History TearJerker / StevenUniverseFuture

** There's also Steven's perspective - he loves the Gems, absolutely. But for him, it's smothering to feel like the Gems are always and only going to see him as the little kid he was at the start. Particularly in light of the song from the movie, "Change," where he brings up all the things that have happened to him that have shaped him... He still can't escape being that little kid, even as he's trying to figure out who he is going to be next. And it's the Gems, who've been there for that journey, who are trying to drag him back to that point in his past.

** After she stops attacking, Lapis almost immediately starts verbally lashing herself for losing control. We've seen [[HairTriggerTemper how bad Lapis's temper can be]]; she almost drowned Steven and Connie, broke Greg's leg, trapped herself and Jasper at the bottom of the ocean, and said downright ''cruel'' things to Peridot in the past, all as a direct result of losing it in the clutch. She's clearly been working hard over the TimeSkip to get it under control, but here she loses her cool over something as petty as the Lazulis being jerks and is clearly ashamed. [[CharacterDevelopment Lapis has grown a lot since we first saw her]], but she'll probably be struggling with her emotions like this for the rest of her life... and being a Gem, [[TheAgeless that's probably going to be a very long time]].

* That Eyeball, like Jasper, has been unable to adjust to the Diamonds making peace with the Crystal Gems. [[AssholeVictim Aquamarine is nasty enough of a character that the audience feels little sympathy for her]] [[ShellShockedVeteran but Eyeball, like Jasper, genuinely loved and was loyal to Pink Diamond, was deeply affected by the war and wished for closure rather than vengeance concerning the circumstances of her Diamond's death.]] And now that the truth has come out, it has only left her with even ''more'' resentment towards Steven.
** Even more upsetting is that initially Eyeball had no grudge at all against him or even the Crystal Gems. Her issues were all with Rose Quartz. It's sad to realise that Eyeball once had the same potential to become Steven's ally as Peridot and Lapis. Yet through a series of mistakes, he became her enemy.

* That Eyeball, like Jasper, has been unable to adjust to the Diamonds making peace with the Crystal Gems. Aquamarine is nasty enough of a character that the audience feels little sympathy for her but Eyeball, like Jasper, genuinely loved and was loyal to Pink Diamond, was deeply affected by the war and wished for closure concerning the circumstances of her death. And now that the truth has come out, it has only left her with even more resentment towards Steven.

--->'''Steven:''' (''[[ExplainExplainOhCrap Realizing what he just said]]'') … ''How messed up is that?'' That I've gotten away with this for ''so long.'' You have ''no idea'' how bad I am! Y-You think I'm so ''great'' and so ''mature'' and I always know what to do- ''but that's not true!'' I haven't learned a ''thing'' from my problems! They've all just made me ''worse!'' You think of me as some ''angel'', but ''I'm not that kid anymore...!'' ...I'm a fraud...''(Breaks down to the floor, sobbing)''...''I'm a fraud.'' '''''I'M A MONSTER!'''''

--->'''Steven:''' (''ExplainExplainOhCrap Realizing what he just said'') … ''How messed up is that?'' That I've gotten away with this for ''so long.'' You have ''no idea'' how bad I am! Y-You think I'm so ''great'' and so ''mature'' and I always know what to do- ''but that's not true!'' I haven't learned a ''thing'' from my problems! They've all just made me ''worse!'' You think of me as some ''angel'', but ''I'm not that kid anymore...!'' ...I'm a fraud...''(Breaks down to the floor, sobbing)''...''I'm a fraud.'' '''''I'M A MONSTER!'''''

--->'''Steven:''' (ExplainExplainOhCrap ''Realizing what he just said'') … ''How messed up is that?'' That I've gotten away with this for ''so long.'' You have ''no idea'' how bad I am! Y-You think I'm so ''great'' and so ''mature'' and I always know what to do- ''but that's not true!'' I haven't learned a ''thing'' from my problems! They've all just made me ''worse!'' You think of me as some ''angel'', but ''I'm not that kid anymore...!'' ...I'm a fraud...''(Breaks down to the floor, sobbing)''...''I'm a fraud.'' '''''I'M A MONSTER!'''''

