When the 76ers lose another game, and all there seems to be on television is news about Donald Trump or re-runs of Law and Order SVU (although that’s no problem), cartoons are usually another option. Whenever there’s a bad day looming over, or I’m snowed in, I happen to change the channel and watch Adventure Time or Regular Show. However, there is this one show that seems to stand above the rest. It may not be the best cartoon series on planet earth, but it is something that is worth seeing, let alone talking about. This is the story of Steven Universe, created by Rebecca Sugar.
The plot is simple, revolving around a young child named Steven. Steven is regular kid, with a dad and three space aliens called the “Crystal Gems”. Who have all dedicated their time on Earth protecting it. Pretty normal right? Well, it is anything but normal, and that’s okay. There’s always something in this show that keeps you watching, whether it is the pretty colors or characters that we never thought we could relate to. Here’s a list of a topic that the show talks about, without being particularly preachy: coping with the loss of a loved one, sadness, identity, redemption, forgiveness, anger, relationships, and hope.
It is a lot to process and I’m not going to explain the whole fourth season in such a short time. However I will say this. Out of all the SpongeBob reruns and shows that kick the bucket early, it is nice to see a show like Steven Universe flourish. The characters are sharp and original, the plot is attention grabbing, the music is catchy and solid, and the whole thing is easy enough for kids and adults to enjoy. At first, the animation wasn’t too decent to look at, the characters became annoying at times, and everything else about the show during its first season wasn’t too interesting. However, it progressed and grew beautifully over time. Like a kid going through puberty, it gets a little weird, if not cringe worthy. Although, that transition changes over time and the kid turns out alright, if not fully matured.
Aside from the pretty scenes and sweet little music numbers, the show has gained some controversy. There are some moments of same-sex relationships, androgynous characters, and more LGBT themes than I could count. To some countries (and for the most part conservative families), this is a huge issue and censorship comes into play. For others (such as myself), I don’t see the big issue. Whether you know it or not, children are smart and honest when it comes to almost everything. Watching Steven Universe allows kids to understand relationships and LGBT easily. They are forming their own opinions and identities through the shows that they watch. In the end, it is up to us to make sure we don’t cheat kids out of shows they can actually learn from, instead of reruns of SpongeBob. So in conclusion, Steven Universe gets a: 10/10
