Spinel is interesting because she’s the only gem we’ve met thus far who is not built for a productive role in society, at least not productive in the sense that Gem culture prides it.
The average Gem wouldn’t have one, even a high ranking member of nobility, because most gems are made for a function and are expected to spend their existence fulfilling that function.
So it would take a certain kind of Gem, one not expected to contribute much, perhaps not entirely taken seriously by their betters, but still important enough to be catered to rather than expected to shape up, to be given one.
So... yeah, I’d buy Spinel being uniquely, at least currently. Pink Diamond is the only Gem that it would really make sense to have one.
- I wish most wikia episode guides were like the Gravity Falls one and had a handy list of ratings besides the episodes (though at least the Steven Universe one shows them on the individual episode pages).
- For recent references in the same show, "Reunited" and "Change Your Mind" both got just under a million. However, comparing ratings needs to control for many other factors: In season 1a, literally every episode got over a million, many were over 1.5, and the highest was over 2. But then the show had a more consistent timeslot, had other premiers bolstering it, and video-on-demand was less supported.
- I don't know if the movie being seven-and-a-half times the length of a regular episode (and taking up as many timeslots as six episodes with commercials) dilutes or enhances the significance of said ratings.
- Since it's a musical movie, sales of the movie and its soundtrack are also quite significant. (There's a reason the end credits only include the songs while everything else was at the beginning.)
- Even putting all of that aside, Steven Universe has gotten some "prestige" factor: the critical acclaim and good press help the show in the network's eyes even outside of direct financial gain.
From a brief NY Times interview with Rebecca Sugar
A: This is not the end. I think that’s about all I can say. What’s gone on in the show and the film will continue to matter in the future.
Honestly, I don't know if this evasiveness has been to keep focus on what's upcoming (like how we heard nothing about the movie until half a year after "Change Your Mind") or some weird thing I can barely guess at.
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As the Fridge Brilliance page for the movie notes, real-world spinels are used as replacements for diamonds and other more valuable gems, so maybe there's a small production line of Spinels meant to be slotted into odd jobs? Rejuvenated Pearl recognized the Gem, anyway.
And I gotta say, I didn't expect much from this movie. I'd slowly lost interest in SU during season five, what with the hiatus, and the resolution with the Diamonds... I liked that Homeworld was just too powerful to be defeated through force of arms, but considering all of the monstrous things they did knowingly and unknowingly- forming the Cluster, corrupting Gems, killing and shattering all who get in their way- the resolution of "let's get along together" felt off.
And the movie just felt like a rehash of everything. There's a Homeworld Gem, and she's stronger than the gang, and she's got a scythe and a grudge and a real on-the-nose gem, and a super-duper injector, and the world's in danger again, and it's a musical.
And... it was! But in a good way. There wasn't some big revelation about Gem society, but Spinel's story was horrible and heartbreaking and another interesting facet of the general callousness of Era One. And then there was the moral about how just because Homeworld was better didn't mean all problems were fixed.
Theoretically, I'd like if things ended up like Venture Bros, where the show maintains its quality over a long time by not being in production constantly.
Unfortunately, that production schedule isn't conductive to retaining staff or cast members. And despite describing herself as a "control freak", Sugar wants other writers/boarders to contribute creatively.
The movie makes some effort to stand alone from the series, but maybe that was less to accommodate newcomers (or viewers who'd forgotten things) than an attempt to keep things more focused and creatively interesting.
I'd honestly be interested in the perspective of someone who started with the movie. For instance, they could easily mistake Lars for an alien. Of course, the issue is you'd need someone who'd be interested in the franchise, hadn't seen it yet, and didn't mention spoiling the hell out of themselves just for a curiosity.
Fluorite makes herself very comfortable in a large number of background shots.
The way Amethyst just suddenly starts drumming and singing backup for Sadie Killer and the Suspects makes me wonder if she'd been their session drummer before.
I said Sadie might have shaved the sides of her hair, but noticed she just tied it back—you can see a hairclip when she's singing on stage.
Movie tidbits: Recap is probably the most negative parts of any kind of thing...
Especially 10 minutes worth.
Rules of the Internet 45. Rule 45 is a lie. Check out my art if you notice.pffffffft, this is hilarious, Rebecca Sugar got the idea for the memory wipe subplot from accidentally wiping her phone
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So, is it normal for Gems to completely change their appearance, even without poofing, like Spinel did? Or is it something that only Diamond could in theory pull off, but Spinel could do it because she's super moldable?
I think that similarly to her incredible fighting skills, it was something her creators simply didn't thought about when they made her. Same thing with Lapis - no one even considered that they're encounter planets that have enough water to make her a deadly threat.
They don't need to poof to change their appearance, it's just something they just chose to do upon reforming.
It was just a formula, the show set it up to seem like they needed to and there was no reason to assume otherwise.
Rules of the Internet 45. Rule 45 is a lie. Check out my art if you notice.A Review:
This person has thoughts.
The movie is fun spectacle, but also very retready and sloppy writing.
Isn't that fantastic?
Rules of the Internet 45. Rule 45 is a lie. Check out my art if you notice.
Migrated to Chloe Jessica!
tbh, if it's enjoyable to watch, that trumps everything else in my book. ill forgive a hell of a lot of bad writing if it results in a fun ride.
i think that's why i actually like the Matrix sequels. the writing fell flat on its face, but damn if they weren't fun movies.
Migrated to Chloe Jessica!![]()
I have similar thoughts...
As long as it's not with movies.
Rules of the Internet 45. Rule 45 is a lie. Check out my art if you notice.![]()
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Yeah. If anything, people should enjoy the ride first and foremost.
Edit: was looking through movie pictures on the wiki, and Mr. Smiley changed his shirt
◊ during the timeskip. So that's neat.
Edited by Crossover-Enthusiast on Sep 6th 2019 at 8:03:46 AM
Jawbreakers on sale for 99¢Personal enjoyment of a movie is definitely what's most important for me when it comes to movies. I've enjoyed movies with bad writing before because I had fun. (And then felt bad for enjoying them when seeing reviews that call said movies bad, but hey. One of these days, I'm gonna learn to not need external validation for my own opinions on stuff I like, one of these days...)
I'm honestly kinda impressed that, even though the movie was technically a retread of Pearl's, Garnet's and Amethyst's character development, it didn't feel repetitive to me? YMMV, of course, clearly the person who made that video didn't feel the same way, but it certainly felt more like a celebration of who they've become more so than a repeat of the same storylines.
Literally the only issue I had with this movie was, where the heck did Spinel get that injector from? And that Gem rejuvenator? It's never explained. Guess we'll never know.
Edited by DeathsApprentice on Sep 6th 2019 at 9:27:13 AM
When we're done, there won't be anything left.

Spinel doesn't seem to come off as 'sterile' tho. I can't really picture a Sapphire on Era 2 Homeworld playing with one - it seems incongruous with what we've seen of Gem society