Once again, Catra is ruining our lives!

This episode is (quite sensibly) focused on how Catra can integrate with the people she spent the whole series fighting (with the natural exception of Entrapta, but that might be even trickier for her). Also there may be a lot of images, because Catradora.

But we begin with repairs, as, you know, blasting out of Prime’s flagship was a bit much for old Darla, and since the autopilot’s offline, Bow’s focusing most of his energy on piloting the ship. Also, Wrong Hordak’s along for the ride, because Entrapta just dragged him onto the ship, so he’s part of the crew now.

Glimmer: How’s Catra?

Adora: Good, I think. I keep checking on her, but she’s been sleeping for a while. Do you think I should check on her again?

Bow: Adora, you should let her rest.

Adora: Right, right. But what if she wakes up and needs something? I’m just- I’m just gonna go check on her. No no no, you’re right. Letting her rest.

Glimmer: Come on, guys! We faced Horde Prime and made it out alive!

Bow: I honestly cannot believe it worked.

Glimmer: Plus, She-ra’s back!

Bow: How did you do that without the sword?

Adora: I don’t know. I just suddenly felt her again, like she’d never left. Like she’s been in there all along, just waiting to come out. I just have no idea how to do it again!

Glimmer: You’ll figure it out. What’s important is that she was there when your friends needed her.

Bow: Well, friends and one person who threw me off a cliff once. But sure!

Bow is the most wary of Catra, presumably because he tried reaching out to her a few seasons ago and was burned for his trouble. He’s naturally trusting, but once his trust is betrayed (as with Glimmer), he struggles to forgive.

Glimmer: I can’t believe we’re finally going home!

Bow: Steering! […] With Darla damaged, our speed’s at thirty percent. If Entrapta can’t fix it, it will take us awhile to get there.

Glimmer: As long as we’re headed towards home and away from Horde Prime, I’m happy. We deserve to celebrate. I’m going to make us a special dinner for tonight!

Bow: You? I have never seen you cook before.

Glimmer: Uh, ah- you know what? Wrong Hordak can help. I bet he knows a lot about cooking.

Wrong Hordak: I am honored to provide nourishment for my exalted brothers.

So Glimmer runs off to the galley, and with nothing else to do, Adora goes back to check on Catra.

…who has had better days (a lot worse, too, but whatever). At first glance, it seems to be just flashbacks to her time with Horde Prime, but that alone would be terrifying for her.

Adora: Hey! Hey, it’s just me. Are you still getting the flashes?

Catra: Yes, I keep having this horrible vision of a blonde girl who thinks she’s better than everyone barging into my room all day. Oh, wait.

Adora: We’ll find a way to get the chip off. If you’d just let Entrapta take a look at it, I bet she could-

Catra: I don’t wanna see anyone, okay? Not you, not Arrow Boy or Sparkles, and definitely not Entrapta!

Adora: So, you’re just gonna hide in here forever? You’ll have to face them sometime.

Catra: No, I don’t. Just drop me off on the closest planet. I’ll make my own way.

Adora: What, so Horde Prime can capture you again?

Catra: I can take care of myself!

Adora: I promised I’d take you home, and that’s exactly what I’m gonna do. Why are you acting like this? We saved your life!

Catra: I told you not to come back! But you just love feeling like a hero, don’t you?

Adora: You’d rather I left you there to die?

Catra: What do you care? I know you all hate me!

Adora: I never hated you!

Catra: Then you’re even dumber than I thought. Just leave me alone.

Adora: I’m such an idiot. I thought things would be different this time, but clearly, nothing has changed!

Catra had just come to terms with letting Adora go, then she swooped in to save her (and Catra clearly hates having to be rescued in the first place), expecting that she’d changed overnight after one selfless act. And to top it all off, Adora seemingly disregarded Catra’s sacrifice by going back and rescuing her against her wishes. The fact that it all worked out anyway is beside the point for Catra, because Adora is forcing her to own up to her mistakes (and many, many burned bridges), when she never expected to face consequences for, say, betraying Entrapta, and certainly not to be stuck working with the people she’s been fighting against the whole show.

And while all but, like, two of the interesting characters are currently in space, there’s still things happening on the ground. Not much, but still. Naturally, they’re all happy that She-ra’s back (as Swift Wind informed them), but it doesn’t exactly impact their daily life.

And speaking of daily life, Micah’s pretty anxious about meeting his daughter for the first time in over a decade, and hence he’s practicing on Frosta.

Micah: Ready, kiddo?

