You do not choose. You were chosen.

I’m not sure if Season 3 is my favorite, but between the excellent pacing, the great episodes, and not having a single subpar episode, it’s certainly the best-crafted season of the show. It doesn’t hurt that it’s so short, too (although the last season was almost as short, but that didn’t really help it), the shortest season at just six episodes.

Anyhow, as teased in the last scene of the last episode, Shadow Weaver shows up in Adora’s room…and then passes out. It’s never explained HOW she got into Bright Moon, aside from the implication that she teleported there, even though there would presumably be some sort of magical barrier around Bright Moon.

Castaspella: This is your prison?

Angella: Well, technically, it’s the spare room, but it is more than adequate as a holding cell. We removed the cushions. Most of the cushions…

Adora: This is the prison?

Angella: Yes, it’s the prison!

Adora: Your Majesty, I know Shadow Weaver, I know her tricks. I need to be there for the interrogation. I’m the only one who can-

Angella: Shadow Weaver is dangerous. I will not let that woman near you, near any of you! You are to stay away from this room.

Adora: But your Majesty-

Angella: That is final.

Angella’s impulse to protect the children under her care is certainly understandable, and even admirable! She knows something of what Shadow Weaver did to Adora, and probably how she manipulated Micah as a child, too, so it would make sense that she doesn’t want her getting near anymore children.

But of course, that’s not how Adora sees it.

Adora: I need to get in there! Shadow Weaver could’ve gone anywhere, but she came here. I need to know why. If the Queen would just listen to me-

Glimmer: Adora, maybe this is for the best. Shadow Weaver raised you – she knows how to get in your head. We can’t risk her manipulating you.

Adora: That won’t happen…Fine. I guess we should all just head back to bed, get some sleep. Let the obviously unqualified Bright Moon guards handle this.

Bow: You’re gonna try to sneak in, aren’t you?

Adora: What? No!

Then she proceeds to make a rush at the door, but Glimmer grabs her and teleports her.

Meanwhile, the adults attempt an interrogation.

Shadow Weaver: Where- where am I?

Angella: You’re in the Bright Moon prison.

Shadow Weaver: This is a prison?

Angella: Why does everyone keep saying- of course this is a prison!

Shadow Weaver: You must be Glimmer’s mother. I can tell by the way your voice grows shrill when you scream.

Angella: How dare you-

Casta: Shadow Weaver, you will answer for the crimes you committed during your time as my brother’s teacher.

Shadow Weaver: Oh, yes. Sweet, talented Micah.

Angella: You will not speak his name.

Shadow Weaver: I’m not the one who got him killed.

Angella: Tell us why you’re here.

Shadow Weaver: I have vital information to defeat the Horde. But I will only speak to Adora.

She got them on the defensive almost as soon as she opened her mouth – and it certainly isn’t helping that Casta and Angella seem to have different motives for this interrogation.

Meanwhile, Catra finds herself in Shadow Weaver’s old cell.

But she’s not awake long before Scorpia finds her.

Scorpia: Now come on, I’m busting you out! We don’t have a long time before-

Catra: Before what?

Scorpia: Hordak…he’s called an assembly to witness your punishment. Uh, I’m sure it’s probably nothing, but whatever it is, I won’t let it happen. I’m gonna get you out of here. […]

Catra: Stop it! I never stood a chance. I did everything right. I thought I could prove myself. But it doesn’t matter what I do, I don’t get to win. Shadow Weaver was right.

Scorpia: She’s not right! Don’t give up yet! I can save you.

Catra: You really care, don’t you?

Scorpia: Of course I care! You’re Catra! You’re our leader! You’re…you’re my friend. You’re everything to me.

Catra: Caring about people is what got me into this mess. Get out of here, or they’ll take you down with me.

Scorpia: What?

Catra: Are you stupid? I said leave! Guards!

It’s not so much “caring about people” as “trusting the wrong person” (sad as it is that she can’t trust the person who raised her). But she at least cares about Scorpia enough to prevent her from doing something stupid like trying to break her out of prison.

Meanwhile in Bright Moon, Adora employs increasingly ineffective tactics in her attempt to get into the “prison”.

Adora: Look, I told you, I just need to talk to her!

Glimmer: Adora! Shadow Weaver will try to hurt you again.

Adora: You don’t know that! 

Glimmer: Yes, I do! She’s from the Horde! She’s evil! Evil people don’t change.

Adora: I’m from the Horde. I changed.

Bow: That’s different. You’re not like them! You’re good, and kind, and-

Adora: And She-ra? I was just like the rest of them. And then I left! Not because I picked up this sword, but because it was the right thing to do. I have to believe that the others can change, too. Even Shadow Weaver. Just- just trust me, okay? I’m strong enough to face her now. I need to know if she’s truly changed – if the woman who raised me still has some good deep down inside her. Deep deep down inside her.

Bow: We trust you, but we won’t let you face her alone. Now what do you need us to do?

