Steven Universe

               “We… are the Crystal Gems…”

Centered on three alien guardians and a kid that lives with them, Steven Universe has become one of the largest and most critically acclaimed cult hits in some time, gaining praise for its tapestry-esque plot, excellent world-building, sublime art style, wonderful character development, and ability to stab the viewer in the heart.

Personally, I love the show, and not only consider it among the greatest TV shows currently airing, but I also believe that it will go down alongside the likes of Star Trek: The Next Generation and Babylon 5 in the echelons of sci-fi TV.

I might be insane.

Intros, Previews, Wrap-Ups, and Others:

• Intro
• Season 1A Wrap Up
• Season 1B Wrap Up
• Top 12 Episodes From Season 1
• Season 2 Wrap Up
• Top 6 Episodes From Season 2
• Season 3 Wrap Up
• Top 6 Episodes From Season 3
• Season 4 Wrap Up
• Top 6 Episodes From Season 4
• Season 5 Wrap Up
• Top 6 Episodes From Season 5
• Pilot
• Steven Universe: The Movie
• Future Wrap-Up
• Top 6 Episodes from Steven Universe: Future
• Series Wrap-Up

Note: All episodes are reviewed in production order, not airing order.

List of Episodes:

Season 1A: Basically a pre-season for the show. Steven acts like a goofball around Beach City and goes on the odd trip with the Crystal Gems. Some odd hints are dropped at the rest of the universe, but most of the episodes are slice-of-life. Then Steven plays with a mirror, and things go pear-shaped.

1. Gem Glow
2. Laser Light Cannon
3. Cheeseburger Backpack
4. Together Breakfast
5. Frybo
6. Cat Fingers
7. Bubble Buddies
8. Serious Steven
9. Tiger Millionaire
10. Steven’s Lion
11. Arcade Mania
12. Giant Woman
13. So Many Birthdays
14. Lars and the Cool Kids
15. Onion Trade
16. Steven the Sword Fighter
17. Lion 2: The Movie
18. Beach Party
19. Rose’s Room
20. Coach Steven
21. Joking Victim
22. Steven and the Stevens
23. Monster Buddies
24. An Indirect Kiss
25. Mirror Gem
26. Ocean Gem

Season 1B: The “real” first season, dealing with the effects of the “Mirror Gem/Ocean Gem” two-parter. Steven learns just how messed up the Crystal Gems can be, becomes closer friends with Connie, and the trio all get fleshed out even further. In more tragic ways. Oh… boy.

1. House Guest
2. Space Race
3. Secret Team
4. Island Adventure
5. Keep Beach City Weird!
6. Fusion Cuisine
7. Garnet’s Universe
8. Watermelon Steven
9. Lion 3: Straight to Video
10. Alone Together
11. Warp Tour
12. The Test
13. Future Vision
14. On The Run
15. Horror Club
16. Winter Forecast
17. Maximum Capacity
18. Marble Madness
19. Rose’s Scabbard
20. Open Book
21. Shirt Club
22. Say Uncle
23. Story for Steven
24. The Message
25. Political Power
26. The Return
27. Jailbreak

Season 2: Season 2 of Steven Universe was one of dramatic change. The cat and mouse game between Peridot and the Crystal Gems turned revolutionary, we got looks back at Homeworld culture and the Crystal Gems, and we got even further insight as to how our heroes are psychologically messed up. It all ends with surprisingly fewer tears than you would expect.

1. Full Disclosure
2. Joy Ride
3. Love Letters
4. Reformed
5. Sworn to the Sword
6. Rising Tides/Crashing Skies
7. Keeping It Together
8. We Need to Talk
9. Chille Tid
10. Cry for Help
11. Keystone Motel
12. Onion Friend
13. Historical Friction
14. Friend Ship
15. Nightmare Hospital
16. Sadie’s Song
17. Catch and Release
18. When it Rains
19. Back to the Barn
20. Too Far
21. The Answer
22. Steven’s Birthday
23. It Could’ve Been Great
24. Message Received
25. Log Date 7-15-2

Season 3: Steven discovers that he has an uncanny power to pacify events. Said power is brought into question several times in the back half of the season. More is brought into question about Rose Quartz, Lapis begins to adjust to a post-Homeworld life, and many psychological questions are brought to the surface, shaking Steven’s world forever.

1. Super Watermelon Island
2. Gem Drill
3. Same Old World
4. Barn Mates
5. Hit the Diamond
6. Steven Floats
7. Drop Beat Dead
8. Mr. Greg
9. Too Short To Ride
10. The New Lars
11. Beach City Drift
12. Restaurant Wars
13. Kiki’s Pizza Delivery Service
14. Monster Reunion
15. Alone At Sea
16. Greg The Babysitter
17. Gem Hunt
18. Crack The Whip
19. Steven Vs. Amethyst
20. Bismuth (Double-length episode)
21. Beta
22. Earthlings
23. Back To The Moon
24. Bubbled

Season 4: With Steven’s innocence shattered irrevocably, he starts to come to terms with the hell that was the past. Sort of. More realistically, he becomes a fortune teller, gets roped into the antics of preschoolers, serves as a wingman for his mom, and breaks bread with a conservative relative. Alright, he does rescue his dad from space, learn mindfulness meditation, and Homeworld comes back to Earth with a vengeance.

1. Kindergarten Kid
2. Know Your Fusion
3. Buddy’s Book
4. Mindful Education
5. Future Boy Zoltron
6. Last One Out of Beach City
7. Onion Gang
8. Gem Harvest (Double-length episode)
9. Three Gems and a Baby
10. Steven’s Dream
11. Adventures in Light Distortion
12. Gem Heist
13. The Zoo
14. That Will Be All
15. The New Crystal Gems
16. Storm in the Room
17. Rocknaldo
18. Tiger Philanthropist
19. Room for Ruby
20. Lion 4: Alternate Ending
21. Doug Out
22. The Good Lars
23. Are You My Dad?
24. I Am My Mom

Season 5:

1. Stuck Together
2. The Trial
3. Off Colors
4. Lars’ Head
5. Dewey Wins
6. Gemcation
7. Raising the Barn
8. Back to the Kindergarten
9. Sadie Killer
10. Kevin Party
11. Lars of the Stars
12. Jungle Moon
13. Your Mother and Mine
14. The Big Show
15. Pool Hopping
16. Letters to Lars
17. Can’t Go Back
18. A Single Pale Rose
19. Now We’re Only Falling Apart
20. What’s Your Problem?
21. The Question
22. Made of Honor
23. Reunited (Double-length episode)
24. Legs From Here to Homeworld
25. Familiar
26. Together Alone
27. Escapism
28. Change Your Mind (Quadruple-length episode)

Steven Universe Future:

1. Little Homeschool
2. Guidance
3. Rose Buds
4. Volleyball
5. Bluebird
6. A Very Special Episode
7. Snow Day
8. Why So Blue?
9. Little Graduation
10. Prickly Pair
11. In Dreams
12. Bismuth Casual
13. Together Forever
14. Growing Pains
15. Mr. Universe
16. Fragments
17. Homeworld Bound
18. Everything’s Fine
19. I Am My Monster
20. The Future