There’s nothing to fix, Adora, everything’s perfect.

This is an episode I really wanted to like, being the first Stevenson script in almost two seasons, and the script is definitely the highlight! But sadly, the visuals don’t tend to live up to it, most likely because this was the first episode where Mandy Clotworthy directed, as opposed to her previous experience as a storyboarder. I don’t blame her for wanting to expand her skills (she directed some later episodes that I quite enjoy!), but there’s always a learning curve, and that seems to be what this episode represents.

Anyway, we begin in the Fright Zone…

Adora: Where am I? And how did I get here?

Catra: Uh, you’re in your room? Are you okay?

Adora: I’m- I’m fine. I was just…having a weird dream. There was something I needed to fix.

Catra: Of course you’d dream about work! There’s nothing to fix, Adora, everything’s perfect.

Adora: Yeah. It was just a dream.

There are scattered shots of flashbacks (obviously from Adora’s perspective), and it’s unclear whether or not Catra actually knows what’s going on (at least until much later in the episode).

Adora: What are they all looking at?

Catra: You! The invasion of Thaymor went perfectly. You’re the hero of the hour!

Adora: Thaymor…oh, yeah! I defeated the rebel insurgents at Thaymor. Yeah! I did that!

Catra: Oh, please. You couldn’t have done it without me.

Adora: Right. What would I ever do without you.

The soundtrack is very subdued here, only occasionally becoming prominent with eerie music or discordant notes (naturally to highlight the wrongness of this scenario).

Adora: Where are we going again?

Catra: To the locker room! There’s something I want to show you.

Adora: Then why are we going the long way around? Let’s take the side door right- huh.

A door they just passed vanishes between shots…

Catra: What? No, it’s always been this way. Are you sure you’re okay?

Adora: Yeah, I’m okay.

Catra: Do you have a concussion or something? I know you get hit on the head a lot, but I figured your dumb little hair poof would cushion the blow.

They (read: Kyle) all pitched in to make something resembling a cake out of ration bars, ostensibly to celebrate Adora’s victory, but also presumably to celebrate their first real mission (also courtesy of Adora).

Adora: You guys! You even got the gray kind! It’s way better than the brown kind.

Lonnie: Hey, it was Catra’s idea.

Adora: Oh, yeah?

Catra: Eh, whatever. Don’t make a big deal about it.

Adora: Wow, I can’t believe you like me! That is so embarrassing for you.

Catra: Stop it! Get off! This is not because I like you!

And then they bump into Kyle, making him drop the “cake” (but naturally, they still blame HIM for it, because that’s what he’s there for!).

And that writing definitely wasn’t there before…

But they start a little food fight, which distracts Adora until Shadow Weaver shows up.

Shadow Weaver: Adora, get off the floor. You are the Force Captain who sacked Thaymor.

Adora: Sorry, Shadow Weaver.

Shadow Weaver: And you…

Look at you. You’re a mess! Go get yourself cleaned up. You’re no longer children. I have high hopes for you both. Do not waste your time on such foolish games.

And this is when you really start suspecting that Catra knows more than she lets on, because she was clearly bracing for some sort of attack (verbal or otherwise) when Shadow Weaver turned to her. Almost as if she remembers a reality where Shadow Weaver wasn’t so kind to her…

Then Shadow Weaver takes Adora for a little walk, just like in the first episode.

Shadow Weaver: I will admit, I did not think that Catra and the others were ready to be deployed. But under your command, they performed admirably. You are becoming every bit the leader I always knew you to be.

Adora: Thank you, Shadow Weaver. I couldn’t have done it without them.

Shadow Weaver: Suffice it to say, Hordak is impressed with your performance. He is rewarding you with a new mission. […] You’ll get the rest of the details at briefing. Look at it, Adora. This is who you are. The Force Captain who will lead the Horde to victory. It’s what you’ve always dreamed of. Everything is perfect.

Razz: Mara, dearie!

Adora: Wh-what did you just say?

Shadow Weaver: I said, are you ready for the briefing, Adora? Now run along. Don’t keep the sergeant waiting.

And this is when she starts to notice flashes of light…

Scorpia: You know, I don’t know what it is, but I do not like you! It’s just like this gut feeling I have! Maybe it’s that little poof thing you do with your hair, or how it draws attention to your gigantic forehead.

Adora: Okay! Can everyone lay off my hair today?

Scorpia: And what kind of name is Adora, anyway? It’s like, okay, I get it! Everyone loves you. But I do not.

The next mission is supposed to be to the Sea Gate…and then Adora finds a note that says “Mara”.

Then they seem to show images of various princesses, which is soon interspersed with Adora’s memories of them…and then the screen disappears.

