You don’t get to refuse.

As much as I tend to rag on Season 4, it does successfully develop Glimmer, Catra, Scorpia (to a lesser extent), and even Light Hope. And this two-part finale does a great job setting up the next season!

Anyhow, the episode begins with Scorpia (and Emily) just enjoying life at Bright Moon.

Scorpia: So, uh, they just let you have your own garden here? Aren’t you a prisoner? Am I a prisoner? Everyone’s been so nice. How come we’re not, you know, in a prison. Is this garden a prison?

Shadow Weaver: It wasn’t, until today.

Scorpia: Oh, right. Right, sorry, I’m not even here, just garden away. Emily! Emily, what did I just say? I said stay out of the skull plants! Bad bot!

And Glimmer’s returned from her little adventure in the Crystal Castle.

Shadow Weaver: Your Majesty, you’re back. Did you find what you were looking for?

Glimmer: Yes. Light Hope told me everything I need to know, and I have a plan.

Shadow Weaver: A plan, excellent! We should discuss- 

Glimmer: Scorpia, I need your help.

Scorpia: Me?

Glimmer: You’re the only person who can save Etheria. We need you to reconnect to the Black Garnet.

Scorpia: Huh?

Shadow Weaver: What? Your Majesty, I don’t understand. We should reconvene with the other princesses and-

Glimmer: The other princesses are gone, but it’s fine-

Shadow Weaver: Gone?

Glimmer: I said it’s fine! I have a plan-

Scorpia: Gone where?

Glimmer: Okay, would anyone else like to interrupt me?

Guard: I’m sorry, Your Majesty, but Double Trouble has escaped.

It seems to be setting up things going wrong for Glimmer…

Meanwhile on Beast Island, they’re all rather snug (but perfectly safe) in one of Entrapta’s contraptions.

Adora: Entrapta, we have been looking all over this island for you. Are you okay?

Entrapta: Of course I’m okay! Have you seen this place? An island full of technological monstrosities, each more deadly than the next? It’s paradise!

Bow: Yeah, um, glad you’re having fun, but we’re kinda here to rescue you?

Entrapta: Rescue me? Did I not just rescue you?

Adora: Yeah, that didn’t go as planned.

Bow: We came to bring you back! We would’ve come sooner, but we had no idea you were here. We thought you were still with Hordak. Scorpia told us what happened. She and the other princesses are waiting for you at Bright Moon.

Adora: Entrapta, please, we need your help. We discovered what the First Ones were doing to Etheria, a terrible secret that no one else knows.

Entrapta: You mean the Heart of Etheria? Why didn’t you say so!

because of course she knows about the heart of etheria

Meanwhile, Catra’s still barely keeping it together.

Lonnie: Sorry. We didn’t know you were in here. We’ll just come back later.

Catra: Wait! What’s the report from the field?

Lonnie: We just got back from conquering another rebel town, the third one this week! So, you’re welcome.

Then Kyle accidentally kicks Scorpia’s locker, prompting an emotional (angry) response from Catra.

Lonnie: Calm down, Catra. It’s not like Scorpia needs it anymore.

Catra: You don’t get to talk to me like that. I’m your commander, got it?

Lonnie: What is wrong with you? We’re winning! Even you should be happy.

Catra: Happy? I’ll be happy when the Rebellion and She-ra are gone for good. But that’s never going to happen with the three of you goofing off all the time. You are pathetic!

Kyle: Stay away from her! We used to be your friends. Why are you treating us like this?

Catra: Get out!

One thing that distinguishes Catra from many other characters that get redemption arcs (like Zuko from Avatar or Hunter from The Owl House) is that Catra’s actually really good at her job. At this point, she looks like she might win…but at the cost of alienating everyone she ever cared about.

And that’s when Double Trouble turns up again.

Double Trouble: Ouch. It’s worse than I thought. You’re a mess!

Catra: Double Trouble? You came back. I mean, where were you? I thought, um-

Double Trouble: You thought I left you? Apologies for the delay, Kitten. I got held up in Bright Moon, but don’t worry. I brought something that might cheer you up.

Catra: Better be something good after all that.

Double Trouble: The time to strike the final blow to the Rebellion is upon us. The princesses aren’t getting along, and most deliciously, She-ra is gone. So…

Catra: Bright Moon is unprotected.

Double Trouble: Told you it would cheer you up.

