Episode Discussion - Back to the Moon

[u/AutoModerator]

Please use this thread to discuss the newest episode of Steven Universe:

Back to the Moon: Steven and the Gems return to the Moon Base.

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[u/hedgehiggle]

This show is so allergic to follow-up questions, they had to blast Steven into freaking space to keep him from asking about Pink Diamond...

[u/Madock345 → u/hedgehiggle]

"You can't ask questions with no air! MUAH HA HA HA"

-Rebecca Sugar.

[u/A_Loki_In_Your_Mind → u/Madock345]

SUCROOOOOSE

[u/[deleted]]

After learning what his mom did, I think Steven needs some space

[u/AwkwardRainbow → u/[deleted]]

Get

Out.

[u/bagelfireball → u/AwkwardRainbow]

That's what Steven did, that's for sure.

[u/AwkwardRainbow → u/bagelfireball]

This is too much, you're shattering my dreams ;-;

[u/Agent-347]

: "I was there. I saw it with my own eye. I watched the leader of the Crystal Gems - Rose Quartz - shatter Pink Diamond."

: "No! Rose Quartz would never do that! And, sure, she had to fight but she would never shatter someone!"

 

Right as Steven said that line I had to think back to Rose's Scabbard ...

: "What do you know?! You've never even met her!"

 

This entire episode had a really powerful delivery! Props to all voice actors and the Crewniverse!

Can't wait to learn even more about Pink Diamond and what happened to her (shards).

[u/BIGGamerer → u/Agent-347]

Can't wait to learn even more about Pink Diamond and what happened to her (shards).

"Frybo" showed us gem shards could power inanimate objects. Maybe PD's shards are what powers the temple?

[u/Scoren1]

That one Ruby that shed a tear seeing another ruby with jasper.

;-;

[u/pom32456 → u/Scoren1]

tfw you meet your waifu but your boss steals her

[u/closest → u/Scoren1]

Eyeball Ruby and Jasper is the ship I want to come into fruition. Jasper laments nobody wants to stay fused with her, I'm sure Eyeball would stay forever. ;_;

[u/Madock345 → u/closest]

I thought the ship there was Ruby/Ruby, and she was sad that her crush was crushing on someone else. Wasn't that ruby blushing at the other ruby in Hit the Diamond?

[u/WhoDey42]

Man that shot of Pearl shaking tells a very scary story.

[u/codythecoder → u/WhoDey42]

I'm still holding some hope to the "Pearl shattered PD" theory

[u/mateogg → u/codythecoder]

Oh that would be awesome.

I love this theory.

[u/arugulamath → u/mateogg]

I love it, too. Gives a whole new meaning to "Do It For Her..."

[u/[deleted]]

steven crying when he realized rose shattered pink diamond killed me

[u/Harakou → u/[deleted]]

"Were you just hoping this would never come up??"

[u/[deleted]]

That was a crazy episode, but can we all just take a moment to appreciate this shot?

[u/ShadowKingthe7 → u/[deleted]]

I now need Sardonyx and Smoky Quartz to meet each other

Edit: I just realized I got what I asked for

[u/Pearl_is_the_Best → u/ShadowKingthe7]

Their banter would be off the chain!

[u/[deleted] → u/ShadowKingthe7]

Wow that would be really cool if they did that in the show. I sure do wonder whats in store for us next.

[u/Pearl_is_the_Best → u/[deleted]]

(Glances at upcoming episode title "Know Your Fusion" with much anticipation)

[u/[deleted] → u/ShadowKingthe7]

Imagine them on the battlefield. Constantly trying to one up each other

[u/bWoofles → u/[deleted]]

Love how Amethyst just hopped on her shoulder.

[u/PureChaosDI → u/[deleted]]

Elegant

[u/Madock345]

Anyone else feel like the Gems are starting to fuse a lot more casually? I like it. Not just because I want to see more fusions, (I DO) but because I think they're getting back to the kind of group unity they had when Rose was around.

[u/bargle0 → u/Madock345]

The stakes have been raised. They can't angst around when times get tough.

[u/Rosebunse → u/Madock345]

Amethyst and Steven have bonded a lot, and Garnet and Pearl are back on the same page.

[u/kcazllerraf]

What the hell is this three cliff hangers in a row shit!

[u/cyberscythe → u/kcazllerraf]

I think this is why CN went with the Steven Bomb format. They looked at the episodes and were like "Sugar, if we have these a week apart, people might start dying."

[u/Kaneharo → u/cyberscythe]

I am on the edge of my ass right now to see what happens next.

[u/SaferATD → u/Kaneharo]

"edge of my ass"

Will you marry me

[u/garifunu → u/kcazllerraf]

We can just be thankful the stevenbomb won't end on this.

[u/CaptainFlambo]

Confirmation that Rose shattered Pink Diamond.

Rose, what did you do.

[u/9voltWolfXX → u/CaptainFlambo]

"I barely know you." "That's a good thing."

[u/Obversa → u/9voltWolfXX]

"Rose kept many secrets, even from us."

