Even though Sam cites his first meeting Rebecca as the inspiration for the live-action ATA, I don’t think he would have acted on that inspiration until he was sure it was not only something REBECCA wanted, but also something that could help her.
What if Rebecca somehow blames herself for what happened to her original family? And how this manifests is that whenever something goes wrong—even something small—that may possibly be her fault, she lashes out at her reflection, the “girl in the glass.” Sam watches this happen time and again, and realizes that she also associates her reflection with depictions of herself in photographs and home videos. It’s deeply disturbing for her, and it’s not something she’s able to fully articulate. So Sam names her reflection Amanda—someone who’s worthy of love—and starts writing stories about her to tell Rebecca. And when Rebecca has the chance to embody these stories for herself, by performing as Amanda in the show, it gives her a sense of agency over her past, and a newfound love of the “girl in the glass.”
