Or: Catra makes life awful in the Horde, part II.

By this point, Double Trouble has effectively replaced Scorpia as Catra’s sole confidant, mainly because they don’t push back against her morally dubious choices (and also, they don’t remind her, implicitly or explicitly, about her past mistakes). But Scorpia hasn’t realized that just yet.

Baby Scorpia is precious…but there’s also the implication that her parents must have died when she was still a baby.

And we begin the episode with Scorpia’s morning routine.

Scorpia: Good morning world! Force Captain Scorpia reporting for duty. Wake up, check! Looking sharp, check. Breathe in new day, check. Make bed, check. Feed Emily, although I’m still not sure that you eat, check.

She spends the majority of the episode talking to Emily, who has been confined to Scorpia’s room since that incident with Catra.

And Emily knocks down the vest Scorpia got in Season 3.

Scorpia: Cool right? Catra gave it to me in the Crimson Waste. She’s got a matching one, it’s like, our thing, you know? I know, I know, she said we’re not friends anymore, but she didn’t mean it! And maybe I misheard her, there was a lot going on. There was a cannon. Push down doubts and insecurities, check. I am brave, strong, loyal, and I give great hugs, and I am going to be the best friend I can be!

Then she walks out into utter chaos!

Scorpia: Yep! Today will be a great day.

I do love how the soundtrack seems like it belongs in some sort of slice-of-life show, reflecting how Scorpia views the world around her.

Anyhow, like most episodes, the goings-on in the Horde are much more interesting, but as Scorpia’s actually the title character, we have more of an excuse to spend time with her than the heroes for once. Not that the conflict with the heroes is boring or anything, just more frustrating.

The Best Friend Squad is finally back on the job, but things can’t be the same as they used to be.

Glimmer: This one’s mine. Looks like it’s your lucky day. I’ve got this rune I’ve really wanted to try out.

But said rune fails to have an effect, so She-ra swoops in to “rescue” her.

Glimmer: Hey! I had that one!

She-ra: You are the Queen! I can’t let anything happen to you. Besides, whatever dark magic Shadow Weaver taught you obviously doesn’t seem to be doing the job.

Glimmer: It’s not dark magic. And it would have been really cool if it had worked!

Bow: Aw, you guys, look at us! The Best Friend Squad back together again!

Bow is super relatable for me this episode, as I’ve been in similar situations with my siblings before (that is, trying to defuse the situation, and failing that, attempting to mediate the conflict).

But Glimmer finds it odd that there are so few soldiers at the outpost (and no bots), but as their mission is to reopen a supply line, Adora’s eager to be off to the next one.

She-ra: Alright, we should head out! We’ve still got another outpost to shut down before we can reopen supply lines to the Kingdom of Snows. Come on! Let’s move.

Flutterina: Wasn’t She-ra amazing in that battle? You were so lucky she saved you before that Horde soldier reached you!

Glimmer: She didn’t save me! I was…doing a thing.

Flutterina: Oh, right! I mean, your little magic trick would’ve been really cool if it had worked. Anyway, your real strength is in teamwork. And the way you let Adora give you orders, even though you’re the Queen-

Glimmer: She wasn’t giving me orders, we’re a team!

Flutterina: The greatest team! That’s why she can talk to you like that, all “I’m She-ra, I know best!” But you stay friends. What a bond.

Double Trouble’s only exacerbating a rift that’s already developing between Glimmer and Adora by attacking Glimmer’s pride.

Anyhow, for some reason *cough*exposition*cough*, Catra has to explain to Hordak why she ordered all but the bare minimum troops back to the Fright Zone.

Catra: Okay, the princesses have no idea what’s coming. Let them waste their time on some useless outposts. We are saving our resources for the big mission. The final part of our plan, remember? It’s almost time.

Hordak: We’re not ready. I need more time to complete the weapon.

Catra: We’ve put everything into this plan! We don’t have more time.

Hordak: This technology is based on Entrapta’s research, but I’ve reached a dead end. I need her notes, her recordings. They must hold the key to making this work.

Catra: Entrapta is a traitor.