Elsewhere in the castle, Angella and Casta still haven’t gotten anything else from Shadow Weaver (aside from frustration).

Shadow Weaver: You could spare yourself the trouble if you would just let me talk to Adora.

Angella: No! You’ve put that girl through enough. Now tell us the truth! Why did the Horde send you here? What are you planning?

Shadow Weaver: You think Hordak sent me? I escaped from Hordak, paid the price for it.

Angella: You’re dying, aren’t you?

The two of them go outside the room to consult about what to do next. Again, I applaud Angella for thinking of the children first, but when Shadow Weaver’s dying, they don’t really have time to waste on deliberation…but of course Adora sneaks in right after they leave, neatly resolving the issue.

And after Glimmer sufficiently threatens Shadow Weaver (because that girl can really hold a grudge, and she caused her extensive pain and suffering), Adora finally confronts her.

Adora: Glimmer, I’ve got this.

Shadow Weaver: Look at you, my Adora.

Adora: You snuck into Bright Moon. I wanna know why. That’s the only reason we’re speaking.

Shadow Weaver: To see you. You’re the only one I can trust. I’ve missed you, my child.

Adora: We’re past that. Try again.

Shadow Weaver: Clever. You always were. From the moment I laid eyes on you, I knew you were different. You were-

Adora: Special? No. What you always told me was that I didn’t matter. I was “special” only as long as I obeyed you. Why are you here? Wha-what’s happening to you?

Shadow Weaver: It took all of my magical power to come to you. I am dying, Adora.

Adora: You’re lying.

Glimmer: Adora, I don’t think she is.

She-ra: I don’t know why you’re here, but I won’t let you suffer like this. I’m going to heal you, Shadow Weaver, and then, you will answer our questions. Do we have a deal?

Glimmer: Adora! You don’t know how to heal.

She-ra: I can figure it out! She’ll die if I don’t.

Shadow Weaver: Maybe I can help. I was once a teacher of magic in Mystacor. I trained your father, Princess. I can help you control your magic, Adora, but first, you must trust me.

She-ra: Fine. But in return, you trust me. Trust that I am not stupid, trust that I’ll see right through your mind games. Stop lying for once, and trust me with the truth.

Meanwhile in the Fright Zone, Entrapta evidently picked up the Mara message, and since she understood the word for “portal”, she thinks it’s pointing to First Ones tech that will get their portal functional.

Entrapta: Where’s Catra? We should send her out ASAP.

Hordak: Catra is no longer a concern of yours. She’s being sent to Beast Island.

Entrapta: I’m confused. As you can see, the overall productivity of the Horde has increased by 400% since Catra has been your second-in-command, and look at this chart! The evidence shows that First Ones tech has gotten us closer than ever to creating a working portal. Catra has been incredibly successful at getting new tech for us, and this latest signal is coming from here, the Crimson Waste. We don’t have a moment to spare. We need Catra-

Hordak: It is meaningless! I’m not going to squander troops on a lifeless wasteland! This discussion is over.

Shadow Weaver: You are a princess, so you have a runestone. Yours dwells there, within your sword. With it, you channel the elemental magic of Etheria. Let it flow through the sword and into you. You must learn to concentrate, focus your power.

She-ra: Ugh! I’ve tried this before! I can’t get it to work! What do I do? Point the sword at you, or- or what?

Shadow Weaver: Calm down. Your frustration will cause the energy you produce to become destructive if you’re not careful. There must be peace in your mind if you are to heal. Come closer, and allow me to help you. You are afraid, but refuse to admit it. Afraid of your power, of it spiraling out of control. Let yourself feel it, then move past it. You are greater than your fear. 

It’s actually pretty good advice! Still more evidence that Shadow Weaver would’ve done more good as a teacher than anything else. It also makes sense for the few times Adora has actually managed to heal: In Plumeria and the Battle of Bright Moon, she was too focused on fighting to give into fear or doubt.

Also note that despite training regularly with Light Hope last season, they evidently never covered healing, despite that being the original reason Adora sought her out.

But now that Shadow Weaver’s not dying, she can finally provide some answers. (also Angella finally realizes that the kids broke in)

Adora: I held up my end, now you hold up yours. Why are you here?

Shadow Weaver: You want the truth? I have nowhere left to go. Catra betrayed me, Hordak cast me aside. I want to take them down. And helping you is the best way to do it. Hordak has been working for years to build a machine capable of opening a portal through the fabric of space. He intends to bring the rest of the Horde’s armies through this portal and use them to conquer Etheria once and for all.

Because OF COURSE she’s just using Adora again, even if she’s also helping her to accomplish her own goals.

Angella: Armies? There’s more of the Horde?

Shadow Weaver: A force so large, you cannot even comprehend it. You have struggled to hold off Hordak’s paltry troops for years – you will stand no chance against the full might of the Horde.

Adora: What makes you think he’s getting close to finishing this portal machine now?

Shadow Weaver: Because he has something he didn’t have before. A princess who knows how to combine First Ones technology with the Horde’s machines.

