Welcome back to my top 10 favorite Steven Universe episodes! Let's hop right back in, shall we?

5. Sworn to the Sword

In this episode, Steven pushes his friend Connie to learn sword fighting. Connie is hesitant at first, but she quickly goes full force into her training after Pearl agrees to train her. Steven watches as Connie and Pearl train each and every day. At first, Connie and Steven have fun with the new training, but things quickly turn sour. Connie starts to train too hard, and it is revealed that Pearl is teaching Connie to think of herself as nothing. Pearl starts teaching Connie that only Steven matters. Steven interjects, and the two of them end up fighting Pearl together. They show Pearl that they fight better as a team, and Pearl eventually gives in. This episode means a lot to me because it shows a lot of Connie's self-worth issues. I have similar issues, and seeing Steven come along his hurting friend is one of the most beautiful occurrences in the entire show. It also doesn't hurt that this episode has two really good songs. For those reasons, this episode gets the 5th spot on my list.

4. Mirror Gem

This two-part episode introduces Lapis Lazuli, my aforementioned favorite character. In its barest form, the story goes like this. Steven is given a mirror with a gem in the back of it. The mirror is supposed to teach Steven about gem history, but it doesn't work quite right. It is slowly revealed that the gem is actually a person. Steven frees the gem from the mirror, and Lapis appears for the first time. She tries to escape Earth, but her gem is cracked. She attempts to use the Earth's ocean to get her home, but Steven ends up talking her out of it. He fixes her gem, and she flies home. This is one of the very first emotionally charged episodes in the show. You can really feel Lapis' pain through her words and actions. I often come back to this episode just to watch it again because it leaves me thinking every single time. With that in mind, this episode gets my 4th spot on the list.

3. Rose's Scabbard

For a couple of these episodes, I've talked about how emotionally intense they are. "Mirror Gem," "Mr. Greg," and "Island Adventure" are all good examples of this, but "Rose's Scabbard" takes the cake when it comes to emotional depth. This episode is about Pearl telling Steven more about his mom, Rose Quartz. When Steven reveals that he's already been to many of the places that Pearl tries to show him, Pearl realizes that Rose kept some secrets from even her. Pearl freaks out at this revelation and runs away. Steven chases after her, and after finally catching up, Pearl tells Steven how much Rose really meant to her. Steven can do nothing but give Pearl a hug and say that he is still there, even if Rose isn't. This episode gets me to tear up every time I watch it. Pearl is so clearly in pain that it hurts me. I've dealt with the loss of a loved one before, and I know how the pain can last a long time. I know, to an extent, the pain that Pearl is feeling, and it breaks my heart. For that reason, this episode gets the 3rd spot on my list.

2. Garnet's Universe

This episode is the outlier of the group. There is no emotional growth or meaning in this episode. There is very little time spent with most of the main cast. There isn't even an advancing of the plot in the slightest. Instead, this is a fun episode where Steven tells Garnet what he thinks she did on the that particular day. So why do I put this at the 2nd overall spot on my list? Because this is my favorite episode to watch. It is silly, there are tons of anime references, and everything is so cute. While most of the episodes on this list are on it because they are good episodes, this episode is only here because I love it.

Honorable Mentions

There are a few episodes that nearly made the list but just missed out. I would like to touch on those very briefly here:

Beta

This is a great episode with an incredibly emotional twist at the end.

Super Watermelon Island/Gem Drill

An epic two-parter that was highly anticipated. It not only managed to answer its own hype, but it delivered even more than we expected.

Log Date 7 15 2

There is hardly a funnier episode in the show than this. Many of my friends will be upset with me for leaving this one off the list.

Say Uncle

I've never seen a crossover that made me cringe more at the idea. For those that don't know, Uncle Grandpa is a show on Cartoon Network that I don't think is very good. Despite that, this crossover episode, while non-canonical, is amazing.

Now, without further ado, the number 1 episode in Steven Universe is:

1. Jail Break

I know that many of those who watch Steven Universe probably saw this coming, but short and sweet, this is the best episode. I have heard so many people tell me that this was the episode that made them love Steven Universe. Essentially, the Crystal Gems are captured by Homeworld Gems. Steven finds out that he can escape from the prison and then proceeds to help the others escape with him. That's all I'm going to say about the plot because you need to see this episode. This is the end of the first seasons of Steven Universe, and I've never seen a better season finale. The music is amazing, the setting is epic, and the stakes couldn't be much higher. For those reasons, this episode gets the number 1 spot on my list.

As I've made clear, this is my favorite show, and if you haven't watched it, I cannot recommend it more. The emotional depth, music, and lovable characters make this a must-watch. So, do you agree with my picks? What episodes are your favorites? I would love to know, so leave a comment below.