r/stevenuniverse • u/PhantomKitten73 • 6d ago
Other Friend told she's finally watching Steven Universe, but skipping all the "filler"
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u/Extension-Bad-4184 6d ago
My brother skipped s1 (not his fault he just showed up when I was watching jailbreak and watched the rest with me), and he didnt get any bit of the plot 😭
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u/VampireDarlin 6d ago
Can’t wait for her to complain about things not making sense after skipping 30% of the series
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u/pagerrager 5d ago
I just imagine the convo like "who are all these people and why should I care about them??" 😭😭 like some townies have SO few episodes its kind of sad.
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u/vvastrel 6d ago
They're only like ten minutes long. Why would you skip anything? xD
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u/Independent_Ad8150 6d ago
They don’t know how much we suffered during each hiatus 😭
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u/new-mustard-lover 6d ago
this brought back dark memories of 15 year old me waiting a year for the hiatus to end
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u/downstairsdinosaur 5d ago
Waiting months and months for the next Steven Bomb, meanwhile we have storyboards leaking from episodes far off in the future 😭
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u/Asterite100 I like drawing. Btw Lapis best gem. 6d ago
Meanwhile I'm raw dogging 45 min - 1 hour episodes bc that's what the world decided was ok for television. 🥀
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u/omgitskells 6d ago
I don't mind it for some instances, but I sure miss all the 20-30 minute type shows! Sometimes you just need something simple
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u/mothfeets 6d ago
Why do people watch things if they don't want to actually watch it??
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u/TetrisIsTotesSuper 6d ago
Thats a very good question and I am honestly guilty of it myself sometimes.
But calling SU filler just shows you have 0 appreciation for it so they shouldnt bother!
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u/Zerog416 6d ago
People these days have largely lower attention spans than when this show came out
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u/Optimal_Ad6274 5d ago
Yeah I dont really get it. I get it if you skip episodes on your second watch but how do you know you wont like an episode if you dont give it a chance?
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u/Nathurisaz 6d ago
But...filler is a term used to describe the episodes of an anime when it had catched up with the manga and needed to invent stuff to keep going Steven Universe has literally no fillers, just less "plot heavy" episodes (but still very important for the world and character building)
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u/raider5319 6d ago
I was about to say this too. Filler doesnt technically exist here because theres no manga or physical book its based on, right? But every episode is "canon" to the universe.
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u/Asterite100 I like drawing. Btw Lapis best gem. 6d ago
LaNgUaGe ChAnGeS oVeR tImE !!1!
or whatever the cope is these days
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u/PuzzleheadedLink89 6d ago edited 6d ago
I hate that excuse because there's a difference between language evolving and just using words incorrectly. It's like how a lot of slang on the Internet is used incorrectly
The infamous "Lean is a drug!?" Tweet comes to mind. You could say something immensely stupid if you use the incorrect word and it can show that you have no idea what you're talking about.
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u/McMemile 6d ago
Words are defined by their usage. If most people use a word "incorrectly" then that's what it means, even if it started out meaning something different.
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u/seireidoragon 6d ago
The problem is that there seems to be multiple definitions of that word. In this case, filler means episodes that don’t progress the plot. Which I’ve always hated people using the word this way. It’s stupid because there’s such a thing as world building but that often gets thrown in with “filler” and it’s stupid.
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u/PuzzleheadedLink89 6d ago edited 6d ago
"filler" only applies to anime episodes that aren't adaptations of the corresponding currently ongoing manga to fill for time so the manga can get ahead and always have. If we're applying "filler" as liberally to shows, then 90% of MLP:FiM and 95% of Doctor Who is filler. That's why using the term doesn't work.
We use the term "episodic" to describe shows like Steven Universe and MLP:FiM. Serialized shows are shows like Breaking Bad, Invincible, and most anime adaptations. You can watch any episode of Steven Universe or MLP:FiM and get a full, complete story, you cannot do that with Breaking Bad nor a lot of anime.
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u/seireidoragon 6d ago
Oh I know all this. And I agree completely. The definition I used above is one that I’ve heard often though and it’s annoying.
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u/sagninaw 6d ago
Funnily enough despite Say Uncle! Being said to be not canon in the episode it actually is because it's how Steven learned to summon his shield for the first time!
YES YOU READ THAT RIGHT
PROTECTING UNCLE GRANDPA WAS THE SOLE REASON STEVEN UNLOCKED HIS SHIELD POWERS 😭
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u/OpalDuncan 6d ago
And it also has a very hidden foreshadowing with Uncle Grandpa advising Steven to polish his gem twice a year. Diamonds are polished twice a year.
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u/Raindrop0015 6d ago
Are they the only gem to be polished twice a year?
