted it to be
7:40 Oh my god, THANK YOU. I have no idea how so many people didn't understand the finale of "I Am My Monster". That hug didn't fix anything. It didn't magically cause Steven's trauma to disappear. That hug let Steven know that his family loves him and supports him even with his flaws and problems. It pulled him out of his meltdown and that's it. He literally cried right after he changed back to his normal self, which was a huge sign that he's not okay, but this time he decided to let his emotions out in a healthy way instead of holding them inside. And months after that he said that he has a therapist. Why would he need a therapist if the hug healed his trauma?!
But aside from that, the whole video is great! It makes me sad that Steven Universe got so much hate, because just recently I rewatched this show and I had a lot of fun! This cartoon has flaws, but it's still enjoyable and I think that's what really matters.
I like the different art styles, I felt the more detailed and smoother animations helped emphasize more important parts of the show while the rougher animation was used more for comedic scenes
Maybe I was stupid, but I never realized the animation was rough. I thought it was like an amazing world of gumball thing where the animation changes were intended for comedy effect
YESSS
@@ssimms8995 that’s exactly what I was thinking too! 😭
That's exactly what i was thinking!!
This show literally changed my life, it showed me everything I know about relationships, I still learn from it daily. I'm proud that I cry a lot when I see good art because this show taught me not to be afraid of being vulnerable.
the critiques of the ending never fail to piss me off because it's literally due to the executives being jerks. The ending of the first show was constricted to 6 episodes by the executives just because Sugar wanted Ruby and Sapphire to get married. Sugar pushed for the movie to spend more time with the characters, but to make it more palatable for advertisers, CN probably pushed her for a cookie-cutter "save the world plot". We already know that the existence of the movie was the only reason we got Future, and Future wasn't allowed to be more than 20 episodes. They did the best with what they could. It's amazing considering how hard they had to push to be able to finish it in the first place.
I still don't like some of the directions this show went it, but damnit you can't deny that Rebecca and the crew who worked on this show put their heart and soul in it, it's admirable.
Not to mention it was one of the first children's show to openly have LGBTQ+ characters
I mean, look at the owl house! They still managed to make a satisfying ending even though they were restricted by Disney. It doesn't really excuse the whole cast just hugging it out in the end and then he uncorrupts.
@@3rebella Well, shocking I know, not everything can be as easy as that.
The Owl House had its third season turned into 3 hour long specials.
Steven Universe had MORE than one season turned into 6 regular episodes.
One does not invalidate what happened to the other.
@@3rebella it’s a metaphor for self healing and support. Steven thought of him self as a monster and hated himself. But the support of his family helped him and his healing tears healed him because of self healing he was going through
@@3rebella tan satisfactorio no fue, apresuraron muchas cosas al igual que con steven universe, y dejaron varias arcos sin cerrar completamente, limitándose únicamente a decir "ahora viven felices para siempre"
I recently had my friends rewatch all the episodes and I loved it when it first aired and I still love it now.
Steven also cries a lot because he's a *literal child dealing with some traumatic situations where he and his friends almost die (and actually die) every day.* I cry when I drop my ice cream on the floor as a 25yr old.
literallyyyyy ‼️ i don’t think people realize that he is like 14, how do you expect a 14 year old to react when the fate of the literal world is depending on him?? 😭
finn the human did better tho L
@@666damocles and that’s your opinion!
@@666damocles nah man, he matured by aging. He was an immature piece of 💩. He manipulated/and also manipulated but he still was kind of a dick
@@666damocles who tf asked
regarding the critique that SU didn’t have good LGBTQ+ representation, i personally adored how the relationships were portrayed in the show (this is coming from a lesbian). There were healthy relationships like ruby and sapphire, along with toxic relationships like pearl’s infatuation with rose. The show is far from perfect but i do personally think it got a lot right
People act like the show NEVER pointed out how toxic pearl and rose were.
When there's multiple episodes completely based around how rose had hurt pearl and how pearl needed to learn to move past her to heal.
The episode with vollyball makes it EXPLICIT by having Vollyball romanticize Pink only to have Pearl get upset because that WASNT how rose/pink was.
In the end both pearls have to come together to put Pink/Rose behind themselves and heal because rose WASNT GOOD FOR THEM.
It was as clear as it could have possibly been, and it very realistic in terms of how actual people deal with abusive relationships.
But people saw volleyball blush and smile and assumed that ment the show was painting the relationship in a positive light. I guess
@@lizziescott regarding that last bit, that's because those people don't have any idea what the nature of toxic/abusive relationships are, there's flat out abusive relationships like Lapis and Jasper, and there's relationships like Volleyball and Pink, that are alot more complex
@@astronomical952 I agree. I mean, look at the Lapis/Peridot ship and how overrated it is. Despite Lapis never once apologizing to Peridot for taking away her home and everything she loved.
Lapis became toxic yet ppl were still worshipping her, and it was honestly such a shame because she was a pretty cool complex character in the beginning.
That’s something I always see happening with the ‘dead inside emo x hyper crackhead’ ship dynamic. The dynamic becomes toxic and both characters would be better off as friends.
Opposites don’t always attract, and that’s okay.
@@lanAdraHrepuS exactly, I love both lapis and peridot and we can all admit that best friends is what they are and what they'll stay, Peridot even admits that she considers lapis her best friend at one point, in Alone At Sea lapis admits she was toxic, that she isn't ready for any sort of relationship like that again.
Garnets marriage is the reason there is lgbtq+ allowed in new disney shows so I don't get the hate for steven universe. I like the variety of relationships in the show
I can’t understand why people think Steven shouldn’t cry in his situation, if whatever happened in SU happened to me I’d be bawling as well
@@that_odd_guy well that part is up to how you see it
I remember crying when the show ended cause I felt that a lot of Steven’s struggles in the end were similar to mine. Only to feel bad for crying later on when people were calling the show terrible and everyone who enjoyed it an idiot. While the show is very flawed, it meant a lot to many people, including myself. It took time to accept that it’s really not as perfect or as awful as some people made it out to be.
The Owl House's ending caused a new wave of steven universe hate that I just wasn't prepared for. It's made me really sad, especially since the show really has very wonderful and complex narratives and themes! So I really appreciate you and other people feeling this way too!
