| “ |
Garnet: I couldn't resist looking into your future. I peeked, and I saw a possibility that our tears would keep you from leaving. [...] But I also saw many paths ahead of you, and we are a part of all of them. Wherever you end up, we will visit you to talk, to listen, to be there – whenever you need us. We love you, Steven. |
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| —Garnet and Steven | ||
"The Future" is the 20th episode of Steven Universe Future, the 20th episode overall, and the final episode of Steven Universe Future and the Steven Universe franchise. It is also the fourth and final part of the four-part finale.
Official Synopsis
Steven is finally ready to move on.
Plot
Steven is on the beach doing a workout when Connie and Lion come in. She asks Steven if he wants to do one last routine before he moves out.
Steven and Connie are in Steven's bedroom and are planning Steven's schedule. Connie asks him how everyone took the news about Steven moving out. He basically told everyone in Beach City, and his dad, but he hasn't told the Gems yet. He doesn't have any idea how they are going to take it because the Gems have been so protective of him since his meltdown. He wonders if there's a way he could let them down easy.
Later that day, Garnet, Amethyst, and Pearl return from the Warp Pad and they see Steven waiting for them. He then shows the Gems his homemade Cookie Cats, and the Gems eat some, including Pearl. The Gems reprise the Cookie Cat song Steven sang to them years ago, singing the song themselves (but ending on "He left his family behind.").
Steven compares his abandonment of everyone else to Cookie Cat, thinking the reason he left was to move forward in life, despite how difficult it was. He then quickly announces to the Gems, with hesitation, that he's decided to move out the next day, and has a plan of how he's able to visit his friends before he can decide where he wants to go and urges the Gems not to talk him out of his decision. However, the Gems seem to take his decision very lightly and are proud of him showing a desire to be independent.
Steven goes to Little Homeworld, where Bismuth, Lapis, and Peridot do not take the news of Steven's departure so lightly. Bismuth begs him not to leave them, and Lapis tries to assure him that running elsewhere will result in what she went through in her past. Peridot bursts out crying, showing how she doesn't want Steven to leave and that there won't be anyone else like him. To commemorate everything they've been through, Steven hands out gifts for everyone to remember him. He gives Peridot his old salmon-pink shirt from the original series, a drawing kit with watercolors for Lapis, and Bismuth gets Rose's Battle Flag since she was one of the very first Crystal Gems. They all hug him while crying, thanking him for all he's done for them, even Steven bursts into tears saying that he loves them, as they reply the same.
Before heading back to pack his things, Steven encounters Jasper, who appears by punching a hole in the wall. She has heard about him leaving and insists that she's coming with him, but he says to her that he will move on alone, and can protect himself. Jasper punches another hole after saying to Steven "Farewell, my Diamond.", proving that even she is also upset about him leaving.
Steven heads back to the Temple and gives Amethyst his old video games. She is touched at first but appears to be excited to play his games, which isn't what Steven was expecting. He then goes outside to give Pearl his old ukulele, and she nonchalantly stores it in her gemstone. Steven says it's okay for Pearl to be sad, but she replies that him leaving is a positive thing as he's going to explore new places.
Steven holds back his tears as he goes to visit Garnet, giving her the same wedding plan book he used to plan Ruby and Sapphire's wedding, in the hopes that Garnet can eventually help Steven plan his own wedding when the time should come. As she takes it, not showing a lot of emotion, Steven tries to reason with her about how she should feel about his leaving, but Garnet reassures him that he'll be fine. She says that even with her future vision, it's up to him to figure out what to do when he leaves. As she warps away, he weeps.
Steven has all of his things packed up, but he's a little upset over the fact that though the Gems know he's leaving, he didn't get the reaction he was expecting. Greg tells him that they still love him, and are probably trying to be supportive. Steven's gift to Greg is his old room and a wall poster of Kerry Moonbeam, stating that he is now able to move in with the Gems. Laying down on the bed, Greg appreciates this gift, stating how he finally getting some well-deserved rest, and Steven departing is similar to his own childhood.
Outside the Temple, Steven says his goodbyes to Connie and Greg, heading for the bed and breakfast, with Connie reminding him to give her a text so he doesn't forget to have breakfast with her. Afterward, he says goodbye to the Gems, who are still smiling their happy faces, and each of them gives Steven a goodbye hug.
As Steven heads off in the Dondai, driving off to his next destination, he looks at his mirror, watching his family and Connie waving goodbye to him until he can't see them anymore. He then halts the car and quickly drives it in reverse to where the Gems are, and bursts into tears, asking why the Gems are taking the situation so lightly. However, the Gems revealed that they were holding back their tears, and are extremely sad about Steven leaving.