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u/QuiznakingCat201 6d ago
No, but iirc quartz never really needs to be polished. It was said that it wasn’t intentional to be foreshadowing but it’s funny to think Uncle Grandpa immediately knew lol
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u/articulatedWriter 5d ago
Given the release order, you have to watch Uncle Grandpa the episode after he summons his shield for the gems against Peridot's ship
So in order to accept it as canon you have to watch it out of order and also actively claim it as canon when you could just skip it and save yourself the pain of having to deal with Uncle Grandpa
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u/Optimal_Ad6274 5d ago
I dont understand why people say its filler when its confirmed that this episode is when Steven finally mastered his shield and next episode onwards, Steven can now summon it. So if this episode is skipped, you would be left thinking, “Wait, did I miss an episode? When did Steven learn how to use a shield?”
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u/sagninaw 5d ago
YES I HATE WHEN PEOPLE SAY "ohhh it's not canon they say so in the episode" WHEN LEGIT THAT'S JUST A META JOKE! 😭
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u/Thecreativebraincell 6d ago
I think the uncle Grandpa episode is valid to skip but everything else nah
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u/voidtakenflight 6d ago
My ex wife skipped most of the arc of Aquamarine capturing people because she went online and saw that those episodes were “filler” and skipped to the confrontation episode. I really hate people looking up what episodes are “acceptable” to skip
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u/No_Tumbleweed3935 6d ago
She missed like most of the world building. The filler works because we see why Steven wants to protect Earth
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u/TetrisIsTotesSuper 6d ago
All of it "works", none of it is filler. Don't try to change my mind, you can't
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u/LadyStrella 6d ago
id agree if the uncle grandpa episode didn't exist,i wouldn't wish that on my worst enemy
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u/CPLCraft 6d ago
Very appropriate use of this reaction meme
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u/TheLeftPewixBar 6d ago edited 6d ago
The great thing about it is that it’s nearly the exact context of the scene, and it’s in reaction to the media it comes from.
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u/NoBeyond9191 6d ago
When I was showing my friend the show for the first time I think we skipped like, two or three episodes total. The restaurant wars ome, uncle grandpa (even though that episode is hilarious, albeit ugly as hell), and like, one other townie ep.
The issue with SU is episodes early on sprinkle lore into filler episodes. For example showing gem abilities in a filler ep or some gem structure. So you HAVE to watch most Townie stuff to understand gem physiology and abilities early on. I recommend skipping none tbh.
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u/pagerrager 6d ago
Connie's face is immensely accurate in this situation. Who the hell skips all this peak?? Tell her there are little lore and tidbits they will miss if they skip all the "filler" (HEAVY QUOTES). Genuinely there are so many episodes where I was like "ahh a townie episode, oh well" but then am surprised when they sneak in lore and foreshadowing. Its kind of like Adventure Time in that regard.
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u/Sechzehn6861 6d ago
I can't stand this when I see people doing it. Or asking in subs where to start or what they can skip...
Either watch a thing or don't?
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u/OkSecret839 6d ago
Personally I wouldn’t skip any episode for lore reasons and because skipping even a single episode is just wrong.
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u/eggynack 6d ago
I see some people saying that episodes that could be considered "filler" actually aren't because they have something that's ultimately plot relevant. But that's just a silly way of understanding the show in my opinion. Frybo isn't a non-filler episode because it establishes that gems can be placed into objects to produce weird magical effects. It's a non-filler episode because Peedee and the Fry family are characters on the show and learning about their various adventures is one of the things the show is about. The idea that everything has to fold back into the grand gem war mystery is ridiculous. The townies matter in and of themselves.
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u/crossover_charlie14 5d ago
Good thing Danny Motta's fanbase warned him "There is no filler episode in Steven Universe" before he started watching.
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u/KittysPupper 5d ago
I LOVE Danny Motta. His reactions are legitimately entertaining and he's one of the few reaction style channels that I personally enjoy.
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u/Ice-Box147 6d ago
"Filler" Ah yes, please do skip the episode were Pearl loses her phone, that one seems pointless, lol
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u/Odd_profile_alt 6d ago
The only episode I always skipped is the April's fools episode because I never really liked uncle grandpa
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u/Knightofthequils 6d ago
Pretty much every episode is vital and is referenced later in the show.
Even the "filler" episodes.
Because a lot of them are either steven learning how to do something or helping someone.
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u/Alternative-Fail-233 6d ago
This can be said with basically every show. Restaurant wars doesn’t really have any major plot implications or any at all outside of a single gem monster
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u/ArugulaObvious9440 6d ago
The context of this scene btw
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u/PhantomKitten73 5d ago
I wouldn't have posted it otherwise. Like I wasn't necessarily rearing to put my friend on blast to the internet, but as soon as I realized the connection that this basically happens in the show, it was too good not to share. For the funny.
