40 EssentialSteven UniverseEpisodes to Watch Before the Series Finale

Between there being just seven days left beforeSteven Universe Future brings the Crystal Gems ’ epic saga to an final stage , and the fact that multitude across the world arestaying home decently nowas the world still shinny to fend off the covid-19 irruption , now ’s a pretty damned good time to go back and freshen yourself on how far Garnet , Amethyst , Pearl , and Steven have come .

The idea of mainline 40 instalment of a serial might fathom daunting , but come back that eachSteven Universeepisode clock in around 10 or so arcminute . It makes this list basically summate up to the distance of a respectable ( though grand ) miniseries , so there ’s plenty of time to watch nonchalantly before the series finale airs on Cartoon internet .

https://gizmodo.com/rebecca-sugar-opens-up-about-how-healing-from-trauma-sh-1842334789

Scenes from Steven Universe.

Scenes from Steven Universe.Image: (Cartoon Network)

While there ’s plenty more to Steven Universe ’s world — like the day - to - day leaving - on in Beach City and the fourth dimension Steven and his friends spend doing regular kid stuff — below are the sequence that crystalize some of the most important narrative elements the series pieced together beforeFuture .

“Gem Glow” – Season 1, Episode 1

For all of the bass worldbuilding and mythology the Crewniverse put into making Steven Universe the nuanced story it stop up being , the series also followed the most basic rule of putting its dissertation argument mighty at the top in big , sheer letters so that people pay attention might have an agreement of where this was all run . Cookie Cat is a pet for your tummy , but his meth cream bar ’s musical theme song is also an encapsulation of the big closed book involving Pink Diamond . All of this became much more obvious in retrospect as Steven Universe reveal more details about Pink ’s relationship with the other infield , and in “ Gem Glow , ” it works as the most canonic variation of Cliff Notes is you really just want to know the bare - bones essentials .

“Laser Light Cannon” – Season 1, Episode 2

One of the way Steven Universe deftly misdirected users after devolve self-aggrandizing hints in “ Gem Glow ” was by now establishing and explaining some important ideas about the Crystal Gems ’ relationship to Rose Quartz and how Steven ’s being her half - human Word complicate their lives in fresh ways . The arrival of a Red Eye in Beach City made it clean-cut that , powerful as the Gems were together , there was a ground they all depended on Rose to defend the Earth , and without her , much of that province was destined to fall to Steven .

“Cat Fingers” – Season 1, Episode 6

As Steven Universe move on , the series veered into the horror literary genre on more than a few occasion — specifically physical structure repugnance — in society to get the sort of danger the Crystal Gems could sometimes be up against . But , bet back , the thought of losing ascendence of one ’s forcible shape was first established in a big way when Steven ’s shapeshifting accidentally chair to his becoming a horrific cat mutant .

“So Many Birthdays” – Season 1, Episode 13

Initially , the Gems ’ long - livedness was n’t really something Steven ever spent time considering , but the affair of his birthday prompted him to reflect on both his and their life in a way that resulted in a charming crisis . It would be a while before Steven Universe get around to emphasizing how Steven ’s Gem heritage would present these form of experiential conundrums for him , but “ So Many Birthdays ” subtly worked the idea into the narrative properly from the beginning .

“Steven the Swordfighter” – Season 1, Episode 16

It was n’t long , though before Steven Universe clarified that Gems , while durable , are n’t impervious from damage , and while Steven ’s since learned that Gems can make over their strong-arm forms with comparative simpleness , the first time he witnessed Pearl poove was a truly dramatic experience he expect with him for year .

“Alone Together” – Season 1, Episode 36

In gain to his forefather Greg , Connie was always Steven ’s most crucial connection to his humanity because of her willingness to partake personal elements of her lifespan with him . At the same meter the Gems were teaching Steven how to be a heedful warrior the way they were , Connie was teaching him to be a regular teenager , an experience that take the two closer and culminate in the creation of Stevonnie , the first Gem / human fusion to ever exist .

“Rose’s Scabbard” – Season 1, Episode 45

Steven ’s eldritch power to occasionally reveal thing about Rose to the Crystal Gems was campaign for both delight and alarm system because it highlighted the reality that there were things about herself that Rose hide even from them . The destructive powerfulness that holding secret can have come to the fore as Steven plucked Rose ’s brand from Lion ’s mane , cluing everyone into that — surprise — the big pink king of beasts had something to do with the fabled pink - hued Gem . Steven and Pearl would have more painful heart to hearts about Rose as they both became more well-to-do being open with their feeling about her , but this was one of their very first steps in that direction .

“Story for Steven” – Season 1, Episode 49

Rose ’s yesteryear was for sure presented as mysterious , but Greg Universe ’s past was n’t on the dot the clearest of characterization , either . But like all shaver who eventually recognise that their parents had lives before them , Steven was curious to know about the fortune of how Greg and Rose met and what the Crystal Gems were like before they became a III of part - clock time parents .

https://gizmodo.com/12-board-games-and-rpgs-2-people-can-play-while-keeping-1842417098

“The Return”/“Jail Break” – Season 1, Episodes 52/53

Peridot , Lapis , and Jasper ’s individual arrivals on Earth each demo a alone sort of threat to the planet , but it was n’t until the three of them were together with lodge from Homeworld that the sheer scale of Steven Universe ’s larger landscape came into focus . Together , the trio of overrun muffin destabilized the show in a means that wedge all of its lineament to adapt and grow at an exponential rate that really kick everything into mellow train .