The people the use The Owl house as an excuse to hate SU are really hopeless
It's that scene where the Collector forgives Belos. That's why all this is happening....
Anytime a cartoon ganks the big bad ppl use it as an excuse to shit on steven universe because they lack media literacy and it makes me mad. TOH HAD A GOOD AND APPROPRIATE ENDING AND SO DID STEVEN UNIVERSE. the diamonds and pink diamond are more like the archivists and the collector, belos is a different and more irredeemable genre of villain. Really annoying that people bring up SU in such a simplistic manner.
People use TOH to hate on SU because they can't seem to grasp the fact that they're TWO DIFFERENT SHOWS, the ending of TOH was good and made sense for TOH, the ending of SU was good and made sense for SU.
@@radiantstarlight the diamonds are space fascist, honey. They didn't deserve being forgiven.
Seeing straight dudes liking SU always makes me very happy. It's the year 2023 yet young boys still don't have enough silly, sensitive male characters similar to Steven to look up to . He is kind and emotional and is also allowed to be wrong about stuff and grow.
SU is pretty cute and sweet and I'd even describe it as "girly" (though SU obviously want to defy those kinds of gendered concepts). Lots of boys are told they shouldn't like shows like that or that they shouldn't relate to female characters. Despite that it seems like SU captured the hearts of many boys and men too. That's the kind of change I'd like to see. I'm glad this show found its audience among so many different demographics.
I'm sorry SU fandom was so intidating when you were so young and just wanted to enjoy a show. As a bi woman it really annoyed me how shitty people were about the queer rep when, back when I was twelve, there was absolutely zero LGBT+ rep in kids media. and that was just 10-15 years ago. I almost lost my mind when Pearl/Rose was confirmed 'cause I was sure something like that would never happen. People should chill about representation, seriously.
I grew up in a very conservative household, so being a young kid and watching a show like SU really did make it easier for me to be myself, for me to KNOW who "myself" even is, It holds a special place in my heart for that reason, for the message that you should simply BE YOURSELF.
As a nonbinary person (AMAB) I really hate the fact that more young boys don't really have any male characters or anything to really look up to when it comes to that emotional side of themselves, I was always taught to "suck it up", to never let my emotions show and it sucks to know that so many other people are being taught that exact same thing.
We don't really "need" people to look up to in cartoons. Or relate to.
Some people aren't as a emotional as others, and its not because they were "kept from expressing themselves" or didn't get the chance to.
People are just who they are.
I'm living proof of a person who isn't too emotional but enjoyed the show.
I thought the show was good at the time that I watched it even without the representation and Steven being overly emotional.
It adds to stuff, but its not what makes the show, the show.
A lot of cartoons that you get invested in are expected to be these all-encompassing parcels for our own selflish desires to slake.
Art should serve a greater purpose then just to invite an audience.
Making anything relatable is the opposite of what art is.
@@TrifectShow there’s nothing wrong with making art something relatable to an audience though. Of course you can still enjoy something that you don’t relate to but others might enjoy it because of that relatability. The whole point of art is just to express yourself and you can do that in many meaningful ways. Younger generations generations audiences especially might like that there’s characters like them in media. Like with op mentioned there’s usually not a lot of cartoons with emotional boys so seeing Steven might’ve been really exciting as a kid, someone that they relate to a lot that isn’t often seen in media is being shown.
@@peanut4668 Its not about soley expressing yourself but expressing what you want to expression.
Art is very personal to the person creating it, yea, and while its an extension of you. It isn't you.
There's nothing wrong with that, but that doesn't mean its a good thing.
When I first started watching the show I absolutely loved it and it seemed really popular online too. As the series went on it seems more haters started popping up trying to ruin the show for any reason. Some of it was because of the animation or how they thought the characters were “always crying and annoying”, or how Season 5 and Future were “bad”. I never listened to any of it and loved the entire series from beginning to end.
Yeah, the "singing and crying" thing was said by MANY people.
Nah it fell off
YO BUT THE FACT THE CREW SPRINKLED IN JOKES ABOUT PEOPLE HATING THE SHOW FOR THE EMOTIONAL ASPECT OF IT. Remember the crying waffle cartoon within the show and i think several comments about "Who would watch a show that always has crying in it?" line by, iirc, Pearl?😂
Like I get the animation comment, it does look weird sometimes, especially with Connie and Steven, no idea why them. But it also got less bad as the show progressed, so I don’t really get why ppl are still angry about it. Like, look at the later seasons, the movie, Future, they all looked great! (I mean the animation when I’m saying better, not the writing)
Honestly the show only gets good around episode 52 in my opinion, after peridot became good it became crap immediatly and stopped watching, so basically season 2 was the only good season of this show.
I don’t know how to explain this, but watching this video kinda healed my inner child/preteen, because I also felt bad about genuinely loving Steven universe for a variety of reasons involving my own personal feelings and the outer impact of feelings that it brought to everyone else.
Steven getting that hug from everyone and words of encouragement were so powerful to steven and enough to snap him out of the rampage b/c it proved his fear of constantly needing to be perfect for others and fix them and fake smiles and keep things to himself when he’s suffering and having doubts about his character were really nothing to worry about.
He called himself a monster before he became corrupt, he felt ashamed of the negative feelings he had and even more-so breaking down in front of close family and friends who always looked up to him and turned to him to fix things and be the moral rock. So he turned into the thing he thought he was. He thought seeing and hearing of that would make his friends and family not respect or love him anymore and view him like a monster too, but the fact they were all willing to listen and stay with him through his mental breakdown and affirm that all of this changed nothing about how much they loved and cared about him and how they were willing to blame themselves for the pressure they put on him made him realize he isn’t as irredeemable as he thought, and that he does have a support system who now fully understand even the darkest side of him and aren’t afraid to stay and help him no matter how much he hates himself.
THAT in my opinion is a powerful moment and message to others struggling with trauma and trying to hide it and avoid talking about it or mental health struggles out of fear it’ll chase everyone away if they see u at your worst.
So no, Steven’s entire ptsd traumas and self-esteem issues weren’t instantly all solved in that one moment. It simply was enough to confirm to him that there was hope for him and brought him out of a mental breakdown atm. But he’ll still have a long ways to go with his therapy and such to fully accept and learn to deal with all he’s been through. But this time he has the support system from friends and family that he needs who are there to talk and root for him as he heals.
