This has been a really terrible snake-filled day.

This feels a lot like “Signals” from season 2, in that there’s a plot in the Fright Zone which is generally way more compelling than the doings of the Best Friend Squad, but unlike that episode, I’m still invested in the doings of the heroes (even if they’re less interesting).

Anyhow, the heroes sneak off to the Crimson Waste to investigate the Mara message (because Glimmer knew that her mom was against the idea, so she just left without telling her, AGAIN!).

Also the plants are deadly. And tech just doesn’t seem to work.

Adora: Okay, I know it’s scary and dangerous, but if there is something to do with portals out here, we have to find it – for the Rebellion, and- and for me.

Because at least Bow is willing to put up with a lot if it’ll make Adora feel better…Glimmer might be more intent on the portal thing, but she still wants to support her friend.

Adora: So we’re without a map, and the plants are evil. But it’s okay! We’re coming from the north, so if we just keep going south, we’ll cross the center. And I am something of an expert tracker thanks to the Horde’s survival skills training. We just have to keep going that way! Problem solved! I’ve got this under control. 

Meanwhile in the Fright Zone, it’s pretty much just Entrapta and Hordak working on their science project…which promptly blows up.

Entrapta: This doesn’t make any sense. It should work! The machine didn’t have enough power, so we added First Ones tech. Then it was blowing out the power grid, so we rerouted it. Now it’s powered, it’s functioning, but it won’t activate a portal. It’s like there’s a key. Maybe when Catra brings that tech back from the Crimson Waste-

Hordak: Catra is never coming back from that fool’s errand. The machine is a failure. We’re done here. Get out!

Entrapta: But that was just our first test. If we tried-

Hordak: I said we’re done!

Yeah, he has a bad habit of giving up after the first explosion.

Meanwhile in the Waste, Bow and Glimmer are getting more irritable because their skills/powers are not that useful in this environment.

Adora: Okay, to review. The plants are evil, tech doesn’t work, and sometimes a sand dune is actually a pile of very angry sand-colored snakes. So, I think we’re getting the hang of this! […] And quicksand! That is now on our list of things to avoid! Wow, we’re learning so much today.

Granted, Adora’s instincts aren’t always spot-on, either, as she DIVES INTO QUICKSAND to save Glimmer, when she can just teleport out of it…but then she has to go back in and rescue Adora.

Bow: Adora, you know we support you all the way, but maybe we’re not totally prepared for this.

Adora: We just need a little rest. I’ll figure out how to build a shelter, and-

Glimmer: Or we could go there?

Adora: Okay! Problem solved. We’ll get out of the heat, and maybe there’s a map, or water, inside.

Bow: Adora, I doubt there’s anything useful in here. The Crimson Waste has been abandoned for hundreds of- 

But of course, the banners on the outside indicate that there are, indeed, people in there, and it turns out to be some sort of watering hole for people who are clearly criminals and outcasts.

Glimmer: You know, Adora, I’m not so sure these are the kind of people we should be asking for help.

Adora: Hello! Sorry to interrupt, but we’re not from around here. I’m- we’re hoping someone could give us directions.

Horned Goon: You’re outsiders.

Adora: Uh, yeah. I guess we are. 

Horned Goon: We don’t like outsiders here. And since the Crimson Waste didn’t take care of you, we will.

If the majority of the people here are criminals, it would make sense that they’d consider outsiders a threat – it’s clearly commonly believed that there aren’t any people living out here, so if rumor began to spread otherwise, they’d be in for some sort of trouble.

But the titular Huntara shows up to get our heroes out of that bind.

Huntara: There’s only two rules in the Crimson Waste. One, the strong make the rules. And two, don’t annoy me when I eat. I made rule one. They broke rule two.

This is obviously a reference to The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly, which presents a similar dichotomy: “Those who have guns, and those who dig.” But that’s mostly saved for the next episode, which is a regular pastiche of Sergio Leone’s filmography.

Huntara: Kids, what are you doing? Asking these lowlifes for help? Don’t you know, you can’t trust anyone in the Crimson Waste!

Glimmer: Actually, up until two minutes ago, we didn’t know there was anyone in the Crimson Waste.

Huntara: Scoundrels, criminals, outlaws, all of them! Be careful, kids. Next time I might not be around to save you.

and for once, ADORA’s the one swooning over a stranger

Adora: Excuse me! Hi, can we join you? I’m Adora, this is Bow, and Glimmer. And we came to-

Huntara: Blondie, Boy, Glitter. Got it. Huntara. Now what do you want?

Glimmer: It’s Glimmer, actually. Princess Glimmer.