Back at Bright Moon, Glimmer is surprisingly nonplussed about Double Trouble’s escape…and, in fact, about the whole seemingly dire situation.

Glimmer: Forget Double Trouble. They don’t matter anymore. The only person we need is right here.

Shadow Weaver: Scorpia is not a true princess! She has never shown any connection to her runestone.

Glimmer: But she will, as soon as we get her to the Black Garnet.

Shadow Weaver: “Get her to the Black Garnet”? Your Majesty, you’re not thinking this through. You cannot go to the Fright Zone now. You are without allies, without your prisoner, and without a plan!

Glimmer: I have a plan!

Shadow Weaver: My Queen, listen to me. Think! Have I not only tried to help you? You are letting your emotions get the better of you. This plan is too risky. What would your mother say, if she were here?

Glimmer: You don’t get to talk to me about my mother. Besides, you were the one who told me to decide what kind of Queen I am, and I’ve decided. I’m the Queen who’s going to save Etheria.

I mean, bringing up Angella is just kind of emotional manipulation, because of course Angella always wanted to protect Glimmer, but the situation has changed drastically since she died.

I’d say I was curious to know what Shadow Weaver would have advised…but we’ll discover her plan in the next season anyway.

Catra sends out pretty much all their troops to Bright Moon, and once she catches Hordak up on Double Trouble’s intel, he’s happy to gloat with her.

Hordak: We can strike the final blow to the Rebellion. When Bright Moon falls, we will control all of Etheria.

Catra: Big Brother’s gonna be so impressed.

Hordak: Yes. This will show him what I am capable of- what we are capable of. Good work, Catra. Victory is ours.

Meanwhile on Beast Island, Entrapta’s taken them to some sort of First Ones console that was just sitting there in the middle of the island.

Entrapta: Isn’t it amazing? The First Ones tried to hide their secrets by dumping them on Beast Island. The answers I’ve been looking for, they’re all here! My theories were correct. I knew the First Ones had retrofitted the planet with tech, I just didn’t know why. But it all makes sense now! They were mining the planet’s magic, using it to power their weapon, the Heart of Etheria! But of course, you know all about the Heart of Etheria already, seeing as you’re a part of it.

Adora: Wait, wait, hang on- what? I’m a part of it?

Entrapta: All the princesses are! Hang on, I’ll show you. The Heart draws its power from the magic of the princesses. It needs all their runestones engaged for it to work. And She-ra is the most important piece, the key! She channels the weapon’s power and focuses it.

Entrapta: She-ra is the only being strong enough to withstand the destructive energy of the Heart, so the First Ones made the sword to control her, to use her. When the Heart is deployed, She-ra will raise the sword, and fire it!

Adora: She-ra is- is the key! That means I can stop it, right? If She-ra fires the weapon, then I- I just won’t do it! Please, Entrapta, tell me I can stop it!

Entrapta: Once the planet is balanced, no one can stop it! Not even the First Ones could control it, that’s why they left! When the weapon is activated, it will channel all its power into you. You don’t get to refuse.

The sword was never intended to control magic, but to control She-ra herself. That’s why Mara left the sword, so that it couldn’t force her to fire the weapon.

And when they realize the Black Garnet is the only thing stopping Light Hope from activating the weapon, they realize that they have to get back to Bright Moon ASAP.

Because Glimmer’s doing precisely what they’re worried about!

Glimmer: Scorpia! We need to go to the Black Garnet chamber, now. My plan is going to work! What’s wrong? I thought you would want to be a princess.

Scorpia: Okay, I have been considering, and I really appreciate the offer, but I only came here to help Entrapta. I left the Horde, but I’m not gonna betray them. Or Catra.

Glimmer: This will save them! Horde Prime could be here at any moment! If he shows up and we’re not ready to defend ourselves, everyone loses! Do you really think he’ll need to keep Catra around? We both want to save the people we love, but I can’t do it without you. 

Scorpia: It’s hopeless. What if the Black Garnet doesn’t want me? I just…I kinda get rejected a lot.

Glimmer: Tell me about it. My best friends left me. Even before this, I was the weak princess, the one who had to recharge, who didn’t fit. But that’s changed now. We’ve changed now! We’re stronger than anyone knows. We can do this. We can save everyone!

Scorpia: Everyone?

Glimmer: You’re not hopeless. You were born for this, and I’ll help you. We’re in this together. You’re gonna make a great princess.