Hordak: You think I don’t know that? This is what she left behind, and this is what I will use to defeat every last princess on Etheria. Horde Prime will be here soon, and when he arrives he will see what I am capable of. I will return to his side victorious, worthy. But first, I need those recordings!

Catra feels the need to make sure she’s still controlling the narrative for Hordak, that he’s not asking for the recordings just from sentimentality.

Scorpia: Emily! You know you’re supposed to stay in my room, you little scamp. Come on, no guilt trip, it’s for your own good. We can’t let Catra see you, and right now, I’m bringing her a cup of my famous soothing tea. Old family recipe. If anyone could use a pickmeup, it’s Catra. Go on. Ah, okay, you can come! Can’t say no to that cute little face. Hey, I said you can come, where are you-

Catra: Who are you talking to?

Scorpia: Catra! Hot! Okay, boy, you can really sneak up on a gal. Oh, are you okay? You don’t look so good. Have you been getting enough sleep? Here, I made you some-

Catra: I didn’t ask for your opinion. I have a job for you. I need you to find Entrapta’s recordings. You know, that thingy she was always babbling into.

Scorpia: You want Entrapta’s recordings? Does this mean-

Catra: It means that Hordak needs them. I’m so close. If I can pull this off, everything, everything will have been worth it. Find me those recordings so I can finish this.

Scorpia: Yes! Yes, I’ll find them, I promise. Did you want any of the tea?

Catra takes the tea and then yells at Scorpia again, but evidently Scorpia’s just happy she can help at this point.

Scorpia: See, Emily? What did I tell you? Catra just needed a loyal friend. I’ll find those recordings, she’ll do her mission, and then she can relax, and then things will go back to normal!

because she seems to have forgotten that “normal” for catra doesn’t really include her.

Then she runs into these guys, who have little love for Catra nowadays (as proven by the last episode).

Scorpia: Hey guys! Can’t stay long. I’m on a super important top-secret mission for Catra.

Lonnie: Good luck with that. I’m sure Catra will be super grateful.

Scorpia: Uh, yeah, of course she’ll be grateful. Everything Catra’s done has been to help the Horde. And if we stick with her, keep doing our jobs, I know she’ll notice. You know, eventually.

Lonnie: Yeah right. Our guys are getting attacked on the northern perimeter, and Catra’s letting it happen. She doesn’t care about any of us.

Scorpia: Oh, nah, you’re wrong. Catra’s under a lot of pressure, and maybe she just-

Lonnie: When are you gonna wake up? Hey! We were supposed to be loading these on to the transport. Scorpia, just get out of here. We’ve got real work to do.

Scorpia: Good idea! You do your job, I’ll go do mine. It’s a well-oiled machine.

Poor Scorpia only wants to help, but can’t manage to do the simplest things right today.

Meanwhile, Double Trouble’s manipulation is sadly effective.

She-ra: Glimmer! What are you doing? You can’t just rush into battle on your own like that, you’re the Queen! You’re too valuable.

Glimmer: Oh, am I the Queen? Because it seems like you’re the one giving all the orders.

She-ra: And what’s your plan? More dark magic?

Glimmer: It’s not dark magic! And I don’t know, maybe, if it helps me do what needs to be done!

I mean, it sure doesn’t help that her friends are questioning her when she’s just using benign magic. If she doesn’t feel like they support her in pursuing any sorcery at all, she might be more likely to delve into dark magic on her own.

Glimmer: I don’t need you guys to save me! Stop treating me like I’m weak and let me make my own decisions!

She-ra: We’re just looking out for you! 

Bow: Hey! What’s going on with you two?

Both: Nothing!

Bow: Okay, we’re talking this out. Adora, is there something you need to say to Glimmer?

THANK YOU!

She-ra: No. I don’t know. What? It’s fine!

Bow: Come on, you can do it! Communication is the key to a good friendship.

She-ra: I don’t know why Glimmer is suddenly okay with trusting Shadow Weaver after everything she’s done to us! I just- I’m worried about her. It’s too dangerous.

Glimmer: You really think I’m naive enough to trust her?

Bow: Glimmer, would you like to try phrasing that a little more constructively?