Huntara: Ooh, a princess! Me too! I’m the princess of Crimson Waste. Can you tell? Or am I not sparkly enough for you?

Adora: We’re looking for something in the center of the Crimson Waste. It’s important we find it, and you seem like you know this place pretty well. Can you take us? 

Huntara: Did you not hear what I just said about trusting people?

Adora: Well, yeah, but you said that while saving us, so, you can’t be all bad. What do you say?

Bow: Excuse us for one moment. You sure about this, Adora? All the scary people are scared of Huntara. Which is not usually a great sign!

Glimmer: We can just ask for a map, or-

Adora: A map isn’t gonna get us past the scary plants, or the quicksand, or whatever else is out there! We need a guide.

Huntara: If I say no, you’re just gonna go out there by yourselves and get killed. Is that it?

Glimmer: I mean, not ideally, but yeah.

Huntara: Well, looks like you’ve got yourselves a guide.

Meanwhile, Entrapta’s struggling to stay away from her little science project, and discovers things like this in Hordak’s lab. And when she wants to retreat, she naturally trips over something!

Entrapta: Uh, hi?

Hordak: Get out. Get out right-

And then he collapses, so Entrapta runs to help.

Adora: So, for a place that’s supposed to be uninhabitable, the Crimson Waste sure is…habited.

Huntara: Crimson Waste takes in all sorts. They come running from the law, from their enemies, from different kingdoms…

Adora: From the Horde?

Huntara: The war will destroy all those idiots caught up in it.

Adora: So what are you running from?

Huntara: Huntara doesn’t run from anything, you got that? I want to be here.

Then Adora notices a suspicious stretch of sand, so she tosses a rock and discovers it’s quicksand.

Huntara: Huh. Not bad, Blondie.

Adora: What can I say? I’m a fast learner.

Huntara: Cocky. I like that. Give it some time, and you’ll do well here.

Adora: No thanks. This has been a really terrible snake-filled day. Honestly, I don’t know what we would’ve done without you.

But while Adora’s busy bonding with her, Bow and Glimmer are getting a bit antsy.

Bow: Listen, I know my tracker pad isn’t working, but I’m pretty sure we’re going the wrong way. Definitely a different way than we’d been going.

Adora: Hey! We wouldn’t be going anywhere without Huntara. This is probably just a shortcut.

Shortcuts make delays…

Huntara: We’re here.

Glimmer: Uh, we’re where?

Adora: This-this can’t be the center of the Crimson Waste, there’s nothing here. No, there has to be something here! I was so sure! The message said-

And then Adora’s hit by a dart and collapses, soon followed by the other two.

Because it turns out those two were her goons in the first place.

Huntara: Paralyzing darts. But you probably figured that out, being a- a fast learner and all. Outsiders are a risk to all of us. I did tell you not to trust anyone, Blondie.

They steal their weapons (because that’s the most valuable thing on them at the moment) and throw them in a pit to enjoy their paralysis.

Meanwhile, Entrapta’s doing her best to make Hordak feel better (but she clearly doesn’t know how to make edible soup, which does nothing to improve his mood).

Hordak: I am not discussing this.

Entrapta: Your armor. It’s…holding you together.

Hordak: It is none of your concern.

Entrapta: You’re from another planet. That thing in the vitrine looks like you. And you’ve got tech compensating for your body. As a scientist, I’m not going to stop until I figure out what’s going on, now tell me everything!

Hordak: You want to know what I am? I am a clone! A clone of the emperor of the known universe, Horde Prime.

Hordak: Horde Prime cloned himself, building an army to conquer all he saw. Planets, worlds, galaxies fell before us. I was his top general, but there was a defect in my cloning, and defects are worthless to Prime. I was sent to die on the front lines, but during the battle, a portal opened and sent me crashing to Etheria. Stranding me here. With nothing but a broken ship, I built an empire. When my portal opens, I shall bring forth my brother’s armies to crush the Rebellion. And Horde Prime will see that he was wrong. I am not a defect. I am worth something. But my portal machine does not work. I haven’t conquered the planet. I cannot even clone a new body for myself. Perhaps…perhaps Prime was right. I am a failure.

Entrapta: Ah! Oh, no no no! I’m listening! I heard you! I’ve got an idea, but I need the rest of my tools. Be right back!

See what I mean? Even HORDAK gets a sympathetic backstory!

The main difference between this and the original series is that, in the original, Horde Prime seems to be his literal brother, but in this show, they only seem to be “brothers” in the sense that they’re clones of the same person. And even showing Horde Prime’s silhouette is more than we ever see in the original series!

