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alias_sqbrContent note: Spoilers, colonisation, abusive family dynamics with regards to queerness (these are established themes, but just in case anyone doesn't watch the show)
SO THAT WAS A THING, HUH?
I liked it.
It was cool seeing all the different fusions: including Obsidian! I'd always been curious about that one! I like how smoothly all the Steven fusions were given "they" pronouns even though they had existed previously with "she" ones.
Speaking of which, the "Steven is a trans boy" subtext was pretty blatant. Which was so cool! He got to define his own identity! His inner essence is just himself, like he always said it was! Gem!Steven was FASCINATING, and I loved how the double vision made it clear they were two parts of the same person. Steven is a fusion who only works AS a fusion. I mean it's also just about not being defined by your parents, but a metaphor can be multiple things.
Blue Diamond didn't quite get his pronouns right, but she's a millennia old being who's new to the concept of anything other than "she", so I'll cut her some slack. "She prefers Steven" was such a "Aw, you tried, but you're not quite there yet" line.
I initially felt like White Diamond flipped too quickly, even in the context of a kid's show. She was SO abusive, way more than Blue and Yellow, who were toxic for Pink but did try to treat her (and Steven) kindly by default. But then it occurred to me: how much did any of them actually flip? Blue and Yellow mostly changed their opinion on their treatment of each other. White Diamond did get persuaded to help the corrupted gems, but those were gems, many of whom were loyal Empire soldiers caught in the crossfire. It's very notable that none of them even hinted at thinking the Empire was bad now, or that organic life has value. They learned to tolerate what Steven (aka, in their eyes, Pink Diamond) wants on his pet planet, and Blue and Yellow are now in favour of being more flexible/open-minded. There's no indication that their basic values and attitudes have changed at all. Unlike the other two, White Diamond doesn't even apologise, and to me it felt like she's just having such a massive identity crisis that she goes along with Steven's opinion for lack of anything better to do. So we'll see how that plays out long term. Possibly we'll see a more emotionally healthy and off-colour-gem-inclusive but just as expansionistic and hierarchical Empire in future, thinking it's fine as long as they don't murder Steven's organics.
Also! White Diamond describing Pink as part of herself she'd removed/repressed was very interesting. It feels like one of those creation myth things: first there was White Diamond, and she was perfect, and then she split off part of herself to make companions. So she would see fusion as just bringing parts of herself back into herself, and thus fusion between non-matching gems as bizarre. I still like the idea I saw somewhere of her as a terraforming AI gone rogue, it would explain the humanoid presentation if that's what her creators looked like.
Other things:
Lars and Sadie got reunited! White Pearl=Pink Pearl theory confirmed! Now what is the poor girl going to do with herself, I wonder.
Everyone got to be badass, including Connie! Such a squishy little human on such a sharp inorganic planet, I worried for her.
Jasper's back! And she's off-colour even after she gets uncorrupted! INTERESTING. She's got some heavy self-identity questions to ponder herself.
Are any of these uncorrupted gems going back to homeworld? Or are they all staying on Earth? I assume all the rebels are going to stay, and I'm curious to know what effect it will have. I'm assuming the Diamonds commanded the Empire loyalists not to keep fighting the Earth rebels, but there's still going to be some HEAVY resentment on both sides. How many new (to us) Crystal Gems will there be o.O
I know there's a movie coming up but...*checks* OK, that's the end of Season 5, but Season 6 is confirmed to be happening...at some point. I want it nooooowwwww
SO THAT WAS A THING, HUH?
I liked it.
It was cool seeing all the different fusions: including Obsidian! I'd always been curious about that one! I like how smoothly all the Steven fusions were given "they" pronouns even though they had existed previously with "she" ones.
Speaking of which, the "Steven is a trans boy" subtext was pretty blatant. Which was so cool! He got to define his own identity! His inner essence is just himself, like he always said it was! Gem!Steven was FASCINATING, and I loved how the double vision made it clear they were two parts of the same person. Steven is a fusion who only works AS a fusion. I mean it's also just about not being defined by your parents, but a metaphor can be multiple things.
