GC13 and Hunter discuss Alexandrite’s debut episode: Fusion Cuisine.

It may not be the best episode ever, but it’s the one that gave us the term “mid-season pre-finale”, which has retroactively been applied to the Mirror Gem and Ocean Gem two-parter. Plus, Steven in a little bowtie. What’s not to love?

Well, Pearl did develop an incredibly strong aversion to eating, thirty-two episodes into the series. That was a little weird. Maybe someone should close the gate, lest anything happen to the pie.

Still, if this episode doesn’t get you hyped to go work on an apple farm, then what will?

GC13 does his best to discuss Keep Beach City Weird. (Hey, at least it’s a Ronaldo episode, right?)

There are some heavy things in this episode: the breaking of Ronaldo especially, but also Pearl’s observations on why humans form conspiracy theories. That doesn’t mean it’s all doom and gloom though: just because Ronaldo functions as a great stand-in for a lore fan doesn’t mean GC13 can’t wonder about what Ronaldo means for the lore.

Plus, let’s not ever forget how right Ronaldo was: it’s the Great Diamond Authority who rule the Gems. How will our diplomat save us?

GC13 and Sophia put on their sunscreen and head to a tropical island to discuss Island Adventure (underneath the molten lava moon, of course).

While Steven was being just as funny as always (if not more!), Lars and Sadie really were the stars of this episode. Lars may have been a sourpuss, but being trapped on a potentially dangerous island for days can tend to be quite a stressful experience.

Is it possible that some day Lars and Sadie will be right for each other? Or will that day be as elusive as the explanation for how Steven was able to be away from the temple so long without the Crystal Gems thinking to check the island they had just visited for him?

GC13 and Hunter discuss another old favorite episode: Secret Team (definitely another episode worthy of a gold star).

A fun episode showing how Amethyst, Steven, and Garnet used to be earlier in the series (less responsible, less mature, and less warm, respectively), Secret Team is a great episode to watch if you want to appreciate some character development. Imagine post-Reformed Amethyst being so concerned with “busting” Pearl.

Of course poor Pearl was also willing to scold Steven as he threw himself under the bus (something a lot of fans took her to task for). She’s always had the willingness to be deceptive (even if apparently she’s not the best at it), hasn’t she?

GC13 and Sophia discuss another favorite: Space Race.

Everybody loves Pearl, and this was a really good Pearl episode: there was so much emotion, it showed off Pearl’s qualities and her flaws so well, and she was reminded of how much she appreciates Steven.

Just in case Mirror Gem and Ocean Gem left any doubt about whether Gems were from space, Space Race definitely settled the question. That’s enough to give it some nice lore points (so thanks again to Pearl, this time for the exposition).

Finally, one more accolade for Pearl: she is a very good mechanic. So what if her ship couldn’t leave Earth? She built it in one day. Very impressive.

Ken and GC13 discuss House Guest, the episode that had the unfortunate duty of following Ocean Gem (let’s face it: not the easiest episode to follow).

Coming after a big episode wasn’t House Guest‘s only problem though: it seems to have a more basic cartoon plot than most episodes of Steven Universe. Plus, apparently, people don’t respond well to Pearl wiping oil off of herself.

It’s still nice to see some father-sun bonding though, which means that Greg is forgiven for interrupting Pearl’s history lesson. When Steven will get his healing spit back, nobody knows, but it sure was impactful while it lasted, wasn’t it?

GC13, Sophia, and Hunter discuss Ocean Gem, the second half of Steven Universe’s mid-season finale.

While we may not know much about Lapis yet, even after another full season, imagine how much worse it would have been to have the series end on Ocean Gem. Not only would we still be in the dark about a whole lot of questions we now know the answers to (especially about the homeworld), we wouldn’t have any hope of learning more about Lapis.

Plus we have to call out how great the music was in this episode. Steven Universe’s music is consistently good, but this episode really had some top-grade tracks.

GC13 discusses the first episode of Steven Universe’s first mid-season pre-finale: Mirror Gem.

Ah, to go back to a time when we as a fandom were so young, so innocent. “We didn’t know what we were getting into.” Or at least GC13 didn’t. But how could we have known so early? (Particularly at a time when the show was still in its monster-of-the-week phase.)

There was a lot of hype building up to it, and the episode was quite worth the hype. Fans will forever remember it as the first hint of story arc the series would give us, as well as the first new Gem we’d see (if that’s not worthy of hype, then what is?).

Sophia and GC13 discuss the first episode this site was around to post about (and serious contender for Best Funny Faces): An Indirect Kiss.

Which was your funny face? Steven?? Steven.? Steven!? And those are only the Connie faces. Steven and Pearl were really on their games as well. It’s alright if you can’t choose a favorite: neither can we.

Story frames are fun, and so are new powers for Steven. (Don’t feel left out, Connie: magical destinies have a way of letting everyone in on the fun. Besides, eating that sandwich with so little to drink makes you a hero to us, even this early in the series.)

GC13 and Sophia discuss an old favorite: Monster Buddies. Centipuppy forever! (Eventually…)

As the first episode of the (unofficial) Saliva Saga, this is the first inkling we get of Steven as a healer (though it won’t be until next week that we discuss the episode that really delves into it).

It’s also a touching story of Steven making a new best friend, though unfortunately that best friend has been sitting in a bubble unmentioned for more than a season now. When could we be getting a centipeetle arc? Sure, we already have a green Crystal Gem now, but we can make this work!