Razz: What happened to the stars?

Adora: What’s going on?

Sergeant: Uh, Force Captain Adora? You have something to say?

Adora: Where’s the screen?

Sergeant: There’s no screen. All the information should be in your report.

I feel like this scene is trying to do a bit too much. Adora experiences a surge of memories (prompted by the images of the princesses), and then the screen disappears, which has more to do with the vanishing things element. It’s just really confusing, and I feel like it’s not entirely intentional. At first, I thought that the screen was just a product of her imagination, and I had to rewatch the episode several times before I realized it was actually supposed to be there (and then vanish).

Then she runs out, gets another surge of memories about Glimmer and Bow…and sees the white light spreading, before Catra runs into her.

Catra: Adora! What is wrong?

Adora: Did you write this?

Catra: Did I write a blank piece of paper? I’m gonna go with no.

Adora: No, there was something…something there! I think. And then I was running, why was I running?

Catra: Okay, okay! Calm down.

Adora: I can’t calm down! There’s something I keep forgetting, there’s something I’m supposed to fix! I remember a sword, a bright light, and you were there-

Ow! What was that?

Catra: Sorry! You were freaking out, and it was freaking me out!

Adora: Well you didn’t have to slap me!

Catra: Come on, let’s get you outside. You need some air!

Adora: How did we get here?

Catra: We climbed up, like we always do. Don’t you remember?

Adora: I don’t know what’s happening to me. It’s like I’m losing my mind.

Catra: You just need to relax.

Adora: Yeah. Yeah, you’re probably right, I’m- I’m fine. Everything’s fine.

Catra: Of course I’m right! Everything’s perfect. Soon, the two of us are going to be ruling Etheria together, just like we always planned.

Adora: Is that what you really want? To rule the world?

Catra: I mean, yeah. Obviously. Isn’t that what you want, too?

Adora: I don’t know.

Catra: Don’t flake out on me now! This is what we always wanted. Everything will be perfect as long as we stay together.

Adora: What if we don’t stay together? What if it all goes wrong? Why can’t you see that?

Catra: Adora! Stay with me, okay? You’re just seeing things. It’s all in your head.

The flashes of light are getting more frequent…but Catra’s insistence that Adora stay is just tragic. It feels like she knows exactly what’s going on, and maybe she is partly just trying to get Adora to give up, but I don’t think that’s all. Maybe she wants Adora to stay because she thinks that this is the only reality where they could ever be together.

but it doesn’t escape my notice that this is also a textbook case of gaslighting: acting like adora’s crazy when she knows (or at least suspects) that she’s not. bad kitty.

Then on top of more jumping from place to place, Lonnie informs Adora that it’s somehow been a week. So we’ve got lots of dream-like activity going on.

Adora: I know this is wrong! Can’t you see it? My memories don’t match, we’re jumping around, things are disappearing. It’s like time and space aren’t working right. And I-

Catra: Adora, stop it! Stop!

Adora: Mara…portal…I think I remember. None of this is right. We’re not supposed to be here!

Catra: Adora! Everything’s okay.

Adora: Stop saying that! This isn’t right! Everyone keeps telling me everything is perfect, but it’s not! Everyone except Scorpia.

Adora: Things aren’t right! You must feel it, too. I’m not sure why yet, but I’m starting to remember. I need to get into Hordak’s sanctum, and you need to help me!

Scorpia: Hordak’s sanctum. I’m not sure if you know, but no one is allowed in there without express permission. I mean, this is basic stuff! Are you sure you’re qualified to be a force captain?

Adora: All of my memories stop in Hordak’s sanctum. There’s something in there, something powerful and dangerous, and that’s where it all started. That’s where I have to go to fix things!

Scorpia (understandably) thinks Adora is just losing it, so she TRIES TO STING HER.

Adora: Scorpia, you have to remember something. Tell me you remember! Everyone’s acting like things are perfect except for you! Even Catra is-

Scorpia: Catra…

Adora: You do remember.

Scorpia: No, I- I mean, I don’t know. Catra, she- she was just scared! She didn’t mean to- what is going on? I keep- I keep forgetting things! This…this is all wrong. How did we get here?

Adora: I don’t know! I just know we have to go to Hordak’s sanctum.

And this is the first time Adora and Scorpia have really spent time together (that time Adora was drunk doesn’t count)…and the world is pretty much falling apart around them, so they don’t have much of a chance to make good memories.

Scorpia: I hope this works.

Adora: It will. And then you can go back to hating me.

Scorpia: Look, if you get us out of this, I promise I won’t hate you. I will just dislike you a reasonable amount.

Adora: Deal.

But of course, it’s too soon to resolve the plot, so they don’t find the portal there. Also, Scorpia is SWALLOWED UP BY THE VOID.