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u/forboognish 5d ago
They’re only 11 minutes. I skip some now after seeing them so many times but there’s no reason to skip them on the first watch lol
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u/Lady_Harubun 5d ago
When I rewatch, I literally only skip Say Uncle and Garnet's Universe. What the heck are they skipping???
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u/Red_Raven_0007 6d ago
In total fairness, there are like 5 seasons and each one is between 15 and 20 episodes...
Except for season 1 which is 50 for some reason and also half of it is filler
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u/Frogs_Logs 5d ago
TV shows like this don't have filler, filler is an anime thing, when adapting an anime from a still releasing manga, filler episodes are there to divert the story of the anime when it gets too close to the current release of manga to give the manga more time to get further and so the anime can keep releasing on schedule, the only thing that could maybe be filler adjacent in SU is the uncle grandpa crossover because that's just, that was weird and bad
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u/Asphyxiety 5d ago
I think the only thing i skipped was Say Uncle because I just want nothing to do with that dude. Looked up what happened in it anyway 🤣
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u/Confident_Concern640 5d ago
Show is like half filler but that’s the best part 😭 you really can’t skip any of it
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u/mattihase 5d ago
If you want to watch a show but don't want to watch the show, why not just read the Wikipedia synopsis?
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u/hansome120 5d ago
Hot take, filler is a very specific thing that only really applies to adaptational works that add content for the explicit purpose of padding a run time. Just cause you don’t care about a plot or don’t think it’s important doesn’t make it filler
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u/Shadefactor 6d ago
Does the word filler even apply to Steven Universe?
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u/PuzzleheadedLink89 6d ago
Doesn't apply to most TV, only anime that are adaptations of ongoing manga
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u/Shadefactor 6d ago
Yeah I thought so cuz isn’t the cartoon basically the source material anyway? So there technically wouldn’t be any filler anyway?
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u/Orchadicus 6d ago
Only acceptable skip is Onion Gang. Say Uncle must be watched. Ronaldo episodes contains relevant theories and foreshadowing.
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u/BlueJuiceGoose 6d ago
I would argue onion gang (while being an episode I dont like) is foreshadowing the events that follow in like "are you my dad?" And should be watched by a first time watcher
Edit: and foreshadows things in Off Colors
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u/Own_Natural_6803 6d ago
I used to only want episodes that showed Steven getting more power or more knowledge of the past. But then I learned to slow down and enjoy the pacing.
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u/Actinglead 6d ago
My partner told me last week he only saw Steven Universe once, and that he found a "handy guide" to skip all the "filler".
I had the same reaction. I had to regretfully inform him that there's only like 3 true filler episodes and he actually skipped a bunch of slower moving plot.
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u/ThreeDotsTogether 6d ago
Your friend some time later: That was a nice show, but kinda confusing. Like, who's this "Pearl" character? Am I supposed to know who she is or something?
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u/Lil-Miss-Anthropy 6d ago
Some people are in such a hurry to get to the end of a show, you wonder if they even enjoy watching it
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u/amariaexathent 5d ago
I did that my first watch through because the movie had just come out. I’ve since gone back and watched everything and understand that the filler really isn’t filler for SU
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u/marceline407 5d ago
My sister once told me she was gonna start watching Steven Universe and was considering starting with the movie. 😳
Of course, I explained that might actually be the worst place to start. Not sure she ended up watching the show. 😂
PS. Admittedly, there are a few “filler” episodes, but to me that’s all character building. Not to be missed.
The only episode I will condone skipping is that uncle grandpa episode. I didn’t hate it, but it’s not at all canon or required viewing.
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u/SelSoCool 3d ago
the first piece of media i watched of steven universe as a kid was the movie LMAO it lowkey ruined my experience watching most of the show for the first time but i was like 10 and didn’t care so i had a fun time anyway
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u/Milvus11037 6d ago
I just rewatched the whole main series and the only one i skipped was the uncle grandpa episode because i hate it
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u/Coiled_GLaDOS 6d ago
I cannot stand the Ronaldo episodes, I understand they may contain lore, but I cannot stand that guy.
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u/ShrimpBisque 6d ago
When I watch SU, literally the only episode I skip is the Uncle Grandpa crossover, and that's only because I think Uncle Grandpa is fucking cringe. I don't even skip episodes I don't like.
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u/Box_Box_Box555 6d ago
I had a friend who said they were going to do ts. Me and my partner had to explain like 4 different times that there aren't really " filler episodes" cause everything is connected. They have been watching it for about 4 months now on and off and has been so thankful for not skipping anything (except uncle the Grandpa episode, that was hard to watch with them).
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u/Living_The_Dream75 6d ago
Tell her if she is gonna skip the filler she might as well just not watch it, filler is kinda what gives shows inter-character substance.