They all come crying together for a group hug and said they didn't want their sad thoughts to interfere with him leaving, but whatever happens in his future, they're a part of it too. Everyone stating they love each other, they give Steven one more goodbye, and he leaves his old home to a new path in his future. Steven passes by the Big Donut, where everyone waves goodbye to him as he leaves Beach City, beginning his road trip, ending the episode, the series, and the entire Steven Universe franchise overall.
Features
Characters
- Steven Universe
- Garnet
- Pearl
- Amethyst
- Greg Universe
- Connie Maheswaran
- Lion
- Bismuth
- Lapis Lazuli
- Peridot
- Jasper
- Kiki Pizza (non-speaking)
- Kofi Pizza (non-speaking)
- Nanefua Pizza (non-speaking)
- Nanefua's Bodyguards (non-speaking)
- Larimar (non-speaking)
- Harold Smiley (non-speaking)
- Quentin Frowney (non-speaking)
- Barbara Miller (non-speaking)
- Mr. Fryman (non-speaking)
- Peedee Fryman (non-speaking)
- Ronaldo Fryman (non-speaking)
- Jane (non-speaking)
- Blue Lace Agate (non-speaking)
- Vidalia (non-speaking)
- Onion (non-speaking)
- Yellowtail (non-speaking)
- Orange Spodumene (non-speaking)
- Bixbite (non-speaking)
- Watermelon Tourmaline (non-speaking)
- Crazy Lace Agate (non-speaking)
- Bill Dewey (non-speaking)
- Lars Barriga (mentioned)
- Sadie Miller (mentioned)
- Shep (mentioned)
- Cat Steven (cameo)
- Pink Pearl (cameo)
- Flint (cameo)
- Chert (cameo)
- A Jade (cameo)
- A Ruby (cameo)
- Pumpkin (cameo)
- A Sentient Gourd (debut; cameo)
- A Sentient Squash (debut; cameo)
Objects
- Warp Pad
- Steven's Video Game Systems
- Steven's hoodie
- A 142-piece art box
- Cookie Cats (Steven's version)
- Golf Quest Mini
- Ranger Guy
- Keep Beach City Weird: You Can't Hide the Truth!!!
- Rose's Battle Flag
- Steven's Ukulele
- Cheeseburger Backpack
- Dondai Supremo
Locations
- Delmarva
- Beach City
- Little Homeworld
- Charm City (mentioned)
- Providence Island (mentioned)
- Kansas (indirectly mentioned)
- University of Jayhawk (indirectly mentioned)
Music
Songs
Instrumental
Trivia
- This is the first time Steven and Connie are shown kissing.
- This is the first time Pearl is shown eating.
- The Cheeseburger Backpack is seen with Onion as he waves goodbye to Steven.
Cultural References
- While planning Steven's and Connie's itineraries, Connie mentions Boogle Maps, a spoof of Google Maps.
- Amethyst references what saving N64 games is like.
- She even questions "Why does [the game] only have one save slot?" which was a common complaint regarding classic Nintendo games.
- Steven tells Peridot to "Be the Steven [she] wants to see in the world." a reference to the popular quote "Be the change you want to see in the world".
Continuity
- According to Steven, the episode takes place a few months after the events of "I Am My Monster".
- Cookie Cat, as well as the song of the same name, return from "Gem Glow", the very first episode.
- Due to the company ceasing production on the product, Steven had to make his own batch of Cookie Cats.
- Pearl's enjoyment of the Cookie Cat jingle may be inspired by her enjoyment of commercial jingles first shown in "Bismuth Casual".
- Steven gives Lapis a drawing kit with water colors because of her love for Meep Morps, as seen in the episodes "Beta", "Bluebird", and "Why So Blue?".
- Garnet references the events of "Together Forever".
- Steven's radio and fitness equipment from "Coach Steven" are seen again at the beginning of the episode after a long absence, alongside Steven's Korean workout music from "Future Vision".
- Among the stuff Steven packed are a Ranger Guy figure and Buck's Vote for my Dad shirt from "Shirt Club".
- The Dondai Supremo's design from "Beach City Drift" returns in a moment after Steven's departure.
- Jasper's grunt from "Fragments" is reused when she punches the ground.
- The song that plays as Steven says his final goodbyes to the gems is a reprise of "Steven's Shield".
Errors
- In the crowd bidding Steven farewell, Peedee has a bowtie in long shots which is missing in closeup.
- As Onion turns in the crowd to look at Steven's car, he is drawn with ears.
- In one scene when Steven holds his Cookie Cat, all the ice cream is pink, when the half closest to the viewer should be white.
- However, this could be Steven having accidentally made the Cookie Cat incorrectly.
Videos
Transcript
View the episode's transcript here.
Gallery
