DVD Review: Steven Universe Season 1

Steven Universe Season 1
Created by: Rebecca Sugar
Starring: Zach Callison, Deedee Magno, Estelle, Michaela Dietz

Review by Stephanie Cooke

There isn’t much to say about Steven Universe that hasn’t already been said by a bajillion other people, but here I am as I try to put to words how wonderful this show is. Steven Universe Season 1 has somehow not made it to DVD before now, despite having aired a whopping five seasons. Considering the show’s popularity, this seems absolutely bonkers to me.

As already mentioned, Steven Universe is an absolute treat. It’s such a simple and yet complex series about a little boy who inherits big powers. He learns how to control his gifts alongside his guardians: Pearl, Amethyst, and Garnet who happen to be powerful beings called Crystal Gems. Steven is half Gem, and half human; the result of his mother (Rose Quartz) giving up her gifts to fall in love with a human named Greg Universe. Steven is the best of both of his parents as he strives to see the good in everyone and everything, and is eternally optimistic and full of wonder.

UGH THIS SHOW IS JUST SO GOOD.

I don’t find that Steven Universe really bothers following a strict story arc. You could hop into just about any episode of the series and be able to figure out what’s going on. The first season is a bit slow at times and builds up a lot of character stuff for Steven, Pearl, Garnet, and Amethyst, but is not any less good. I love the episodes that tell these epic adventure stories where Steven tags along, eager to learn about his powers and how he can harness them to protect the world. He often fails at the tasks that he’s given or gets sidetracked or ultimately does something that could be considered “child-like.” My favourite thing is how it’s handled within the show. No one yells at Steven or belittles him for any of these mistakes. Instead, they use the opportunities where something goes wrong to show how things carry on regardless and to strive to do better next time.

Failure is such a prominent theme within the first season and it’s great. Sometimes I feel annoyed by what Steven does (or doesn’t do) but when Pearl, Garnet, and Amethyst just move past it. I realize that Steven Universe portrays a little boy who is given extraordinary powers. It takes time for him to figure it all out, even when he’s being supervised by the best of the best. He’s still just a kid and the Crystal Gems are ensuring that their training doesn’t take that experience away from him. 

HAVE I MENTIONED HOW GREAT THIS SHOW IS? CAUSE IT IS REALLY GREAT.

Its delightfully chipper theme song is perpetually stuck in my head for weeks after watching an episode. Nothing in this world has ever made me want to learn ukulele more than Steven Universe. I stare longingly at the ukulele sitting in my living room as I watch the show and dream of the day when I actually commit to learning it and all of the songs from the series.

I’ve spent a lot of time discussing Steven specifically but the cast is so diverse and interesting and I mean that in the best possible way. I feel like Steven Universe helped redefine what could be portrayed in a kids show like this and how to put in things that adults don’t really know how to address with their children. Stuff like gender, gender fluidity, sexuality, and more. And if you haven’t seen the show, PLEASE don’t take that as a way of interpreting this show to be smutty or inappropriate because that is so not the case. Steven Universe just manages to naturally incorporate these things into the show without batting an eyelash; it is incredibly refreshing, well done, and beyond commendable.

Garnet, Amethyst, and Pearl are so unique and bring something different to the team. Steven idolizes them in different ways and learns to take something from each of them, bringing those qualities to the team to really showcase the best of what they are. The love that each of the characters feel for each other feels so real and organic. It oozes off the screen and into your home where you can’t help but smile as you watch them interact with each other.

GOSH. UGH. GAH. STEVEN UNIVERSE IS SO GREAT.

Steven Universe Season 1 DVD Special Features:

• Exclusive Featurettes
• Musical Performances
• Song Demos
• Animatics

Verdict: BUY IT! I’m sure that there will be some fancy deluxe Steven Universe set out eventually but seeing as they just got around to Season 1, who knows when that’ll happen. If you’re a fan of the series and want to rewatch it all day, every day, you absolutely need to add this to your collection ASAP.

It’s a bummer that it doesn’t seem to have a Blu-ray option (Adventure Time got a Blu-ray release much, much later in its lifetime), but hey, let’s take what we can get.

You can buy Steven Universe Season 1 here!