A lot of people suffering with mental health issues try to keep it in and deny they need help and think they can handle it so they avoid telling others to avoid overcomplicating things for them, especially if you’re a caregiver or have assumed that roll for the majority of your life in your relationships like Steven had.
The last thing they want is to make others think they aren’t capable or risk burdening someone them. But admitting you’re struggling and asking for help is still important. You gotta take care of yourself too. Even if that means leaving everyone for a time to get help and detox (like Steven did). So cudos for Steven U Future’s ending for being so real. Sometimes it’s the little things u do for someone that can make all the difference to touch them and set them on a healthier path. By allowing them to not be okay and realize that’s valid and fine and that you’re there for them through the good and the ugly.
This whole comment is perfect.
And it exactly describes what’s going with me at the current moment. Thank you for writing this
I Truly Appreciate your words from the Bottom of my Heart 💚
I’d just like to point out that even if the LGBTQ+ rep wasn’t done well (which as a lesbian I don’t understand but ok) just IMAGINE what they were dealing with behind the scenes. Imagine the number of people forcing them to change things to make it “appropriate for television”. There is no way that trying to get good LGBTQ+ representation on screen, when a ton of people are not even wanting it there in the first place, is easy.
Didn't the show get cut too early because it lost funding from homophobic countries?
@@GumSkyloard My understanding was that it was CN itself that did this, but yeah- the main reason it ended was because of Homophobia.
I just wish they gave us more ruby and saphire and kept OG garnet in general. Easily the best charcter from the first 2-3 seasons but Somehow by the second to last half of the series (except for a few moments being said wedding) it feels like she's used in a way just to talk about fusion episodes where it's more like "Oh, were talking about fusion today? Better bring out garnet"
ruby's pronouns were changed to he/him just to make her relationship with sapphire straight in countries where it's not accepted BRO
(dont take this as fact I heard it once and believed it entirely)
Rebecca fought so hard for LGBTQ+ themes that they were willing to let their entire vision be rushed and derailed just to include the Ruby and Saffire kiss. People who pretend SU did nothing for the community are just straight up ignorant. CN has a habit of including themes themes now but that was NOT the case when the show first came out- or even while it was airing. SU single handly made it so that these themes could be explored openly in children's media.
Alot of people's complaints about it is "Well the gems aren't aren't human so that's like saying gay people aren't human"
When no. The gems aren't human, and happened to be gay. We later get human queer relationships- and those same people still complain.
SU wasn't PERFECT. But it was as good as it could have possibly been given the time it was airing.
It's easy to forget now, that there's so many more shows dealing with these topics head on, but Steven Universe was the FIRST to do so. Back when it did it- It wasn't nearly as normalized.
this show was ahead of its time; i remember when a lot of people (including myself in highschool) just wrote it off as a show for younger kids. but a lot of the themes of self-love and not feeling like you belong resonate with me more as someone in their late-20s. the other day i watched a clip of the steven universe movie and absolutely broke down when i heard spinel and the diamonds sing... "today, right here, right now, i'll love again..." i fucking lost it as someone that has struggled with depression and began feeling very angry and spiteful at the world because of circumstances (rejected from grad school, can't find a great job related to my major... etc). i very much felt i was being left behind in my health. a lot of the themes are, i feel, are toned down because it aired on cartoon network and its last season was rushed out. but the show is so good at its core and it deserves to be watched to anyone who hasnt watched it (maybe just not the filler lol). it suffers from a lot of issues related to pace and story but it is stilk great in spite of it.
I hope you are doing well. Keep going , I am praying things work out for you !
I watched SU Future recently coz I kept putting it off for ‘a special occasion’ and decided that was enough of that, and I love it but since it hits so close to home on almost e v e r y t h i n g I don’t think I can watch it again soon. I get u, you’re not alone and defs not late for your life, even though in this postapocapitalistic world we’re led to believe we are. I’m glad u exist, I’m glad I read you today💞
I hate the critique that future “made Steven unbearable.” Growing up, I was horribly abused, and that made me hurt people around me because I had no way to cope or control the feelings I had. I lashed out, I hurt myself, I isolated, THATS WHAT MENTAL ILLNESS IS. THE SHOW DID AN ANAZING JOB AT SHOWING THAT.
Yeeees💞
I wish they made it part of the show earlier. I felt kind of crazy for thinking that Steven was not okay during most of the show, while they didn't really address it. It's definitely realistic to have someone struggling silently, but it would have been very nice for me personally to see more of his specific issues be referenced or explored for more time.
@@Numbabu I think what they wanted to get at is that Steven Just didn't notice his issues earlier because back then he was still focused on the whole "saving everything" aspect and then rebuilding and being an ambassador afterwards. The time afterwards when little home was already almost done and when his help wasn't needed anymore and he was able to start relaxing was what caused his body to finally react. Just before that his mind was like "I need to help, I need to help, I can't care about myself rn". And I don't mean to invalidate your opinion at all, it's totally valid and in some way I also wished they would've shown signs earlier. I think both ways are/would be good ways to show how these things work
@@Numbabu I rewatched SU a little less than a month ago and there are defs signs in there. Steven is not really all happy as in season one at later seasons, he also lets out phrases that show his opinion of himself is really low and is afraid of not being loved for making any mistake. Even when Amethyst in that one episode wants him to talk about how he is, the episode doesn’t end on a high note. I think it’s very subtle ways that this shows but oh boy it’s there, and I do agree with diemmsee that also bc he was so all hands on everything and anything stronger signs of dealing with mental health can not be shown, coz at the time you’re not really processing
Thank you, christ. People are like "but it shows mental illness as a bad thing" mental illness IS a bad thing and if it's not treated properly can make situations pretty bad!! But if you take care of it, work on yourself, you can bring stuff back under control! Also, if you have a good support system.
i may not like what they did with the plot in general, but the atmosphere, music, art style, it’s all beautiful and is the reason why i like this show.
The animation is so dreamy and calm at times it mesmerized little 6 year old me. I love this show just for the style and storyline and seeing people basically crap on it breaks my heart.
As a person who is a part of the LGBT+ community - this show has some great representation, especially the Marriage scene, and most of the lack of certain forms of representation (Human non-binary folk and trans people) can probably be pinned down to CN being more than a little homophobic at the time (Rebecca Sugar and the Crewniverse *fought* for that wedding, and even when they got it the network decided to cancel the show only a few episodes later! More people need to know this!)