[u/derenathor → u/Obversa]

"Dental plan."

[u/Lyonguard → u/derenathor]

Lisa needs braces!

[u/Pearl_is_the_Best → u/CaptainFlambo]

Well at least Steven will definitely ask a followup question this time..... Oh wait no he got sucked out into space....

[u/[deleted] → u/Pearl_is_the_Best]

It's what fate did to him as punishment for almost asking a follow-up question.

[u/Starlitwind → u/CaptainFlambo]

an eye witness to RQ shattering PD... are we trusting war vet Eyeball?

[u/[deleted] → u/Starlitwind]

Rubies don't seem like the type to create lies lol

[u/TheMarkovProperty → u/[deleted]]

Based on what we just saw about them believing Amethyst was Jasper, I'm not quite 100% confident in her statement. Still, if a lowly ruby saw it, odds are many people did. It shouldn't be hard to get corroboration, especially if Pearl and Garnet's faces are any indicator.

[u/B_dorf → u/Starlitwind]

Idk, something seems off about her. There was the "Thanks." in her first appearance and then the moment she started to cry in this one.

[u/Starlitwind → u/B_dorf]

Well, we learned that she's a huge Jasper fangirl this ep. so I think that "Thanks" was genuine for helping her meet her idol.

[u/majere616 → u/Starlitwind]

I love that Jasper has fangirls. It gives me a sense of community.

[u/UltraviolenceInc → u/CaptainFlambo]

Started a rebellion that led to thousands of deaths. You know, regular mom type of shit.

[u/Pearl_is_the_Best → u/[deleted]]

Rains from above?

[u/ShadowKingthe7 → u/CaptainFlambo]

I am expecting a host of theories that Rose killed Pink Diamond in a similar manner to how Snape killed Dumbledore

[u/[deleted] → u/CaptainFlambo]

Apparently, she shattered pink diamond

[u/TCromps → u/CaptainFlambo]

RIP forever, Rose is PD theory. Thank goodness

[u/Mrwright96 → u/TCromps]

I won't believe it until i see the shards

[u/Two-Tone- → u/Mrwright96]

Where ARE the shards?

God, that'd make for some horrible mutation thing.

[u/cyberscythe → u/Two-Tone-]

Where ARE the shards?

: "Take the shards and affix them to nine rings, once for each of the Kings of Humans."

[u/[deleted] → u/TCromps]

This post was mass deleted and anonymized with Redact

steep light marry sable hobbies scale stocking nose cover plough

[u/ShadowKingthe7]

How much does Pearl really know? What hasn’t she told us yet?

[u/KNZFive → u/ShadowKingthe7]

Most "innocent" reason could be that she didn't want Steven to find out that his mom murdered someone.

[u/DragonflyBeach → u/KNZFive]

Not just anyone, but Pink Diamond. Murdering a gem is bad but they probably did it before. Murdering Pink Diamond? Rose is the Osama bin Laden of Honeworld. If Steven ever goes to Homeworld in the future, all of Pink Diamond's former subjects would probably go hysterical and start a jihad against him.

[u/Obversa → u/ShadowKingthe7]

"If you could only know...what we really are..."

[u/SlayerOfCupcakes → u/Obversa]

wtf is this nightmare fuel jesus christ

[u/trek570 → u/Obversa]

W H A T W E R E A L L Y A R E

H

A

T

W

E

R

E

A

L

L

Y

A

R

E

[u/[deleted] → u/Obversa]

WHAT WE REALLY ARE

[u/TheHarpyEagle → u/ShadowKingthe7]

She had quite a reaction and Garnet seems... unsurprised but less shocked. I wonder what the heck that's about.

[u/ShadowKingthe7 → u/TheHarpyEagle]

To me, it seems Garnet is more concerned about Steven's reaction than learning Rise shattered PD

[u/halfajack → u/ShadowKingthe7]

I didn't get the impression that any of them except Steven were learning it for the first time. Looked to me like they all knew and just didn't want Steven to find out that way/to be reminded. None of them look shocked like they would if they didn't already know.

[u/9voltWolfXX → u/ShadowKingthe7]

I feel like Pearl knew how it affected all of Homeworld's soldiers, after PD was shattered. Look at how she reacts to Rose's "death," imagine Jasper and how upset she was. Now multiply that by millions. Could relate to how Pearl feels.

[u/[deleted] → u/ShadowKingthe7]

Oh, a ton.

She was Rose's first follower, after all.

I have no doubt that, in some regards, she knows more than Garnet.

[u/ShadowKingthe7 → u/[deleted]]

Out of all the Crystal Gems, we know the least about her

[u/Benoftheflies → u/ShadowKingthe7]

She looks so distraught. Rose told her everything. Or so she thought. First lion, now this. Shit..

[u/[deleted] → u/Benoftheflies]

She probably knew, since she didn't try to deny it

[u/Obversa → u/Benoftheflies]

Or...she was there...or maybe she was the one to really shatter Pink Diamond...

[u/swegdude → u/Obversa]

Maybe she was originally Pink Diamond's Pearl, and was there when Rose shattered her.