Glimmer: Everything I’m doing is to protect people, is to protect you. I’m not asking you to trust Shadow Weaver, but can’t you at least trust me?

She-ra: Of course I trust you, Glimmer.

Bow: There you go! That’s how the Best Friend Squad does it.

give this boy a medal

Meanwhile in the Fright Zone…

Scorpia: Super Pal Trio. Man, those were good times, huh? Focus! Scorpia, you can’t let Catra down. Think like Entrapta…Think like Entrapta…Bots! Hordak- tiny food. Uh, First Ones tech. Runestones. The Black Garnet chamber!

So she takes Emily to investigate (because she’s her only friend now).

Scorpia: Yeah, this place also gives me the creeps. But some of Entrapta’s stuff is still in here, so the recordings might be, too. Oh, wow! So many good times in here, huh? That time Entrapta hacked the Black Garnet, that time Shadow Weaver tried to kill us, and before that…you’re not gonna believe this, Emily, but I’m actually a princess. I know, right? That’s what they all say. It’s ridiculous, I know, but it’s true. The whole Fright Zone used to be my family’s kingdom, but then Hordak showed up and, well, you know, the rest is history. It’s not like the Black Garnet ever worked for me anyway. Ah, it’s for the best. I mean, can you imagine – me, a princess? I just need to find those recordings, and then-

And then Emily reveals that she had the recordings all along, and proceeds to play back one involving Scorpia, the preparations for their little field trip to the Northern Reach.

Scorpia: Super Pal Trio field trip! Ah, I can’t wait! We can watch the snow fall, drink hot cocoa-

Entrapta: Oh, can the hot cocoas be tiny?

Catra: We’re there to dig up First Ones tech, we’re not making cocoa.

Scorpia: That’s my Wildcat, always on goal! […] I’ll bring the cocoa if you bring the tiny mugs.

Entrapta: Oh, it’s a date!

Then the recording ends.

Scorpia: I…I miss her. Wait, Entrapta’s recordings? She stored them inside you? We did it, you beautiful bot, we found them! Oh, we gotta go tell Catra that-Well can’t you just take them out? Not possible? They’re deeply ingrained in your core processing unit and can’t be accessed without dismantling you completely?

Scorpia’s total understanding of what Emily’s saying is a little ridiculous, but seeing as she’s her only real friend at this point, I’ll give it a pass.

Scorpia: But Catra needs these recordings, and I want to be there for her! I’m loyal, that’s my whole thing. I’m sure it’ll be fine. She wouldn’t hurt you. She wouldn’t. Even though the recordings are inside you, and she’s kinda said the words “scrap metal” and “Emily” together, a lot…come on, I know a great place to hide- I mean, think. Not hide. We’re not hiding, we’re thinking. That’s it.

Because despite her protestations, Scorpia knows deep down that Catra would totally take apart Emily if she knew (at least in her current state of mind).

Meanwhile, Glimmer is frustrated that no one else in the squad seems to be concerned about the conspicuous lack of effort put into the defense of these outposts, so naturally, she takes matters into her own hands.

Glimmer: Why isn’t anyone guarding these outposts? Where is everyone?

Guard: Uh, I don’t know!

Glimmer: I haven’t practiced this one as much, I’m still getting the hang of it. It’s a truth spell if it works. But if it fails, it can be extremely painful.

Guard: Okay okay! Catra called back our bots and most of our team, but I don’t know why, I swear! I don’t, I really don’t!

Glimmer: I think you do.

Bow: Glimmer, stop!

Glimmer: Catra pulled her forces from the northern perimeter. We’ve been wasting our time all day!

And this aggressive interrogation makes her friends (somewhat justifiably) more concerned than ever.

She-ra: Glimmer, what are you doing? You took things way too far!

Glimmer: I wasn’t going to actually hurt him! Did you think I would really-

Bow: Look, maybe we should get some rest, and talk about this when-

She-ra: The Kingdom of Snows’ supply line is open. We’re done here.

Glimmer: Fine by me.

