Steven Universe: Rocknaldo
February 24, 2017 6:27 PM - Season 4, Episode 18 - Subscribe
Ronaldo joins the Crystal Gems!
Ronaldo is one reddit visit away from becoming a Red Piller and starting a MGTOW blog.
posted by Pendragon at 12:27 AM on February 25, 2017 [3 favorites]
posted by Pendragon at 12:27 AM on February 25, 2017 [3 favorites]
And I bet the SU fandom is going apeshit over the fact Ronaldo got a star before Peridot and Lapis, because the SU fandom can be that petty.
posted by Pendragon at 12:29 AM on February 25, 2017
posted by Pendragon at 12:29 AM on February 25, 2017
Yeah, I figure Pearl's probably actually met a Bloodstone over the course of her life and is not impressed by Ronaldo's attempt.
I'm curious as to what Ronaldo's Cassandra moment is in this episode. He usually is bang on about *something* re. the show's overall lore. Maybe it's just the curiosity about Steven's reluctance to use his gemstone name. Of course special insider nomenclature would be like crack to someone like Ronaldo, and it makes just as much sense that Steven would be unwilling to use that name.
Although Steven dodged like a pro when Ronaldo referred to Connie as Steven's girlfriend. Maybe that's our moment. I kind of hope not - I had lots of male friends when I was a fourteen year old lass, and most of them I had zero interest in dating despite close emotional relationships. That's a message that's not seen a lot, and I'd love for Connie to maintain her current complex role rather than be reduced down to a love interest.
Speaking of important messages, there was an element I noticed too about not taking shit from bad allies, or letting them set the tone of your movement. I have a suspicion that's pretty relevant for a lot of the fans right now.
posted by Jilder at 2:53 AM on February 25, 2017 [8 favorites]
I'm curious as to what Ronaldo's Cassandra moment is in this episode. He usually is bang on about *something* re. the show's overall lore. Maybe it's just the curiosity about Steven's reluctance to use his gemstone name. Of course special insider nomenclature would be like crack to someone like Ronaldo, and it makes just as much sense that Steven would be unwilling to use that name.
Although Steven dodged like a pro when Ronaldo referred to Connie as Steven's girlfriend. Maybe that's our moment. I kind of hope not - I had lots of male friends when I was a fourteen year old lass, and most of them I had zero interest in dating despite close emotional relationships. That's a message that's not seen a lot, and I'd love for Connie to maintain her current complex role rather than be reduced down to a love interest.
Speaking of important messages, there was an element I noticed too about not taking shit from bad allies, or letting them set the tone of your movement. I have a suspicion that's pretty relevant for a lot of the fans right now.
posted by Jilder at 2:53 AM on February 25, 2017 [8 favorites]
And I bet the SU fandom is going apeshit over the fact Ronaldo got a star before Peridot and Lapis, because the SU fandom can be that petty.
It's worth remembering that there are far more good fans than bad, it's just that the bad ones are loud and visible, often because they lack the very social skills that make them obnoxious.
posted by JHarris at 4:13 AM on February 25, 2017 [1 favorite]
It's worth remembering that there are far more good fans than bad, it's just that the bad ones are loud and visible, often because they lack the very social skills that make them obnoxious.
posted by JHarris at 4:13 AM on February 25, 2017 [1 favorite]
Oh, and: "Crystal Gems! Let's head back!" Jump...
...
...and land twenty feet away, heh.
posted by JHarris at 4:33 AM on February 25, 2017 [6 favorites]
...
...and land twenty feet away, heh.
posted by JHarris at 4:33 AM on February 25, 2017 [6 favorites]
Ronaldo is one reddit visit away from becoming a Red Piller and starting a MGTOW blog.
I've thought that Ronaldo's purpose was as a place for Rebecca Sugar to put some of her thoughts about the more obsessive fans/haters.
I had lots of male friends when I was a fourteen year old lass, and most of them I had zero interest in dating despite close emotional relationships. That's a message that's not seen a lot, and I'd love for Connie to maintain her current complex role rather than be reduced down to a love interest.
That's one of the things that I liked about Freaks and Geeks--in part, it was meant as an antidote to the "teenagers, especially male teenagers, are obsessive horndogs who are always trying to get it on." Steven thanked Connie for keeping his bed warm, and they didn't follow it up with A Significant Glance.
posted by Halloween Jack at 8:07 AM on February 26, 2017 [4 favorites]
I've thought that Ronaldo's purpose was as a place for Rebecca Sugar to put some of her thoughts about the more obsessive fans/haters.
I had lots of male friends when I was a fourteen year old lass, and most of them I had zero interest in dating despite close emotional relationships. That's a message that's not seen a lot, and I'd love for Connie to maintain her current complex role rather than be reduced down to a love interest.