As a gay man i agree
Yeah. To be honest I do disagree that the show had poor LGBT rep. LGBT marriage became legal in 2015 which is not that long ago so for it's time it was great! I don't really like Rose quartz and pearl though 😬
@@3rebella and I think the show doesn't want u to like that pairing. It was toxic and the show said that.
@@exo_eve7575 I disagree. The show continuosly shows that Pearls are in love with their diamonds and it's seen as romantic. An example is when Volleyball is gushing about pink diamond, while blushing mind you and Pearl says "She's still got it bad".
@@3rebella Not all Pearls - Blue, Yellow and Rhodonite's Pearl half didn't have romantic relationships with their "owners"- Pearl and Volleyball both have had romantic feelings for Rose, sure, but those two are meant to have huge parallels with each other.
As someone who also actively hid his love for Steven Universe growing up because I didn't want to be made fun of, I am very happy this show is gaining popularity. There is a lot of valid criticism for this show in regard to some of the writing, but I still think it has some of the best character moments out of any cartoon and so many relatable problems that helped me learn a lot about myself. The soundtrack is also fire and Ruby Rider is still peak and nobody can tell me otherwise.
I loved Steven universe when I was 12 or 13, but my mom banned me from watching it cause the gems, mostly pearl and Ruby and sapphire were lesbians and she’s very homophobic and didn’t want me watching it. I had to hide and watch it. It pained me so much cause I wanted to share my love for my favorite cartoon with my family cause they were all I ever talked to and had no friends, but they hated it also and were disgusted with Ruby and sapphires love. I had to watch it by myself in my room with the door closed to make sure no one was spying on me. Even then my mom would always catch me and then eventually ground me if she ever caught me watching it. I stopped watching it for years and missed a lot of episodes and had to go back. Even then when episodes came out I found out information of the life and story through clips on TH-cam, spoiling myself, never being able to find out about it when it first aired, not being able to be a true fan. This show is the one show where I would literally pay millions just so I can forget about it all so I could watch it all again, without my family ruining it for me
@@artgremlin4750 That's extremely unfortunate, and I hope your situation has gotten better since then. Perhaps one day in the future there will be another show that we can all love just as much as Steven Universe that you can watch along with everyone else :)
@@Robotiger599 Yeah, I remember watching it , but not telling anyone that I actually liked the show 😭
I started watching it around the SU final when I was 9 or 10, however unfortunately I got really into the fandom after the show ended and the fandom slowly died down
It’s true, Steven Universe is nowhere near perfect. But holy sh*t the amount of sh*t it gets is so unfair and mob-like.
They’ll go as far as painting the fandom like a mosh pit of hell, while in reality most fans are just chill queer kids playing the ukulele and drawing gemsonas. Sure, there have been episodes of sh*t fans, but which fandom hasn’t? They just saw a cute show and tore it to shreds because they knew they could.
5:08 and on the topic of representation, they’ve got to be kidding. This show is full of different kinds of representation, from sexuality to gender non-conformity, breaking the mould, body positivity. Heck even the crabs on the beach were gay in that one episode. But of course they had to find ways around it like with fusion. Why? Because watch what happened when the wedding of Ruby and Sapphire happened: the network cancelled the show and cut the sponsor.
Steven Universe's fanbase is probably one of the most hateful fanbases, if not THE most hateful fanbase, that I've ever seen. I've watched other people having something horrible done to them by angry Steven Universe fans, and I've had something horrible done to myself by angry Steven Universe fans.
@@carnage0685 Yes. Again, this is a thing that is said about most popular fandoms out there. Trust me, Steven Universe is not the monolith of bad fandoms.
@@carnage0685I'd disagree, I think SU fans are usually more accepting and positive, obviously bad people exist in the fandom but I'd go ahead and say that those people didn't even pay attention to the message the show tried to tell them.
@@carnage0685 This is common with huge fanbases, they're gonna have a toxic side.
@@okaytsonei That doesn't at all undermine the charge. Nobody's talking about other fanbases when they talk about SU's fanbase being a cesspit.
Lily Orchard is not a spokesperson for lgbtq people. Do not worry, the representation in SU is welcome and did good for the community overall. The terminally online left tends to seek clout by purity checking their own, and Lily Orchard is a prime example. Any show with decent (but not perfect! Ree!) representation she's there to tear down in a similar manner to the quartering. She's actively undermining the few things we have to look up to. Not an ally.
yea and shes also a ped0 so we just ignore her
Lily Orchard is def someone whos gone so far left that shes fallen into the hole of alt right grifting ong
i agree
Jerry Peet is a misogynistic creep.
@@caravan-madliterally. like idk why she decided to jump on the SU hate trend when the ONLY people mad at the show were fucking alt right/conservatives
I made the mistake of falling into the Steven Universe hate train when I was a teen (curse you Lilly Orchard) and looking back it really is dumb how many people hated the show. Like you said there’s definitely things to critique about it but at the end of the day it was a wholesome show with heartfelt moments and a pretty solid ending. My only gripe is that they didn’t expand on Pearl and Bismuth’s relationship I wanted to see them kiss
I literally never got into Steven Universe because of cringe culture. Back when I was 14 I hated Steven Universe only because I was told those "cringe SJW tumblr-inos" are the only people that watched it and my little tiny teenage ape brain was like EWW!! ME?? NO WAY!!
I'm 21 now and I just got done with Steven Universe a few days ago, and I have to say it is my favorite cartoon of all time. I don't even like children's cartoons that much but I instantly got hooked to Steven Universe. I can't believe I missed out, but at the same time I'm glad I was able to watch it when I was finally mature enough to appreciate it's full beauty.
