Welcome to a brand-new column series of Arts & Culture! As section editor and as a hardcore television aficionado I will be writing a weekly piece on a TV show I think you should definitely watch – because I’ve seen way too many.
Why am I writing on TV shows and not, for example, movies? Well, mostly because I’ve seen and love so many series, but also because I believe that the medium of a television series is a whole different experience than that of a movie. While both are lovely, TV shows are able to capture your attention and keep it for possibly years! There is little I enjoy more than being engrossed in the story of a show and getting into the lives of the characters. Every show has a different feel to it and I am not partial to any type of specific genre. I’ll try to write about many, different TV shows, so that hopefully everyone can discover a new favourite, whether you like lighthearted sitcoms, weird sci-fi shows or deep and thoughtful pieces of media.
But I am also dependent on your input! Do you have a favourite TV show you can talk about for hours? Shoot me a message and I’ll make sure you can share your love!That’s all for introducing this section, now let’s start with the very first show.
As the semester has just started and we are all still a little nervous and jittery from all the new impressions, this week I would like to tell you about one of the most fun and light shows I’ve watched in a while: Steven Universe. I started watching this show during the summer holidays, as I kept seeing all these wild theories about what appeared to be a children’s animation show and I got intrigued. It took me a while, but I didn’t regret a second of it.
This show is about Steven, a little boy who is half human and half Gem. Living with Garnet, Pearl and Amethyst, Steven is discovering what it is like to be part Gem. Mostly it involves beating monsters, saving the Earth and eating a lot of donuts. The plot appears to be light and easy-going at first, but as the show progresses, more and more backstory is revealed. That’s when you realize that even though the show is filled with gentle colours and happy songs, the reality it presents is quite dark. You may know about Adventure Time, another kids’ show that also has appears to have a weird and scary backstory; Steven Universe presents the same feeling. The episodes provide a perfect mix of simply cute stories and plot lines that will have you thinking.
Because the episodes are only 10 minutes long, it’s perfect for people whose attention span requires some work or if you are very busy and need some cheering up. Because even though some episodes may have you crying (yes, really, I cried at least 5 times), it is at heart a funny children’s TV show. Oh, and one last selling point; Garnet is voiced by everyone’s favourite British pop singer Estelle. She even does songs in it.
It is not available to watch on Netflix, but I trust you can find a way to see it. So go watch it. Have fun!
Maaike Oosterling, Class of 2016, is a Cognitive Science and Psychology major from Zwijndrecht, the Netherlands.