Then she finally catches up to Razz.

Razz: Well, hello Mara dearie!

Adora: Who are you? Why do I know you? What are you doing in the Fright Zone? Is this real?

Razz: I am afraid so, dearie. But you can still fix it! There’s still time! Find me in the woods, dearie!

And then she runs into Lonnie.

Adora: Lonnie! We have to get out of here. Where are Kyle and Rogelio?

Lonnie: Who?

Adora: Our teammates since we were kids! Where are they?

Lonnie: I- I don’t remember. I think…I think they’re gone? What is going on?

This naturally confirms that once people are swallowed up by the void, people immediately forget them. And then Lonnie’s swallowed up, too, despite Adora’s best efforts. So she rushes to find Catra.

Adora: Listen, we have to go, now! Scorpia, Lonnie, Kyle, Rogelio, they’re all gone!

Catra: What are you talking about? Who’s gone?

Adora: They’re gone! There’s nothing left! And we’ll be next if we don’t get out of here right now!

Catra: You’re not making sense! Everything’s fine, okay? Everything’s-

Adora: Don’t say it’s perfect! I know it’s not perfect, and so do you! 

Catra: You’ve gone crazy! I’m not going anywhere.

Then she stuns Catra and carries her away at the last second.

This is also when the visual language gets confusing, because this is the first time that we see flashbacks that are obviously from Catra’s perspective, even though she clearly sensed something was off with Shadow Weaver, too. Again, it might just be that she wants this to be reality, but whatever – I don’t want to waste any more time thinking about it.

So Adora drives them into the woods on a skiff…but whatever Catra really knows or believes, she’s not happy with their current situation.

Adora: Catra, you can’t. We need to get as far from the Fright Zone as possible, or we’ll be completely erased along with everything else!

Catra: You think you can convince me by kidnapping me? What is wrong with you?

Adora: I won’t leave you behind again.

Catra: Why can’t you just stay? We have everything we ever wanted.

Adora: It’s not real, Catra! As much as I wish that things could be simple the way they used to be, there’s no going back. Why did you do it?

Catra: I don’t know what you’re talking about.

Adora: There’s no time. We have to go.

The sad thing is, I think this world was born from Catra’s dream of a perfect life with Adora…but of course, it’s also based on her desire to control Adora.

and then we get the flashback to the promise

Young Adora: You look out for me, and I look out for you. Nothing really bad can happen as long as we have each other.

Young Catra: You promise?

Adora: I promise, everything will be okay if we just stay together. […] Help me fix this, please! This can’t be what you wanted.

Catra: Don’t you get it? I am never going to go with you! You always have to go and ruin it, don’t you? 

now she’s just being stubborn

Adora: Catra, look what’s happening! You’re going to destroy everything!

Catra: I don’t care! I won’t let you win. I’d rather see the whole world end than let that happen.

And it all comes back to how she grew up, believing that there are only winners and losers – and if she ever did what Adora wanted, she’d be the loser.

And because Adora wants her to live, she chooses another option.

But Adora doesn’t have long to mourn, because we have to wrap up the episode!

Razz: It’s been such a long time since we last saw each other, hasn’t it? That, or it hasn’t happened yet. I always get those two things mixed up.

Adora: I couldn’t save anyone else.

Razz: It’s not too late. You can still bring them back, but you must act quickly!

Adora: How do you know all of this?

Razz: Because this has all happened before! I remember it like it was yesterday. For Madame Razz, it was yesterday.

Adora: This happened before, with Mara!

Razz: Yes, dearie, when she moved Etheria and took away the stars! It was crazy.

Adora: It’s all my fault. I’ve been so afraid of becoming another Mara, destroying the world the way she did- and now, it’s happening.

Razz: Destroy the world? No! Mara saved the world, and so will you! But you can’t waste any more time. You need to go back to the beginning. You need to find the sword! That is the only way this will stop!

Adora: I did that, didn’t I? I went back to the Fright Zone. The portal wasn’t there!

Razz: No, that wasn’t the beginning! You need to go back to the very beginning.

Adora: I don’t understand!

Razz: That’s alright, dearie. You don’t need to understand. You just need to remember!

She eventually concludes that she needs to go look for Bow and Glimmer, leading into the next episode!

One annoying thing about this episode is that it feels a little like a clip show, despite the relevance the memories have to the story. On top of that, pretty much all of the interesting visuals are borrowed in some way from season 1 (i.e., Catra and Adora on the catwalk above the Fright Zone). Again, I can’t really blame a new director for sticking with what’s worked in the past, but as a result, there aren’t really any unique visuals.

Aside from THAT.

Until next time…