Thank u for giving SU a chance! 💞
FINALLY SOMEONE WHO SHARES MY OPINION.. i've felt so scrutinized for still enjoying a show that helped me grow as a person and comfort me when i needed it most in my childhood. i always hated talking about the show to other people for this exact reason, i've felt so terrified that people would just call me "wrong" or "stupid" for liking steven universe. and i honestly loved the ending of future, which i know a lot of people would hate me for, but it made me so happy yet sad when watching, in fact i still can't watch the finale without crying-
but i'm just glad i'm not the only one in the world who recognizes that the show could be hit or miss at times, but is overall a really great show that showed good representation (before anyone says anything, i'm non-binary and identify as a lesbian) and it helped me feel more comfortable in my gender and sexuality, so seeing ruby and sapphire kiss for the first time almost made me cry.. i'll always love this show and hold it close to my heart
Dude, same. This show taught me to cry again. Mindful Education still makes me cry every single time. We need more shows like SU. Not just for kids, but for adults too.
I love how Steve hugs his pet and cries while stuffing his face in lions face because thats something a lot of ppl that have pets do when they r sad (from my experience) and makes it have even more layers to his character (ik it's small but i still really like it)
im kinda tipsy right now but i fucking love this show. as someone who's mother passed at a young age, i really related to stevens struggle as a motherless son. it's over isn't it resonated with me so much as a child, and i never felt alone through the grieving process because i understood people like steven struggled like this regularly. god i would be such a different (and less developed) person if this show didnt exist and im so grateful for its existence.
thank you for the amazing video, there was even some skepticism i had that you knocked out after i watched this. keep up the good shit
Just a reminder, the final season of the original show had to cut a lot of stories, including a whole arc with Lars and the Off Colors against this “Emerald” character, which was teased in like 1 or 2 episodes and I am very sad we didn’t get. But the last season was rushed because of Garnet’s (Ruby and Sapphire’s) wedding, because cooperate was like “You cant put lesbian space rocks having a wedding in a kids show”. As for the movie and Future, they weren’t expecting Steven Universe fans to demand more content, and that’s when CN realized they messed up, but the main series had already ended so-
Long Story Short, blame SU’s rushed ending and lack of Diamond character arcs on CN not liking Rock Wedding in a kids show about alien space rocks
Wrong, that episode aired in season 5, 2018, Rebecca was told back in season 3, 2016, season 5 was the last. She talked to the network about an extension and the movie plus future were greenlit in 2018 while the finale aired in 2019. Had nothing to do with the wedding.
Im 20 years old, and saw Steven Universe and Steven Universe Future for the first time recently while turning 20. A lot of the themes hit me deeply : loss, grief, self confidence, the relationship you have with yourself and with others... the show was the main reason I started taking care of myself after living traumatic event that I ignored for too long. I cried, laughted, was hyped with the characters. This show healed my inner child, and also my teenage self. And now, I can enter adulthood with a more gentle way of thinking than before. Steven Universe is not a cinematic masterpiece, but it is a human, emotional masterpiece, and I think this is the most important thing.
(Note : english is not my first language so ignore my grammar mistakes and everything lol, love you all)
Me too!! This show was really really influential to me and helped me on my journey to heal my traumas!
This poor man went through a lot of pressure in hiding his love for the show. Bless his soul.
I blame the network not letting the crew have more story driven shows and less filler that doesn’t help the overarching story
this show helped me through my own depression and was such a comfort through a really difficult time, I cannot imagine moving forward through that time in the same way without the show. I am incredibly grateful
My real critique with the filler is that Beach City and the gem stories became so separate from one another. The earlier seasons didn't really have this problem because the stakes were lower, so yeah, it makes sense for the townies to defeat a gem by playing volley ball. But rather than allowing the towny episodes to follow suit with the gem episodes and cover more serious subject matter, they remained upbeat and ultimately inconsequential. I'm not even saying that we needed to launch more humans into space, but maybe these characters would've been a good way to reflect on Stevens internal struggles and find support outside of the gems and Connie. I could be wrong, but I don't think Steven explicitly talks about the plot with the townies outside of a joke past season two's episode "Friendship." Jaime is cool though. All the real ones respect Jaime.
I don't understand why so much people hate the show... I mean... yes: it has problems. But like every show. And it's not insanely bad written or bad animated or created bad morals.
I can understand that you don't like it because everyone has their tastes and this show has its own vibe. But I can't understand how you can hate it... it's weird.
Edit: I had the chance to discover the (first) show years after it ended. So I had the chance to talk with fans like me without having to be scared of haters. And now it's one of my comfort show and I had accept it's not perfect but I still love it.
I personally really like the animation being inconsistent, you get to see the show evolve and recognize it by the arc it was in. It feels fluid and it’s like reading a webtoon where you can see the artists style becoming more and more sophisticated over time. I really love that for Steven universe, you grow with the show.
I have C-PTSD and I watched Steven Universe Future with my therapist. I love it just as much as I love the original series. It’s disappointing that even other Steven Universe fans are quick to hate on Future, especially when I relate to Future Steven so much; it makes me feel like they’d hate me too.
Can we also just talk about how SU (main) was rushed to end? Meaning we never got to get a real look into the Diamonds and what could have came of it? Who knows, if CN didnt end it early, the Diamonds could have been properly punished and pacing fixed a bit
Also CN forced the crew to put in so many filler episodes because they were easier to broadcast than a linear plot. As always, it was fault of the executives that only care about money
Growing up I was super into shows where storyboard artists had tons of freedom to do things in ways that are “off-model” (Ren & Stimpy and Flapjack instantly come to mind.) So most of the complaints about Steven Universe’s storyboarding/inconsistent animation don’t really line up with me.
With that said, there are sometimes where the storyboarding feels weak or inconsistent or off-model in a way that doesn’t work. It’s one thing to go off-model in order to draw a really funny face. It’s quite another to be off-model because you just don’t have any model sheets at all.
Still, this complaint is blow way out of proportion. You don’t get this complaint about Adventure Time which can also vary wildly depending on the board artist.
This!! The funniest thing to me is almost every person who made out off model moments to be the devil in SU were 80s and 90s kids who loved shows that ALSO went off model. But for some reason *those* shows are considered cinematic gold while SU is considered garbage
Im not even gonna lie I rarely noticed the inconsistencies when watching the show as a kid, and even rewatching now that in older, do I care if something is taller or shorter or wider than usual? No! 😭
despite the audience's hate towards this show i'll always keep Steven Universe somewhere in my heart and mind. there's a few reasons, for example the songs, the character's background stories and how it also helped me find myself while growing up. i've learnt so much thanks to how some pretty serious topics were explained and helped me handle my own problems in a way that other shows would never be able to do. also nice vid, keep it up man
THIS IS ABSOLUTELY UNDERRATED???