Frosta: “Kiddo”? I’m the ruler of my own kingdom, got it, old man?

Spinnerella: Don’t take it personally, Frosta’s been having a rough time lately. This invasion has her pretty freaked out.

Micah: Do kids not like me? How do I make kids like me? Is Glimmer not gonna like me when she comes home?

Netossa: Okay, see, now it looks like you’re taking it super personally.

But then he switches gears and tells them about their mission for the episode: Elberon.

Swift Wind: Did you say Elberon needs help? Yes! I mean, boo for them, but they throw the best victory parties! Dibs on this mission!

Netossa: Parties? Maybe Frosta should come, too. We could all use some fun.

And Adora goes to Glimmer to complain about Catra, since Bow has to focus on steering the ship (and would presumably be the least sympathetic about Catra).

Adora: Agh! Catra is driving me crazy! I thought we actually stood a chance at fixing things this time, but after everything we’ve been through, she’s still a stubborn brat!

Glimmer: This is Catra we’re talking about. Did you think she was going to just instantly become a totally different person?

Adora: No, I just- I thought she’d at least try. We all risked our lives to save her, and she can’t even say thank you? Can you believe that?

Then Bow calls them onto the bridge, because they’ve spotted Horde ships on their tail.

Glimmer: It’s gotta be a coincidence. Prime can’t track this ship.

Adora: Is there somewhere we can hide until they’re gone?

Entrapta: Ah! Look! It’s an asteroid field. It would be so fun- I mean, a great hiding spot! But Bow said I couldn’t fly into it.

Bow: Asteroids. Ship falling apart!

Adora: Well, nobody has a better idea, so it’ll have to do.

Meanwhile, they get to Elberon and find…nothing.

Mayor: Welcome to Elberon, rebel heroes.

Micah: We came as quickly as we could. Where are the Horde forces?

Mayor: You are mistaken. I’m so sorry we made you worry, and you came all this way! Why don’t you stay for supper?

Micah: Well, I really could go for some cake!

Frosta: Cake? Really?

Micah: Do kids not like cake anymore?

But the “party” is weirdly subdued…

Meanwhile, the “hide in an asteroid field” plan doesn’t work as they hoped.

Entrapta: Horde ships coming right for us!

Adora: How did they find us?

Entrapta: Horde Prime may not be able to track Darla, but something on board is sending up a trace signal. That must be what they’re following.

Adora: Those flashes Catra’s been getting? That signal’s coming from her chip, isn’t it? Once again, Catra is ruining our lives!

Bow: But wait! Entrapta hasn’t fixed the shields yet!

Adora: Then try not to hit anything!

Because of course she drags Entrapta off to Catra’s cabin.

And the longer the rebels stay in Elberon, the creepier the residents seem.

Swift Wind: Something weird is going on.

Frosta: Yeah, this place is giving me the creeps. Maybe it’s time to go.

[…]

Netossa: Where have you been? You know I don’t like being alone at parties.

Spinnerella: Something really weird just happened.

Netossa: I know. This whole place is weird.

Frosta: We’re going back. There might be someone that actually needs help.

Swift Wind: I don’t know what happened to these guys. Their last party was great! It’s like they’ve been replaced with totally different people.

Mayor: It’s getting dark outside. You don’t want to be out in the dark.

Micah: We really should get back to camp.

Mayor: But our guest of honor hasn’t arrived. Stay, and join us in the light of Horde Prime.

Because they really were replaced with different people – clones.

Catra: What is she doing in here? I told you I wanna be alone!

Adora: Entrapta’s going to remove your chip.

Catra: You’re going to let her operate on me? She’ll kill me!

Entrapta: Me? Why would I wanna hurt you? Oh, because you sent me to Beast Island, stole my work, and used it to rip a hole through the fabric of space and time? I get it. Hold still!

Catra: Stay away from me!

Adora: Catra, Horde Prime is tracking that chip! He’s coming for us, right now. So grow up, and let us remove it, or we’re all dead. We’re doing this. Then if you think hiding from the people you hurt will make you feel better, we’ll drop you off and you’ll never have to see us again. You’ll never have to see me again.

Catra: Adora, wait. Please, stay.

and she holds her hand and she’s finally COMMUNICATING! i love character development

And then, of course, the people of Elberon start attacking them.

Micah: Wait!

Frosta: Stop treating me like a little kid! You don’t need to protect me.

Micah: I’m not protecting you, I’m protecting them! Horde Prime’s done something to them, but they’re innocent Etherians. We can’t hurt them. You’re the strongest one here. Use your power to defend the team.