Bow: Entrapta. That’s why she’s been after all that First Ones tech!

Glimmer: How stupid do you think we are? She knows the Horde is losing and she’s trying to scare us. Portals to other worlds? It’s ridiculous!

Shadow Weaver: I know how this must sound. We on Etheria have no concept of a universe beyond our reach. And yet, the evidence stands before us.

Adora: Me?

Shadow Weaver: Hordak succeeded once before. Years ago he opened a portal. It was only for a moment, and in that, a child came through. That child was you, Adora. You were brought through a portal from another world.

Adora: What?

Glimmer: Leave her alone! You’re lying. We all know it. You lie about everything.

Shadow Weaver: I gain nothing from lying. Adora is different from us. Do you think just anyone could bring a dying woman back to life? Not quite the reunion you pictured, is it? Perhaps you would prefer the comfort of lies.

Casta: I think that’s quite enough.

Bow: Don’t listen to her, Adora.

But that prompts Adora to do a very sensible thing: Go see Light Hope and ask if she can verify the claim.

Light Hope: Greetings, Adora. I was not expecting you for training today, but this shows an uptick in your dedication.

Adora: You said you’ve been watching me since I was an infant, so you must know what I really am, where I came from. Answer me!

Light Hope: It is true. You are not of Etheria.

Adora: Why didn’t you tell me?

Light Hope: Explain. Why are you asking about events in your own memory bank?

Adora: My what?

Light Hope: Why are you asking for the clarification of events you witnessed?

Adora: I was a baby Babies don’t remember things!

Light Hope: Interesting. I shall make a note of this.

Adora: Light Hope, where did I come from?

Because of course Light Hope would have no knowledge about babies – she was meant to train adults.

Light Hope: This is the portal that you came through, Adora. The Horde stole you, turned you into a soldier for their war. I could not stop them. So I watched, and waited for the day I could unite you with the sword. 

Adora: The sword, these powers…

Light Hope: The First Ones came from beyond the stars. They made the sword so that it would only respond to one of their own kind.

Adora: I’m…I’m a First One?

Light Hope: You are upset. I do not understand.

Adora: Did I have a family? Could I go back? A portal brought me here, could a portal take me…home?

Light Hope: When Mara cut us off from the rest of the universe, she destroyed our portal capabilities. Attempting to open one now would have devastating consequences.

Adora: Mara! She must have come from the same place I did. Why did she do it?

Light Hope: It is irrelevant. This is your home now. As She-ra-

Adora: You aren’t listening to me!

Light Hope: You are behaving erratically. To bear the power of She-ra is an honor.

Adora: Don’t I get a say in what happens to me? Don’t I get a choice?

Light Hope: No. This is your destiny. You do not choose. You were chosen. Adora. Adora! Where are you going? It is happening again…

Light Hope probably only dealt with adults in the past, and ones who had presumably already consented to the job before they reached Etheria. Just as she has no concept of age, she also has no concept of “consent”. So when the first First One in a thousand years showed up, she automatically did what she was programmed to do and made her into She-ra.

And this is the first internal conflict for Adora (besides Catra, of course). She wants agency in her own life, but Light Hope is giving her no more choice than the Horde did. It’s not so much that she doesn’t want to be She-ra anymore, but that she wants to find out what it really means to be She-ra.

Glimmer: Adora!

Bow: Are you okay?

Adora: I’m not sure yet, but I think I know what I have to do. My whole life, people have been hiding the truth from me. So I’m gonna go look for answers myself. Mara started all of this when she stranded Etheria. She’s the only clue we have about portals and…me. I’m going to the Crimson Waste. I’m going to follow the message from Mara. I know it’s incredibly dangerous, but this is my choice! You don’t have to come with me.

Glimmer: Adora, of course we’re coming with you!

Bow: You think you could get us to stay behind if you tried?

Meanwhile, Catra learns her fate…but she’s not about to take it lying down.

Hordak: I want you all to watch, and learn. There is nothing I do not know, nothing I am not willing to do to punish those who betray my trust. Your former Force Captain has proven to be compromised, ineffective, and worthless. To the rest of you, take a lesson from this: This is what happens to failures.

Catra: You’re the failure. You need me, just like you needed Shadow Weaver, because you have no idea how to run this place. All you know how to do is hide in your lab. Maybe that’s why you can’t defeat a group of teenagers.

Hordak: Save your little speech. There has been a change of plan.

Entrapta: Hi Catra! I saved your life! You’re welcome!

Catra: I don’t understand.

Hordak: Entrapta has interceded on your behalf. You should be thanking her. Instead of the many punishments I intended, you are being sent to retrieve First Ones tech for us, in the Crimson Waste.

Catra: The Crimson Waste? It’s a total dead zone! Nothing survives out there.

Hordak: Exactly.

And so, both Catra and Adora are heading to the Crimson Waste, presumably to get the same thing. This is gonna be fun!

Until next time…