--->'''Steven:''' ...''How messed up is that?'' That I've gotten away with this for ''so long.'' You have ''no idea'' how bad I am! Y-You think I'm so ''great'' and so ''mature'' and I always know what to do- ''but that's not true!'' I haven't learned a ''thing'' from my problems! They've all just made me ''worse!'' You think of me as some ''angel'', but ''I'm not that kid anymore...!'' ...I'm a fraud...''(Breaks down to the floor, sobbing)''...''I'm a fraud.'' '''''I'M A MONSTER!'''''

** A subtle visual detail about Monster Steven, look at his face: he's never shown to be angry or wrathful, [[https://rose-red-panda.tumblr.com/post/613798306958704640/one-thing-i-found-really-interesting-about-monster just sad, confused, and scared]]. A reminder that, although he looks like a monster, [[WoobieDestroyerOfWorlds that's still just Steven in there]].

** The process begins with Steven finally snapping, at first downplaying his issues throughout ''Future'', then revealing that he shattered Jasper and thought about smashing White Diamond's head into a pillar in front of Greg, Connie, and the Crystal Gems. This then descends into self-loathing and he collapses to the floor, decrying himself a fraud and a monster before pink spikes burst out of his back. The deeply disturbing music that becomes more disconcerting the further his SanitySlippage goes during this final breakdown only makes it worse.

** It is later stated by Steven in Everything's Fine that while he thought about smashing White Diamond's head into a pillar he "never actually went through with it," indicating that it was more of an intrusive thought than an actual attempt to hurt her. This makes more sense based on the fact that White never actually moved from the center of the room, and Steven himself hit his own head even though he should have had complete control of her body.

** The saddest thing is that this sort of scenario also happens in real life. Tropers: talk to, and more importantly listen to, your friends and family. You never know if that might be exactly what they need at that moment.
* Steven's final tangent is especially tragic, because it's one last parallel between himself and his mother. In the previous series, Rose Quartz was consistently characterized as a fairly compassionate person who struggled a lot with genuinely empathizing with people. She rarely ever put herself in someone else’s shoes and thought about how her actions could hurt other people (which she always puts herself down for), and when she actually was confronted with the pain she caused, she never owned up to it - she hid it and ran from it for years, to the point where Rose literally took all her worst secrets to the grave with her out of genuine belief that she couldn't fix her mistakes and will only make things worse. She gave off the impression of being a very wise, empathetic woman who had all the answers because she basically [[BecomingTheMask faked it til she made it for years]], all while marveling at people who could be the genuine article. Steven himself was furious at how fake the saintlike persona Rose built up around herself was, and over the course of the franchise, becoming more like his mother has become his greatest fear. But during his meltdown in "Everything's Fine", when he comes clean to his friends and family about everything he's done lately, it becomes apparent that not only has Steven been mirroring Rose's behavior throughout ''Future'', he's becoming ''even worse than her''. He's lashed out towards people like Cactus Steven, Jasper, and White Diamond even to the point of accidentally shattering Jasper and considering smashing White's head into a pillar (though he never went through with it as he states in Everything's Fine) and desperately covered them up, keeping them a secret from his friends for as long as he could, so he could pretend everything was still fine and that he was still the unflappable, dependable, wise, saintlike teenager everyone thought he was, when he was really falling apart. His self hatred over becoming what he thinks is a "fraud" and a "monster" is the final thing that sends him over the edge.

-->'''Spinel:''' ''(wraps her arms around the entire group)''

-->'''Peridot:''' Steven! You never gave up on me for reasons I don't understand! [[NowItsMyTurn I'll do the same for you]]!