That's one of the things that I liked about Freaks and Geeks--in part, it was meant as an antidote to the "teenagers, especially male teenagers, are obsessive horndogs who are always trying to get it on." Steven thanked Connie for keeping his bed warm, and they didn't follow it up with A Significant Glance.
posted by Halloween Jack at 8:07 AM on February 26, 2017 [4 favorites]
I'm curious as to what Ronaldo's Cassandra moment is in this episode.
There's a theory going around that "crushed up gemstones in bloodstreams" is exactly how Lion works.
posted by divabat at 11:43 AM on February 26, 2017 [3 favorites]
There's a theory going around that "crushed up gemstones in bloodstreams" is exactly how Lion works.
posted by divabat at 11:43 AM on February 26, 2017 [3 favorites]
I really liked this episode! Is everyone so wary as I'm reading them? Also, guess I now know which flavour Crystal Gem I'd be, for what little credit it does me. Also. I (mis-?)clocked Ronaldo's hair and shirt as echoing Steven's star before the official taping took place. Love it regardless.
Generally, I thought the episode was genuinely trying to model a détente of sorts, showing how people could move from opposing positions towards something closer. Really liked that aspect of it.
Yeah, I figure Pearl's probably actually met a Bloodstone over the course of her life and is not impressed by Ronaldo's attempt.
Did not even occur to me, but of course she must have!
posted by comealongpole at 4:07 PM on February 26, 2017 [2 favorites]
Generally, I thought the episode was genuinely trying to model a détente of sorts, showing how people could move from opposing positions towards something closer. Really liked that aspect of it.
Yeah, I figure Pearl's probably actually met a Bloodstone over the course of her life and is not impressed by Ronaldo's attempt.
Did not even occur to me, but of course she must have!
posted by comealongpole at 4:07 PM on February 26, 2017 [2 favorites]
The little not-so-throwaway convo about Steven passing as Human rather than as Rose Quartz at the end got me all fan-fired up too. I've said before how much I love when e.g. Jasper calls out Steven as Rose (even though it's wrong and proper messed up to boot).
posted by comealongpole at 4:16 PM on February 26, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by comealongpole at 4:16 PM on February 26, 2017 [1 favorite]
I just assumed she's beaten up basically the majority of gem types as developed by Homeworld circa 4000BC or so. She was a very busy little femme for a while there.
posted by Jilder at 7:43 PM on February 26, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by Jilder at 7:43 PM on February 26, 2017 [1 favorite]
I was talking about the show with a friend and was saying that I loved every character on Steven Universe (yes, even Jasper!) with the exception of Lars.
UPATE: I also dislike Ronaldo. Ugh.
I liked the episode fine if only for the Gems' disdain toward...Bloodstone and how hard they tried for Steven's sake and for how much Steven tries to see everyone's POV and respect everyone's value as a person (or Gem). I love Steven so much.
posted by Aquifer at 7:28 AM on February 27, 2017 [1 favorite]
UPATE: I also dislike Ronaldo. Ugh.
I liked the episode fine if only for the Gems' disdain toward...Bloodstone and how hard they tried for Steven's sake and for how much Steven tries to see everyone's POV and respect everyone's value as a person (or Gem). I love Steven so much.
posted by Aquifer at 7:28 AM on February 27, 2017 [1 favorite]
The thing about Ronaldo that redeems him, in my eyes, is that he's willing to change. When Steven corrects him about his opinions and tells him "rock people" is offensive, he doesn't argue back and try to tell Steven that his personal experience is wrong, he accepts it. He does so in a wrong way of course, but at the end of the episode he accepts that he's wrong again, and when he asks Steven why he doesn't use his Gem Name, it's from a place of concern. Those are the things that show us there may be hope for Ronaldo yet.
Also note that this episode was storyboarded by Florido and Zuke. Lauren Zuke has dealt with more than a fair share of fandom harassment.
posted by JHarris at 9:43 AM on February 27, 2017 [5 favorites]
Also note that this episode was storyboarded by Florido and Zuke. Lauren Zuke has dealt with more than a fair share of fandom harassment.
posted by JHarris at 9:43 AM on February 27, 2017 [5 favorites]
I felt like this episode was as direct commentary as we'll get about some of the fan-based harassment that Lauren Zuke has dealt with.
posted by sleeping bear at 12:30 PM on March 1, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by sleeping bear at 12:30 PM on March 1, 2017 [1 favorite]
To me this read as part obsessive fan culture, part self-described "transethnic" people who get really indignant when told that's not actually a thing.
posted by duffell at 6:10 AM on August 5, 2017
posted by duffell at 6:10 AM on August 5, 2017
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The gems are remarkably willing to put up with the experiment.
Pearl mangling his name every time. Bloodfry, I think, was one?
Little lesson about hating the Other in there, of course. And setting boundaries and not letting people manipulate you: "You've worried enough about him, Steven."
Still pretty sure YD's gonna show up and abduct some more Human Zoo specimens. Just waitin' for that.
And unless they've been poofed and bubbled, the Rubies are still floating in space.
posted by emjaybee at 7:24 PM on February 24, 2017 [2 favorites]