ms-mikail:

A common and fair criticism about Steven Universe is that it’s theme of there being ‘no actual bad guys’ and that ‘anyone can change’ is kind of undercut by the fact that the antagonists of the show, Homeworld, practices a lot of fascist policies.  Invading other worlds, a strict caste system, the extermination of anything ‘different’ etc.  It just seems kind of naive and irresponsible to suggest that a society that commits such atrocities can change for the better simply from a saccharine speech about friendship.

When I sat down to think about it though, I realized that the diamonds aren’t exactly your typical dictators, even by the standards of science fiction.  Hitler couldn’t bench press a mountain.  Emperor Palpatine never stood 100 meters tall.  Between Steven pulling miracles out of his ass gem every other story arc, the amount sheer power Blue and Yellow have demonstrated and the likelihood that the mostly unseen White Diamond is the strongest of them all, it’s not unreasonable to propose that the Diamonds are less tyrannical oligarchs and more an actual pantheon

This adds an interesting dynamic to it all since dealing with gods is a lot more different than dealing with a simple dictator.  Sure, the crimes they committed are just as inexcusable as before, but it puts things in perspective.  There is often a moral and empathetic disconnect between mortals and gods.  The Diamonds as a whole don’t take time to consider the feelings of humans or lesser gems because… well, they’re lesser.  Any regime with a ‘master race’ mindset or something of the like are purely delusional malicious racism.  With the Diamonds?  Their superiority is a bit trickier to refute.  As such there is a disconnect between the diamonds and other beings.

This is where Steven comes in.  Basically being a demigod himself, he can function as the bridge between humanity/gemkind and the Diamonds.  Through him, the Diamonds could maybe understand what they’ve done and that it was wrong.

Of course you maybe thinking that the Diamonds don’t have enough going for them to be considered gods, that they’re too flawed or too underpowered.  Well semantics of power levels aside, it only takes one look at Greek Mythology to know that flawed gods are nothing new.  The point of most greek myths is that the Olympians are far from perfect and that humanities fate can rest in its own hands.  The same can be applied here.  The Diamonds flaws wouldn’t make them any less godly.  It just gives all the ‘mortals’ a fighting chance.  But more importantly, the Olympians adhering to human logic and understanding meant they could be reasoned with.

Bottom line, the Diamonds have committed a lot of heinous actions that lean heavily on the fascist side.  However, the fact that they come across less as bloodthirsty tyrants and more as just a bunch of flawed gods means that the angle Steven Universe seems to be going could still work.  We just need to wait and see how they stick the landing.