The honest truth is that I avoided the internet in relation to this show, and so I didn't find the twist to be predictable, and I think the build-up to it was excellent (Which is probably why some people could predict it.) Also, I first watched this show after Change your Mind had aired, so I just was taken for a ride (unlike people who watched on release who had to deal with hiatuses), and felt that episodes, like the Trial, would constantly warp what the possibilities would be, but with all the half-truths combined(which is shown at the beginning of A Single Pale Rose) this is what makes the most sense. This twist warps the entire plot of the show up to this point. Also, the effects of it, are applicable to almost every main character in the show all in very drastic ways, and all of which are explored.
Examples Pearl - Rose's Scabbard now has a deeper and more sentimental meaning to it, that she was the only one that knew Rose's greatest secret, so her keeping the lion left for Steven from her is upsetting to her. A lot of details like Pearl covering her mouth in some instances, and not wanting to shape-shift, now also have more meaning to them. Sworn to the Sword also means more, as she was fully dedicated to Rose, because serving Rose was all she knew as her Pearl, and due to that, the only thing she wanted to do was to do anything to make her happy. This is unlike what we are meant to believe of her being an ownerless Pearl. This also makes Peridot commenting that Pearl is a "fancy one too" make more sense.
Bismuth has a deeper meaning to it, as Bismuth states, she essentially came up to Rose and wanted to shatter her alter ego. Therefore, she bubbled Bismuth away in order to prevent Bismuth from taking it too far, and took the advice into her own hands and faked what was proposed. Also, she wouldn't unbubble Bismuth, as Bismuth learning that she had come to shatter Pink, even though she entrapped her for proposing that, would of you know, upset her. She had to keep the fact she was Pink Diamond a secret because if she told her rebellion that she was the enemy leader, they might turn on her. Also, the reason the rebellion followed Rose in the first place was that she represented a symbol of independence from a gem's original purpose. If she revealed she was a Diamond separating herself from the Authority for seemingly selfish reasons, the rebellion would have never followed her. This is why Amethyst and Garnet would never have been told, but Pearl could know because as I mentioned she was solely dedicated to Rose, but Rose manipulated her into being physically forced not to tell anyone.
I think this is by far the best route they could have taken with this plot twist as it has more of an impact than something like, you know Yellow Diamond shattered Pink. This would have essentially no impact on any of the characters. Yes, it would make sense, and could potentially be shocking, but it would not provide an emotional impact on any of the characters. If Yellow shattered Pink, then yes, Rose was framed, and there was no reason for Steven to be doubting why he exists. But her being Pink means that everything they have thought was wrong and that while she didn't shatter anybody, what she did was arguably worse. This still keeps a moral dilemma on Rose, that would have been shattered(ha) in some of the other directions, they could have taken, as well as the added depth I mentioned above.
I know some people think it was tacked on, I just cannot agree. I feel that the plot and a lot of character arcs come together in unison with the twist, my only conclusion is that some people are being reactionary.
It wasn't planned ______________________________________________________ I've heard people be disappointed by that the twist was just something they stole from a fan theory. They didn't plan to use this twist they just took the fan theory and rolled with it. I disagree, there is just a multitude of small world elements and details that foreshadow and are written to the twist. Along with the above information I'll just give two examples of small details of foreshadowing that I know. Only two for the sake of length.
In "Space Race" Season 1 Episode 28 on Pearl space suit is a symbol of a pink diamond. As she states in the episode the idea of building a rocket hadn't come to her mind before. So, the last time she would of ever utilized the suit was when she was under Pink Diamond.
In "Say, Uncle" (Which I don't like) after Steven is upset by his gem not functioning, Uncle Grandpa takes a look at Steven's gem. He then proceeds to tell him that he should polish it twice a year. All I'm going to say is do a quick google search of "How often should you polish a Diamond". I would encourage you to look it up yourself. Here is a quote from an article talking about Diamond Rings "We highly recommend that you get your ring cleaned and inspected by a professional every 6 months." For the record, there are multiple sources saying the same thing.
Examples Pearl - Rose's Scabbard now has a deeper and more sentimental meaning to it, that she was the only one that knew Rose's greatest secret, so her keeping the lion left for Steven from her is upsetting to her. A lot of details like Pearl covering her mouth in some instances, and not wanting to shape-shift, now also have more meaning to them. Sworn to the Sword also means more, as she was fully dedicated to Rose, because serving Rose was all she knew as her Pearl, and due to that, the only thing she wanted to do was to do anything to make her happy. This is unlike what we are meant to believe of her being an ownerless Pearl. This also makes Peridot commenting that Pearl is a "fancy one too" make more sense.
Bismuth has a deeper meaning to it, as Bismuth states, she essentially came up to Rose and wanted to shatter her alter ego. Therefore, she bubbled Bismuth away in order to prevent Bismuth from taking it too far, and took the advice into her own hands and faked what was proposed. Also, she wouldn't unbubble Bismuth, as Bismuth learning that she had come to shatter Pink, even though she entrapped her for proposing that, would of you know, upset her. She had to keep the fact she was Pink Diamond a secret because if she told her rebellion that she was the enemy leader, they might turn on her. Also, the reason the rebellion followed Rose in the first place was that she represented a symbol of independence from a gem's original purpose. If she revealed she was a Diamond separating herself from the Authority for seemingly selfish reasons, the rebellion would have never followed her. This is why Amethyst and Garnet would never have been told, but Pearl could know because as I mentioned she was solely dedicated to Rose, but Rose manipulated her into being physically forced not to tell anyone.
I think this is by far the best route they could have taken with this plot twist as it has more of an impact than something like, you know Yellow Diamond shattered Pink. This would have essentially no impact on any of the characters. Yes, it would make sense, and could potentially be shocking, but it would not provide an emotional impact on any of the characters. If Yellow shattered Pink, then yes, Rose was framed, and there was no reason for Steven to be doubting why he exists. But her being Pink means that everything they have thought was wrong and that while she didn't shatter anybody, what she did was arguably worse. This still keeps a moral dilemma on Rose, that would have been shattered(ha) in some of the other directions, they could have taken, as well as the added depth I mentioned above.
I know some people think it was tacked on, I just cannot agree. I feel that the plot and a lot of character arcs come together in unison with the twist, my only conclusion is that some people are being reactionary.
It wasn't planned ______________________________________________________ I've heard people be disappointed by that the twist was just something they stole from a fan theory. They didn't plan to use this twist they just took the fan theory and rolled with it. I disagree, there is just a multitude of small world elements and details that foreshadow and are written to the twist. Along with the above information I'll just give two examples of small details of foreshadowing that I know. Only two for the sake of length.
In "Space Race" Season 1 Episode 28 on Pearl space suit is a symbol of a pink diamond. As she states in the episode the idea of building a rocket hadn't come to her mind before. So, the last time she would of ever utilized the suit was when she was under Pink Diamond.
In "Say, Uncle" (Which I don't like) after Steven is upset by his gem not functioning, Uncle Grandpa takes a look at Steven's gem. He then proceeds to tell him that he should polish it twice a year. All I'm going to say is do a quick google search of "How often should you polish a Diamond". I would encourage you to look it up yourself. Here is a quote from an article talking about Diamond Rings "We highly recommend that you get your ring cleaned and inspected by a professional every 6 months." For the record, there are multiple sources saying the same thing.
