#qcc stuff

[queercrystalclod]

When you're at your job working on a presentation in canva and find Pearl in the graphics section

[queercrystalclod]

Does anyone know why official SU merch is nonexistent nowadays? I don’t understand how such a popular and influential piece of media has completely vanished from major stores that cater to fandom even when its contemporaries remain.

[queercrystalclod]

Just struck with how triggering it probably was for Steven in the movie when he had to fuse into Steg to get Pearl back. Takes that childhood core belief that his family lost someone who was their world because of him and sends it back into overdrive.

[queercrystalclod]

This moment kills me. Steven is so unlike himself, so threatening, that Pearl immediately leaps into action as if she were fighting an enemy. It’s instinctual. Given a moment to think I believe Pearl would tell herself that the Steven she knows wouldn’t hurt anyone whether that’s true atm is up for debate and that his anger here isn’t actually directed at PP/VB but at his mother. But Pearl doesn’t have a moment to think. There is only a powerful, rage-filled gem, a helpless gem in the line of fire, and herself. And so Pearl does what her millennia-old warrior instincts tell her to do: prepare to fight.

This is a huge red flag for whatever is going on with Steven. Now that they’ve escaped the Reef and are back home I really hope they address it sooner rather than later.

[queercrystalclod]

I Am My Monster

Broke: Connie finally mastered the Steven Speech™

Woke: Connie’s speech was not a Steven Speech™ because she didn’t spare anyone’s feelings even though her speech had the same effect of inspiring everyone and saving the day

Bespoke: Connie’s speech saved the day specifically because it was not a Steven Speech™. It recognized that everyone’s guilt was legitimate because they did hurt Steven, intentionally or not, but they needed to set it aside at that moment and focus on helping Steven. Whereas, in a Steven Speech™, the goal would be to minimize their guilt--often at Steven’s own expense--and just focus on the lessons learned/how they can grow from it

[queercrystalclod]

Doing my rewatch and holy shit holy shit does “The Test” hit hard now. It’s the first time Steven deliberately dismisses his own feelings and needs for the sake of the gems. It’s the first time they don’t realize it. And just knowing where it’s all going to lead, I just...

How this ep is the turning point not just in the trajectory of the show but in Steven’s development is even more pronounced post-SU: Future.

[queercrystalclod]

Quite possibly my favorite screenshot of the entire series

[queercrystalclod]

I know a lot of people dislike what we see of Spinel and the diamonds in “Homeworld Bound” because everyone seems too well-adjusted and reformed and happy, but that’s actually what I love? Because this would be a standard episode premise on any day where Steven wasn’t in crisis and still had his own emotions good and suppressed.

Think about it: Steven would come to Homeworld to check on Spinel and the diamonds and they would do exactly what we saw. Spinel would be a lovable goof. Yellow, Blue, and White would be excited to show off their new powers and how they’ve begun righting their wrongs. The four of them would seemingly get along great; it would be happily ever after. But Steven would see cracks in their facade. They would try to deny it at first, but it would come out that things weren’t perfect. They just pretended because they really didn’t want to disappoint Steven. But of course Steven would be so accepting, and he’d give a little speech about how they’re still trying to be perfect when perfect isn’t real. What’s important is that they’re trying to do better and making progress. Episode ends lesson learned all is well que star transition.

But Steven is in serious personal crisis during “Homeworld Bound,” so the image of Spinel and the diamonds’ happy little Era Three remains unquestioned and intact.