From the very beginning, it was obvious that Rose Quartz had something to hide. The way she was always depicted with her eyes closed was a dead giveaway. This odd and seemingly consistent character detail alerted the more skeptical fans that Rose wasn’t all she seemed.
First we have this extremely subtle (and important) bit of foreshadowing from the second episode of Season 1 (Laser Light Cannon). Steven accidentally steps on a photo and cracks the frame. In context, it’s not a big deal. I’m sure a lot of fans have even forgotten about it by now. And yet….
It seems the show was hinting at a lot more than anyone at the time realized.
The importance of depicting Rose with her eyes closed is that it conveyed a very important message: Rose Quartz is not to be trusted. She is hiding something.
Lion 3: Straight to Video marks the first time Rose is depicted with her eyes open. It’s also the first time we’re not seeing her through the lens of someone else. This is Rose Quartz at her most honest and open, revealing who she really is. But throughout all of this, she is still the one holding the camera. And for a good portion of the video, she’s pointing the camera at herself. Even this, as raw and open as it is, isn’t Rose. This is a look into Rose Quartz’s mind. This is how she sees herself and the world around her. It’s Rose as described by Rose. Still not a complete story.
From that point on, Rose’s eyes are open. Her soul is exposed. It becomes clear that she wasn’t a flawless, infallible leader. But even as more of Rose’s past is revealed, we’re still seeing her mainly through the eyes of others. The eyes of people who admired and loved her.
So where does the real Rose reside? Where does the truest and most honest depiction of Rose live? There is only one place.
Pearl’s mind. Pearl, Rose’s most trusted confidant. Pearl, who was closer to Rose than anyone else. Pearl, who kept Rose’s biggest secret for thousands of years. Pearl, who became the sole bearer of Rose’s former identity.
This is the real Rose Quartz. Her eyes are open, she lives inside Pearl’s mind, and she’s completely different from how she’s been depicted up this point. She is not at all the person Steven thought she was.
Patata Paradaisu 