greenalms:

So I was talking to Saphruikan about this, and we came up with this theory.

In this last episode, on thing has been pointed out that really struck me, and that is that Pearl and Amethyst didn’t argue, even once. They didn’t even try to argue. Amethyst gave her no sass at all.

In fact, as Saphruikan pointed out in our conversation, Pearl is acting rather motherly towards Amethyst. She picks her up, carries her around, and gives her advice.

Fast forward to Giant Woman, where we get this line from Amethyst:

“This is why we never form Opal anymore!”

She says anymore, which implies at one point, forming Opal was a regular and relatively easy thing for them to do. Between the time Rose met Greg, and present day, something changed about their relationship. But what?

Some would say it was Rose’s death, but Saphruikan proposed an alternative theory:

What if Amethyst was used to being the “baby” of the family? She is the youngest of the crystal gems (even now she’s likely the gem version of a 16 year old), and she was used to motherly affection and constant attention from Pearl. 

Then Steven was born. Suddenly, she’s not the baby anymore.

Pearl probably began giving Steven the motherly attention she was used to, and simultaneously expecting Amethyst to act more mature, to take on responsibility, to grow up, when in gem years Amethyst herself is still likely a child.

But of course, she’s not going to take her jealousy out on Steven. She loves him too much. So instead she turns to taking on a very “big sister” like complex, wherein she is trying to make Steven just like her. A rebel who doesn’t listen to Pearl. So that Pearl will yell at her. So that Pearl will pay more attention to her. So she can get that attention back that she so desperately wants.

This is what Amethyst wants. Even if she won’t admit it.