Board Thread:General Discussion/@comment-4224349-20150122232405/@comment-25410130-20150123025647

I continue to be impressed by the character depth and development on this show. On the one hand, you have Garnet, Pearl and Amethyst--they want to help Steven learn and grow, but they're afraid if he fails, it could damage his confidence (or worse, his fragile, human body). On the other hand, you have Steven, who wants so badly to be a full-fledged Crystal Gem and prove his worth to these three who he so adores and idolizes, but bristles at the fact the Gems don't treat him like an adult. Then, after being so excited about finally getting a real test, Steven figures out the test is canned, and it's impossible to fail or get hurt.

And then, as Steven pops out of the test, he gets to see something he's not normally privy to (nor are we): Garnet, Pearl and Amethyst behaving like vulnerable, worrying adults, who really aren't sure they're doing the right thing. In spite of their magical powers, the Gems are just like any normal parents: they want the best for their kids, but they're not always sure how to get them there. It was a great scene.

I wasn't sure if Steven was gonna go ballistic on the Gems (I hoped he wouldn't, though he has been prone to more fits of temper lately), or if he'd thank the Gems for the test, while gently rebuking them for rigging it and telling them he wants a real test next time. And maybe as he was marching through the test to the finish line, he intended to do one of those things...but he did neither. And not only was I surprised, I thought it was a great piece of character development. Steven realized that passing the test was even more important for the Gems than it was for him, so he sucked it up and gave them the excited, joyous response they were looking for. It was a very mature, selfless act, and I was left feeling that Steven passed an even bigger test than anything the Gems could've laid out for him.

P.S. When Steven thanks the Gems for the test, with his voice wavering and lip quivering, I could feel the emotional heaviness Steven was experiencing in that moment. Brilliant scene by Zach Callison, I was really moved!