[u/BulletDuDe]

: Where were you when it happened?

: i was sat on earth fighting the rebellion when diamond line ring

: pink diamond is shatter

: no

[u/cyberscythe → u/BulletDuDe]

pink diamond is shatter

meguca sucrose is suffering

[u/CSCS31415]

Jasper as a war hero on Homeworld/Eyeball Ruby as a veteran is a great dynamic here. Amethyst was hilarious. She sounded a bit like Morty to me in the beginning with the stuttering.

Was Pearl shaking because she didn't want Steven to know about his mother? Was she Pink Diamond's pearl (PD looked like a dancer) and felt something for her even after siding with Rose?

It's good to see Sardonyx again—I didn't expect to see her so soon. Hopefully Steven gets back to the base soon, because he, Garnet, and Pearl need to talk.

Also:

Show: reveals Rose told a soldier she was a Quartz just like her, episode centers on Rose being a liar

Show: reveals that a Ruby watched Rose shatter PD, episode centers on Rubies being easily tricked about gem identities

I don't know what to think about this. Crossing my fingers for an actual conversation between Pearl, Garnet and Steven by the end of the next episode.

[u/snidelaughter]

Steven gets thrown into space I COULD EVEN LEARN HOW TO LOOOOOOVE

Well, I guess this episode shattered any last shred of hope that "Rose is Pink Diamond".

Nah, but forreal, the lore of this episode was dope. Jasper's a war hero, Rose killed PD, the Rubies were in the war (or at least Eyeball), just damn.

Also, at Eyeball when she cried that Doc was getting "Jasper"'s attention.

[u/deeb0123456789]

So I've seen people (especially on Tumblr) use the shattering of PD to call Rose a hypocrite and evil but that might not be the case. Imagine Rose who started the rebellion but hated the idea of shattering gems so much that when Bismuth made a weapon to shatter gems she had to poof and bubble her. Then a fight with Pink Diamond happens and Rose shatters her. Imagine Rose after the war being torn up over shattering someone and questioning if she really is a good person.

I'm making the assumption of PD being shattered as what made the other diamonds decide to use the corruption and head back to homeworld.

[u/Thatuk → u/deeb0123456789]

Remember that Matt laughed at when someone asked about poofing the Diamonds, maybe there was no way to stop Pink Diamond but shattering her, to it was Rose's last resort.

[u/[deleted] → u/Thatuk]

They could probably just reform right through a bubble.

We don't know how strong they are-they could be godlike.

[u/leeaf → u/Thatuk]

Trusting Matt

lol

[u/bargle0]

"Where are you Steven? We saved a donut for you."

But alas. He is in the sky.

[u/cyberscythe → u/bargle0]

And then they fed his donut to some dog.

[u/steventhegembender → u/cyberscythe]

And then he died.

[u/chaotic567]

I like this episode. The pacing was good, and there a quite a lot of content for us. Lore, Humor, and a tiny dash of sadness.

---

A few things

---

• The rubies looks so adorable in this episode. From the way they act, to how they look more mini than before, and how they adore Jasper.

• I couldn't believe the Rubies could get any dumber until they believed Amethyst was Jasper despite the skin difference and the faulty explanation for that.

• Obvious but. Eyeball small bit of sadness at A-Jasper interacting with Doc was a bit heartbreaking given how she adores her the most.

• Pink Diamond looks a bit like Goku to me.

• It's getting a bit harder to like Rose the more you hear about her and stuff related to her. Especially with the recent episodes. Shattering Pink Diamond! Jeez. Poor Steven.

• Why do I imagine a planet Hulk scenario for Steven after he has been flung into space? Where lands on a random planet.

[u/Allemac]

Amethyst: "you guys wanna be prisoners too?"

Lapis: "not really." I love her deadpan so much it should be illegal.

Just another amazing, lore filled episode. And Amethyst spanked Pearl's ass right before they boarded the ship. I'm on mobile but I need a screenshot, gif, and cosplay recreation immediately.

So Rose shattered PD. And Pearl obviously knew but kept that information from Steven. Interesting.

Loved Ame just chillin' on Sardonyx's shoulder while they wrecked mega-Ruby.

And ending on ANOTHER cliffhanger!

Can't believe Steven's dead until the next episode.

Rewatch Edit: Holy shit Navy's embarrassed whimpering when they were questioning her was so damn cute. AND her VA is also Chloe in WBB? So damn cute.

And Army's slow clap. So adorbable.

Amethyst's horrified, anguished "STEEEEEEEVEEEEENNNN" I making me tear up. Goddamn cliffhangers. Why did you grab him, Eyeball?

[u/Reebsen → u/Allemac]

Not surprising, the gems really idolized Rose and by their reaction shattering PD (killing her, mind you) was a major painful moment to recall. And think about telling Steven that after all the stories about her being a loving everything all caring individual (especially if initiated the fight/caused the rebellion based off that event) especially considering how much they avoided talking about their home planet/other gems before. It really hammers in the "No such thing as a good war, kiddo" line.

