History YMMV / StevenUniverseTheMovie

* FanartAtFirstSight: Spinel was already getting some fanart before the film's release despite not being named yet. Once she was revealed in full and more of her backstory known, her popularity exploded.
** [[MrFanservice Steg]] ended up having a similar reaction within [[BaraGenre Bara loving circles.]]

* FandomEnragingMisconception: Claiming that Steg is technically a representation of ParentalIncest is bringing the tiring discussion of "[[GRatedSex fusion being a metaphor for sex]]" back, which is something that practically everyone in the fandom has grown sick of. For the last time, while the [[FusionDance act of fusion]] can be very intimate, the fusion itself is the personification of the fusee's relationship. Claiming that fusion is sex is claiming that all relationships are romantic to some degree, which is blatantly false.

* {{Fanon}}: In humanized fanart, Spinel is usually portrayed as Hispanic or Latino, given that "Spinela" and "[[WesternAnimation/{{Recess}} Spinelli]]" are common Spanish names. Her "innocent" self is usually headcanoned to be 6-8 years old, while her "evil" self is a 16-year-old EmoTeen. She's usually portrayed as Steven's long lost sister, though many vary in how they're related, [[NotBloodSiblings adopted siblings]] is popular for [[FoeYayShipping Stevinel]] shippers.

* InferredHolocaust: While it seems no one is hurt for long, part of the Earth is filled with poison and if Beach City is any indication, a lot of plants to wither and die. As Garnet mentions, they'll need to get water for Steven so he doesn't dehydrate while healing the Earth with smooches.

** The damage done by the end of the movie could've stuck and led to interesting repercussions, such as Greg permanently losing one of his arms or a good chunk of Beach City being barren and destroyed; instead Steven's spit heals everything, though it's implied not everything was able to be fixed completely.

* MoreInterestingAsAVillain: * ''WesternAnimation/StevenUniverseTheMovie'': Spinel is considered to be a highlight of the movie from her VillainSong "Other Friends", her status as a villain who has it out for Steven ''personally'' which is topped off with a [[CrazyIsCool violent, unstable personality]] in contrast to her [[spoiler:heartbreak at being abandoned by Pink Diamond]], while being a solid threat that gives the movie its high stakes. It also helps that she's one of the strongest villains in the series, being physically strong enough to [[NasalTrauma actually make Steven bleed during their final fight]]. Suffice to say, some fans weren't too happy about her [[spoiler:becoming a ReplacementGoldfish for Pink Diamond at the end of the movie and her role in ''WesternAnimation/StevenUniverseFuture'' being someone who tries and fails to help Steven before he ends up going into a meltdown.]]

** Spinel's backstory and the film's overall themes feel eerily reminiscent of ''Franchise/ToyStory'', leading to a lot of jokes comparing the two. In particular, the [[SurpriseCreepy infamous]] "[[WesternAnimation/ToyStory2 I don't wanna play with you anymore]]" scene is frequently quoted in reference to [[ParentNeverCameBackFromTheStore Pink's treatment of Spinel]]. And if not that, they probably make references to Jessie with Spinel's song "Drift Away" being compared to "When She Loved Me", or compare Spinel's backstory to that of [[WesternAnimation/ToyStory3 Lots-o'-Huggin' Bear]] (unlike him, however, Spinel was legitimately abandoned and had a HeelFaceTurn).

** Spinel is generally a bicycle in that regard. If there's any MonsterClown and/or InkblotCartoonStyle character you can think of, chances are high that there's fanwork of them shipped with Spinel. Even [[{{Creepypasta}} Laughing Jack]] is paired with her, at least platonically.