--->'''Steven:''' ...''How messed up is that?'' That I've gotten away with this for ''so long.'' You have ''no idea'' how bad I am! Y-You think I'm so ''great'' and so ''mature'' and I always know what to do- ''but that's not true!'' I haven't learned a ''thing'' from my problems! They've all just made me ''worse!'' You think of me as some ''angel'', but ''I'm not that kid anymore...!'' ...I'm a fraud...''(Breaks down to the floor, sobbing)''...''I'm a fraud.'' '''''I'M A MONSTER!''''' '''(BOOM!)'''

--->'''Steven:''' You're making a big deal out of ''nothing!'' Have I done some things wrong? ''Sure!'' I trashed the house today! I broke an anvil, ''what teenager hasn't?!'' Dad and I had a ''little disagreement'', but that's practically a rite of passage! I mean, it would be ''weird'' if we didn't right?! And ''maaaybe'' had a not so nice thought or two about, like, you know, '''slamming White Diamond's head through a pillar.''' But it's not like I ''actually'' went through with it!! ''I only ACTUALLY shattered Jasper!!'' Ohhhh don't worry! ''I fixed that too!'' I can fix ''ANYTHING!!'' I can just ''keep messing up'' and fixing things ''forever!!'' And you'll ''never'' have to ''know'' or ''worry'' about ''any of it!!'' ...''How messed up is that?'' That I've gotten away with this for ''so long.'' You have ''no idea'' how bad I am! Y-You think I'm so ''great'' and so ''mature'' and I always know what to do- ''but that's not true!'' I haven't learned a ''thing'' from my problems! They've all just made me ''worse!'' You think of me as some ''angel'', but ''I'm not that kid anymore...!'' ...I'm a fraud...''(Breaks down to the floor, sobbing)''...''I'm a fraud.'' '''''I'M A MONSTER.'''''

** Though it initially seemed like Steven tried to hurt Diamond in this scene, in Everything's Fine Steven himself specifies that he thought about hurting White but never went through with it, indicating that it was more of an intrusive thought than an actual attempt to hurt her.

** The process begins with Steven finally snapping, at first downplaying his issues throughout ''Future'', then revealing that he shattered Jasper and nearly killed White Diamond in front of Greg, Connie, and the Crystal Gems. This then descends into self-loathing and he collapses to the floor, decrying himself a fraud and a monster before pink spikes burst out of his back. The deeply disturbing music that becomes more disconcerting the further his SanitySlippage goes during this final breakdown only makes it worse.

* When Spinel tried to cheer Steven up, he refused to let her help, as well as refusing to listen to what she's saying, telling her that she shouldn't "Give me my own advice," as if he's saying that only ''he'' can give out advice, and that he doesn't need any help.

* Steven's final tangent is especially tragic, because it's one last parallel between himself and his mother. In the previous series, Rose Quartz was consistently characterized as a fairly compassionate person who struggled a lot with genuinely empathizing with people. She rarely ever put herself in someone else’s shoes and thought about how her actions could hurt other people (which she always puts herself down for), and when she actually was confronted with the pain she caused, she never owned up to it - she hid it and ran from it for years, to the point where Rose literally took all her worst secrets to the grave with her out of genuine belief that she couldn't fix her mistakes and will only make things worse. She gave off the impression of being a very wise, empathetic woman who had all the answers because she basically [[BecomingTheMask faked it til she made it for years]], all while marveling at people who could be the genuine article. Steven himself was furious at how fake the saintlike persona Rose built up around herself was, and over the course of the franchise, becoming more like his mother has become his greatest fear. But during his meltdown in "Everything's Fine", when he comes clean to his friends and family about everything he's done lately, it becomes apparent that not only has Steven been mirroring Rose's behavior throughout ''Future'', he's becoming ''even worse than her''. He's lashed out and done horrible, abusive things to people like Cactus Steven, Jasper, and White Diamond even to the point of attempting to kill the latter two (which Rose wouldn't do) and desperately covered them up, keeping them a secret from his friends for as long as he could, so he could pretend everything was still fine and that he was still the unflappable, dependable, wise, saintlike teenager everyone thought he was, when he was really falling apart. Steven really has become a worsened image than his mother, and naturally, that realization is the final thing that sends him over the edge.

