History BrokenBase / StevenUniverse

* Steven's arc in ''Future'' is commonly cited as the most divisive aspect of the sequel series; supporters felt that the show was able to tackle the subject of PTSD and trauma well, that it [[AuthorsSavingThrow addressed a few long-held complaints surrounding Steven in the original series]], and made for an even more emotional and mature arc than the original show; detractors felt that having to watch Steven suffer and slowly lose his mind made ''Future'' [[AngstAversion a slog to get through]] and didn't like that Steven's character and his actions through the entirety of the original series were retroactively {{deconstructed}} in the process. A third group feels that the arc is good on paper, but felt the execution, mainly through pacing and characterization, was poor.

* From first being shown sympathetically in the "Out of This World" arc all the way to their actual {{Heel Face Turn}}s in "Change Your Mind", the Diamonds getting redeemed was, and still is, a hot button topic in the fandom. One side thinks that not redeeming in favor of shattering or bubbling them indefinitely [[BrokenAesop would go against the show's entire message of]] "everyone deserves a second chance", while the other side thinks the Diamonds have done too many heinous acts -- from the treatment of the Gems under them to the destruction and genocide of dozens of planets -- to even consider the idea of redemption, and that a villain who challenges Steven's belief that everyone can be redeemed by refusing to change would have made for the perfect final antagonist. A third group believes the idea of redeeming the Diamonds is good ''in concept'', but thinks it was very rushed and poorly handled in the show proper.

* As Garnet is the embodiment of a lesbian relationship, many fans see Garnet as a lesbian herself, but her statement of "Three's a crowd" in "Love Letters" led to many interpreting her as an aromantic UsefulNotes/{{asexual|ity}}, with the argument that Ruby and Sapphire are lesbians but Garnet is not, and may see any ships involving Garnet as erasure. Debates around this can get heated.

As with many other shows, there are certain aspects of ''Steven Universe'' that can shatter the fanbase.

* From first being shown sympathetically in the "Out of This World" arc all the way to their actual {{Heel Face Turn}}s in "Change Your Mind", the Diamonds getting redeemed was, and still is, a hot button topic in the fandom. One side thinks the Diamonds have done too many heinous acts, from the treatment of the Gems under them to the destruction and genocide of dozens of planets, to even consider the idea of redemption, while the other thinks that not redeeming in favor of shattering or bubbling them indefinitely [[BrokenAesop would go against the show's entire message of]] "everyone deserves a second chance". A third group believes the idea of redeeming the Diamonds is good ''in concept'', but thinks it was very rushed and poorly handled in the show proper.

* As Garnet is the embodiment of a lesbian relationship, many fans see Garnet as a lesbian herself, but her statement of "Three's a crowd" in "Love Letters" led to many interpreting her as an aromantic {{asexual|ity}}, with the argument that Ruby and Sapphire are lesbians but Garnet is not, and may see any ships involving Garnet as erasure. Debates around this can get heated.

* Lapis in general was a ''very'' divisive character. Debates raged constantly in fandom spaces over whether she was sympathetic due to her tragic backstory, TraumaCongaLine and DeadpanSnarker moments, or if she went too far in her antisocial behavior, which some fans read as insensitive, selfish or hurtful. In particular, [[spoiler: Lapis admitting to complicated feelings about her fusion with Jasper in "Alone at Sea" and fleeing Earth with the barn, leaving Peridot and Pumpkin behind in "Raising the Barn"]] infuriated large sections of the fanbase. That said, Lapis's later appearances, particularly [[spoiler: her BigDamnHeroes moment in "Reunited,"]] did a lot to redeem her in the eyes of many, though certainly not all fans.

* From first being shown sympathetically in the "Out of This World" arc all the way to their actual {{Heel Face Turn}}s in "Change Your Mind", the Diamonds getting redeemed was, and still is, a hot button topic in the fandom. One side thinks the Diamonds have done too many heinous acts, from the treatment of the Gems under them to the destruction and genocide of dozens of planets, to even consider the idea of redemption, while the other thinks that not redeeming in favor of shattering or bubbling them indefinitely [[BrokenAesop would go against the show's entire message of]] "everyone deserves a second chance". A third group believes the idea of redeeming the Diamonds is good ''in concept'', but thinks it was very rushed and poorly handled in the show proper, and a fourth acknowledges that destroying the diamonds, either bubbling or shattering them, would bring the wrath of those who worshipped them, making it a lot like [[UsefulNotes/TheFrenchRevolution other]] [[UsefulNotes/TheRussianRevolution revolutions]].
* Steven's arc in ''Future'' is commonly cited as the most divisive aspect of the sequel series. Supporters felt that the show was able to tackle the subject of PTSD and trauma well, that it [[AuthorsSavingThrow addressed a few long-held complaints surrounding Steven in the original series]], and made for an even more emotional and mature arc than the original show. Detractors felt that having to watch Steven suffer and slowly lose his mind made ''Future'' [[AngstAversion a slog to get through]] and didn't like that Steven's character and his actions through the entirety of the original series were retroactively {{deconstructed}} in the process. A third group feels that the arc is good on paper, but felt the execution, mainly through pacing and characterization, was poor.

