For the Honor of Grayskull…again!
Adora is a faithful servant of Hordak’s Horde and as favorite of Shadow Weaver is poised to take over command of a portion of the Horde’s soldiers. When Adora and her friend Catra sneak out for adventure in the Whispering Woods, the discovery of a strange sword transforms Adora into She-Ra…and things will never be the same! Discovering the Horde is evil and Hordak has enslaved the planet, Adora must gain the trust of the other princesses and restore Eternia through the honor of Grayskull!
She-Ra and the Princesses of Power—Season 1 is a Netflix Original animated series. The show was released on November 13, 2018. It adapts She-Ra: Princess of Power which ran in syndication from 1985 to 1986 as a spin-off of He-Man and the Masters of the Universe as well as the Mattel toy line.
Oh Catra…you’re as finicky as a cat (which is fortunate since you are named Catra)
I did watch She-Ra: Princess of Power because I was a He-Man nut. I had all the He-Man toys and yes, I did have a She-Ra (because Prince Adam needed his sister)…until I shaved her head. She-Ra was always second fiddle in storytelling which was pretty hard since He-Man was never a great show to begin with even if I loved it. I was pretty wary of a new She-Ra, but watching season 1, I found it rather entertaining.
The show is a little all over the place. The storytelling ranges from rather dark to extremely light (like in Power Puff Girl range) and it flips between the two styles with no pauses. The story itself feels a lot like retread of other shows, but the speed of the show keeps it popping. If you sit back, relax, and enjoy the ride without a lot of thought (it is aimed at younger kids for the most part), you can enjoy it.
More adventures of Swift Wind: Liberator of Horses!
Part of what makes the show work is the likable characters. Inevitably the show was met by criticism by some for having very sexually fluid characters. There are gay characters (implied heavily) and some controversy arose regarding the “indoctrination” of younger viewers. Yes, it exists in the show, but it is also a part of life…and most kids even seven or up have probably noticed this in other mediums. I’d still argue that it is better to teach friendship and love rather than hate, and the fact it isn’t made a big deal in the series is good since children should probably make up their own minds (and will) as they get older.
Another controversy surrounded the animation. Some argued that She-Ra wasn’t “beautiful” or “attractive” enough, and this begs the question, why does she have to be? This She-Ra is stockier and much more realistic than the original She-Ra, and the art takes on a bit of an anime style (especially with facial expressions etc.). To be honest, most of the Filmation animation was pretty low-quality and they often just reused cells over and over again. Here, you get original art and it is rather high quality. I don’t feel it makes a joke of the subject since the subject wasn’t really taken seriously to begin with in the 1980s.
Bring on Hordak!
While the show isn’t perfect, it isn’t necessarily meant for adults. However, the show can be enjoyed with some clever jokes and writing, and if you were a fan of the original She-Ra, I think it is fun to see how they tried to adapt a ridiculous concept into a cohesive story with nods to the original series. The story does have continuing storylines, and I feel that the relationship between Catra and Adora is rather compelling (like when Catra makes her decision about the future of her friendship). I do feel the season ends a bit rosier than I would have liked, but I look forward to a more active Hordak, bigger plans by Catra, and a few surprises when Season 2 rolls around…I think Grayskull would be proud.
She-Ra and the Princesses of Power—Season 1 Complete Episode Guide:
“The Sword—Part 1”
1.1 The Sword—Part 1 Release Date: 11/13/18
Adora finds her training finished and learns from Shadow Weaver that she is going to be advanced by Hordak without her team or friend Catra. A trip to the Whispering Woods has Adora discovering a hidden sword that could change her future. Glimmer is punished by her mother for her actions to free Etheria and agrees to go on a secret mission with Bow.
“The Sword—Part 2”
1.2 The Sword—Part 2 Release Date: 11/13/18
Adora finds herself transformed by the power of the sword and Honor of Grayskull. After finding a hidden temple, Adora, Glimmer, and Bow begin to question Adora’s newfound powers. An attack on a civilian city by the Horde forces Adora to make a decision about her future…and could destroy her relationship with Catra.
