Steven Universe:
The Complete Second Season
review by Bobby Blakey
Over the years Cartoon Network has offered up some pretty unique shows including I Am Weasel, Dexter’s Laboratory, Regular Show and Adventure Time. In 2013 they debuted yet another out of this world series with Steven Universe. In January of 2019 the series completed its fifth season, but fans can head back in time to relive some of the earlier fun and bring home the complete second season on DVD.
Steven Universe follows Steven, a young half-human, half-Gem boy who inherited the gem of his mother Rose Quartz, the former leader of the Crystal Gems that also include Garnet, Amethyst, and Pearl. As Steven tries to figure out his powers, he spends his days with his human father Greg, his friend Connie or the other Gems, whether to help them save the world or just to hang out. He explores the abilities passed down to him by his mother, which include fusion - the ability of two Gems to temporarily merge their identities and bodies to form a distinct new personality. Season Two introduces Garnet for the first time and takes Steven Universe and the Crystal Gems on new adventures that explore love, friendship, Yellow Diamond’s plan for Earth, Peridot’s change of heart and more!
This is a silly show that somehow works on just about every level. I knew of the show but never spent any time watching it until I got the previously released first
season set and was on the fence at first, but after a few episodes I found myself all in with the silly awesomeness of it all. There are two sides to this series with part being Steven just being a silly little kid trying to find his way in this world and the other being the super hero team fighting to save the planet. Both of these stories mesh together perfectly to make for some silly fun and action. The animation reminds me of some of the more cartoonish anime series but with its own flare.
There is no shortage of ridiculousness which makes this show all the more fun to watch. The character designs and overall animation style looks great and offers up its own familiar style that I loved. The short run time of each episode helps to keep things moving without wasting a lot of time. This is a fun series that I am sorry I took so long to get in on, but glad to get in there and catch up with now.
This collection features all 22 episodes of the season as well as animatics and an exclusive Garnet fusion keychain in every package. Grab your copy of Steve Universe: The Complete Second Season available now from Cartoon Network and Warner Bros. Home Entertainment.