With She-ra, a boat, and an experienced sea captain, we can conquer anything.

Glimmer proposes a diplomatic mission to secure an alliance with Mermista, who rules the land of Salineas (and in turn, the titular sea gate), and thus attain control over the seas. Angella agrees to the plan with minimal fuss, despite the requisite treacherous sea journey, as long as the three of them agree not to engage the Horde.

This is more along the lines of what the series will actually look like, at least for much of the next season or two: Bow, Glimmer, and Adora having adventures and recruiting allies for the Rebellion.

Bow: Seaworthy is just like I imagined it. Everyone here looks like a real pirate!

Glimmer: Focus, Bow! We’re just here to find a sea captain.

Bow: No pirates?

Ironically, Sea Hawk was actually a pirate in the original series (at least until he joined the rebels).

Glimmer: Captain Sea Hawk, we’re interviewing potential captains to take us to Salineas. Would you like to apply for the position?

Sea Hawk: “Apply for the position”? I am the one and only Sea Hawk. I’m offer-only.

Adora: Okay, just because sea’s in your name doesn’t tell us anything about your actual qualifications.

Sea Hawk: Qualifications? I once ran the fifty-klick Galebreath Gauntlet in less than 20 klicks! I’ve maneuvered the Straits of Serpentine with nary a chip in the paint of my bow! My shanties are considered so desirable that sirens fling themselves into the sea at the sound of them! And because I can tell you’re wondering, my mustache is naturally shiny.

Bow: It is shiny. You’re hired!

I love how he’s clearly modeled after Han Solo (at least as he’s characterized in the first movie), complete with bragging about somehow shortening the distance of a voyage. Glimmer and Adora are a bit of a harder sell, but once he mentions that he’s a “friend” of Princess Mermista, that seals the deal, but there’s still an issue of price.

Adora: Ha ha ha, okay. Well, here’s the deal. We go one round, winner takes all. You win, we leave you alone. I win, you take us to Salineus. At no cost.

Sea Hawk: That’s a terrible deal, but I am undefeated at arm wrestling. Let me show you how it’s done, lass!

Adora’s enjoying herself in this environment, and wins them a free ride for good measure.

But of course, Shadow Weaver has her eye on her, and Catra chooses not to rat her out to Hordak about going against his orders, presumably because she still has hope for Adora herself. So Shadow Weaver sends Catra to get her (again), but not by herself this time.

Scorpia: Kitty!

I cannot lie, Scorpia is a woman after my own heart. I too would hug a cat-person if given the opportunity.

Catra: Is this some kind of joke?

Shadow Weaver: Scorpia will see that you are kept in line.

I mean, I wouldn’t put it past Shadow Weaver to force Catra to work with someone that would push her buttons (however unintentionally). And she certainly knows how to make Catra squirm.

Catra: No, not-

Scorpia: Boats! Ah, I just love boats, don’t you? Wind in your hair, ocean on every side, miles and miles from the nearest dry land, watery death awaiting at the slightest mishap, man! That’s what I call living.

Catra: Yeah, I’m really gonna need you to shut up.

Scorpia: Aw, are you seasick?

I love these guys.

Sea Hawk: Welcome aboard the Dragon’s Daughter III!

Adora: What happened to the Dragon’s Daughters I and II?

Sea Hawk: Tragically, they went down in flames.

Bow: How did that happen?

Sea Hawk: I set them on fire. Adventure!

Bow is perfectly competent with the knots, Adora evidently has experience with a ship, and Glimmer just has her magic and a plan.

Sea Hawk: Well, you are a strangely overqualified crew. What do you even need old Sea Hawk for?

Glimmer: Your map?

And then the shanty he’s been threatening since he first appeared breaks out.

Oh, I am Sea Hawk, I am, I am!
If you’re looking for adventure then I am your man
If you want to ride on the wings of deepest blue
Through perilous winds, then I got you
Some say I’m a hero, some say I’m a man!
What I know for sure is, I’m Sea Hawk, I am, I am

It’s dumb, but exactly the kind of dumb I wanted from this show. And while the shanty itself doesn’t add much, there is some fun adventure music in the soundtrack this episode.

Sea Hawk: Aha! We’re here. The Serpent of the Sea! I knew he’d be lurking in these waters.

Glimmer: Wait, you brought us here on purpose?

Sea Hawk: You see, I don’t just provide sea transport, I give you a tale to tell your friends! Come on, crew. We’re in for a harrowing adventure!

Adora: For the honor of Grayskull!

Sea Hawk: Is that a normal thing she does?

Bow: Yeah, it takes some getting used to.

She-ra takes care of the sea monster, and after Glimmer chews Sea Hawk out a bit for steering them into danger just to show off, they end the voyage without further incident.

Catra: Oh, Shadow Weaver didn’t bother to mention that there was a massive gate blocking the way to Seaworthy?

Scorpia: Wait, didn’t you learn about the Salineas Sea Gate in Force Captain Orientation?

Catra: There’s a Force Captain Orientation?

But of course Catra’s determined to find a way through the gate, and if she gets to blow it up, all the better.

Mermista: Ew! Who let him back in here?

Sea Hawk: Princess! Oh, it’s been too long. I’ve dreamed of you night and day since we parted.

Mermista: Uh-huh, and who are you?

Glimmer: My name is Glimmer of Bright Moon. We’ve never met, but our parents fought in the Rebellion together.

Mermista: Oh yeah, I remember hearing about the old Princess Alliance. My dad said it was a total disaster.

She proceeds to explain that most of the citizens of Salineas have fled because the gate is falling apart.

Mermista: It figures I would inherit a kingdom that’s crumbling, but it’s totally fine. I’m handling it. It’s just kind of inconvenient because the Horde won’t stop attacking us.