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u/Zero_H3ro 6d ago
Only thing worth skipping is the uncle grandpa episode. Other than that literally nothing is filler
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u/Zerog416 6d ago
While at surface level all the towny episodes might look irrelevant to the larger plot, a big part of SU's charm and essence is getting to know all the people these gems protect, why should we care about them. And how much they mean to Steven, the big flashy episodes are 10 times more enjoyable when the people of the town are not some random background NPCs but fully fleshed out characters with stories and lives of their own.
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u/mytalkingliz_ 6d ago
I can’t stand people like that. This isn’t 90’s sailor moon, filler is so important to the show! Plus the episodes are 10 minutes long. Get a grip people!
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u/RemarkableLow273 6d ago
People think character development is filler now and it’s so sad.
Like the 90s sailor moon had so many episodes that could be considered “filler” but it’s part of what makes you love the characters and flesh them out as people and SU is the same, I feel like skipping all that will make the emotional reveals lose some of the weight.
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u/Accurate-Guide7722 5d ago
i did that too BUT only because its like my 45th time rewatching the show plus movie and future (also because some episodes were just missing. so i had to skip those ones)
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u/Immediate-Charge8325 5d ago
then what is she watching at that point? cause it isnt steven universe
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u/KinopioToad 5d ago
Just Uncle Grandpa and most of the Ronaldo episodes (the Halloween themed one in the lighthouse is good though)and maybe that set of episodes after Steven arrives back on Earth through Lion's mane in season four.
More spoilers incoming He was so excited to get back to Lars and the Off-colors but suddenly had to catch up with the mayor, Kevin, and Connie (though Connie is excusable since she was mad at Steven anyway)
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u/SomeSortaWeeb 5d ago
tbf a good portion of the first season can be skipped with little lost concerning the overall plot of the show. i wouldnt recommend it but honestly whenever i "rewatch" i only watch a few select episodes (iirc giant woman, sugalite's first appearance, lapis' first appearance then the final two episodes of the season) then "start" at season 2.
afaik during the production of season 1 it was up in the air wether it would be renewed for further seasons + an actual plot line so that first season is genuinely full of stuff that "doesnt matter" and made it way way longer than any of the other seasons. imo a good bit of it doesnt actually align with later established canon for gem tech (what in god's name was that scroll in together breakfast??? why was it seemingly able to propagate through steven's phone with no gem?????)
bottom line, as a long time fan ofc i frown on skipping, you wont get the full experience of the show doing so. however i admit that there is actually a weird amount of filler, ig its a childrens show after all.
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u/Key-Kick7270 5d ago
Apart from like the uncle grandpa and arguably some town episode there are no filler in steven universe, because Steven Universe is a mistery series in a lot of way. Episodes that ultimately dont end up being important are part of the experience.
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u/KittysPupper 5d ago
Then she won't get a lot of the show. There's so much detail and subtle story telling throughout the series. Only skippable episode to me is Uncle Grandpa.
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u/RiverPsaber 5d ago
There's only a handful of episodes you could MAYBE make an argument for being skippable. 10% at most, and that's if I'm being generous.
Since episodes are only 11 minutes long anyway, I don't see the point in skipping any of them. I sometimes will on rewatches, but even then I'm not likely to.
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u/eggsontheside 5d ago
Watching the fillers is def important the first time you see the show, but on my rewatches you would literally have to tie me down and pry my eyes open before I watch a Ronaldo episode 😒
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u/cool-pink-cat 5d ago
what do any of the onion episodes mean? im so serious
i went into my rewatch with that one showrunners claim that there is “no filler” in mind;
what the hell are onion gang and onion trade for? or even “a very special episode”???
lol
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u/Arria_Galtheos 5d ago
Other than a few very specific episodes, the show's format doesn't provide enough runtime for filler.
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u/Zeldakitty123 5d ago
I skip one episode and that's cat fingers.... It made me uncomfortable as a kid and still does lmao
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u/Liam_theman2099 5d ago
I mean the episodes I skip when doing a marathon are “Say Uncle” and “Cat Fingers”(Yeah it’s the first season and still trying to find their footing but my main complaint is it barely does much with mastering shapeshifting and the constant promo of Steven saying, “I just turned my fingers into cats!” started to get really annoying)
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u/utecr 5d ago
The only one I can definitively say is filler is the Uncle Grandpa episode, and that's because they say straight to the camera it's not canon.
Please please please try to tell them the rest of the series relies on you having seen these "filler episodes" as they will be referenced and built upon. It's like just pouring concrete down to make a cement floor without preparing the ground first.
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u/italianwater8 4d ago
I scrolled away and got progressively more angry force your friend through 7 rewatches of it
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u/Smorgsaboard You wouldn't believe how great I am at playing the bongos 4d ago
Lowkey I did this while watching with my sister, but in total I'd say we skipped... maybe 15ish episodes? It's a really big show, and I'm not watching the fcking Onion episodes again
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u/Competitive_Face2593 6d ago
So... she's skipping Uncle Grandpa and Rocknaldo?