* HarsherInHindsight:
** The series itself can be hard to rewatch when you realize that Spinel was standing in the garden the entire time. For whatever reason she had, while Rose was creating the rebellion, she never saved her. While Steven and his friends are having fun, Spinel could never join them.
** The movie's events become this in ''Future'' when [[spoiler:a corrupted Steven starts lashing out in pain and self-loathing, nearly destroying Little Homeschool and his town. He then inflicts karma on Spinel while fighting, because he's lashing out the way she did with her opening fight. Even worse, Spinel starts crying mid-HeelRealization because she realizes how her actions badly impacted Steven's psyche]].
* HeartwarmingInHindsight: Greg trying to fuse with Rose but failing becomes much less harsh now that he can fuse with Steven, especially with such a flawless and instant first attempt even with Steven's gem on the fritz.

* AuthorsSavingThrow:
** One criticism of [[Recap/StevenUniverseS5E28ChangeYourMind "Change Your Mind"]] was that the Diamonds' HeelFaceTurn happened too quickly and that they were EasilyForgiven. Here, Steven's behavior towards them indicates that he's still wary of them at the least, and their own behavior shows that while they have improved, they haven't completely turned over a new leaf and are still learning even after two years.
** The characterization of Spinel is generally treated as a ''massive'' step in the right direction for the series, actually coming off as genuinely sympathetic, with many fans being understanding of her pain of being abandoned and most of her heinous actions being explained with her having GoneMadFromTheIsolation. It's a far cry to the characterizations of Jasper and the Diamond Authority, the other major villains before her, with many complaining that Jasper's FreudianExcuse was revealed ''at the very end of her arc'', with the Diamonds being similarly criticized.
** There were concerns that Pearl breaking free of her role in servitude, as seen in "Now We're Only Falling Apart", wasn't real independence since she still revolved around Pink/Rose. The sequences of "Disobedient"/"Independent Together" make it point-blank clear that it was ''freedom'', not Rose, that led Pearl to becoming her own person.
** For many, Opal getting her part in a song during the movie, as she had been widely considered by the fanbase to be OutOfFocus even in her own debut, was seen as a refreshing moment as it confirmed she hadn't been forgotten and got a small moment to shine.

** Spinel herself, while very well-liked overall, has some detractors who found her past-self to be teeth-rottingly annoying and are thus more understanding to Pink for abandoning her. Her causing an almost planetary genocide and not even really making up for what she did also painted her in a rather bad light. However, the most vocal part of the fanbase unanimously loves her for her ''very'' well-done TragicVillain characterization, genuine [[{{Moe}} adorableness]], [[EvilIsCool effectiveness as a villain]] and being surprisingly [[JerkassWoobie very relatable]].

* AlternateSelfShipping: There are people out there who ship Spinel with... [[ScrewYourself her past self]]. Yes, seriously.

* CrackPairing: There are people out there who ship Spinel with... [[ScrewYourself her past self]]. Yes, seriously.

*** Spinel was aware thanks to the broadcast that Steven himself was very powerful and besides that he had the love and support of all three Diamonds! When word got out what she did she knew they would be coming for her. As dark as it is, she may well have planned this mission with the full intent of not walking away from it.

** Some fans believe Spinel suffers Borderline Personality Disorder (or at least the Gem equivalent of it) due to her exhibiting many of its symptoms and that the disorder is usually brought on by a past of neglect and abuse.

* {{Applicability}}: Many neurodivergent viewers see rejuvenated Amethyst's BabySeeBabyDo moments as being reminiscent of echolalia.

** Spinel herself, while very well-liked overall, has some detractors who found her past-self to be [[TastesLikeDiabetes teeth-rottingly annoying]] and are thus more understanding to Pink for abandoning her. Her causing an almost planetary genocide and not even really making up for what she did also painted her in a rather bad light. However, the most vocal part of the fanbase unanimously loves her for her ''very'' well-done TragicVillain characterization, genuine [[{{Moe}} adorableness]], [[EvilIsCool effectiveness as a villain]] and being surprisingly [[JerkassWoobie very relatable]].

** As disturbing as it is to see Pearl revert to a servile state, the innocent-looking expressions she makes when reset are endearing {{Moe Stare}}s.

* UncannyValley: Amethyst's newly-formed self is adorably innocent, but her mannequin-like arms and legs can be kind of off-putting.