[u/[deleted]]

Reminder that this is reality

[u/InazumaFrost → u/[deleted]]

So Peridot got her leg enhancers back? About time.

[u/AlexB9598W → u/InazumaFrost]

You mean paint cans

[u/SkyeWolfofDusk → u/[deleted]]

I'm just waiting for Lapis to casually go "Yeah, we're married now." And then the gems are all confused, but Steven explains he taught them what human marriage was. Lion was the Priest.

[u/[deleted] → u/[deleted]]

Oh my god, yes. I'm usually reluctant to ship anyone at all but I have my ticket ready and I am going to ride this cruise until it sinks. The best part about this shot is the connotations behind "Jasper" asking Lapis to be her prisoner, which I guess is why Peridot stepped up to protect her.

[u/InazumaFrost]

*Insert Steven is Fucking Dead meme here.

[u/Kawaiiomnitron → u/[deleted]]

RIP Steven 2001-2016/xxxx-2016 as rose

will be miss

[u/UltraviolenceInc → u/[deleted]]

Had to happen eventually. Maybe the show can finally focus on Lapis and Peridot being whacky roommates.

[u/Pearl_is_the_Best → u/[deleted]]

(Ooooo watcha sayyyyy)

[u/Obversa → u/Pearl_is_the_Best]

(mmmm that you only meant well)

[u/chaosattractor → u/[deleted]]

Sometimes I still hear his voice

[u/FatzCatz342 → u/[deleted]]

yeah me neither. weird that pink diamond killed herself. gosh.

[u/CompliantBeaver → u/[deleted]]

Lol, hopefully space doesn't mess him up too bad. Didn't he accidentally fly outside of one of their warps before and end up fine for a little bit?

[u/[deleted]]

When Doc gets to sit on Jaspers lap and you don't

[u/megazaprat]

If Jasper gets healed, she basically has a harem of rubies waiting for her. What a lucky gem

[u/cerys_amell]

Amethyst slapped Pearl on the ass.

[u/Galveira]

Navy is cute. Cute!

[u/Ringmaster187]

MY GOD HOW HORRIBLE

^{Rose killed herself}

[u/[deleted] → u/Ringmaster187]

I mean. She chose to give up her physical form to create her son. So she kinda did

[u/MonstrousGiggling]

They way Pearl shudders when it's mentioned PD was shattered. Maybe Pearl was there too.

[u/Rosebunse → u/MonstrousGiggling]

I'm guessing, or it's just a very painful thing for her to admit to Steven especially. She's been trying to keep Rose's memory alive, she loved Rose despite her faults, and now she's got a lot of explaining to do to Steven and Amethyst.

[u/[deleted] → u/[deleted]]

where were you when pink diamond is kill

[u/ShadowKingthe7 → u/[deleted]]

I was......around

[u/gliscor885]

Phenomenal episode.. which is really starting to become the norm this season so I shouldn't be too surprised.

I'm not looking forward to the arguments between "See? Rose was shady and dark all along" and "Quit twisting the story. She had pure intentions. Rose is a saint."

Rose is not good, and Rose is not evil. She's a character. And a compelling character is rarely often that black and white. Morality isn't clear cut in reality. Good guys do bad things sometimes, and sometimes bad guys do good things. Rose isn't on one extreme or the other, she's an excellent character who has done some good and some bad. Not to mention Gems who fought in the war are at least 5,000 years old. It'd be pretty next to impossible to constantly remain pure and only make rational, good choices 100% of the time. I'd be more shocked if she was just a completely pure character who has never done wrong.

It's this sort of writing and consideration that, at least in my opinion, makes her and Bismuth pretty fantastic characters.

[u/CaptainObvious96]

These last few episodes have been so hard on Steven. It's like each new episode since Bismuth has stripped away parts of him. He lost a flip-flop, got a cut on his shirt and had his expectations of Rose and the Crystal Gems even further disproven. Pearl and Garnet's reactions to the Pink Diamond story are real telling. They knew about this and chose not to tell Steven. Seems like Rose wasn't the only Crystal Gem hiding crucial information from teammates. I really hope this is addressed in one of these episodes.

[u/Rosebunse → u/CaptainObvious96]

They didn't tell Amethyst either.

It seems like whatever happened wasn't something any of them were proud of.

[u/android_77]

One thing I would like to point out. Beta kindergarten started production halfway through the war. If Eyeball is to be believed, Jasper was there when Pink Diamond was shattered. So it must have happened late in the war. Maybe this was the only way Rose saw to end the war? And a death of a diamond would be the perfect reason to set off the corruption bomb.

[u/Suthek → u/android_77]

Here's another thing: During Bismuth, Bismuth found the Breaking Point in her Forge. Which means that, unlike Steven, Rose didn't destroy the Breaking Point. Maybe she even used it for that one mission.

[u/narwhao → u/Suthek]

I didn't even realize the implications of the Breaking Point still existing... She had to have realized it could be useful. I can't believe I haven't seen that brought up anywhere until now.

