Let's Discuss: Steven Universe Future "In Dreams"

I had this re-occurring thought when I first started watching Steven Universe in 2015. By then, it had already had a little following I had yet to understand. But in that brief period of bliss, before we found out who Rose Quartz really was; I kept thinking "when will the other shoe drop?"

Steven Universe, for those confused parents/adults on the internet who don't live on Tumblr or the Cartoon Community on YouTube, is an american cartoon about a little boy who's half human and half alien. These Aliens are called Gems and they come from a far off planet called "Home World". When we first meet Steven we see him thriving. He has a cute little house off the shores of 'Beach City' with his mom's family, three very loving gems named Garnet, Amethyst, and Pearl.

But as Steven learns more and more about who his mother actually is, and if there's even a possibility that you're interested in this series now. But don't want any spoilers about anything, this is your warning to bookmark this page and come back later to finish this read. Because it's a doozy.

Okay now that they're gone...Oh my God!

As we inch ever so closer to the end of Steven Universe, I can feel the invisible intense pressure of what is left for Steven to face. In a universe where every conflict seems to be solved and world peace and normalcy between humans and gems is everywhere. Steven, who is now 16 at the start of Steven Universe: Future and has been in a gem war since he was a baby. Can now finally be a kid. But it's a little too late and the damage is already present.

We're no stranger to Mental Health and acceptance of such through each episode and scenario with a show like Steven Universe. We watched Pearl go through the jagged stages of grief after Rose passed away. We watched Garnet break down, we've felt Amethyst at her lowest and watched as Steven helped his gem family cope and heal with each problem that was thrown their way. But while Steven was making everything better for the gems that he loved, a deep rooted storm was taking flight.

And this my fellow reader, at the end of it all, when Steven Universe has the ability to live a normal life. Is where the other shoe is about to drop. The first half of Steven Universe: Future set it up with the episode "Prickly Pair" which first introduced us to Steven's insecurities through a cactus he planted that plays the mimic game and copies everything he said to the prickly little succulent.

But the build-up continues in this week's episode. "In Dreams" opens up to a dream-like sequence. Steven tries to attend a party that is being held in his house. Everyone inside looks like they're having fun as he peers through his window at them and as he reaches for the door to join them, the door to his house disappears and he falls through his deck as a giant image of Cookie Cat from the first season looks downward at him and asks him what his purpose is if everyone around him doesn't need him anymore. Steven wakes up in a cold sweat and is greeted at his screen door by his friend Peridot who excitedly and anxiously waits to watch the reboot of her favorite TV show with Steven who we find out recorded it for them to watch. But as they watch the series premiere they notice that Steven had developed a new power when the recording blips from the episode to the nightmare that he had woken up from just a few moments ago.

Peridot and Steven decide to have a little fun and we're re-introduced to the idea of a "create-your-own-adventure" story arc that was used in the episode "Open Book" where Steven and Connie create alternative endings for their favorite book series.

And just like in "Open Book", Steven and Peridot are not happy with the way the 'reboot' is turning out. So much like the events of the season two episode, the two characters use Steven's power to manipulate the recording on his TV to show his dreams and re-create the world of 'Camp Pining Hearts' in the way that the two wanted it.

Super Meta of the Steven Universe writers. Again, if you don't follow Steven Universe online, you'd never know that a lot of the Steven Universe fan base is a mix of fans who think Steven Universe may have nothing else to offer and that this last season isn't necessary. I appreciate the subtle fourth wall break.

As Steven and Peridot attempt to make a show they love as entertaining as they remember, Steven goes back to work and dreams about the story that the two had worked on the day before. Each attempt ending with Steven waking up in a cold sweat and going back to sleep to fix it. Over and over again until he can't do it anymore. Much like it was shown earlier in the series and even in this season of 'Steven Universe: Future' Steven is brought to a breaking point and finds himself trapped in a surrealistic dream going after Peridot who got up and walked away from him when he said that he didn't want to use this power anymore.

Steven wakes up to Peridot shaking him. She assures him that she doesn't want to use his power anymore if it is hurting him and putting him in distress. A happy ending to a pretty intense episode.

Dreams say a lot about You to You.

I had a brief interest in the psychology of a dream. And a dream says a lot about you to you. Scientists still don't fully understand why we dream, but the importance of dreaming is very much present.

Dreaming helps your mental and physical health. It helps your memory and if you know how to find the meaning behind each dream that you have, the more you'll be better prepared to face the tests that life throws in front of you.

If we break down the symbolism in each dream scene. You can piece together that there is a little more going on with Steven than what he is ready to face.

You can see this in the montage scene with Peridot and Steven. Every time Steven would get to the Kiak race he'd wake up in shock.

The re-occurrence of his biggest insecurity in this season playing out in different ways each time he went back to sleep. Ending the montage with Baby Steven in the boat instead of Dream Steven.

This was a subtle nod to the episode "Three Gems and a baby". But if you've been following his decline in Mental Health since the events of the Steven Universe Movie, you can easily connect it with his fear of not being able to help. Which was emphasized again just a few scenes later when Steven followed Peridot deeper into his nightmare.

And if the Steven Universe writers are going to show the decline of Steven's mental health into Gem Corruption through more Surrealistic images and scenarios, I am here for it.

Steven Universe: Future is on Fridays at 7 p.m. on Cartoon Network.