NOTE: This post has big, big spoilers for every episode of Steven Universe all the way up to the most recent episode, “Legs from Here to Homeworld.” If you haven’t caught up to your space rock soap opera, I highly encourage you to do so before proceeding with this post.
So, uh… it’s all happening in Steven Universe, isn’t it? We were already breathless from the Pink Diamond reveal, but then we had Garnet’s wedding and then the emergence of the Cluster. And if that wasn’t enough, we’ve now got the arrival of White Diamond! It really feels like the series is making good on the mysteries it set up ages ago. And now the question is: what can possibly happen next?
For better or for worse, I don’t have Garnet’s Future Vision. But it’s not hard to see that the writing team is working along some very specific themes. The story is an ever-growing metaphor for independence and individuality — and the good and bad that the quest for these things brings.
With the Pink Diamond revelation and the appearance of White Diamond, it’s also growing more and more into a story of generational behavior. We’ll have to see what White has to say to Steven to understand more of this… but it’s becoming clear.
Rebecca Sugar and team have already laid the ground rules of the world — what certain things mean in context and represent story-wise. So I thought for this entry I might flip the script: instead of looking back and discussing the message of a show, I want to look forward and see if what we know can help us see the lie of the land.
And, well, I think it can.
First, a review.
Before I go full-on into this, let’s talk about a few things the show has already told us in one way or another. Some are obvious, some are slightly more vague. But they’re all things we need to bear in mind, either in world-building or in the show’s overarching symbolism. (And yes, I’m aware I’m talking this way about a cartoon. That’s my jam.)
First off, the effect of Earth life on Gems. As we’ve seen from many angles, this is a show largely about the desire for freedom and individuality. Our heroes are, for the most part, aliens manufactured for a purpose doing anything but what they were made for. So in short, Earth life = awakening to a desire for freedom.
Next, fusions. While originally existing solely for reasons of strength, our experience with the concept of fusion has been an embodiment of love (for many definitions of that word). As Garnet sang, fusions are a “conversation.” So in the greater context of the show, we can see them as symbolic of trust and understanding. Malachite is an outside case, but it was also an arc telling a different story.
Then, on the downer side of the scale, there’s poofing. Not Gem death, but receding into oneself to heal, and coming back changed in some respect. The metaphor behind that is pretty straightforward: time to oneself with the understanding that a return is imminent, and the knowledge that there will be change on the other side. It’s a handy way to tweak character designs, but it’s also a good earmark for major character development.
And finally, there’s the recurring theme of the “sins of the father” (or, in this case, mother). The idea that guilt and responsibility are considered to be inherited, and maybe that shouldn’t actually be how it is.
So with all this in mind… what can we expect for the future of Steven Universe?
Rainbow Quartz will be significantly different.
As much as I’m looking forward to a Steven/Pearl fusion, Rainbow Quartz probably isn’t “coming back.” Not as we know her, anyway — not unless the Crewniverse want to undercut a main theme of the show.
Steven’s search for individuality and meaning is at the center of the show, and it’s been a turbulent one. From thinking he has to be his mother to accepting that he isn’t… And then trying to get others to accept that he isn’t. Which, now, is doubling back on himself as he has to stand where Pink Diamond stood while still being Steven. It’s a lot for a kid to handle.
So it’s highly unlikely that we will see Rainbow Quartz looking as she did. And I’m not talking a Rainbow Quartz 2.0 wearing a shirt with a star on it. I mean that Pearl and Steven’s fusion may well be a different entity altogether.
Fusions are trust and a bond. Steven’s bond with Pearl is its own separate entity — so their fusion will have to look very different, and maybe even choose a different name for herself.
Lapis and Peridot are prepping to perma-fuse.
Garnet may have been Homeworld’s first known cross-Gem fusion, but we know now that she’s not the only one. Rhodonite and Fluorite show us that the concept exists, but is still frowned upon. And Garnet’s commentary that Rhodonite must have quite a story makes it even clearer that, well, cross-Gem perma-fusions tend to be couples. (Or, as Rebecca Sugar confirmed in Fluorite’s case, a polyamorous group.)
With Rhodonite and Fluorite are fun characters, the introduction of two more potentially romantically-driven fusions seems to feel like a warm-up: an invitation for the audience to look out for more. And the story of Lapis Lazuli and Peridot seems to be heading in this direction.
These are two characters who have had journeys of self-discovery both alone and together. They can function apart, but in each other’s presence they shine. And, coincidentally, they were both poofed in the recent battle with Blue and Yellow Diamond. Poofing of course allows for them to come back in full-on Crystal Gem “uniforms,” and it’s also coming right after their major decision to rebel against Homeworld.
The concept of fusion is rough for both of them, especially Lapis. So prior to now, prior to this big mental change for both of them, trusting enough to fuse with each other likely wasn’t possible. But once they’re back, I do believe we’ll be closer than ever. Though I don’t think it will be quite as literally permanent as Garnet for character familiarity reasons. Even so, I think once we hit the final phase of the story, we can expect to see… whatever they become.
It’s all a cycle of lies and abuse.
We’ve barely seen White Diamond and she’s already some kind of Mother Gothel mess. All we know is everyone’s scared of her, her Pearl is cracked, and she’s dressed to brunch. But just the little we do know is already clueing us in to what’s been going on behind the curtain for all these millennia.
Steven’s current dilemma is just how much of his mother’s mess is his to take on. He has her gem, he’s technically alien royalty. But what’s his? Innumerable people of multiple races died — and may still die — because of what started as a whim. And while her desire to protect the Earth was noble, how she went about it was… boy, I don’t want to be the one to pass judgment on that.
But it seems like this is as close to a Generational Issue as ancient alien rocks can get. Steven inherits it from Pink. Pink inherits it from Yellow and Blue. I believe we will find that they inherit it from White and her behavior. And is that the origin? It’s hard to imagine anything in the universe bigger or more powerful than White Diamond. We may not find out why she’s how she is, but we do know she’s likely the start of this little family mess. And we’re probably going to see a great deal of time devoted to why.
Steven’s statement that it all ends here means it started somewhere… and the further we look for a villain, the further up and up we have to look. Will White even be the end of the chain?
Steven is going to get poofed.
Honestly, it’s almost required at this point.
So I know the very first question is “Can that even happen?” To which my answer is, does literally anything about Rose’s pregnancy make sense? The show fudges genetics/”gemetics” enough that it’s obvious we aren’t supposed to science this stuff. If Steven can fuse with a full human, and fully morph his human body, he can probably poof.
We’ve seen the three other leads poof at least once before and return changed. We’re about to see it twice more. As with fusion, this seems to be laying a groundwork for something to come. And there are two very big things that need to happen that can’t happen unless Steven gets poofed.
First, he needs his underworld journey (there, I said it). He’s had moments of self-discovery, but he still needs the biggest. And second… he needs to talk to his mom. Like really talk to her. And within his gem may be the only way this can happen.
There’s a lot more I can predict coming. It looks like there’s a Diamond Voltron that could be put together. I’m sure a new version of the Temple Fusion will at least make the finale. And has anyone else noticed that the more powerful a character is, the more distant they look from the show’s art style? Look at White. She belongs in a Méliès movie.
But all this said, I feel like a lot of our questions about what’s next have already been mapped out for us. If we just follow what the values of the show are, then take them to their logical extension in the show’s “language”… well, there’s a lot more singing and crying to come.
I cannot wait.
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