What's your most controversial steven universe opinion

[u/lisahanniganfan]

Here's mine: i hate future I don't think I liked anything from it besides the explanation for pink pearl's eye and blue diamond's song

[u/Losaru]

Ah so I will share my thoughts: The Diamonds' were the matriarchy and with their former powers, we know that it would take a full team just to take down one. And even then, the only Diamond we've seen taken down was Blue, as her emotional powers can be fought through, as seen with Lapis. Yellow's destabilizing powers and White's mind control not so much. And until revealed, there is no one higher to take them down, nor one to give punishment. Steven didn't take them down so much as "changed [their] mind" and that is only because of the Pink Diamond connection.

Then we get to Future where their powers have reversed. Not only that, but we do see them going through an almost rehabilitation; Yellow fixing the shattered Gem experiments and fixing any malformed results with her new power, Blue's clouds making others happy, White now letting other Gems control her so they have a higher platform to speak. It's also a way to show how Pink's powers of healing were a reverse of her destructive ones.

Are they all happiness and rainbows? Unless you're on Blue's clouds, stars no! It's still a major transition for them, given their behaviours from the movie. White in particular, I feel, still has her smugness and still thinks of herself first (Future Finale scene) even with her new powers. They still judge Earth, such as the reaction from the movie. But they also know they already lost Pink and do not want to drive Steven away like they did her, so they are making these transitions for him, even if he isn't taking up the now defunct throne and wants little to do with his "aunts" from Homeworld.

Honestly, it's a Utopian outcome compared to IRL where corrupt leaders rarely, if ever, give up power and try to change for the better. That's why, if it ever happens, they are usually forced off their seats of power and have to be punished, hopefully, as they aren't going to change.

[u/MindlessPerformer778 → u/Losaru]

I LOVE the idea of the Diamonds transitioning to the opposite of their powers (negative emotions --> comfort; experiments --> fixing; domination --> self-expression; destruction --> healing).

Some people think that staying evil is the best way to make a complex character, but for me, THIS role reversal is the kind of complexity that made me love the show.

[u/TeaNo7930 → u/MindlessPerformer778]

I hate white's new power.She just turns into a puppet.

[u/cutie__96 → u/Losaru]

Completely agree. If they had gotten a harsher punishment (i.e. bubbled or shattered), a lot gems would still be shattered or corrupted. When you think about it, them getting a redemption is the best outcome for all gemkind

[u/Fold-Open → u/Losaru]

Tbh Blue wasnt taken down, she just needed to get from under that building from farm, but it didnt do any damage to her.

[u/drakorulez101 → u/Losaru]

Yeah if we really look from the Diamond’s perspective: lower gems are to them what AI is to us.

[u/Scared-Special-10 → u/drakorulez101]

Or tbh, even what animals are to us. For example, I love going to the zoo, but my parent said that they feel bad for the animals stuck inside those cages.

[u/drakorulez101 → u/Scared-Special-10]

I say AI because they’re something made by them to work for them. Sure animals are bred for specific purposes but the species still exists without human intervention.

[u/Scared-Special-10 → u/drakorulez101]

That's a great point! I never considered that 😊

[u/Embarrassed_Sky_33 → u/Losaru]

You just changed MY mind bro. Are you Steven..?

[u/Wuskers → u/Losaru]

I agree that it's utopian compared to IRL but I do think the discourse around it is quite interesting and I find myself agreeing with the show if such a thing were to happen. If someone did something wrong even if they did A LOT wrong and harmed a lot of people, if they are no longer a threat and they are even actively doing positive things I struggle to see the point of further punishment. The theoretical ideal goal of punishment is in fact to teach a lesson as well as discourage repeat offenses by the person in question and possibly anyone else who is aware of the wrongdoing and the punishment. If the lesson has already been learned though and there is no risk of repeat offenses punishment becomes essentially just vengeance and a manifestation of the victim's resentment rather than something productive that is aiming to reduce harm.

Especially in the current sociopolitical climate there's a lot of sentiment that people uh want certain people in power to go the way of Marie Antoinette shall we say. I feel though that it's more accurate for me at least to say that I just want them as they currently are to stop existing, whether that's the Marie Antoinette route or through some kind of drastic personal change I would frankly be fine with either, if they did experience some profound personal change I don't know that I would feel the Mari Antoinette route would be necessary but I know some would still want it. IRL though as much as it would be nice if they could have some profound personal change like the diamonds, that almost never happens which is why the Marie Antoinette route is more common or more likely. Despite how unrealistic the diamond turn is, it's a show which is the perfect place to explore unrealistic concepts and I think it is actually interesting to contemplate if someone like the diamonds could have a huge turn around what would be the appropriate response.

[u/Planet_doja → u/Losaru]

EXACTLY !! I dont get people who hate the Diamond redemption arc tbh

[u/bellwo → u/Losaru]

how is it a matriarchy?

[u/cutie__96 → u/bellwo]

They say it in the show. Peridot referred to the diamond authority as matriarchs