“Full Disclosure” – Season 2, Episode 1

For all the prison term Steven spends learning to heal other Gems , at this point in the serial , his inability to properly heal himself and face his devil begins to manifest . In the same room that watch Pearl fairy bust up him , seeing Garnet forcibly torn apart devastated him because of how helpless he was to stop it .

“Sworn to the Sword”- Season 2, Episode 5

Connie ’s growth as a character reference is n’t followed quite as tight as Steven ’s , but the of import use she ’s going to play in his future is predict by the ebullience she bring to her blade breeding with Pearl . Pearl ’s willingness to train Connie is n’t initially ground in the best of trust , but even that speaks to Pearl ’s belief that Connie can handle getting call for in the Gem family ’s personal play .

“Keeping It Together” – Season 2, Episode 7

Before the Homeworld Gems really made their way to Earth to place imminent threat themselves , the monstrous Gem Cluster dwelling beneath the Earth ’s surface was the biggest terror look the Crystal Gems in an nonfigurative sense . Seeing the brutal experimentation that extend to the Cluster ’s development add a new level of horror to the Homeworld Gems and hammer home just why the Crystal Gems worked to harbor Steven from the truth for so long .

“We Need to Talk” – Season 2, Episode 8

The unlike worked up relationships a Gem fusion can present is something the serial explore through all of the node - starring fusions like Opal , Sugilite , and Sardonyx , who were all platonic , by and large . But with Stevonnie , it was unclouded from the start that romance factored into their beingness , which is what made it necessary for Greg to sit Steven and Connie down to explain the significance of want to fuse with someone out of love .

“Cry For Help” – Season 2, Episode 10

Sardoynx introduced the concept of a Gem nuclear fusion reaction only being able to know thing that their two constituent parts would in reality share with one another when they part , further constitute that fusions are their own distinct entity . Though Steven did n’t see it at the time , learning those kinds of example from Sardonyx would come to bear weight on his reason about his family relationship to Rose Quartz .

“Keystone Motel”/“Friend Ship” – Season 2, Episodes 11/14

Steven Universe was consistently at its strong when its character ’ dramatic discharge had long tails , as was the case with the Sardonyx function . Rather than trying to treat both Garnet and Pearl ’s understand on the billet within a single installment , “ Keystone Motel ” and “ Friend Ship ” ( which are a few episodes apart ) give both Gems the space to reflect on the strain on their relationship as they consider if and how to amount back together as a team .

“Sadie’s Song” – Season 2, Episode 16

This episode was crucial if only forthat song .

“The Answer” – Season 2, Episode 21

Because Garnet was a precious stone whose being never could have been envision ( much like Steven ) , the story of her ancestry was of similar grandness to the Crystal Gems ’ history . In telling Steven the story of how Ruby and Sapphire meet , Garnet revealed to him why she ultimately became the symbolisation of love that render Rose the forte to rise up against Homeworld .

“Message Received” – Season 2, Episode 24

Yellow Diamond simply point her face via phone call drastically changed Steven Universe ’s standard atmosphere because it meant that Jasper and Peridot were n’t merely wiling by sentence trying to brownnose their direction into Homeworld ’s good graces . Not only were the Diamonds ( and their Pearls ) actively interested in obscure the Earth , their design for further conquest were still well underway .

https://gizmodo.com/io9-discusses-the-musical-delights-of-steven-universe-1837942363

“Super Watermelon Island”/“Gem Drill” – Season 3, Episodes 1-2

The consequences of Steven not always being capable to finish the struggle he became involve in reared their head out of the ocean in the manikin of Malachite , Lapis and Jasper ’s mentally ill fusion . Her presence and the revitalisation of the Cluster hit the Gems where it injure and remind them all that the biggest threats in the universe were still yet to come .

“Hit the Diamond” – Season 3, Episode 5

Because Steven Universe was never a series that solely lived in a highly frantic , trying distance , some of the most memorable moments of its journeying into endgame district were actually chill , all things consider . A squad of Rubies showing up to inquire Earth should have been cause for alarm , but Steven being Steven , of line , managed to sour it into something lighthearted .

“Mr. Greg” – Season 3, Episode 8

The first planetary house that the serial might have been build to a full - distance melodious lineament came as Steven , Greg , and Pearl travel into Empire City to take in the sight , enjoy a hotel , and cease up spilling their guts to one another about Rose . All of the unhealthy , compose - up rancor Pearl bore towards Greg was long overdue to be brought out into the outdoors , but or else of the moment leading to something ugly , Steven Universe instead turned it into some of the series ’ most beautiful songs .