As with all shows, there are certain decisions or issues that cause contention within the fandom.

* The fandom is split over what, exactly, fusion is a metaphor for. Some argue that it's a straightforward metaphor for sex, while others see it as a metaphor for any and all kinds of intimacy within relationships, including friendly and familial ones (aided by [[spoiler:Steven and Amethyst fusing in a moment of mutual understanding and support, more akin to sibling relationships]]). Which view you subscribe to will understandably affect how you think about Steven fusing with any of the Gems or with Connie, though WordOfGod has stated on numerous occasions that it's the latter.
* The idea of a male Gem appearing on the show has the fanbase split. According to WordOfGod, the Gems are a race that have no gender whatsoever. Conceivably this could mean that all of the Gems shown so far have just coincidentally decided to take the form of females and could just as easily be male. Some fans would like to see a male Gem, while others are strongly against the idea. Discussion of the topic sometimes results in feuds between fans. Some also argue that Steven ''is'' a male Gem while others state that, because he's half-human, he's not technically a ''full'' Gem. And then there is the issue of Amethyst's transformations as a "dumb policeman", a wrestler and (along with Garnet) as Steven count as male forms or simply female forms that look male (although an official guide suggests the former).
* There's been a heavy backlash against RuleThirtyFour (not exclusive to this fandom, but getting a lot of steam here), mostly for the fear of making it difficult for the intended audience of children to search for show online without coming across adult content, as has happened with ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic'' (also tying into FandomRivalry.) It varies from "keep it on a separate tag" to "drawing porn of a children's show is basically pedophilia." That said, this fandom is definitely not short of smut, and according to [[https://twitter.com/ianjq/status/498677336389066752?lang=en Ian JQ,]] the crew is not only okay with it but "the writers room talks we have about the actual canon is waaaay sicker than stuff I see on tumblr. So [[Music/PinkFloyd shine on you crazy diamonds.]] Get weird."
* The continued choice of telling the entire show from Steven's viewpoint. Some fans find it appropriate, since the show is titled after him, and the fact that we don't see how other characters behave when he isn't present makes it a little more realistic (after all, most people don't know what kind of lives their teachers/bosses have outside school/work). However, as the show goes on, there's an increasing number of fans growing restless for a departure from it, with some even accusing it of being a cheap excuse to keep holding back big parts of the show's mythology. It got especially heated after "The New Crystal Gems", with several complaints that the team-up of Connie, Peridot, and Lapis could have been a lot better if the first few minutes hadn't been used to set up the POV Switch from Steven to Connie.
* The art style of the series became the subject of much controversy during the show's fourth and fifth seasons, and can be categorized into three groups of people regarding the subject. One group dislikes the show's stylistic choice of having animators closely mirror the storyboard art to retain the style of individual boarders, stating that (despite the crew's claims of having general rules) [[http://imgur.com/a/76nbO there's no consistency with how the characters look]]. The other side of the spectrum argues that the approach can be used to great effect for humor, and that the series has [[ArtEvolution updated its look since the first season]] to better accommodate this artistic decision. Meanwhile, most find a neutral middle ground, usually not caring about the whole mess but noting that there are certain moments where this approach becomes overly distracting and breaks the experience of watching the show.
* The continued addition of Beach City episodes has started to come under fire as of Seasons 4 and 5. On one hand, you have fans who like them and continue to endorse them, seeing them as the best way for side characters to have their time in the spotlight while allowing the show to take a break from the more serious episodes. On the other, you have the fans that are growing sick of them, seeing them as pointless fluff and arguing that, at this point in the show, they don't ''need'' a break from the main plot. A third group of fans don't mind them, but do wish that there were less of them.

