Honestly, if you missed the boat on Craig of the Creek season 1 when it first dropped back in 2018, you missed the birth of a masterpiece. People talk about the heavy hitters like Adventure Time or Steven Universe, but there is something so incredibly specific and grounded about the way this show started. It isn't just a cartoon about kids in the woods.
It's basically a documentary about how we all used to think the world worked before we got boring and grew up.
Matt Burnett and Ben Levin, the guys behind it, came straight off of Steven Universe. You can feel that DNA, but they swapped the intergalactic trauma for something much more relatable: the politics of a suburban creek. They didn't just make a show; they built a functioning society with its own economy, legends, and social hierarchies.
Why Craig of the Creek Season 1 Still Matters
Most shows take a while to find their footing. Not this one. From the very first episode, "Itch to Explore," which officially premiered on March 30, 2018, the world-building was already dense. You've got the Trading Tree where kids swap snacks like currency. You've got the 10 Speeds, the kids who rule the bike ramps like a high-speed biker gang.
Then there are the Elders of the Creek. These are basically the "basement dwellers" of the kid world—three older teens who never really left the creek and now sit in a cave, obsessing over retro pop culture and acting as the keepers of lore.
The Realism is the Secret Sauce
What most people get wrong is thinking this is a "fantasy" show. It isn’t. Everything that happens in Craig of the Creek season 1 is technically explainable. When the kids think they’re being cursed by the "Witches of the Creek" (Courtney and Tabitha) in the episode "The Curse," they’re really just being messed with by two goth teenagers who find them hilarious.
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The "magic" is just the lens of childhood imagination. That’s the brilliance. It treats a game of tag like a high-stakes horror movie and a cardboard fort like a fortified kingdom.
- Total Episodes: 40
- Original Run: March 30, 2018 – March 11, 2019
- Key Writers: Lamar Abrams, Tiffany Ford, Jeff Trammell
The Trio that Changed the Creek
You can't talk about the first season without breaking down the main three. Craig Williams is the heart. He’s 10, he’s a cartographer, and he carries a staff that he’s weirdly attached to. He’s the one trying to map the "untamed wilderness" of Herkleton, Maryland.
Kelsey is... a lot. She’s the warrior. She’s always accompanied by her "falcon" Mortimor (who is definitely just a parakeet). What's cool is that her internal monologue often shifts the art style slightly to reflect her dramatic, fantasy-novel-inspired worldview.
And then there's J.P. Mercer.
J.P. is the wild card. He wears an oversized jersey and is arguably the most empathetic person in the entire show. He doesn’t always "get" the mission, but he’s the glue. He’s the kid who would wear his Sunday clothes to the creek because his mom told him to, even if he knows he's going to get them covered in mud.
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A Cast of Thousands (Sort Of)
One of the most impressive things about Craig of the Creek season 1 is the sheer volume of recurring side characters. The show doesn't just have background extras. It has:
- The Sewer Queen and her aquatic kingdom.
- The Horse Girls (who honestly deserve their own spin-off).
- The Junior Forest Scouts, the self-appointed law enforcement of the woods.
- Kit, the business mogul who runs the Trading Tree.
By the time you hit episode 13, "Lost in the Sewers," you realize the creek isn't just a park. It’s a city-state.
The Evolution of the Story
Early on, it feels like a standard "monster of the week" setup, but that’s a bait-and-switch. The show starts planting seeds for the "Green Poncho" and the mysteries beyond the overpass very early.
In "Under the Overpass" (Episode 16), we get our first real glimpse that the creek is bigger than Craig realized. There’s a whole "Other Side" out there. This isn't just filler content; it’s a masterclass in slow-burn serialized storytelling hidden inside a comedy.
The music helps a lot too. Jeff Rosenstock, a legend in the DIY punk and ska scene, handles the score. It gives the show this frantic, handmade energy that perfectly matches a bunch of kids running through the woods with cardboard swords.
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Representation Done Right
We have to talk about how the show handles diversity because it’s sort of the gold standard. It’s not "forced." It just is. Craig’s family—the Williams—is one of the best-portrayed families in animation history. They feel like real people. His parents, Nicole and Duane, have actual jobs and personalities beyond just being "the parents."
The show also features some of the most natural LGBTQ+ representation in kids' media. Courtney and Tabitha, the "witches," are a fan-favorite couple that the show doesn't make a "very special episode" about—they’re just part of the fabric of the creek.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Newcomers
If you’re looking to revisit or jump in for the first time, here is how you should approach Craig of the Creek season 1:
- Don't skip the "small" episodes. Some of the best character development happens in the quiet ones, like "Sunday Clothes" or "Jessica Goes to the Creek." * Watch for the callbacks. The show rewards you for paying attention. A random kid you see in the background of episode 5 might become a major player by episode 30.
- Pay attention to the map. Craig is literally drawing the world as he goes. If you look closely at the backgrounds, you can see the landmarks he’s mentioned before.
- Listen to the score. Jeff Rosenstock’s music is available on streaming platforms, and it’s genuinely great even outside the context of the show.
Season 1 wrapped up on March 11, 2019, but its impact is still felt. It set a tone for Cartoon Network that was more about community and empathy than just random "zany" humor.
Whether you’re a parent looking for something your kids won't get annoyed by, or an adult who misses the days of pretending a stick was a legendary sword, this season is essential viewing. It’s not just for kids. It’s for anyone who remembers what it was like to have an entire world waiting for them just past their backyard fence.
To get the most out of your viewing experience, you can stream the entire first season on Max (formerly HBO Max) or purchase it through digital retailers like Amazon or Apple TV. If you're a collector, look for the DVD releases, though be aware that some early physical releases only contain the first half of the season. For the full experience, ensure you're watching all 40 episodes in their original broadcast order to catch all the subtle world-building cues that pay off in the later seasons.