“Razz”
1.3 Razz Release Date: 11/13/18
Glimmer prepares to introduce Adora to her mother at Bright Moon, but Adora’s accidentally trip into the city leads to a riot and the transformation of a horse. Adora questions how to control the power of the sword and meets a strange woman named Madam Razz in the woods who seems to know secrets about the sword. Catra deals with her defeat at She-Ra’s hands and is forced to face Lord Hordak.
“Flowers for She-Ra”
1.4 Flowers for She-Ra Release Date: 11/13/18
Adora tries to adjust to life at Bright Moon and finds that Glimmer’s mother Angella doesn’t trust her. Catra celebrates her appointment to Force Captain and butts heads with Shadow Weaver. Bow, Glimmer, and She-Ra are sent to Princess Perfuma on a relief mission when Plumeria faces a Horde blockade. She-Ra learns that Perfuma and her people hope she’ll heal the land, but She-Ra questions how to control the power.
“The Sea Gate”
1.5 The Sea Gate Release Date: 11/13/18
Glimmer proposes an alliance with Princess Mermista to help protect Bright Moon from the sea. Recruiting a captain named Sea Hawk, Glimmer, Adora, and Bow find that Catra and Scorpia have been sent after them. When they meet Mermista, they learn that Salineas is vulnerable because of the Horde’s attacks.
“System Failure”
1.6 System Failure Release Date: 11/13/18
Glimmer sets her eye on recruiting Princess Entrapta into the rebellion and hopes her inventions can help fight the Horde. When Glimmer, Bow, and Adora discover Entrapta’s kingdom Dryl has been overtaken by robots caused by a discovery of a disk of the First Ones, She-Ra finds herself infected.
“In the Shadows of Mystacor”
1.7 In the Shadows of Mystacor Release Date: 11/13/18
Glimmer decides Adora needs a break and plans to take her to the hidden floating city of Mystacor and Glimmer’s aunt Castaspella. Shadow Weaver has plans for Adora and her friends and reveals her past.
“Princess Prom”
1.8 Princess Prom Release Date: 11/13/18
The Princess Ball is happening in Frosta’s Kingdom of Snows and She-Ra has been invited. Glimmer finds herself jealous when Bow goes to the prom with Perfuma. Catra tries to target Adora at the Princess Ball by using Scorpia’s invite to get in.
“No Princess Left Behind”
1.9 No Princess Left Behind Release Date: 11/13/18
Catra has captured Bow, Glimmer, and Adora’s sword, and Queen Angella is considering a surrender to the Horde. Now, She-Ra and the Princesses must infiltrate the Horde base to rescue them which means facing off against Adora’s old team.
“The Beacon”
1.10 The Beacon Release Date: 11/13/18
The Princess Alliance has succeeded in rescuing Glimmer, Bow, and the sword but lost Entrapta in the process. With the alliance breaking up, the future of the battle of the Horde falls into question. Catra makes a discovery in the Fright Zone while Shadow Weaver’s experiment on Glimmer has altered Glimmer’s powers.
“Promise”
1.11 Promise Release Date: 11/13/18
Catra has followed Adora to the First One’s ruins and both find they are trapped inside of the temple. Faced with memories of their pasts, Adora and Catra must decide where they stand in their friendship.
“Light Hope”
1.12 Light Hope Release Date: 11/13/18
Adora is faced with Light Hope and learns the power and secrets of Etheria while Entrapta makes her own discovery about the First Ones. Swift Wind returns to Bright Moon and comes to Glimmer and Bow with a request to help Adora.
“The Battle of Bright Moon”
1.13 The Battle of Bright Moon Release Date: 11/13/18
Entrapta’s experiment in the Fright Zone is draining the entire planet’s runestones of energy. With Adora rescued, Bow, Glimmer, Queen Angella, and She-Ra must protect Bright Moon from an army of Horde soldiers, but without the power of the united princesses, Bright Moon and all of Eternia may fall!
Related Links:
She-Ra and the Princesses of Power—Season 2 Review and Complete Episode Guide
She-Ra and the Princesses of Power—Season 3 Review and Complete Episode Guide
