A not-quite reunion sends Steven on a new path in this outstanding episode.

ThisSteven Universereview contains spoilers.

In this episode Steven finally unleashes his anger but has to work through the denial first.

When he gets to talk with his vision of Rose it all seems fine at first.

The two play video games, throw a football around, and emotionally bond.

Her words all seem cribbed from the videotape he saw of her back in season one.

He cant take a picture with her.

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The football bit especially is perhaps the best visual representation of Stevens feeling about Rose.

He keeps hoping beyond hope she wont let him down, but no matter what it keeps happening.

Steven isnt stupid though.

He knows this isnt really his mom.

He knows hes just having her say all the things he wants to hear.

Thats when the episode takes a sudden tonal shift from introspective yet playful to downright chilling.

He accuses her of creating him solely so she wouldnt have to deal with her mistakes.

Even if she isnt real, he still needs to say this.

He needs to get it out.

The vision of Rose comforts him, that everything she said on the tape was true…

But how much can we believe that?

After all, this Rose isnt real.

Maybe, like earlier in the episode, this is just Steven hearing what he needs to hear.

Steven is trying to boil his feelings about his mom down to a simple black or white view.

As the show goes on I believe hell start to realize that people are more complicated than that.

After all, even Stevens run away from his mistakes before.

He expects Rose to be better than him, when that just isnt possible.

Its understandable he thinks that, what with the Gems talking her up so much.

It wont be easy.

To Steven, Rose left him with all her problems to solve.

Hell have to answer whether the sins of the mother become the sins of the son.

Does he have to carry on what Rose did?

When you think about it, Steven doesnt have a life outside of protecting Earth with the Gems.

In Mr. Greg, Steven says hes too busy to go to college because of Gem stuff.

Steven needs to find an identity outside of that world.

Maybe Tiger Millionaire will be the answer?

Will he ever accept it?

Only time and hopefully a Cookie Cat or two will tell.

This episode was a triumph.

More shows could learn from it.

More shows should learn from it.

Rating:

5 out of 5