Meanwhile in the Waste, Glimmer is just about fed up with the mission (even if she tries her best to put on a brave face).

Adora: Having this mission made me feel…in control. After the last few days, I really needed it. I needed answers. I thought if I found out more about Mara, I’d find out more about myself. Where I came from, and why.

Bow: And we’ll still get those answers. We’re not beat yet. Sure, this road trip has been kind of a disaster-

Glimmer: Pretty standard for us, honestly.

Bow: But we know you’re going through a lot. We’ve got your back, whatever you need to do.

Glimmer: Besides, it’s not like you stole our weapons and left us stranded.

And then Adora spots Huntara’s trail (which she didn’t seem to bother hiding, possibly because they didn’t know about Glimmer’s magic and assumed they’d just die in that pit).

Hordak: I do not need your help in this.

Entrapta: Everybody needs help sometimes. And you shouldn’t be upset that you’re not perfect. Take Emily! Her programming is glitchy, the left leg sticks, and she’s loud. Emily’s got quirks, but that’s why I like her! Imperfection is what makes scientific experimentation possible. Imperfection is beautiful. At least, to me. Stand here. And you’re really way too obsessed with this whole “failure” thing. I mean, I’m a failure.

Hordak: You are not a-

Entrapta: I don’t fit in. I became friends with Adora, but she abandoned me. Then I became friends with Catra, but she doesn’t talk to me anymore. But that doesn’t mean I give up. I scrounged up a few more pieces of First Ones tech, and I can’t think of a better use for it than this.

Entrapta: Your armor is more of an exoskeleton now, the tech compensating for your organic body. What does it feel like?

Hordak: Powerful. I…I- acknowledge the work you put into this. It is very…technologically sound. Ah, no matter what you say, you are not a failure! Any who discount you are utter fools.

Entrapta: Thanks. I like being friends with you, too.

hordak is kind of a dork and it is precious

There are a LOT of friend-pairs that turn into romances by the end (or just have a ton of romantic subtext, like Scorpia and Catra), but I’ve always felt like these two just make great friends! They’re both incredibly awkward, and neither seem interested in romance at all. It’s just cute!

Back in the Crimson Waste, the Best Friend Squad are catching up to Huntara…

Horned Goon: Come on, we’re just having fun! Didn’t you see the shock on those outsiders’ faces? Aw, look at this! I think Huntara liked them. Are you feeling guilty?

Huntara: I did what I had to, to keep us all safe!

Horned Goon: You mean keep yourself safe. You act so tough, but you’re running scared from something just like the rest of us.

Huntara: I don’t run away from anything! I am Huntara of the Crimson Waste.

Glimmer: That’s nice. I’m Princess Glimmer of Bright Moon, and I sparkle!

Glimmer grabs Bow’s bow and arrows, but Huntara retains the sword. So they deal with the goons while Adora fights Huntara.

Once again, I sadly cannot do this fight justice – not so much for the action as for the epic electric guitar score!

But Adora finally disarms her, and Glimmer comes in to toss her the sword.

Glimmer: Quick! Time for She-ra.

Huntara: Wait! You know about She-ra?

Adora: Know about She-ra? I am She-ra!

She-ra: Where did you hear about She-ra? After all, it’s not like it’s something they teach you in the Horde.

Huntara: I was a Horde soldier. They told us we were heroes, freeing Etheria from the evil princesses. But when I saw what we were doing, how Hordak just threw soldiers away…well, you know what we saw. You were one of us. That’s where you learned to fight, isn’t it? I’d recognize that training anywhere.

She-ra: You deserted. I did too, and I joined the Rebellion.

Huntara: Then you’re a fool. One girl can’t make a difference against the might of the Horde, even a tall, shiny girl like you. It’s useless to try.

She-ra: Maybe, but I’m not alone. I won’t stand by and watch people get hurt, and I won’t run away. Huntara, I need your help. I need you to help us find what we came for. Together, we can all bring this war to an end.

The goons briefly come back to try and take Bow and Glimmer hostage, but Huntara clearly prefers Adora, so she scares them off.

Huntara: You’re right. What I saw in the Horde scared me, and I ran. But I’m not gonna run anymore. I face my problems head on. And if you’re trying to stop the war, then…then I will do what I can to help you. Now come on! We’ve got lots of ground to cover before we reach the ship.

Bow: Adora, what is that?

Adora: It’s- its Mara’s ship!

To wrap this up, yes, Huntara did appear in the original series, but she must have showed up in only one or two episodes, and the only thing I gathered is that she wasn’t from Etheria (which wasn’t nearly as rare in that show).

Until next time…