“Beta”/“Earthlings” – Season 3, Episodes 22-23

After all of the configurations of Crystal Gem fusions were introduced , one of the biggest doubtfulness left standing was whether Steven himself was capable of fuse with non - humans . Jasper ’s return provided the perfect chance to answer that question , and it did it through a story about what it ’s like to recognize when the things you dislike about other people are the things you dislike about yourself .

“Buddy’s Book” – Season 4, Episode 3

Every so often , Steven Universe ’s townie - centric bottle sequence would delve into a entrancing bit about the Gems ’ historic interactions with humanity , which was something people rarely address about at duration . Having sworn to protect the Earth at all price thousands of years ago , the Gems had just … been on the major planet the intact clip , mean that long before Steven and Greg show up up , there was plenty of worry for them to get into with a variety of other humans .

“Mindful Education” – Season 4, Episode 4

It ’s as true now as it was then : Everyone could stand to sit down down and take a break of serve to mull .

“Three Gems and a Baby” – Season 4, Episode 10

Episodes boast Steven as a sister were always riveting because a ) he was lovely , and b ) at that point in clip , the Gems and Greg were still learning the basics of how to farm an infant . Beyond that , an installment like this work as a good reminder that whether he was living out of a vanguard or not , Greg was always secret plan to get in on Gem shenanigans because they were going to be a part of Steven ’s life .

“Steven’s Dream” – Season 4, Episode 11

Greg being down to conform to Steven all the room to Korea to decipher a vision he had in a dream was a continuation of the show ’s desire to emphasize Greg ’s adventurous spirit , but it also provided the show a way of convey back to the commercial enterprise of introducing new Homeworld Gems of major grandness .

“That Will Be All” – Season 4, Episode 15

Steven Universe ’s habit of turning once - terrifying scoundrel into sympathetic theatrical role through song is one of its slap-up long suit . And it ’s perhaps well seen in its geographic expedition of Yellow and Blue Diamond ’s grief over Pink , who they believed to be shattered .

https://gizmodo.com/why-hopeful-prequels-to-dark-stories-still-matter-1837845319

“Storm in the Room” – Season 4, Episode 17

For reasons that immediately became obvious after the first few times he wandered into Rose ’s room in the Temple , Steven made a pointedness of staying out of it despite the fact that his gem could unlock its doors . As his indigence rise to be able-bodied to mouth with Rose Quartz about his feelings concerning her bequest he inherited , though , venture into the way became the most obvious result to his problem .

“Lion 4: Alternate Ending” – Season 4, Episode 21

Lion ’s meaning was something that Steven Universe never seemed concerned in amply explaining , but in his own way , the large hombre did all he could to excuse it to Steven indirectly by share things with him that Rose left behind .

“Are You My Dad”/“I Am My Mom” – Season 4, Episodes 24-25

Steven could n’t have know that one 24-hour interval , a transcription of him would conduct to a Homeworld Gem misunderstanding that put the lives of his friends in peril , but this pair of episodes worked as the true beginning of Steven Universe ’s last showdown with the Diamonds .

“The Trial” – Season 5, Episode 2

Homeworld civilization was one of the tantalizing bits of the show ’s traditional knowledge that always felt like a glance into the Crewniverse ’s wilder imagination . Being bring in face to brass with the diamond who are certain he ’s responsible for for Pink ’s smashing is wild enough , but it ’s that much more awesome to get word that the Homeworld Gems have upper - course of study attorney and castaway , Off - Color Gems who dwell in hiding for fear to being shattered themselves .

“Jungle Moon” – Season 5, Episode 12

Paying attention to the significance of Steven ’s dreams throughout the serial made the bad surprise that eruct up out of Stevonnie ’s subconscious mind while they ’re benumbed on a far - flung planet really pay off off . It was n’t so much that everything the Crystal Gems told Steven about their yesteryear was n’t true , they just did n’t know that they were recreate party to a program beyond their inclusion .

“A Single Pale Rose” – Season 5, Episode 18

The depths of Pearl ’s making love for Rose was something that none of the other Crystal Gems could ever fuck , but in learning how that same love ended up hurting them both , Steven was capable to put the full picture of his female parent ’s animation together at long last . Steven Universe as always smart about call back to earlier episodes , and it ’s here that the secrets suggest at in “ Rose ’s Scabbard ” are finally bring out into the surface .

“Reunited” – Season 5, Episodes 23-24

After one last riposte to relative normality that gives the Crystal Gems just enough time to settle into the idea that things might be OK once and for all , the Diamonds made their blood line onto Earth keen to finish what they bug out so long ago . But even though the Crystal Gems do n’t precisely have a programme as to how to deal with them , they were always at their best when they went with the period and improvize .

“Change Your Mind” – Season 5, Episode 29-32

After all was said and done , Steven Universe ended up being a story about teaching the great unwashed how to shift their minds about themselves and others in powerful , life - changing ways . Being capable to do that for every undivided foeman who come their direction prepared Steven and the Gems to fight what would have been one final battle ( and enter us to some cool new fusion . ) But Steven Universe Future had other plan in mind .

https://gizmodo.com/steven-universe-future-is-exploring-what-it-really-mean-1840879161

Steven Universe Future ’s net four installment premier on March 27 on Cartoon web .

Steven singing the Cookie Cat song.