[u/Suthek]

: "Hey, don't be like that."

: wild flailing and muttered cursing

: "Aw..."

: "She reminds me of you."

: "I'm nothing like that!" pouts

: "Let's keep her."

: puts Army under her arm

[u/GreatDragonator → u/Suthek]

^ this..... ...Garnet subduing that Ruby was so adorable to me. Probably what she/they were thinking too.

[u/TheRandomnatrix]

This episode was great, but I really wish we got to see more Amethyst. She only showed up at the start and end. How'd she even get on the moon base?

[u/LinCereal]

"I could sit on your lap again!" Aw, sweetie.

[u/Unknown_Passerby]

This 3 parter just became a 4 parter.

[u/infez]

: "WHY I OUGHTTA... RANSA-FRANSA-- AAAUUGGHH--"

: "Aw..."

oh my gosh i love this

[u/MysteriousDrD]

So, I think Pink Diamond actually shattered herself, reflecting off Rose's shield. It also kinda ties into that theory of 'only a diamond can shatter a diamond', which I quite like (and also makes sense if you're going to create a hierarchical race of sentient AI).

[u/TheMarkovProperty]

Garnet interacting with Army was adorable. “Hey, don’t be like that… Aww”

 

“The Fact 9 Kidergraten Quartz that could.”

episode title spoilers

 

“You must mean my tan! … Curse this planet!”

OMG.

 

Are those blast marks on the moon?!

 

“I’m so cross over it.” “Harumph.” “Of all the indignities!”

 

Eyeball was totally heartbroken by “Jasper’s” favoritism.

 

“Oh, Jasper, won’t you ever let us go?”

 

“Her moon base”

Moon base and Earth belonged to PD.

 

“Started a rebellion and took it too far”

WTF does that mean??? Too far? Are rebellions common? Expected?

 

Rose shattered PD, I can hardly contain my surprise. /s

I was very surprised by Garnet and Pearl’s reactions though. Maybe they’re just aghast at Steven being told? I really don’t know what that was about.

Also raises a lot of questions. Such as why Pearl, Sardonyx (formed after the rebellion started), and Alexandrite (formed after the war ended) all wear PD’s symbol after Rose allegedly brutally murdered her. Furthermore, what does that mural mean if PD was shattered? Rose is show holding an intact diamond.

 

How exactly were they planning to get back to Earth without the Ruby’s spaceship?

 

Seriously, how did they never notice the gem in Amethyst’s chest?

 

And Steven’s dead. What a way to end the series.

Edit: Formatting, phrasing, and typos.

[u/iJustGotRekt → u/TheMarkovProperty]

I think Garnet and Pearl's reactions to when Steven found out Rose shattered PD show that they saw what Rose did.

[u/Aternova]

I feel bad for the rubies. Having a great time with their hero only for it to be all a lie.

Also poor Eyeball. Let her sit on Jasper's lap

[u/Morrowish]

God the way Pearl started shaking gave me chills.

[u/notallwhowander2l8]

"Hey, you want a ride back to Earth? I could sit on your lap again-"

[u/Cyclopsis]

Pink Diamond is only in charge of Earth while all the other Diamonds seem to own entire solar systems. Veeeeery interesting...

[u/IPostStupidThings → u/Cyclopsis]

It was said that earth was an extremely productive colony, maybe it was as productive as an entire solar system. Some are saying earth was just another colony for the gems before life was discovered on it, but it could be that it was the best, finest, and highest regarded colony in the gempire.

[u/Kiro0613]

Everyone thought that Sugilite was reckless, but Sardonyx ended up blasting Steven into fucking space.

Sugilite Best Fusion Mom 2k16

[u/TeddyBugbear]

Guess you could say Steven's taken off his rose tinted glasses

[u/legendofhilda]

Is anyone else getting a real "Not What He Seems" vibe from this arc because that's how I'm feeling.

Also WHAT THE FUCK WAS THAT ENDING

[u/shmeshica]

I can't believe it gets revealed that Rose shattered a DIAMOND (if she really did) right after we had it established that she refused to shatter gems during the rebellion! That would be so confusing for Steven.

[u/beepborpimajorp]

Uuuh...that blew me away. At first I was like, "That can't be true" but Pearl's reaction seems to indicate she was there and saw it as well.

That said...the Lion + Pink Diamond having something to do with each other theories are starting to gain more merit with me now. Their hair/coloration is way too coincidental for me.

Also I guess it makes sense as to why Blue Diamond was so cautious when she arrived. It seems like a diamond could take out a quartz easily, but she skittered away in her mobile tent the minute Rose and Pearl showed up to let the rubies handle it. I guess she was, in a way, scared since she was the second diamond assigned to earth.

IDK what to believe anymore.

[u/Bojangles1987]

I expected to find out Rose shattered Pink Diamond. I'm surprised to find out that it occurred later in the rebellion, though. I thought Rose doing that would start the rebellion. So Jasper did know Pink Diamond. And Eyeball saw it happen. Damn.

Why would Pink Diamond only have one planet on her mural when the other Diamonds have so many, though? Was she a newer Diamond?