Bow did his best, but this was a conversation that really needed to happen, because it’s a continuation of Glimmer and Adora’s previous conversation about trust. Glimmer was clearly lying about the potentially painful failure option, but all Adora saw was her threatening a prisoner with magic. And yes, this conflict will remain until the end of the season.

Scorpia: Welcome to Horror Hall! It was part of the royal Scorpion family’s kingdom, but nobody comes here anymore. I would sneak down here to hide when I was a kid. Oh! Check out these guys! That’s Pointy, over there is Captain Pointy, and this here is the widow Madame Pointessa. Okay, fine, I made those up. I don’t know their names. But this, this guy, this is my granddad, the king. He was the greatest. I mean, that’s what the Horde told me, anyway. I don’t remember him, I was too young. I have Granddad to thank for my opportunities in life. He made the alliance with Hordak. As part of it, our kingdom gave up our runestone. And princess. My granddad must’ve known I’d be happier as a soldier. And I made friends in the Horde! Like you!

I’m obliged to mention that in the old series, Horror Hall was actually the domain of Shadow Weaver. But more importantly, IMPERIALISM!

The implication is that one of Scorpia’s mothers was the previous princess, and they’d have to kill her in order for the Horde to use the Black Garnet for their own purposes (and her partner presumably died protecting her, because loyalty). The very fact that Scorpia made up silly names for people who were obviously regarded as important figures in her culture (they wouldn’t be in a royal hall otherwise) reflects how her heritage was torn from her. That’s something she might never get back, even if some other scorpions outside of the royal family might have survived.

Scorpia: Ah, okay, well, things didn’t exactly work out for my kingdom, but Granddad stayed loyal to the end. That’s what scorpions do best! Brave, loyal, great hugs.

Scorpia: I need to be there for Catra. I’ll just tell her about the recordings. She is my friend, and she will not hurt you if I ask her not to.

then emily plays the footage of catra betraying entrapta and i can’t

Scorpia: She-she was threatened. She didn’t mean it.

Catra: You wanna be next?

And then all her excuses for Catra crumble to dust.

Scorpia: Catra…betrayed her. She betrayed me. And I just let her take Entrapta away. Catra doesn’t care. She’ll hurt people to get her way. If she knew the recordings were inside of you…but I still have time. I can still be a good friend.

Catra: You better have something for me.

Scorpia: Entrapta’s recordings! She stored them all in Emily. The chip got damaged when I extracted it, but hopefully that won’t matter? It was just so small, and you know, pincers.

Catra: You broke the recordings?

Scorpia: I-I didn’t mean to.

Catra: I asked you to do one thing, one simple thing, and you completely ruined it! But of course you ruined it, yeah! You’re Scorpia. That’s just what you do! You couldn’t handle Emily, you never know when to shut up. The only thing you’ve ever done is get in my way! What did I expect? I mean, how can you possibly be this useless? What?

Scorpia: You’re a bad friend.

Scorpia was trying to give her one last chance to prove that she could be a decent friend (or even a decent person), and Catra failed.

It only seems to add more fuel to her resentment of the rest of the world.

Hordak: The recordings!

Catra: Entrapta must’ve taken them with her before leaving. There’s nothing.

Hordak: I gave you an order.

Catra: Get. Over. It. You don’t need Entrapta. You never did. You don’t need a princess in your life telling you what to do! Look at what you’ve done without her – you’ve built an army, an empire! You and me, we don’t need anyone. Forget them all! No one matters, nothing matters, but this mission! You want to prove yourself, prove your worth? Then do it! You and I are gonna conquer Etheria and then, and then, they’ll all see!

Hordak: Oh, of course! Yes, we will prevail. Give me another day and I will be ready.

Scorpia: Okay, I bought us some time. Catra didn’t know that was just old junk or that I was- lying to her. There’s nothing I can do for her. But maybe I can still help Entrapta. Ready for a Super Pal Duo field trip? We’re getting out of here, Emily. For good.

Good on Scorpia for getting out of a bad relationship! But Catra’s getting more desperate by the day, so much so that the one remaining person that she has to rely on (that is, not just for hire) is HORDAK, and he might be even more volatile than she is…

Until next time…