In the thirty-third episode of the first season of Steven Universe, THIS EPISODE IS BEAUTIFUL. Intrigued? Then it’s time for Mark to watch Steven Universe.Â
I don’t really feel great about the term “filler” when it comes to television because I never am quite sure if it’s appropriate to use. I’d be interested in the history of the term and how it’s applied to episodic television. For anime, I might understand it more, but I’ve also been really lucky. A lot of the series that I’ve watched have had clip episodes that were still significant in the long wrong. Ultimately, I don’t know that I’d be comfortable with calling “Garnet’s Universe” filler for a number of reasons.
This episode is a lot of fun. It’s jam-packed with references, from Nintendo to magical girl transformations to Samurai Jack to video games in general. I’m sure there were a ton of anime references I didn’t get! Yet even though that’s the case, I didn’t feel lost or insulted by this episode. Instead, I get to see an entire story told by Steven, and it’s a spectacle. The way that Steven imagines Garnet’s day is indicative of how much he adores her, how badly he wants to be loved by her (AND HE IS!!!), and how thrilled he is by adventure. The fantasy he constructs contains a lot of things that made me excited and happy as a kid, like animal companions who train alongside you to fight monsters. There are villains, twist endings, ridiculous power-ups, and the whole video game aesthetic made me realize how much Steven thinks of Gem missions within this context. It’s not that he sees life as a game so much as he filters his understanding of his experiences through video games. Right???
In the end, though, Steven’s love for Garnet is overflowing in “Garnet’s Universe.” It’s unavoidable, and it makes this perhaps the sweetest episode of the show thus far. On that basis alone, I don’t think this is filler at all.
The video for “Garnet’s Universe” can be downloaded here for $0.99.
Mark Links Stuff
– I am now on Patreon! There are various levels of support, from $1 up to whatever you want! You’ll get to read a private blog, extra reviews, and other such rewards. I POST A LOT OF CUTE PHOTOS, OKAY. Think of it like a private Tumblr blog that only SPECIAL PEOPLE get to read.
– I have updated my list of conventions and events for the remainder of the year and much of next year.  Check the full list of events on my Tour Dates / Appearances page.
– My Master Schedule is updated for the near and distant future for most projects, so please check it often. My next Double Features for Mark Watches have been announced here.
- Mark Does Stuff is on Facebook! I’ve got a community page up that I’m running. Guaranteed shenanigans!
