Peridot and Unlearning (Internalized & Externalized) Homophobia
i.e., here's why peridot's redemption arc is partially (a metaphor?) about unlearning homophobia
the title sounds crazy but bear with me here.
let's start off with saying NO, fusion does not = romantic love. that's an age old discourse and it can be so easily solved by stating there are many different forms of love, and sometimes fusion is just for power (which is a form of love in-of itself, albeit fucked; the love for power or toxic love) HOWEVER, in many cases, such as Garnet's, it most certainly is about romantic love. so to keep it as brief as possible, thats what we have in mind in this post. it's gay love okay.
now, let's talk about the scene i just captioned. this is from the episode "too far," which is an episode about developing a crush and accidentally hurting them in the process of trying to impress them. (however you want to look at it, but thats how i interpret it) the fact it starts off with casual homophobia is important, coz it shows peridot still has a lot of prejudices despite recently becoming part of the team, which is full of gay people, undeniably.
peridot's redemption arc is partially about coming to terms with your sexuality, retraining your mind from internalized homophobia after being raised in such a homophobic society/household, and becoming proud of your sexuality / identity.
OBSERVE:
"you dont understand! im protecting a planet i was once trying to destroy! i used to follow every order - every rule!"
"now im a traitor! a rebel!"
"A CRYSTAL QUEEEEEER"
sorry i had that joke stored for this analysis since 2019. anyways
i'm going to try to keep this short, but more under the cut.
IM SO BAD at organizing my words so this post is rly hard to make so im gonna do it like this.
MORE EVIDENCE THAT PERIDOT'S REDEMPTION ARC IS COMING TO TERMS WITH BEING GAY / UNLEARNING HOMOPHOBIA:
being frustrated about joining a lesbian/gay gang
coming from a society where homosexuality is forbidden
telling off your mom by saying youre joining some rebel lesbians/gays to fight her oppressive society
wearing pride flags (stars) everywhere after coming out
looking up to experienced lesbians (Garnet)
the scissoring joke (from "too far." if you know you know)
furthermore, i thought it'd be fair to include peridot learning how to respect how people identify in other ways, such as names / how they prefer to be addressed. this, most of the time, goes hand-in-hand with homophobia.
peridot, narrating: "he also said he wanted me to stop calling him "the" steven."
steven: "its just, steven!"
peridot: "i told him i'd call him whatever i want!" [hiss]
peridot: "he told me that was rude."
(from the episode "log date 7 15 2")
peridot learns how to respect how people identify. lgbt win
i should add she also eventually learns how to respect Garnet's whole deal in the same episode (log date 7 15 2) which was also a huge moment in her unlearning homophobia. which, btw if you dont know or dont remember, Garnet does by comparing herself to peridot's (assuming) gay ship between Percy and Pierre from Camp Pining Hearts, saying she was the optimized version of herself (the reason peridot "ships" them; theyre the best team logically according to her analysis ship chart)
anyways, now the biggest most obvious point is the fact that peridot actually is gay. i've referred to this episode a few times now, but thats becoz it really is a huge point in proving my 'thesis';
in the episode "too far," peridot is shown to get obsessed with impressing amethyst. peridot experiences something they havent yet up until this point: a crush. i mean, you can interpret it as you wish, but thats how i saw it. the butterflies, the obsession with making someone laugh, the fact peridot states amethyst is objectively the best gem of the crystal gems and emphasizes "damaging her standing with the best gem here" with their apology to amethyst after hurting her feelings.
and um, this.
🌈yeag
sorry im losing any professionalism i started this post with. also this is focusing on early-season / redemption arc peridot which is why its kind of short and is missing stuff from later seasons. i hope this was at least somewhat concise and easy to understand, and i hope yall see my point of view here! feel free to add on (theres SO MUCH its easy for it to skip my mind) if you have any other points youd like to make to support my cause and uprising. love you
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How do you think a Worm/Ward crossover with Steven Universe would work? Since they both get crystalline aliens...
I have never watched the Fusion Dancing Gay Rocks show, all I know is that the fans of it have very strong feelings about things and that the movie took immediate advantage of Steamboat Willy becoming public property
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The Signless will defeat Condy, GHB & Doc Scratch throught the power of his thousabds of moms who will not stand the idea of their boy being hurt. Maternal instinct no one knew trolls were capable of overpowes everything. Good end! ✨️
If the Jades were unionized, the plot of homestuck would not have happened
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