ONLY 2K SUBS??
I literally agree with every point made in this video and im glad there's actually people out there whom think Steven Universe is not a perfect but good show, it doesn't deserve the hate that it's getting, literally just stumbled upon your channel in my homepage and oh my god this video is amazing, keep up the good work Jord
it's super refreshing to see a defense of this show, i've watched it for something like 6 years and after all the critique videos i have seen all this is really nice to hear.
I'm glad I'm not the only one who as a kid could NEVER tell anyone I liked Steven Universe or other "girly and emotional" cartoons without getting weird looks. None of us deserve the actual real harassment some of us got over a show who's literal message was kindness above all else
I just started SU like a month ago ? I’ve never heard of the discourse around it besides « ew LGBTQ cringe » and just wanted to know more about Pearl (because I love her A LOT). As an animator, yes the serie is very inconsistent and has some moments that feels weird but honestly focusing on only the animation is forgetting everything else that made this série very nice. The message, the cool charadesigns, the gorgeous color palettes, a simple but efficient storyboard and nice backgrounds. Like you I resonate so much with Steven and the messages and when I lost hope about my situation I wanted to become like Steven. Someone that even in though times tried his best to be nice, to help people and be himself.
THIS VIDEO WAS GREAT LIKE HOLY CRAP, so true. I definitely agree that the show doesn’t deserve all the bad rep it gets for redeeming villains and such. It’s just a memorable show! Ty.
I really like stories that include the redemption of bad guys, so I started off really liking Steven Universe and how it handled it. I really think Peridot’s redemption was well earned. Unfortunately I do think the show over time did the redemptions in ways that felt lazy and unsatisfying later on. Like, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic managed to do way more character growth and development for their former villains when you compare it to Universe. Like Peridot and Spinel were done great but every other redemption in Universe feels rushed and unsatisfying in my opinion.
I never understood why people hate on the inconsistent animation, because if anything the inconsistency made it so it was so much smoother ( like if you actually watch the scenes with weird proportions they're almost always super clean looking and/or are just using smear frames )
Plus I love it when the characters look off model because it really reminds me of season 1 where all the characters look kinda ugly, but imo it just gives character 😭 esp since the backgrounds were always so clean and pretty, it never felt like the quality of the show was disturbed or whatever
To add onto season 1, i don't understand why people dislike it sm
It's my favourite season not just because of nostalgia, but I really like the unsure tone of the first 20 or so episodes
It's like they didn't know what boundaries to cross or not so you end up with really tonally different and interesting episodes that go really out there with their locations but all remain consistent with demonstrating different parts of the gem world
Plus I think townie episodes in the first season work so much better because the stakes were still low ish, they felt a lot more belonging in the actual run
Also, the mystery surrounding the gems makes it really fun to watch, I remember as a kid being so excited when we got to learn new stuff about the gems and absolutely losing my shit when we got to see inside their rooms and even when we found out garnet had a third eye 😭 one thing the show suffers from is the need it has to up the stakes and live up to what it had set up, which makes it so it doesn't spend a lot of time being exploratory of the new things introduced and rather rushes the plot and then goes back to a random beach city plotline which doesn't explore any of the things learnt
I get what you mean but seeing the characters look so different just throws me off a lot, like instead of getting engrossed in the show or plot it made constantly be aware that these are drawings and the artists keep drawing them differently, i don't mind minute changes and i agree to not be that strict but there should still be a controlling force at the end or it ends up looking like a mess
I'm not sure anybody's talking about smear frames when they talk about inconsistency. The actual character models are different from artist to artist, meaning that they're different from at least episode to episode. That's not something that contributes to animation smoothness-- _actually, it makes matters more difficult for animators because there's no consistent style between episodes._
If that were the only problem that anybody could cite, it'd likely not be noticed-- or it'd even be considered charming. I think that's what's happening in your case, since you like the show, but for those who don't, the idea that the show is "bad" simultaneously accentuates _and is comprised of_ these individual failures.
In isolation, though? It's not the product of a distinct purpose. Other shows with heart put into them have production notes that dictate the do's and don'ts of drawing their characters, and don't struggle with animation fluidity.
I've been a SU fan since the beginning. I literally remember the 2015 premiere ad playing on Cartoon Network. SU is extremely special to me, and while it's not a perfect show, it still holds a special place in the hearts of those who have followed Steven's journey.
i'm a hobbyist/learning animator and the constant vitriol about SU being ~off model~ really hurt and stifled my creative process since i was so busy worrying about every frame being perfect that i ended up never animating and when i did i focused more on each individual frame than on a fluid motion. it's something i'm still struggling to unlearn and i appreciate you bringing it up
*[Oh my stars, great video! 2023 really feels like a great year to start watching Steven Universe, since It's popularity has been rising again in the past few months. Also, it's good to know that everyone's reception to this show is slowly changing too!]*
I think people are just getting worse at judging movies. They sit through so many Marvel movies and it destroys their brains.
@@gunterxvoices4101 Finally someone who gets that you can’t just “fight fight fight” for like 75 percent of the show. If they did do that, then earth would explode
I still find you under every Steven universe video :)
UPDATE: It's been a year since I started watching the show and I've finished both the original series and the movie (both masterpieces‼️). I think it's safe to say I'm a big fan at this point haha
I'm so happy to see the possibility of this show finally getting the sort of renaissance it deserves! It's baffling to me how invalid and/or inaccurate the majority of typical online criticisms are and it's a shame the show is viewed in such a strictly negative light. I'm no big fan but I saw it for the first time a little while ago and really enjoyed so...nice video :)
I agree, people paint it out to be the worst show ever when it's really not, it's no masterpiece but for what it is it's amazing
Man I didn't even notice the animation inconsistenties bc I was super focused on the story and when people point out a couple of frames that don't look right I'm like "how did I not notice that"
4:25 ish it’s exactly the same reason why tons LOVED adventure time we got to know the characters so deeply but yet they hate on SU😔
thank you so much for making this video. as someone who has had steven universe as their hyperfixation for years now i really appreciate having someone talk this positively about the show that i hold so dear to my heart after the amount of hate its gotten
Yo we should’ve met years ago! SU is also my hyperfixation 💞 (love ur Peri pfp!!)
