You now, I was chatting with a friend about this a while ago!
I’m not sure how would I rewrite a entire show (specially a show like SU, because holy cow, it’s chock-full with problematic stuff!), but I surely would:
- Make it less about Steven and more about the Crystal Gems;
- Rewrite the CGs to be actually competent (Pearl is sane and not predatory, Garnet isn’t reduced to extra due to her fusion, and Amethyst gets her arc finished properly and ON-SCREEN);
- Make sure that the story ends with the Diamond Authority being SHATTERED for their hideous crimes!
And I’m actually happy that you touched on the subject of of “Steven as a girl”, because I need to complain about something.
You know, there has been recently launched a book about Pink’s journey, how she became Rose, and later gave up her physical form to bring Steven into the world... and the book is “dedicated“ to people who are trans/of non-comforming gender.
And this is problematic, because the book is straight up comparing gay people to actual ditactors! It’s one crazy metaphorical parkour to AVOID having a legit trans character!
And besides, the whole trans!Steven concept goes waaaay back, waaaay before the Pink/Rose revelation!
Like how Stevonnie looks quite feminine, even though they’re NB. And when Steven sang “Giant Woman” in the eponymous episode; it felt like he desired something. And when he wore a dress in Sadie’s Song, and was totally okay with it.
If I had my say on the matter, I’d make Steven transistion into a girl, and make it what Rocko’s Modern Life: Static Cling did:
“I’m not Steven anymore, I’m Nora.”
Easy and simple as 1-2-3. No metaphors, no comparisons, nothing. Just a character who happens to be trans.