Just noticed something in Rose Buds. Steven is obsessed with trying to find a new place to put his mom’s picture. He remarks that after everything that happened he doesn’t want her “hanging” over them anymore.
Obviously, this isn’t just about the painting, but Steven trying to figure out what to do with this “perfect image” of his mother and his mixed feelings about her.
Amethyst then remarks “I’m telling you man, it’s not the placement, it’s the frame.” It seems like a small silly comment, which is then quickly interrupted by the arrival of the Zoomans. But seeing the continued use of Rose’s painting throughout the show and specifically this episode, I wonder if the Crew is actually saying it’s about the framing.
Steven is still not dealing with his complicated feelings about his mom. He continues to act like he’s fine and to ignore what he’s really feeling, bottling up his anger, hurt and confusion, as if ignoring the past will allow him to move on.
But, in reality he needs to face his feelings towards his mom and be honest with them. He needs to reframe how he thinks about her and sees her, not just this perfect image that has hung over him forever or a list of terrible things she’s done. He can’t change that Rose was his mother and that she is part of him, but he needs to reckon with all his feelings, however complicated or contradictory, so he can accept what has happened, how they affect him and who he is, and actually move forward.
