Gem Glow

Well, I thought this episode was good because we are introduced to an interesting conflict about our protagonist and we are also introduced to the Crystal Gems, GOD I love them especially Pearl and Garnet.

Season 1, a season where episodes is fun and silly with Easter Eggs that was soon explained when the series goes on. Gem Glow is a good episode and where people became a Steven Universe fan.

Gem Glow is the first official episode in Steven Universe. It shows the beginning of Steven's journey by showing him first summoning his weapon, his mother's shield, and trying to understand that power. The episode ties in the discontinuation of his favorite ice cream treat into that. It is a pretty good episode and does an alright job of setting up the future of the show. It helps show the differences in the personalities of the main three gems (Pearl, Garnet, and Amethyst) and how they relate to story of Steven. As the first official episode of the show, it is likely the episode that got people into the show. Technically the Pilot was the first episode, but this is the first official episode and takes the animation style that would be used for the rest of the series. As well, it does bring some nostalgia for me.

A few years ago, when this series was airing on television, I completely ignored it until I decided to give it a chance. This episode was my first formal look at the series (since I'd already seen some very interesting and engaging clips online), and I admit I loved it. It wasn't what I expected, as my friends and the online content related to this show indicated it was a deep series with a complex story. And of course it is! That's why I was surprised to see such an innocent first episode.

Of course, I didn't dislike this innocent approach; on the contrary, I loved it. It's a huge contrast to what the series would end up being, this time seen from the perspective of Steven, a boy who thinks everything around him is a game. He still doesn't know everything he will experience, and his friends the Gems try to make his childhood life easier and happier, making him avoid all the bad things in his world.

It's a perfect start to a series like this. It shows us the characters in their purest and most unevolved state. Plus, it conveys everything we need to know about the show in a natural and straightforward way. Nice, funny, and even nostalgic, in a way.

It's not a perfect episode, of course. But it deserves this score for being a perfect start.