Glimmer: Why is the gate falling apart?

Mermista: I mean, who knows? But it’s getting weaker every day, and if the Horde tries to attack us again, we’re pretty much dead.

Glimmer: The Horde is the reason we’re here. We want to rebuild the Princess Alliance. None of us stand a chance on our own, but we might be able to stop them together.

Mermista: Sure, because that went so great the first time. Why should I help Bright Moon? It’s not like they’ve ever done anything to help us.

Then Sea Hawk interrupts, and Mermista stops to reiterate how annoying he is, while he frames it instead as a “rich and complicated past”. At least he seemed to be telling the truth in that he has some sort of longstanding relationship with her.

Then Adora notices some First Ones writing pertaining to the Sea Gate.

Glimmer: What does it say?

Adora: Uh, it’s something about the gate. The First Ones must have built it. It looks like the gate gets its power from the Salinean runestone. It could be that the gate is failing because it’s losing its connection to the power source.

Adora thinks she could try to fix it, so Mermista agrees to consider joining the Rebellion if they can fix the gate.

But first, Sea Hawk’s feeling (understandably) dejected from the way Mermista was talking about him, so he tries to sneak off with the boat.

Glimmer: Are you leaving without us?

Sea Hawk: It’s for the best. I’m only getting in your way. It’s time for old Sea Hawk to be where he belongs – alone. It wasn’t always like this. Where I’m from, I had friends, a crew, every day an adventure more daring than the last. The fact that I kept setting my boats on fire was considered charming. But here, I can’t even get anyone to take me seriously.

Glimmer: Yeah, I know a little about that. I can’t get anyone to take me seriously, either.

Sea Hawk: You? But you’re a princess.

Glimmer: Try being the daughter of an immortal queen when your powers are “sparkles”.

Sea Hawk: Glitter-

Glimmer: Glimmer.

Sea Hawk: We’ve just met, but I can tell you are a brave and powerful soul. Anyone who’d underestimate you would live to sorely regret it.

Glimmer: Thanks, Sea Hawk. And you know what? You still have friends and a crew, reporting for duty, captain!

It’s interesting how Glimmer struggles with empathy except in cases where she relates to a person on some level, in which case she’s much more forgiving than others. I mean, credit where it’s due, a lot of people are much less forgiving to people who share their personal flaws. And keep in mind that line about people who underestimate Glimmer living to regret it…

Anyhow, the Horde ship is close enough to blast the gate now, and She-ra’s still working on said gate, so Mermista and Bow head off to distract them.

But Sea Hawk ends up swooping in to save him. Funny enough, Sea Hawk was Adora’s main love interest in the old show (they even get married in some continuity), but Bow’s the only one of the main cast that might have a thing for him here (I said he wasn’t gay, I never said he was straight). But Sea Hawk clearly has eyes only for Mermista.

Mermista does her best to change the ship’s course (in her mermaid form, because OF COURSE she has a mermaid form), but it’s not enough.

Glimmer: Sea Hawk, I need your help. I need you to do what you do best.

Sea Hawk: What?

Glimmer: Set your ship on fire.

Sea Hawk: Yes!

And Catra heads straight for Adora.

Catra: Wow. You know, the tiara only gets stupider the more I look at it.

She-ra: Catra. How did you find me?

Catra: Did you think it would be that easy to escape the Horde? I mean, I always knew you were kind of dumb, but come on!

She-ra: What’s your plan? Insult me til I decide to rejoin the Horde?

Catra: I don’t think Shadow Weaver is planning to give you much of a choice. But yeah, something like that. […] Check it out! Looks like with you gone, I got your promotion.

She-ra: Congratulations.

Catra: Seems like only yesterday this was the thing you wanted most in the world, and now you’re- ugh! Come on, Adora. Hasn’t this all gone on long enough?

She-ra: I told you before, Catra. I’m not going back!

Catra: This is what you left me for? Dress-up games and a light show? And your new best friends are nowhere to be seen. When did you get so weak?

It’s telling that, at first, Catra tries to approach Adora as if nothing’s changed – she used to tease her like that in the Horde, too. It’s not until Adora reiterates that she’s never going back (her eyes briefly turning back to normal while she’s at it, to show she’s serious) that Catra really believes her – and suddenly she gets a lot nastier.

If Catra’s starting to seem like an abusive ex-girlfriend, that’s because she kind of is? I mean, she’s definitely got the “abusive” and “ex” thing down pat, even if the “girlfriend” part is subject to interpretation. While she still thought that she could change Adora’s mind, she acted friendly, but now that she knows that’s not what Adora wants, she just tries everything in her power to control her (which is the literal definition of abuse, FYI).

Now, I imagine someone might call me a hypocrite for supporting Catradora and not, say, Malachite, but in my personal opinion, the distinction is quite simple: Catra actually DID have a long-term relationship with Adora (the end of which was clearly traumatic), while Jasper only ever wanted power and used Lapis as a means to that end. The end point is also relevant, as Catra proves capable of actual growth (eventually), while characters like Jasper or Shigure only change their behavior enough to get a pass from the people who love them.

Anyhow, the fiery ship (which Glimmer safely teleported off of) managed to destroy the Horde vessel, and Mermista knocked Catra into the sea, and so She-ra finally fixed the gate (evidently it was different from the healing thing because she had instructions?).

Mermista agrees to join the alliance, and more reluctantly agrees to give Sea Hawk a new boat, then it’s one more shanty for the road!

The Best Friend Squad on the seas
We subdued the threat, the threat with ease!
We sail the world, come near or far
We’re best friends, we are we are!

Until next time…