** When told to head for safety, Greg refuses because that's what he always does when Gem problems occur. While it seemed like ''Mr. Universe'' ended with him oblivious to Steven's unhappiness, Greg admits Steven's absolutely right to be angry at him for all the ways Greg failed to protect him from the traumatic events in Steven's childhood. ''This'' time, he's staying to help his son.

* Steven's final tangent is especially tragic, because it's one last parallel between himself and his mother. In the previous series, Rose Quartz was consistently characterized as a fairly compassionate person who struggled a lot with genuinely empathizing with people. She rarely ever put herself in someone else’s shoes and thought about how her actions could hurt other people, and when she actually was confronted with the pain she caused, she never owned up to it - she hid it and ran from it for years, to the point where Rose literally took all her worst secrets to the grave with her rather than face the idea of her friends judging her. She gave off the impression of being a very wise, empathetic woman who had all the answers because she basically faked it til she made it for years, all while marveling at people who could be the genuine article. Steven himself was furious at how fake the saintlike persona Rose built up around herself was, and over the course of the franchise, becoming more like his mother has become his greatest fear. But during his meltdown in "Everything's Fine", when he comes clean to his friends and family about everything he's done lately, it becomes apparent that Steven has been mirroring Rose's behavior throughout ''SUF''. He's lashed out and done horrible, abusive things to people like Cactus Steven, Jasper and White Diamond and desperately covered them up, keeping them a secret from his friends for as long as he could, so he could pretend everything was still fine and that he was still the unflappable, dependable, wise, saintlike teenager everyone thought he was, when he was really falling apart. Steven really has become a mirror image of his mother, and naturally, that realization is the final thing that sends him over the edge.

* When Connie is the last to talk to Stevezilla, you can see his eyes visibly wavering in fear. Even in his current state of mind he still was deeply afraid of Connie seeing him as a monster.

* When Connie is the last to talk to Monster Steven, you can see his eyes visibly wavering in fear. Even in his current state of mind he still was deeply afraid of Connie seeing him as a monster.

* Steven finding out about how Greg basically ran away from his overbearing parents in order to follow his dreams of being a musician, very similar to how Pink Diamond ran away from the other Diamonds to become Rose Quartz. This does a lot more harm than Greg probably intended. Steven has villainized his mother so much that the thought that his dad is similar in some way to her is awful.

-->'''Steven:''' You're making a big deal out of ''nothing!'' Have I done some things wrong? ''Sure!'' I trashed the house today! I broke an anvil, ''what teenager hasn't?!'' Dad and I had a ''little disagreement'', but that's practically a rite of passage! I mean, it would be ''weird'' if we didn't right?! And ''maaaybe'' had a not so nice thought or two about, like, you know, '''slamming White Diamond's head through a pillar.''' But it's not like I ''actually'' went through with it!! ''I only ACTUALLY shattered Jasper!!'' Ohhhh don't worry! ''I fixed that too!'' I can fix ''ANYTHING!!'' I can just ''keep messing up'' and fixing things ''forever!!'' And you'll ''never'' have to ''know'' or ''worry'' about ''any of it!!'' ...''How messed up is that?'' That I've gotten away with this for ''so long.'' You have ''no idea'' how bad I am! Y-You think I'm so ''great'' and so ''mature'' and I always know what to do- ''but that's not true!'' I haven't learned a ''thing'' from my problems! They've all just made me ''worse!'' You think of me as some ''angel'', but ''I'm not that kid anymore...!'' ...I'm a fraud...''(Breaks down to the floor, sobbing)''...''I'm a fraud.'' '''''I'M A MONSTER.'''''