So Frosta rallies them behind her and makes an ice wall…but it can’t stand forever against a unified hive-mind.

Catra: Wait! Not yet.

Adora: Catra, we don’t have time.

Catra: I can help you, okay? When Horde Prime was…using me, I felt…it’s like, uh, it’s like all his clones are connected to some kind of hive mind, and I was part of it.

Adora: Those flashes you’re getting?

Catra: It’s him. He’s still in there, he can- he can see me. But maybe I can see him, too. I can find out what he’s planning.

Adora: No, you can’t risk letting him back into your head.

Catra: Adora, you have to let me try. Otherwise you’re gonna do something stupid and get yourself killed. Just…just stay with me while I do it, okay? […] I can feel him. He’s…he’s angry. He wants revenge. He wants to make you hurt. He’s…attacking Etheria- no. No no no, not attacking. Something new is happening. There’s so much noise. He’s…he’s chipping them! He’s going to chip them all! Horde Prime is taking control of Etheria!

Adora: No…he- he can’t!

Catra: It’s already happening. You’ve gotta stop him.

This is what I’ve been waiting for the whole show: Catra and Adora working together!

Meanwhile on Etheria, the Horde breaks through…

Prime!Mayor: My children, why do you struggle? I wish to bring peace to your planet, yet you reject it.

Swift Wind: Ah, She-ra! If you really are out there, are you getting this?

Prime!Mayor: Your She-ra will not come to save you now.

Catra: Adora, please. I- I want to go home.

Adora: We will. I’m getting us out of here. Etheria needs us. And I won’t let him hurt anyone else.

Catra: Where are you going?

Adora: To send Horde Prime a message. For the honor of Grayskull!

Because of course she has to have a new transformation sequence to go with She-ra’s new look!

And speaking of, there’s actually a fair amount to discuss with the changes! The longer skirt is in place of the cape, and the shoulder plates, and the heels (they’re platforms, but same difference) are clearly inspired by Mara’s She-ra. It’s possible the high collar is a reference to Queen Angella, the heart-shaped cutout is obviously a reference to Bow, and there’s even a nod to Catra’s old “mask” on the tiara. And Adora put a bit of her own flair into it with the ponytail!

and judging by the blush, methinks catra’s feelings have changed about the tiara…

Prime!Mayor: Welcome, my children. You will be reborn, in Prime’s image.

But just when all hope seems lost, Swift Wind experiences the She-ra power boost, allowing him to knock out all the residents and make an escape.

And She-ra can just fight in space, because it’s AWESOME!

She-ra: Tell Horde Prime, this is from me!

So she destroys all the Horde ships (and clears a path in the asteroid field to boot), making Entrapta’s little operation significantly easier to finish.

Entrapta: I did it! With the chip removed from its power source, it won’t be able to signal anymore. Okay, gotta go check on Darla now.

Catra: Entrapta, wait. Thank you, and…I’m sorry.

Entrapta: I forgive you.

Entrapta is just a treasure.

It seems like, upon further thought (and seeing how Entrapta didn’t actually hate her, like she surely deserved), Catra concluded that an apology tour (and changing her ways a bit) was a fair exchange for having Adora back in her life again. After all, she saw what the Horde could give her (being above everybody else), and she chose being with Adora instead, which would also require her to coexist with Adora’s friends.

Adora: She-ra. She’s really back. Like, back for real.

Bow: Good timing, too. We really need her.

And Glimmer managed to put together a shockingly good meal, using what appears to be a variation of a pork bun recipe with “dehydrated protein slaw.”

Glimmer: Who wants dinner?

Bow: Glimmer, you made these?

Glimmer: Wrong Hordak helped. Everyone, eat, eat! I used to make these with my mom. She wasn’t that good a cook either, so I figured it would be hard to mess up.

Then Catra walks in (probably because she smelled something good).

and the whole thing is just precious

Meanwhile, things on Etheria haven’t worked out quite so neatly.

Spinnerella: We’ve gotta go back for them.

Micah: We will, but first we need to figure out what that was, and how to stop it.

Swift Wind: She-ra will know. She’s coming home, I can feel it. She’s getting closer every day.

Frosta: Sorry for calling you an old man. Glimmer’s really lucky to have you as a dad.

Micah: Really? You think so?

Frosta: Yes, but you’ve really gotta stop trying so hard!

Netossa: We don’t know who we can trust now, but as long as we all stick together, we’ll get through this.

Because it can’t be THAT easy…

Until next time…