I’d be lying if I said I didn’t cry multiple times throughout the show. I truly can’t say more without spoiling huge chunks of the show, but take my word for it, you definitely want to watch this show. What follows includes mysteries about fragmented gems, epic space battles, giant women, a human zoo, a drumhead trial, and the most satisfying conclusion to a show since Avatar the Last Airbender. Steven, the Crystal Gems, and a host of friends including a magical pink lion and the lovely and clever Connie ( Grace Rolek) subdue these gem monsters in hopes of someday finding a cure and keeping the Earth safe… until they reach “the Kindergarten.” Garnet, Amethyst, and Pearl are the only humanoid gem aliens left on the planet after a horrific attack rendering all of the other gems “corrupted” and unable to take their proper forms.

Season one takes our hero and heroines to various different ancient cities from what is revealed to be an ancient civil war between Steven’s mother, Rose Quartz, and her “Crystal Gems” and the ruling body of their home world, the Diamonds. Even a song in the first episode seemingly about cat-shaped ice cream sandwiches is more than it might seem. From a strawberry field littered with armaments to Steven’s own home, keep your eyes peeled. Even locations that you might think are just interesting set dressings can have monumental importance later. The pieces of the epic that is to come are laid in quietly and with patience. Tom Scharpling as Greg and Shelby Rabara as Peridot stand out as personal favorites, and you’ll understand why very quickly as you watch. I can’t stress enough how much I love everyone in this show. They capture their characters from the very beginning and they only get better as the show evolves.

We’re first introduced to the titular Steven ( Zach Callison), a 13-year-old boy living in the fictional Beach City with his guardians: Garnet ( Estelle), Amethyst ( Michaela Dietz), and Pearl ( Deedee Magno). Season one starts off wacky, but things escalate quickly. What starts off as a goofy madcap adventure with a young boy and his three alien caretakers evolves into an absolute masterpiece of a coming-of-age story. Luckily however, it found me at just the right time to hit my heart just the right way.

In fact, I wanted to dismiss it completely at first. I’m the guy who can sing all the songs, and cranks them up in my car. It has been seven years since this absolute gem of a show premiered on Cartoon Network, and it is by a very wide margin my favorite cartoon. The critique of the content of the show was written by my colleague Ben Belcher.

Steven universe season 1 box set