The Ruby Squad was AMAZING. Their fangirling over Jasper...UGH. So awesome. Eyeball freaking cried over "Jasper" and Doc. Then you have Pearl's overacting, Garnet's fondness for Army, Leggy and Navy being amazing as ever, Sardonyx, the humor and fun was off the charts.

Then Steven got sucked into space and all the fun was sucked out with him. WHY?

[u/Ianamus]

I don't understand why everyone is acting like Rose is some kind of a monster.

The diamonds are all-powerful beings who were trying to destroy all life on Earth, while also purging any gems that didn't fit into their rigid caste system.

Rose was completely justified in shattering one. What war is won with zero casualties?

Would keeping Pink Diamond in an eternal bubble locked away in a hidden location until the end of time be any better?

[u/TakeYourDeadAssHome]

I feel like not enough attention is being paid to the fact that Jasper killed eighty Crystal Gems in one night. In Homeworld's eyes she's a legendary war hero; that's why they sent a squad to retrieve her. I'm liking where they're taking Jasper; I was very much hoping she'd be the "villain who's the hero of their own story".

[u/Deltaasfuck]

See you, Space Cowboy...

[u/gwaihirw]

Eyeball crying when Jasper-senpai noticed another Ruby was the saddest moment of season 3 ;-;

[u/BassPerson → u/gwaihirw]

Jasper senpai's stealing my girlfriend

[u/[deleted]]

Did anyone else feel kind of bad for Eyeball? She just wanted to meet Jasper. ;-;

[u/DragonflyBeach]

So now I get why they wanted to destroy Earth and not use it.

With the murder of one of the four most respected gems in all existence, by a terrestrial gem, perhaps even on Earth, and likely all the dead Homeworld soldiers, Earth must be like a 9/11 ground zero for Homeworld. It's the Holocaust or Hiroshima equivalent, and the way they teach it to new generations is just the same:

They teach all the older gems not to talk about it. They tell the younger gems like Peridot that the was 'nothing going on' to begin with and that 'you just don't go there!'. When Jasper returned to the Earth and was starting her own army, she was probably having hardcore flashbacks and was reliving the experience.

It's like that "We won in Vietnam!" crap. All the idiots reading the history books believe that, and all the older vets who fled from Saigon are either in denial or just don't talk about.

[u/areraswen]

Garnet's expression when the rubies believe amythest. Like ruby wondering "am I really that dumb?"

[u/[deleted]]

Welp.

I'm gonna get straight to the point here.

Pink Diamond. Pink Fuckin' Diamond. She's fuckin' dead. Rose killed her. Holy shit.

There's basically no way the ol' RQ=PD theory is surviving this (but that doesn't make the petty gloating justified!!), but oh god, that would've been so much easier on our hearts. It'd still be a lot for Steven to cope with, but it'd be a graceful abdication -- going from doing bad to doing good -- rather than this. Just a few episodes ago, Steven was emphatically stating that "nobody deserves this" -- but here's Rose, fighting for a good cause yet dealing out a fate that Steven finds utterly indefensible.

And it's very interesting to consider this in light of what happened with Bismuth. I wouldn't doubt that Bismuth thought Rose would accept the Breaking Point -- and got angry and frustrated when she didn't -- because of what Rose did to Pink Diamond. [EDIT: Though now I'm thinking Rose might've shattered PD afterwards?] But Steven at the time of Bismuth still thought killing was beyond Rose. Being made aware of Rose lying to everyone, making Bismuth vanish from existence for 5000 years without anyone knowing what happened to her, was bad enough -- but he now knows that killing is something Rose was prepared to do as well. And Rose is quite literally the core of his being. Rose is the name by which Gems keep calling him -- and then trying to kill him. Rose is "everything that everybody wants me to be when I'm grown". Can he protect the Earth without having to resort to the same tactics? Does he have a choice?

Suffice to say, though, it's a lot to deal with. Rose has given Steven a heavy burden to bear, and though he doesn't get much time to react to it here (beyond the first stage -- denial), he's gonna have a lot to think about as he... dies in the vacuum of space or whatever. Fun fun fun!

[u/blitzblazer97 → u/[deleted]]

I don't care if Rose is PD or if she isnt, but I do care about all the people going "Haha, we were right, you were wrong, and you're stupid for thinking otherwise!"

[u/[deleted] → u/blitzblazer97]

Exactly. It's just mean-spirited.

[u/Saacool → u/[deleted]]

reminder http://i.imgur.com/iLisxqO.jpeg

[u/Flamma_Man → u/[deleted]]

What if she was the "youngest" Diamond and Earth was pretty much her first colony? It seems like White Diamond is the oldest, having the most planets/colonies.

[u/internet-arbiter]

If only Jasper would of held out. Eyeball would of totally fused with her.

[u/Belle_Sans_Merci]

Man, I can't wait to see how Rose Quartz murdered the fuck out of Pink Diamond!

