Why is everything with you guys so weird?

We pick up more or less immediately after the end of the previous episode, with the crew reeling from Perfuma’s message and trying to figure out how to get past a blockade of Horde ships.

Glimmer: How are we going to get through that? If I could use magic, I’d teleport us past it. I’ve never felt such a lack of magical energy in my life! Why does space hate me so much?

Adora: Our friends need us. Magic or no magic, we’re going home.

Catra: So your plan is to, what? Ram through an armada of ships?

Adora: No…Maybe. We have to try!

Catra: You heard Perfuma, they’re waiting for us! They’re going to catch us! And if they do…take it from someone who’s defeated you guys like, a lot. Charging in without a plan won’t work.

Adora: Okay, well, you didn’t defeat us-

Bow: Adora, Catra’s right. That felt weird to say. We barely made it out last time we tangled with Prime. We need to figure out another way to help our friends.

we’ve got catradora, i’m gonna milk it for all it’s worth

Bow: Catra, you were with him. Does he have any kind of, I don’t know, weakness?

Catra: What, you think he’d tell me?

Wrong Hordak: You are correct, Brother. We do not discuss Horde Prime’s weakness.

Adora: Uh, so that means Horde Prime does have a weakness.

Wrong Hordak: No. Horde Prime is all-powerful.

Bow: You just said-

Wrong Hordak: We do not discuss Horde Prime’s weakness. We do not discuss Krytis.

Glimmer: What’s Krytis?

Wrong Hordak: Krytis does not exist, and if it did, we would not discuss it.

Catra: It’s a place. A planet.

Mara’s ship does have some intel on Krytis, behind an admin lock…

Entrapta: Aha! According to Darla’s records, it’s located here, not too far from us!

Wrong Hordak: In-in-in-incorrect. It is located nowhere because it does not exist, because Lord Prime destroyed it.

Catra: I know what I saw. Prime’s trying to hide something, and it has to do with this planet.

Adora: There’s something on Krytis Prime doesn’t want us to know about, and we’re gonna find it. Set course for Krytis.

This episode is when Wrong Hordak begins to prove his worth (after all, Catra only remembered Krytis after he brought it up).

Thus they land on Krytis without incident, and find the ecosystem fairly inhospitable.

Bow: Prime was definitely here.

Adora: But something made him leave.

Catra’s clearly creeped out, partly because the place looks so much like what she saw in her memories of the hive mind, but that might not be all…

Entrapta: Good news! My readings show that the atmosphere is safe.

So they proceed to remove their space helmets.

Catra: What? She’s been wrong before. A lot, actually.

Bow: If my helmet were that adorable, I’d leave it on, too! Those ears!

Catra: It is not!

And of course she tries to get the helmet off as quickly as possible (but the rush makes it more difficult), and everybody laughs except Catra, but she doesn’t mind making Adora laugh, at least.

Entrapta hooks up Wrong Hordak to interface with the leftover Horde computer and try to see what records they can find from the Horde occupation.

Entrapta: Ah! I’m picking up a heat signature. There’s someone alive on this planet. Right here, somewhere in this spire!

Wrong Hordak: Impossible. Prime destroyed all life here, on this planet, that does not exist.

Adora: Well, he missed someone, and we have to find them.

So Entrapta stays behind with Wrong Hordak to guide them through the spire.

Catra: So, wait. The plan is to barge ahead into the structurally unsound building to find some mystery person that we know nothing about, in hopes that they somehow know how to defeat Horde Prime?

Adora: That about sums it up. 

Glimmer: Yep, that’s the plan.

Bow: Pretty much.

Catra: Honestly, what did I expect?

Bow: You know, we were just gonna recklessly blast our way through that blockade until you stopped us. So this whole thing is basically your idea.

Glimmer: Yeah, it’s kind of your mission!

Catra: No it’s not!

Bow & Glimmer: Catra’s first mission! Catra’s first mission!

Catra: Argh! I’m going to kill your friends!