Blue Diamond didn't quite get his pronouns right, but she's a millennia old being who's new to the concept of anything other than "she", so I'll cut her some slack. "She prefers Steven" was such a "Aw, you tried, but you're not quite there yet" line.
I initially felt like White Diamond flipped too quickly, even in the context of a kid's show. She was SO abusive, way more than Blue and Yellow, who were toxic for Pink but did try to treat her (and Steven) kindly by default. But then it occurred to me: how much did any of them actually flip? Blue and Yellow mostly changed their opinion on their treatment of each other. White Diamond did get persuaded to help the corrupted gems, but those were gems, many of whom were loyal Empire soldiers caught in the crossfire. It's very notable that none of them even hinted at thinking the Empire was bad now, or that organic life has value. They learned to tolerate what Steven (aka, in their eyes, Pink Diamond) wants on his pet planet, and Blue and Yellow are now in favour of being more flexible/open-minded. There's no indication that their basic values and attitudes have changed at all. Unlike the other two, White Diamond doesn't even apologise, and to me it felt like she's just having such a massive identity crisis that she goes along with Steven's opinion for lack of anything better to do. So we'll see how that plays out long term. Possibly we'll see a more emotionally healthy and off-colour-gem-inclusive but just as expansionistic and hierarchical Empire in future, thinking it's fine as long as they don't murder Steven's organics.
Also! White Diamond describing Pink as part of herself she'd removed/repressed was very interesting. It feels like one of those creation myth things: first there was White Diamond, and she was perfect, and then she split off part of herself to make companions. So she would see fusion as just bringing parts of herself back into herself, and thus fusion between non-matching gems as bizarre. I still like the idea I saw somewhere of her as a terraforming AI gone rogue, it would explain the humanoid presentation if that's what her creators looked like.
Other things:
Lars and Sadie got reunited! White Pearl=Pink Pearl theory confirmed! Now what is the poor girl going to do with herself, I wonder.
Everyone got to be badass, including Connie! Such a squishy little human on such a sharp inorganic planet, I worried for her.
Jasper's back! And she's off-colour even after she gets uncorrupted! INTERESTING. She's got some heavy self-identity questions to ponder herself.
Are any of these uncorrupted gems going back to homeworld? Or are they all staying on Earth? I assume all the rebels are going to stay, and I'm curious to know what effect it will have. I'm assuming the Diamonds commanded the Empire loyalists not to keep fighting the Earth rebels, but there's still going to be some HEAVY resentment on both sides. How many new (to us) Crystal Gems will there be o.O
I know there's a movie coming up but...*checks* OK, that's the end of Season 5, but Season 6 is confirmed to be happening...at some point. I want it nooooowwwww
no subject
Date: 2019-01-24 11:44 pm (UTC)HOW AWESOME DID PEARL LOOK dklsajfads
Connie did amazing, I'm so glad that worked out, I worried for her as well. And Jasper!! It will be interesting to see what happens there.
I thought it was really fascinating that ultimately, they are pushing forward with not an outright path of condemnation after what is really quite severe emotional abuse and narcissism towards everyone. And I also find myself wondering - will they ever encounter a villain that can't be redeemed with love and compassion and talking and understanding? Is this a lesson they think kids need to learn?
Blue Diamond didn't quite get his pronouns right, but she's a millennia old being who's new to the concept of anything other than "she", so I'll cut her some slack. "She prefers Steven" was such a "Aw, you tried, but you're not quite there yet" line.
I noticed this too, I thought it was like a sweet, realistic detail to include, especially given everyone else (just about) does use the correct pronouns. A sort of... 'unfortunately this is something you do encounter in reality but it doesn't mean people aren't trying' thing.
(I love Pearl's new clothing though omg).
no subject
Date: 2019-01-28 08:45 am (UTC)I thought it was really fascinating that ultimately, they are pushing forward with not an outright path of condemnation after what is really quite severe emotional abuse and narcissism towards everyone. And I also find myself wondering - will they ever encounter a villain that can't be redeemed with love and compassion and talking and understanding? Is this a lesson they think kids need to learn?
Yeah I'm wondering about that too.