* [[FoeYayShipping Predictably]], Lapis/Jasper is one of the most popular ships in the fandom. But since it is a toxic, unhealthy relationship, it has a very prominent {{hatedom}} with the reasoning that it's glorifying abuse. It became even more polarizing after "Alone at Sea".
* Because Garnet is literally the embodiment of a lesbian relationship, many fans see Garnet as a lesbian herself. But her statement of "Three's a crowd" in "Love Letters" has led to many interpreting her as an aromantic {{asexual|ity}}, with the argument that Ruby and Sapphire are lesbians but Garnet is not, and may see any ships involving Garnet as erasure. Debates around this can get heated.
* Opinions on Ruby and Sapphire’s relationship can be varied between fans. There are debates whether they are actually considered a healthy relationship model, to be seen as perfect in every way, or if they are too codependent, even with recent development. Because of the show’s theme of positive representation, debates regarding this between fans can get heated, in whether it was handled correctly here or not.
* In "Barn Mates", many viewers felt that Lapis was being unreasonably cruel to Peridot by refusing to even consider she's changed. However, other viewers felt Peridot was EasilyForgiven and the episode gave a BrokenAesop of how victims aren't allowed to be angry at those who hurt them if it's at the expense of their friends, especially after Peridot apologized to Amethyst for being InnocentlyInsensitive in an ''earlier'' episode.
** Lapis and Peridot's friendship has even caused contention with Lapis fans. Some love it for Peridot being sensitive and respectful to Lapis' trauma and doing her best to help her recover after Malachite, while others are still upset that Peridot was forgiven for hurting Lapis so quickly and feel like Lapis' CharacterDevelopment, especially with the other Crystal Gems, has been rushed.
* The episodes following "Alone at Sea" have brought more character and plot development. However, these episodes have caused a divide in the fandom, depending on whether or not you find the episodes to be too "rushed" or not. Some fans don't mind it or don't notice it and are just happy to see what the episodes give. Others think the episodes cram too much into the last few minutes without lingering on them long enough. The most obvious examples being the ones where Jasper makes an appearance as most of the time she would only show up within the last few minutes despite the show clearly making a far bigger deal regarding her presence.

* Peridot and Lapis becoming side characters instead of main characters ended up being one of the most divisive parts of the narrative: there are those who don't mind it, either due to feeling that it keeps the cast of characters in a show with such limited runtime from being clogged up, or simply viewing Peridot and Lapis' hijinks at the barn as hilarious and cute. Others feel that it does a disservice to them by slowing their development to a halt due to how little they appear, while others are mad that it keeps them from being involved with major plotlines like [[spoiler:the Human Zoo break-in]] or [[spoiler:the fight with Aquamarine and Topaz (especially since Peridot is the reason why they're there), as well as Steven surrendering himself to them]], leading some to feel [[TheyWastedAPerfectlyGoodCharacter that their potential is being wasted.]]
* Bismuth's episode brought up a fierce debate over [[spoiler: whether it's right or wrong for the Crystal Gems to poof their opponents from Homeworld instead of outright shattering them, essentially rendering them DeaderThanDead. Some think it's perfectly justified after everything Homeworld has done, others point out that, since they have a method of putting Gems in indefinite stasis after poofing them, there's no need to shatter them and doing so is unnecessarily cruel.]]
* From first being shown sympathetically in the "Out of This World" arc all the way to their actual {{Heel Face Turn}}s in "Change Your Mind", the Diamonds getting redeemed was and still is a hot button topic in the fandom. One side thinks the Diamonds have done too many heinous acts, from the treatment of the Gems under them to the destruction and genocide of dozens of planets, to even consider the idea of redemption, while the other thinks that not redeeming in favor of shattering or bubbling them indefinitely [[BrokenAesop would go against the show's entire message of]] "everyone deserves a second chance". A third group believes the idea of redeeming the Diamonds is good ''in concept'', but thinks it was very rushed and poorly handled in the show proper, and a fourth acknowledges that destroying the diamonds, either bubbling or shattering them, would bring the wrath of those who worshipped them, making it a lot like [[UsefulNotes/TheFrenchRevolution other]] [[UsefulNotes/TheRussianRevolution revolutions]].

%% Note: this page is events or subjects that have spilt the fandom. If you're looking for characters that have done so, please see BaseBreakingCharacter/StevenUniverse.

