A Compilation of Geeky Essays

Steven Universe and Change

[A/N]: This was originally written on September 2nd, 2019. It did NOT age well. Steven Universe Future had a lot of twists that I wasn't expecting, so one of my points wound up completely invalidated. I'll be the first to admit that, even though I loved the show, it tried very hard to be dark sometimes, even when that wasn't really what I wanted? Idk, I had mixed feelings on Future and even the last bit of the original show. Also, my view on the Movie has changed. My originally intense love for it has mellowed out a bit. But anyways, here you go!!

I was planning on going in order of when I started to favor these characters, and I'm not sure this is proper order. But tonight was the debut of Steven Universe: The Movie, and GOD was it fantastic! Since I didn't have anything else planned for tonight, it's the obvious choice of topic.

Steven Quartz Universe is the embodiment of character development. I'm sure you've heard more than one YouTube comment that states, "He's gone from singing about Cookie Cats to *Insert major event here*." While that's perhaps the most blatant, in-your-face example of his growth, I believe it's also the most basic. God–willing, maturity comes with any character's growth. But that's not exactly what I'm talking about.

No. The growth I'm talking about was foretold all the way back when he was only a baby. Pearl, despairing and desperate at her lack of follow through at bringing Rose back, declares that, "Everything should grow, and everything should change, and isn't it so great how it comes so naturally to humans? Well, it's not natural for us! It's not natural for me." And Garnet, ever wise, quietly utters, "It will be for him."

Nearly every song in Steven Universe is, in a way, directly about change, a tool for change, or the result of resisting change. The second category has stuff like "The Working Dead" or "Full Disclosure." The third has, "Mr. Greg" and "On the Run."

Of course, the first category has the largest wealth of information for me to talk about. When "Familiar" came out, I was oddly... underwhelmed. Now, I think that was the result of how stifled and upset that whole arc made me until the very end. But I finally bothered to listen to it again. Its entire purpose is to draw parallels between Pink's life and Steven's. They both felt that their companions had more important things to do than be with them, despite them frantically trying to establish a place with them. They both felt the need to try and fix conflicts by being childish. But when he's concluded this train of thought, he sings, "Familiar, that's why it's so familiar. Familiar, like someone I used to be." He knows that he is not that person anymore. Back then, I didn't get it. I thought the song was implying he was getting more of Pink's memories. But today, I understood. Steven broke the cycle and surpassed his mother because of his innate ability to move forward.

In the movie, Steven ironically rejects change despite much of it focusing on reliving character arcs. At the most intense moment in the movie, he questions why his powers aren't back. The ingredients are all there: everything he cares about is being threatened by a stranger for something his mom did. But Spinel's taunt makes him realize that the last piece is change. He so wanted his Happily Ever After that he forgot how vital growth is in the face of neverending conflict. But even his powers acknowledge how big a part of his life change is. And he embraces this concept with confidence, shedding his temporary stagnation.

Even considering all of this, he never becomes unrecognizable. He is still a punny, joyful person. He never once lost his boundless compassion and empathy. There's a reason he's redeemed... eight characters? If you count the Cluster. Nine if you count Lars. For a brief period of time, he is slightly bitter and cynical. But he is still entirely selfless and wants the best for everyone, especially his loved ones. It could've been easy to turn this child into a hardened veteran of sorts, so used to trauma that he embraced a horrific mentality. First off, though, it's a kid's show (in theory). More importantly, the show's theme is that change is a good force, something that mends rifts. Steven only changes for the better, and encourages change in others. That's why he's gloriously written.