Being a teenager is when we're trying on different personalities to see which one is "right". Hence all the angst and rebellion and such, to whatever degree. Steve started out being the way he'd found was the way to succeed. He was popular, his friends approved of his behavior, it had probably gotten him laid a few times... But then stuff happened that made him start to feel uncomfortable being that person. There were parts of the equation that worked... but you could see him more and more not being comfortable with the jerky behavior he'd done before. I almost cheered when he told his pre-existing friends where they could stick it. Standing up for what you feel is right in the face of what the people you want to like you are telling you you should do is a big personal-growth step, and he took it.
I'm hoping he is one of the characters whose arc continues in season two. I don't believe in one-and-done redemption. That's an ongoing Star Wars debate -- if Vader-turned-Anakin had lived at the end of ROTJ, how the hell would he have been able to atone for all the crap he'd done over the last quarter-century? I see how Nancy is toward him at the end as more of a... *thinks* ..."This is the guy I thought I was getting involved with originally, and now he's actually starting to act his own conscience and not going along with his friends... But now we have to see if it sticks." She's wary of backsliding, and with good reason. But I trust him to want to be with her more than with the friends that made him increasingly feel "off". I trust that he's going to like how he feels in his own skin now more than before. I'm also hoping he and Jonathan can start to see each other differently now.
--Jonah
I'm hoping he is one of the characters whose arc continues in season two. I don't believe in one-and-done redemption. That's an ongoing Star Wars debate -- if Vader-turned-Anakin had lived at the end of ROTJ, how the hell would he have been able to atone for all the crap he'd done over the last quarter-century? I see how Nancy is toward him at the end as more of a... *thinks* ..."This is the guy I thought I was getting involved with originally, and now he's actually starting to act his own conscience and not going along with his friends... But now we have to see if it sticks." She's wary of backsliding, and with good reason. But I trust him to want to be with her more than with the friends that made him increasingly feel "off". I trust that he's going to like how he feels in his own skin now more than before. I'm also hoping he and Jonathan can start to see each other differently now.
--Jonah