@@YowaneHakuu ayy nice 💕 (tysm !! ive hadit for years now lol)
7:45 THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT I'VE BEEN TRYING TO TELL PEOPLE!
The hug from all his family and friends helped him feel better _in that moment_ so he could calm down and let them help him. He's going to therapy now! It's just the beginning of the process. I don't want to sound all "Oh I like it so nobody's allowed to hate it" because everyone has their own opinions, but I relate to Steven here and it makes me feel like I'm bad because people hate him. (Pathetic, I know, please don't make me feel worse about it)
This show isn't the absolute top notch quality, but it's SO important to a lot of people. I really needed this show and I got a whole lot more out of it rewatching it recently than I did when I was like 7 watching it for the first time.
8:17 This still makes me cry ;-;
Actually same, I learned SO MUCH about myself from SU when I rewatched it. (I learned a lot from The Owl House too, another kids show lol)
It feels like SU and The Owl House are the beginning of my own personal coming of age story lol
@@astronomical952 Same
9:22 so nice that you showed a piece of your old video. i feel like young fans get bashed too much for being passionate about things. they don't deserve it, it's actually so sweet that 12 year old you made an effort to create a video about steven universe. for me personally, steven universe was such a huge motivation to draw and write, and thanks to that i'm pretty good at both now. i wanna learn to play piano and guitar too, and again steven universe is my motivation. people really underestimate the inspirational power this show has
Thank you for this. This show was a big part of my life when growing up in foster care after losing my mother. I had a difficult childhood, and it's weird to say but I felt understood by the people who made it in the first place. It's definitely not perfect, not by any means. But I'll always have a soft spot for it 🥺💕
this show was my saviour as a kid. it, to this day as an adult, is my favourite of show. i will never forget the smiles it gave me when the going got tough, and the tears it still brings me to.
You have shit taste when shows like Avatar, Ben 10 or Teen Titans exist
Absolutely agreed with you.
the show may not be amazing, it may have some issues and problems that prevent it from ever being one of the greatest, but that doesn't change the themes, messages, and stories it portrayed throughout its entirety. The show is an experience for us to watch and learn from, but also be a source of comfort and familiarity. It always managed to weave it's way into my heart 😊
(The show is amazing, though)
This video brought me catharsis, and let me release tension and self consciousness I didn't realize I was holding. I loved this show, I really loved it when I was little! I saw all the negativity a few years ago and it made me feel judged and ashamed. So I tried to stuff down the feelings of love I had for SU, and forced myself to view it from a critical lens so I didn't feel stupid. I got so caught up on the negative aspects, I forgot the things I loved about it; the lessons of love, kindness, and respect that show taught me as a kid. The world building and character interactions, the gorgeous colors and background art. Steven Universe was also one of my first introductions to queer themes in media, and looking back I'm grateful I had characters like Garnet introduce these themes to me in a positive, accepting, and kind light. Now as an adult, I recognize that it's possible to love a show while knowing it's not perfect; that you can analyze it and learn not only from its flaws, but also from its positive qualities that made you love it in the first place!
I think I'll go rewatch some Steven Universe :) Thanks Jord
I started to tear up towards the ending of this video, I appreciate this so much and these arguments are so true while you stay respectful (with sarcasm here and there). This show was my everything during the worst times of my life and helped me discover things about myself through these characters. I won't go apeshit when people dislike the show but when they overhate for invalid reasons it hurts my heart a little.
Thank you for talking about the end of Steven Universe Future! I have heard so many people complain about it, saying that, "Oh, all of Steven's trauma was just solved with a hug", like the show just said he was magically cured after that moment when that *never* happened.
He *isn't* magically okay! The whole point is him and everyone around him acknowledging that he's not okay and that he *needs help!* Steven's family realise he's suffering and Steven himself realises it's okay not to be okay and that he *can* accept help. FFS the ending literally says that he's getting therapy but everyone just seems to conveniently forget that part.
I loved Steven Universe Future. I love how it explored Steven's trauma and his struggle with his own self-worth and inability to open up to others. His fear that his family and friends would think less of him or believe him to be a burden because of his declining mental health is something I related to so hard and that moment where they prove to him that he can be his ugliest, most fucked-up self, where he can be honest about his pain, and they will *still* love him? That was beautiful. It is so hard to heal without proper support, and they showed him they were willing to give him that.
I think that some of the critique of shows where you have a protag or character who portrays mental health struggles (especially more realistic representations that aren't sugar-coated or glorified) is based on the existing stigma of those mental health issues. A character lashing out because of trauma is realistic, but not justified. You don't have to agree with everything a character does in order to like that character; that's kind of the point. Shows like this teach understanding where we would otherwise be ignorant.
Additionally, you don't have to look back on your own lashing out as "something only a bad person would do" and give yourself that label. It only makes it harder to heal, which makes it harder to prevent future lashing out. My partner and I both suffered a lot of trauma and abuse, and we used to take out our frustrations on each other and people around us. This made us only get along with other abusers because, as it turns out, no one likes being treated like that unless they're using it as justification for their own abuse.
We've cleared out our old relationships that made things worse and have begun to build upon our own understanding of ourselves. It's been a little over a year. Both of us are doing so much better. Every time one of us learns something new, we share it with the other. Sometimes we're not both ready to hear things yet, so gentle reinforcement of ideas has been the best tool.
Anyone can be better if they give THEMSELVES the chance to be. I think that's the main message of this show, but also. You don't owe anyone forgiveness just because they're trying. But if you can spare the mental energy to at least support their growth, it might be beneficial as long as they continue to try.
TLDR: Steven Universe was one of the many things that have helped me in my mental health journey. New understanding creates growth and healing in people who were previously kept ignorant. The show isn't perfect, but its impact IS a net good, I think.
the steven universe future defense section is precisely what i want people to understand. back then when watching it i thought it sucked cause i never understood, and i didnt have anyone to talk to about it to explain to me. but after i rewatched it recently, you touched on every single point perfectly. yes, he may be insufferable. but sometimes when your trauma comes back to you full force as an adult you arent that good of a person! yes, the show was rushed. BLAME CARTOON NETWORK DICKWAD
The crewniverse put their heart & souls into that show. Criticism is important & some people are just gonna have different tastes, but nobody deserves to have their art get torn so thoroughly to shreds like that.
