Steven Universe: The Essential Episodes

Steven Universe is the best show on TV that you aren’t watching. You’ve probably heard of it, right? You’ve got a friend on tumblr who won’t shut up about it. I get that; I was in your shoes for the past few years. Then I finally checked it out and oh boy, Steven Universe lives up to the hype. It’s funny, thought provoking, beautifully animated, and just about the gayest show on TV. (We talked all about that right here, actually.)

As of the writing of this list, Steven Universe has aired over a hundred episodes. Even if they’re only typically eleven minutes each, that can still be a lot for a newbie to jump into. With that in mind, I put together this list of episodes I feel best represent Steven Universe on a whole. It isn’t a list of all the main plot relevant episodes or the objectively best episodes, it’s ones that capture what makes this show so great and why you should check it out. There are some minor spoilers ahead, so if you really want go in spoiler free, just check out what episode titles I suggested.

Now let’s find out why you should believe in Garnet, Amethyst, and Pearl. And Steven!

Season 1 Episode 2: Laser Light Cannon 

While the first episode does have a lot going for it, especially the Cookie Cat song, episode two features what I feel is the mission statement for the show. It’s foreshadowed at the beginning when Steven excitedly asks for fry bits. He has no desire for the whole and perfect fries, he just wants ‘the bits’. Later on we hear Steven’s dad, Greg, give his best piece of advice on the show,

“If every porkchop were perfect, we wouldn’t have hot dogs.”

On first watch that just seems like a cute saying but once you see the whole series it takes on another meaning. These characters are all cast offs from society. They don’t fit in any particular mold (much like the fry bits) but are still worthwhile. Ever if you aren’t perfect, like a porkchop, you’re still valuable, like a hot dog.

It’s astounding the show is able to lay out its central message so early while also laying in a lot of foreshadowing for future events that don’t’ distract from the wacky plot of the day.

Season 1 Episode 22: Steven and the Stevens

With a plot that wouldn’t be out of place on Rick and Morty, this is one of the first instances where Steven Universe takes on a beloved sci-fi trope, time travel. The lesson is fairly straightforward, Steven learns to stay true to himself, but this is not your typical ‘lesson of the week’ show.

It starts off sweet and innocent, with Steven just wanting to go back in time so he can perform with his dad, and ends in Steven watching himself die (as the song goes in the episode). It never goes full on dark and serious but in fact uses humor to make the whole thing even more macabre. While the show can sometimes get very heavy, it never loses its humor. This is not a bleak and cold world, especially with Steven’s sense of humor. 

Season 1 Episode 32: Fusion Cuisine

Even with the mission statement of the show made clear so early on, Steven Universe makes many of its seemingly ‘filler’ episodes about exploring it. In this episode, Connie’s (Steven’s best friend) parents want to meet Steven’s parents. The only problem? Steven’s mom is dead and he considers the Crystal Gems his whole family. Not wanting to lie or upset Connie, he has Garnet, Amethyst, and Pearl all fuse into Alexandrite and takes them to dinner with Greg.

Right off the bat, Steven lies through his teeth about his ‘mom’, trying to conform to what society expects of a nuclear family. This of course leads to wacky shenanigans but the message of the episode is clear. 

Connie’s parents strict expectations of her and her friends is a fantastic reflection of the caste system the Crystal Gems were born into and rebelled against. Both Gem society and Earth’s society expect people to fit into certain molds, sometimes literally with Gems. It’s only when you appreciate and love those around you for who they are, even if they are different, that you can truly be happy.

Plus, you there are some great one-liners and Steven not getting to watch the mid-season pre-finale of his favorite show, Under the Knife. Yes, Steven loves hospital dramas. 

Season 1 Episode 35: Lion 3: Straight To Video

For a show that can be very loud and wacky, this episode is all about the quiet moments. I’ve had several people mention that while they enjoyed the earlier episodes of the series, this is where it became clear that Steven Universe was something different. There won’t be a dry eye in the house once you see what Steven finds in Lion’s mane. Yep, that’s a sentence you just read. It pulls no punches and sets you up for the feelings train that this whole show is.

Season 1 Episode 37: Alone Together

One day while Steven and Connie hang out they unknowingly fuse into the gender neutral Stevonnie. Yep, Steven can fuse with humans and the rest of the episode plays out as a lesson in consent and learning about your own body. Stevonnie is at first awkward in their new form, not sure how to handle all the attention they’re now receiving, being so attractive. This sleazebag, Kevin, who doesn’t know the meaning of the word, ‘no’, hits on them. This is where the consent part comes in. Stevonnie doesn’t like how it feels and becomes engulfed in feelings of dread. She manages to pull herself out of it with the powerful decree to Kevin, “I am not your baby.”

It’s so important that a show aimed at kids like Steven Universe explored this topic, something that shows aimed at adults could learn from. Also of note is how encouraging Garnet is when Stevonnie first asks for help. She doesn’t shame Steven and Connie for fusing or their gender-neutral body. She simply smiles and says, “You are an experience.” Did I mention Steven Universe on a whole is super positive and encouraging to minorities of all kinds?

Season 1 Episode 43: Maximum Capacity

While nearly every episode of the show is viewed through Steven’s POV, sometimes we get a larger focus on the other characters. This one squarely focuses on the toxic friendship between Greg and Amethyst. When Greg tries to clean out his storage shed, he also uncovers a box of Lil’ Butler (a sitcom) VHS tapes. He loses himself in them with Amethyst, forgetting about his own son.

When Greg finally snaps himself out of it, Amethyst is not pleased. She’s bitter that Greg would choose anyone over her, just like he chose Rose, Steven’s mom, years ago. Rose casts a huge (eyyyyyyy) shadow over the series and its characters. This comes to painful light when Amethyst shape shifts in front of Greg in what is easily the most harrowing moment of the series.

While most of the episodes end on a joke, this one is more contemplative. It reminds the characters and the viewers that moving on isn’t easy and emotional scars can reopen at any time.

Season 1 Episodes 51-52: The Return/Jail Break 

I really could just link ‘Stronger Than You’ and just move on to the next entry, but let’s actually talk about this. Steven Universe plays the long game, both with its emotional arcs and plot arcs. Its here where so many of the plot threads come together into an epic season finale. The stakes are raised, back-story is reveled, and we get a ton of world building. Don’t be fooled into thinking Steven Universe is just a touchy feely show. It’s got a universe of epic stories that sit comfortably beside Avatar: The Last Airbender, Star Trek, Stargate, and other sci-fi and fantasy classics.

But you know what Steven Universe has that most of those don’t? Lesbians, in the forms of Ruby and Sapphire.

Also of note, when Steven is rushing to save the other Crystal Gems he stops Lion from coming with him. “Lion stay here. If things go bad, dad will need a new son.” This show kills it with the low key jokes.

And head on to the next page for the best season 2 episodes!