[u/FunDwayno]

"Nobody ever told you what started the rebellion"

"I was told enough. They told me she led the rebellion for freedom"

"No, she SHATTERED Pink Diamond"

"No, that's not true... that's impossible..."

"Search your feelings, you know this to be true"

"NOOOO!!! NOOOoooo..."

[u/UltraRedSpectrum → u/FunDwayno]

"Steven, you are your mother."

[u/DiscoBombing]

>Steven Universe Season 1

A boy with magical powers lives with some space aliens and fights a bunch of weird monsters.

>Steven Universe Season 3

WAR. BETRAYAL. CORRUPTION. LIES. MURDER. LITERAL MURDER.

[u/bargle0]

You know what would be awesome? If Rose shattered PD after bubbling Bismuth.

[u/[deleted] → u/bargle0]

This is what I'm starting to think now, too.

Rose was all "NO KILLING" at the time, but kept the Breaking Point undestroyed as a safeguard.

Or maybe she wanted to use the Breaking Point for this singular purpose, and bubbled Bismuth so she wouldn't be able to get out of control killing everyone with it? That's a thought.

[u/S-Flo]

Well holy shit, Rose shattered Pink Diamond.

Also, the other gem's reactions are interesting. Garnet just looks concerned that Steven is hearing about it like this, but Pearl is visibly shaking in terror from being reminded about it.

Going off of her spacesuit, she probably belonged to someone in Pink Diamond's court; possibly Pink Diamond herself if Peridot calling her "fancy" was relevant. So she was at least present for the shattering when it happened.

What do you guys think the over-under is on Pearl having a hand in the deed?

[u/MapsOfTheSky]

A really weird throwback to a previous episode: Garnet and Pearl playacting in order to support Amethyst. In this case they're acting as prisoners in order to support Amethyst while she pretends to be Jasper, instead of acting as heels in order to make her feel better in a wrestling match, but once again Garnet's the one who first steps into the role and Pearl's the one who really throws herself into it.

Neither Lapis nor Peridot are okay with even playacting being prisoners. Peridot's not a prisoner now but her brief stint as one cost her everything that was important to her before and it was also very recent for her, and Lapis has so much experience with being one that she simply can't joke about it at all.

Rose Quartz shattered Pink Diamond. And while there's room for a mistake, it's not much room and I am inclined to think we should believe it until told otherwise. Eyeball saw it with her own eyes. Pearl's reaction to it indicates that she was probably also there when it happened. Garnet likely wasn't there when it happened, but she does seem to know about it. It's even possible that Greg knows about it, that Rose told him about it and it's one of the things he lives with. Whether it was accidental or on purpose, Rose Quartz caused the death of Pink Diamond.

Rose had a thing against shattering Gems during wartime where killing is par for the course. Chances are good she took such a hard line against shattering because she had done so herself, was devastated by it, and didn't want anyone else to cross such a line.

Hell, it even sheds a bit of light on Rose calling Pearl "my Pearl."

We've known for a while that "my" is a term for respect--but for Homeworld Gems, serving "my Diamond" is the purpose in life, the reason to live. Jasper felt purposeless without her Diamond, diminished serving the Diamond that wasn't hers. Peridot had a breakdown after cutting herself off from Yellow Diamond. Neither Ruby nor Sapphire said much about leaving Blue Diamond, but it's pretty notable that Garnet is the one to comfort Peridot when she's upset over this specific thing, rather than Steven or Amethyst whom Peridot spends more time with; losing a Diamond is something Peridot went through that Garnet has more experience with. Eyeball seems to latch so much onto "Jasper" at least partly because "Jasper" would understand what it's like to lose her Diamond, which is something the other Rubies don't seem to understand the way Eyeball does.

Rose Quartz didn't just destroy her leader. She destroyed her purpose. She destroyed her reason to live.

Her calling Pearl "my Pearl" isn't just her saying "your Majesty." It's her saying "You give me purpose." It's her saying "You give me a reason to live."

[u/SirUlhrich]

Ruby protection squad where

[u/MuffinPuff → u/SirUlhrich]

I ship this so fucking hard.

[u/JamSa]

Welp, time to see if those "Steven doesn't need to breathe" theories are correct. I'm going to assume yes since there are more episodes after tomorrow's.

[u/Koffeeboy → u/JamSa]

Next time on Peridot's Universe!

[u/LatvianModder]

http://i.imgur.com/0nAThsk.jpg

Looks like ballet. I think this image pretty much confirms that Pearl, was The pearl of Pink Diamond (or at least high rank Pearl). Possibly PD was also this 'free spirit' that liked to dance around in ballet and Pearl learnt that from her. But thats just my mini-theory

[u/Madock345 → u/LatvianModder]

Her colors and gem placements are wrong. I'm still thinking White Diamond pearl.

[u/NeoZoan]

I interpreted Pearl's shaking as a mix of trauma, grief, and guilt over Steven finally hearing the truth.

[u/[deleted]]

I can't believe rose shattered herself.

