And this is separate from the “it’s boring when every character gets a redemption arc” argument (which I more or less believe but isn’t the point here).

What makes me nervous about a Jasper redemption arc is the message it will convey to the target audience, children. So far, the show has done a beautiful job conveying abusive relationships and their dynamics via Lapis and Jasper. It’s even hit a little too close to home for myself and others.

The thing that concerns me, though, is implying that abusers can and will change. Don’t misread this: there ARE abusive people who, with time and serious effort/intervention, are able to become healthier people and genuinely change. However, Jasper has been the prominent example of an abuser so far, and so I worry that it could imply that abusers can usually or will frequently change. This, sadly, is NOT the case.

It’s not that abusers shouldn’t have redemption arcs. It’s that we need to be realistic in the messages we send so that we don’t leave viewers thinking that if they just wait out long enough then their abuser will change.