Bro I absolutely love the contrast in animation quality. It makes the show so goofy and funny but also entertaining. The quality is good wherre it needs to be, loved su since it came out
2:13 it was very funny how peridot got progressively shorter
Also the fact STEVEN UNIVERSE WAS DRAWN ALL ON PAPER
4:46 once I lost a Kahoot quiz because I said that there were filler episodes. Still really upset about that.
I feel like there was a lot of unnecessary or unearned hate for SU over the years and this video sums up a lot of the feelings I also had on the subject!
I can accept and admit the show had it's flaws but it is still my most fondly remembered show from my childhood and meant a lot to me, and the fact that as steven aged I aged with him nearly year for year with him, it felt a lot more personal. I never understood why there was So. Many. People who hated SUFuture because I related deeply to it and thought it was honestly an amazing send-off, even if it was less than the team would have liked to work with. I enjoyed it for what it was, and I still get emotional thinking back on it.
I'm sure you'll blow up soon, you seem like a cool guy and I love your sense of humor from what I've seen in this video. Hope you get to 5k before your 50th birthday bro!
i really appreciate you commenting near the end about what it taught you because it taught me those same thing and more it taught me about healthy relationships and to talk to people when you have issues because if you don’t it can lead to worse outcomes. thank you for defending this show pls i loved this show sm 😭
HOLY SHIT I WAS ABOUT TO COMMENT SOMETHING ABOUT STEVEN UNIVERSE BUT I CANT BECAUSE YOU PUT MICKEY DARLING AS THE OUTRO AND NOW IM POPPING OFF
Steven universe has always had a weird ability to make me cry very easily and best believe I was tearing up at the montage with nights playing over it. I think it’s time for a rewatch. I hated the ending and filler episodes but I doesn’t change how amazing the overall show was and I miss the days when it was still so new to me and the hype of waiting for a new season
I'll definitely say that I hold a much more jaded opinion of the show now than I did back when it was airing, but it will still always hold a place in my heart for introducing me to the concept of story-driven cartoons and being one of, if not the, only show I followed from beginning to end (I would've even seen the premiere of the first episode had I not had another obligation at the time)
I am the kind of person that mainly avoids Fandoms. Not even intentionally, I just watch cartoons and enjoy them on my own. Sometimes, I could step into fandom for a little bit, but that's all. SU had a very weird and especially toxic fandom in my local community, so I just didn't let it ruin my watch. But still I remember making your own jem challenge was so huge and popular in 2015 that I took out my jem collection I had since childhood and drew a jemsona of my favorite stone. This character grew up into a full OC for the comics I am thinking of creating somewhere in the future. So I am thankful to SU for that, at least. Legit love that OC.
Aaaah! Glad this was recommended to me, thank you so much for sharing this! Espesially after I watched several videos covering SU's flaws (yea, that two-hour-long vid too, haha). Good thing my friends don't care what I watch so it was actually a surprise for me when I found out that some people hate it so much. SU is one of my favorite shows now and it's okay if some people didn't like it, for me it was an experience and I made sure it was a good experience (Garnet's quote reference :DD)
(Also, sorry bad english, I usually don't leave comments haha)
Part of why people hate the filler pacing is the insane schedule that Cartoon Network decided to release episodes in - and the fact that streaming services have the episodes in the wrong order. Of course [x] Beach City episode felt out of place, it literally was!
People’s hate for the show always rubbed me wrong, now I know why 😭
I really like to think that stegs appearance represents Stevens admiration for Greg, it's his dad, of course he views his dad as this super strong guy who is an awesome rockstar
There have been times in the back of my head where I have criticised the art... but as an artist myself I understand how hard drawing is
what for me was the problem in su is the shortening of the series, for rebeca to be able to show rubi and sapphire's "lesbian" kiss made the show lose many financial supporters, and even cn is not very aware of lgbt+ rights
su has always worked her characters, their backstories, their traumas very well - so just imagine if even with the wedding the series was not "cancelled" we would have change your mind divided into several episodes, we would see more of pink, a white diamond being a more visual villain and not just flashbacks, and the whole diamond/homeworld arc
the future has a really good premise, show how fucked up steven was mentally throughout all 5 seasons, but how to do that, show the end of the background characters and deal with mental problems in 20 episodes? steven's mental arc could have been one of the best in the series, a multi-episode arc
so in the end it was spoiled thanks to homophobia and prejudice in our world, I really hope this drawing gets a special or whatever 🇧🇷💗
0:40 SAME OMG. I told my now ex-bf i liked and watched the show and he said it sucked and looked stupid. HE NEVER EVEN TRIED WATCHING IT. I didn’t force him nor did i tell him he had to watch it, he ASKED ME and I told him what i thought and he just SLANDERED it ???
the animation in the finale of the og show was so good!
the shading was awsome
Steven Universe was literally my childhood, the reason I started making art (it's been 7 years!! it also inspired my love for animation that i am now pursuing), and was a huge factor in why I accepted myself for being Queer instead of falling into a depression. Even if this show has a few flaws here and there, it is overall an incredible show that does not deserve the ludicrous amount of hate it gets at all.
I've also started making art 7 years ago because of SU. I can't believe that I've been ashamed of the show that made me feel safe and understood me. Zuke in particular was a huge inspiration in my early art style
editing skills: 𝑖𝑚𝑚𝑎𝑐𝑢𝑙𝑎𝑡𝑒
how in the world does this video have less than 100 views, it's so good!
If you think about it, the diamonds have to spend the rest of eternity to correct their mistakes. Like how Yellow is reconstructing the shattered gems and is planning to reconstruct the gems in the cluster, which could take FOREVER
yep, this is also true. the consequences of their actions are fixed by themselves - it's not only restorative justice but also a power fantasy, where people who are cruel actually realize their wrongs and fix their mistakes.
the fact that this mostly happen off screen is not the crew's fault, really.
My issue with the end of future has never been the hug, hell, I really like the end of that episode, it's the fact we don't get to see Steven's recovery, we just cut to when he's a lot better.
I get it might be a little bit boring just to have episodes just be Steven talking to someone like a therapist, but it could be quite mature and cause a lot of relatability among the viewers.
ok but we can all agree that steven universe songs are SO GOOD
Best soundtrack from a show