We are living in an era of Addictive TV. More and more networks and channels want shows that must be seen in order. Stand alone episodes seem to be rare on the dial. Why the big narrative change? With the rise of the DVRs and streaming services, viewers are now used to sitting on the sofa and binge watching the day away. So they’re up for a bunch of connected episodes instead of one off adventures with the same characters. This trend has become true for cartoons. Steven Universe is a show you need to watch from the first episode forward. The tale of a young boy and his dad living down by the beach constantly builds. But they’re not the normal father-son combination. Turns out Steven’s mom was a Crystal Gem who hooked up with his musician dad and had a hybrid child. The mythology of the Crystal Gems grows so you want to keep up with the fusions and fights. Steven Universe: The Complete Second Season has 22 more episodes in the evolving animated universe.
The boxset starts off with the episode that originally ran during season one, but didn’t flow with the story line. “Say Uncle” is a crossover with Cartoon Network’s series Uncle Grandpa. The bizarre character helps Steven understand even more about his gem powers. It’s a strange one. Season Two is best known for two episodes. “Story For Steven” has dad explain how he attracted an otherworldly being to be the love of his life. “The Answer” is the Emmy nominated episode that explained how one character was fused into being by two other Crystal Gems. It’s one of Josie’s favorite episodes. Here’s her review of the boxset:
The video is 1.78:1 anamorphic. The transfers look great so you’ll be able to see the Crystal Gems fuse clearly. The audio is Dolby Digital 2.0. The levels are great so you can follow along with the mythology.
Animatics are provided for several episodes. It’s great to see how the animation was worked out before the big final image you watched on the channel. It also features the raw audio from the studio before all the music, special effects and mixing.
Keychain celebrating “The Answer” is also on special packages.
Cartoon Network and Warner Bros Home Entertainment present Steven Universe: The Complete Second Season. Created by Rebecca Sugar. Starring: Zach Callison, Estelle, Michaela Dietz & Deedee Magno Hall. Rated: Unrated. Boxset Contents: 22 episodes on 2 DVDs. Released: April 16, 2019.