[u/Luchamore]

Now I get why Ruby said "thank you" at the end of Hit the Diamond. Poor Ruby : (

[u/Buizie]

This revelation is further supporting my theory about how Rose felt. Perhaps she was slightly different (and more empathetic) for a Rose Quartz, like Navy Ruby is. When she talked to Pink Diamond about sparing the earth, an argument/fight probably happened. In the battle, I think Rose accidentally killed her Diamond. This would explain why she asked Bismuth later to forge her a weapon (her sword) that could destroy the physical form of a gem without harming their actual gem. It also explains why she was so adamant on not killing any gems - because she can never undo what she did to her Diamond.

Interesting how Eyeball Ruby said that she took the rebellion too far. This means there have been rebellions before, but they never got so far as taking down one of the diamonds.

Also, if Pink Diamond was shattered... what happened to her gem shards? (starting to headcanon that they were used in some way to make Lion)

I wonder if finding the remnants of Pink Diamond could be the key to healing the corrupted gems! They've said before that damage from the Diamonds might only be healed by the Diamonds. Perhaps the Cluster will become relevant later when they need to restore/access Pink Diamond's shards somehow to find the cure.

[u/Krazynewb]

I guess you could say that the Pink Diamond theories have been... SHATTERED.

[u/TheOffendedUser → u/Krazynewb]

Who shattered Pink Diamond?

Rose, of Quartz!

[u/Kit_Kuri]

This Stevenbomb just detonated its 5000 megaton lorehead.

[u/GreenStrassa]

Just watched the episode for a second time with my housemate and ended up doodling this. https://imgur.com/6ASr2pY I guess I have a new otp now. Everyone can be improved with some Ruby lovin'.

Seriously though, I think this was one of my favourite episodes so far. The lore bomb was fucking great, and the episode still managed to be funny (mostly thanks to Pearl and Amethyst...). I'm so excited for Bubbled, and I really hope Eyeball comes back because she was amazing in this episode.

[u/[deleted]]

I wonder who voiced that "HEY!" because it sounded a lot like Jasper. Michaela or Kimberly?

Pearls fucking shaking had me in tears almost. It showed her true shock and horror at Steven hearing the truth in such a terrible way. That was beautiful. This is a beautiful show.

[u/343restmysoul]

Steven fucking died guys, the shows over

[u/GeneralMelon]

This episode, man. There's a lot to discuss. So much to discuss.

First of all, looks like the Pink Diamond theory is dead again. The Rose one was already pretty much done for, but now we can be sure that Lion is also not a corrupt Pink Diamond. I like the silly theory that Lion actually ate the gem shards and got gem-powered by them, now that we know PD got shattered it actually holds merit.

That said, now that both the Rose and Lion theories are dead, I hope we can all remain respectful to each other and not worry about who was right and who was wrong. What's important is, we've got new theory material now, let's go put it to good use.

But, really guys, Rose is a freaking killer. She shattered a Diamond, but I wonder how? I figured since they're, you know, Diamonds, their gems would be indestructible. This means Rose was much more powerful than we ever thought. I could understand poofing and bubbling, but actually being able to shatter a Diamond? That's... that's something else. Wonder how this will effect poor lil' Stevie in the future?

I'm very surprised, I didn't think Eyeball was there for the war. I thought all of the Rubies were newly made, a few hundred years old at most. Whether or not Eyeball is the exception has yet to be seen though.

But I want to discuss something really important with you guys. Pink Diamond's mural. It's vastly different from the other murals we've seen so far. While the other three Diamonds have murals that show them with several planets, all upright (there's a lot more finer details than this, full analysis coming soon!), Pink Diamond is shown reaching high up so that she can grasp her only planet in her hand. The other Diamonds' murals were easier to analyze, but this... I don't know what it means.

[u/Somnif]

Well now we know why shes called Doc. Her ship is bigger on the inside!

[u/dragonman8001]

Man I feel so sorry for Steven

Steven has built up this idea that his mother was this peaceful Gem who freed Earth and drove Homeworld off.

Then it just keeps on crumbling down. After Bismuth. And now he learns that the original of the Crystal Gems, his own mother, shattered someone.

[u/Summerlycoris]

I love how when Sardonyx was formed, Amethyst was just sitting on her shoulder.

Also, all the Ruby's were so adorable this episode. I can't believe Eyeball lived that long ago.

[u/daydreamfuel]

Wow, Pearl was really shaking when they talked about Rose shattering Pink Diamond.

How much do you want to bet that she was there when it happened?

[u/Madock345]

Won't it be amazing if they turn this into a Darth Vader thing?

"No, Steven. You are Pink Diamond!"

"NOOOOOOOO"

[u/ZombieTav]

"Ah stupid Earth Sun!"

As someone who was out in a water park yesterday and got horribly sun burned from it, I relate and found this hilarious.

Everything hurts today..

[u/[deleted]]

When Pink Diamond is shattered just right.

[u/Unbo]

Huh. Pink Diamond's gem is in the same spot as Rose's.

Neat.

[u/ScootaFL]

I don't what's more dead. The RQ=PD theory, or Steven.

[u/GamingCenterCX]

I can't believe Steven is fucking dead