'Steven Universe' season 4 release date, plot news: Showrunner teases more Greg flashbacks and characters moving on

"Steven Universe" has just returned with a surprisingly heartwarming holiday special. But what comes next after that nostalgic trip down a snowy memory lane?

Series creator, Rebecca Sugar, teases more upcoming Greg flashback episodes in a "CN Side" clip posted on the show's official Facebook page. When asked about why it took her so long to release an episode featuring Greg and Baby Steven, Sugar replied that the flashback episodes featuring Greg have been following a sequence of events, from when he first met Rose to when his son Steven first came into his life.

Does this mean that more flashback episodes featuring Greg's interactions with a much younger Steven are to be expected? For a show that takes a rather thoughtful approach to its characterizations, an occasional peek into the past seems to be a necessary plot device in molding the characters' personalities and help build a more consistent narrative moving forward.

Additionally, Sugar told Inverse in an interview that the original song featured in the winter special may harbor a much deeper meaning than what it clearly implied on the surface. She shared that her inspiration for writing the song "I Could Never Be (Ready)" was a conversation she had with a friend who told her that one can never really know when they're ready to have a baby.

"That's half the reason I wrote the song," Sugar told Inverse, "but the other half is a secret I'll only tell when the show is over."

What could this other reason be that inspired a song about a fear of change and the feeling of loss? The answer may have something to do with how Greg, Steven, and the Crystal Gems will gradually reach that point when talking about Steven's mom, Rose, becomes less painful.

"There are things they still don't fully understand about Rose; understanding her better would help them all move on," Sugar added.

There is still no news regarding the next "Steven Universe" episode. However, since the series has already been renewed for a fifth season back in March, fans should watch out for more new episodes of the popular coming-of-age animated series.