And Scorpia finally gets some hugs and…well, I can’t say it’s perfect, seeing how Glimmer is about to endanger the whole planet because she refused to listen to her friends, but I can still approve the hugs.

Anyhow, on Beast Island, everyone’s eager to get home…except for Entrapta.

Entrapta: This place…it’s pure information. Everything I’ve ever dreamed of knowing about the planet, it’s all here, so, I’m staying.

Adora: We’re not going to leave you.

[…]

Entrapta: Everything back there with the princesses, and then, with Hordak, was so confusing. I just wasn’t suited for friendship. I belong here.

As the signal is getting stronger for everyone, Adora just transforms and grabs Entrapta.

A battle with the pookas ensues, but is soon interrupted by a much bigger monster, and Micah’s only barely protecting them with a forcefield as Entrapta’s crisis continues.

Bow: Entrapta, no! The island is affecting you, you can’t give in!

Entrapta: You don’t understand. That’s okay, no one understands me. I tried to be a good friend, but I didn’t understand that, either.

Bow: What, did you think friendship was easy? It takes work to be there for other people! It takes everything you’ve got!

Entrapta: Everyone leaves me behind. Why should it be any different now?

Bow: Because we’re not ever going to leave you behind again, and we never gave up on you, even when you were with the Horde! Because that’s what friends do!

Entrapta: You…haven’t given up on me?

This conflict works much better than the one in the last episode, mainly because it focuses on one character, but also because this is something Entrapta’s struggled with throughout the series! She DOESN’T fit in with most groups (including the princesses), and because she’s neurodivergent, it makes friendships even harder.

But then the monster breaks through the barrier, so Adora decides to switch tactics.

She-ra: We’re out of time! Entrapta, we flew here on an ancient First Ones ship. Do you wanna see it, or not?

Entrapta: A ship? You have a First Ones spacecraft? A First Ones spacecraft that works? Ah! I wanna see!

Then she summons her robot to fight off the monsters, allowing them to safely retreat to the ship.

Bow: Did anything I said about friendship work for you? Or was it all the ship?

Entrapta: Oh, definitely the ship. But thank you. I’m…I’m glad we’re friends.

Meanwhile, Double Trouble’s doing what they do best: Sowing chaos!

Double Trouble: I know, I know. No one is welcome in Hordak’s super-secret sanctum. Not since you let that princess in. What makes something a sanctum, anyway? No small talk? I thought I’d at least get a pat on the back for my daring escape. It’s too bad, though. I was looking forward to meeting this Entrapta character before I left Bright Moon, but of course, as you know, she wasn’t there.

Hordak: What did you say?

Double Trouble: Oh, you don’t need to keep up the charade with me. I figured out the truth. You had Catra send Entrapta to Beast Island, so She-ra would run off to rescue her. A brilliant idea, the perfect distraction. I have to applaud your work. You really had me going. So scorned by Entrapta’s “betrayal”. Even now, you look like you had no idea! Brava! I mean, I did consider the alternative, that Catra’s been lying to you this whole time. That she made you think she was your partner in crime, while really, she’s the one who betrayed you? But between you and me, there’s no way she’s that good an actor. Well, I’ll leave you to it. Congrats again. Great work all around.

They walk a thin tightrope here, letting Hordak know exactly what’s going on without insulting his intelligence (which would probably earn them a blast in the face). Instead, he waits to vent his wrath on the lab equipment.

Meanwhile, the Beast Island gang gets on the ship to head home…and Double Trouble sends a message to Glimmer, because of course they betrayed Catra. And that’s evidently her cue to teleport into the Fright Zone.

RIGHT AS THEY ALL ARRIVE IN BRIGHT MOON. Glimmer’s almost as bad as Feivel from An American Tail when it comes to JUST MISSING family members…

Micah: Bright Moon. I’m really home. Glimmer! Glimmer, where are you?

Shadow Weaver: She’s gone. Micah? Is it really you?

Micah: What is this traitor doing here?

Adora: Where’s Glimmer?

And then Hordak naturally summons Catra to fire (at) her.

Hordak: Hello, Force Captain.

And that’s where Part 1 ends, with Catra finally facing the consequences of betraying Entrapta, Glimmer and Scorpia teleporting to the Fright Zone (and Adora & co having no way to catch up with her in time to stop her), and the ever-present threat of Horde Prime still looming on the horizon…

Until next time…