* While all the fusion characters have been overall well received, Sunstone (Steven and Garnet's fusion) is by far the most divisive, in both character design and characterization. In terms of character design, some think that simply turning Steven and Garnet into a [[TheFaceOfTheSun sun-inspired]] fusion, complete with sunglasses, is beyond lazy, as the fusion seems to be designed after it's name, rather than the Gems they're made of. Similarly, many criticize the design for being too similar to Steven, with Garnet only providing the CoolShades, FingerlessGloves and Ruby and Sapphire themed pockets, if one looks closely. Others love the design for it's simplicity, thinking they [[NonStandardCharacterDesign positively stand out]] from other fusions, and argue that the fusion looking too similar to Steven is a problem with Steven's fusions in general, rather than being specific to Sunstone, since Steven's clothes can't turn into light to be incorporated into the fusion. In terms of characterization, many thought that their/her constant BreakingTheFourthWall and [[DontTryThisAtHome PSA-talk]] is incredibly obnoxious, others think that it's hilarious.

* While all the fusion characters have been overall well received, Sunstone (Steven and Garnet's fusion) is by far the most divisive, in both character design and characterization. In terms of character design, some think that simply turning Steven and Garnet into a [[TheFaceOfTheSun sun-inspired]] fusion, complete with sunglasses, is beyond lazy, as the fusion seems to be designed after it's name, rather than the Gems they're made of. Similarly, many criticize the design for being too similar to Steven, with Garnet only providing the CoolShades, FingerlessGloves and Ruby and Sapphire themed pockets, if one looks closely. Others love the design for it's simplicity, thinking they [[NonStandardCharacterDesign positively stand out]] from other fusions, and argue that the fusion looking too similar to Steven is a problem with Steven's fusions in general, rather than being specific to Sunstone, since Steven's clothes can't turn into light to be incorporated into the fusion. In terms of characterization, many thought that their/her constant BreakingTheFourthWall and [[DontTryThisAtHome PSA-talk]] is incredibly obnoxious, others think that it's hilarious.

* From first being shown sympathetically in the "Out of This World" arc all the way to their actual {{Heel Face Turn}}s in "Change Your Mind", the Diamonds getting redeemed was and still is a hot button topic in the fandom. One side thinks the Diamonds have done too many heinous acts, from the treatment of the Gems under them to the destruction and genocide of dozens of planets, to even consider the idea of redemption, while the other thinks that not redeeming in favor of shattering or bubbling them indefinitely [[BrokenAesop would go against the show's entire message of]] "everyone deserves a second chance". A third group believes the idea of redeeming the Diamonds is good ''in concept'', but thinks it was very rushed and poorly handled in the show proper And a fourth acknowledges that destroying the diamonds, either bubbling or shattering them, would bring the wrath of those who worshipped them, making it a lot like [[UsefulNotes/TheFrenchRevolution other]] [[UsefulNotes/TheRussianRevolution revolutions]].

* Opinions on Ruby and Sapphire’s relationship can be varied in that there are debates whether they are actually considered a healthy relationship model to be seen as perfect in every way or if they are too codependent even with recent development. Because of the show’s theme of positive representation debates regarding this between fans can get heated in whether it was handled correctly here or not.

* From first being shown sympathetically in the "Out of This World" arc all the way to their actual {{Heel Face Turn}}s in "Change Your Mind", the Diamonds getting redeemed was and still is a hot button topic in the fandom. One side thinks the Diamonds have done too many heinous acts, from the treatment of the Gems under them to the destruction and genocide of dozens of planets, to even consider the idea of redemption, while the other thinks that not redeeming in favor of shattering or bubbling them indefinitely [[BrokenAesop would go against the show's entire message of]] "everyone deserves a second chance". A third group believes the idea of redeeming the Diamonds is good ''in concept'', but thinks it was very rushed and poorly handled in the show proper.

In "Barn Mates", many viewers felt that Lapis was being unreasonably cruel to Peridot by refusing to even consider she's changed. However, other viewers felt Peridot was EasilyForgiven and the episode gave a BrokenAesop of how victims aren't allowed to be angry at those who hurt them if it's at the expense of their friends, especially after Peridot apologized to Amethyst for being InnocentlyInsensitive in an ''earlier'' episode.

* Opinions on Ruby and Sapphire’s relationship can be varied in that there are debates whether they are actually considered a healthy relationship model to be seen as perfect in every way or if they are too codependent even with recent development. Because of the show’s theme of positive representation debates regarding this between fans can get heated in whether it was handled correctly here or not.
* In "Barn Mates", many viewers felt that Lapis was being unreasonably cruel to Peridot by refusing to even consider she's changed. However, other viewers felt Peridot was EasilyForgiven and the episode gave a BrokenAesop of how victims aren't allowed to be angry at those who hurt them if it's at the expense of their friends, especially after Peridot apologized to Amethyst for being InnocentlyInsensitive in an ''earlier'' episode.