Adora: Please don’t.

But then we return to Etheria, where the rebel camp is in shambles (both literally and figuratively), thanks to all the members who got chipped last episode.

Castaspella turns up, having heard about all the trouble, and once they make sure she’s not chipped, they’re glad to see her.

Casta: I don’t understand how this happened. Surely this can’t be everyone who’s left?

Perfuma: We- we need to find another place to make camp. They know we’re here. They could be back at any time.

Casta: So that’s it? We’re going to hide?

Perfuma: Just until we figure out what to do. Maybe we could go to Mystacor – it has that invisibility spell.

Shadow Weaver: That’s not going to work. With Micah controlled by Prime, Mystacor is already compromised.

Yeah, they’re kinda running out of places to hide.

Casta: How did the Rebellion lose so many of our finest members, and yet we’re still stuck with you? We’re wasting time here. We need to seek out the Horde and get my brother back. I lost him once. I’m not going to lose him again.

Shadow Weaver has the same sort of knack for survival as Catra, only with the sense to keep some of her relationships intact, however strained.

But Perfuma and the rest of the rebels head out to search for a new camp, as her main objective right now is to avoid losing anyone else.

Shadow Weaver: If you want to help Micah, come with me.

Casta: You can’t seriously think I would ever go anywhere with you.

Shadow Weaver: You don’t have a plan. I do.

Casta: Fine. But if you try anything, I won’t hesitate to strike you down.

Because all the others are just in survival mode.

Catra: Cool. Maybe this planet chased off Horde Prime with poorly planned architecture.

Entrapta: Why’d you stop? Go through the door right in front of you.

Bow: Entrapta, there’s no door.

Entrapta: Well, the schematics show a door right where you’re standing. Data never lies.

Wrong Hordak: The logs say Lord Prime retreated from this planet? This cannot be. Lord Prime does not retreat. He is the almighty conqueror. His dominion is just, and eternal!

Entrapta: I don’t know how many times I have to repeat myself: Data never lies! Ah, I mean, there, there.

Catra: Whatever. We need a door? There’s your door. You’re welcome.

Bow: Eh, we don’t know what we’re dealing with here. Maybe you shouldn’t just smash stuff.

Catra: Do you wanna find whoever is here or not? Let’s just get this over with.

But Glimmer’s been getting some weird vibes from this place, too.

Bow: Glimmer, you okay?

Glimmer: I- eh, I don’t know. I have a weird feeling about this place. It feels…strange.

And when they clear the first floor, they consult Entrapta again.

Entrapta: Sorry! Seems Wrong Hordak has begun to question the meaning of life.

Wrong Hordak: Who am I if not an exalted brother of Prime?

Entrapta: But don’t worry! I’ve got it totally under control!

Then she tells them that the life readings are coming from the next level, so they head upstairs.

and catra sneezes.

Bow: Aw! That’s your sneeze?

Catra: What?

Bow: It’s just so cute!

Catra: It’s a normal sneeze!

Bow: I can’t believe the whole time you were trying to kill us, you had the cutest sneeze of all time!

Catra: I am not cute!

Bow: The angrier you get, the cuter you are!

I mean, it IS adorable, but I also know how extremely frustrating it is to have someone dismiss your anger as “cute.”

But then Catra hits the wall…and the wall bites back.

Catra: Get me out of this thing!

Then spikes start popping up out of the walls!

Glimmer: Bow! I think the feeling I had about this place is a bad feeling!

Meanwhile on Etheria…

Casta: You said you had a plan. The only reason I’m following you is because if anyone would know about mind control, it’s you.

Shadow Weaver: Mind control? Is that what they told you? No. My gifts were always far subtler.

Yeah, she only has so much power over Adora and Catra because she literally raised them. Her relationship with Micah was clearly very different.

Shadow Weaver: You never held a candle to Micah’s power as a sorcerer. Neither did I. We both know how dangerous he is now that his magic is controlled by the enemy. We won’t be able to stop him. He could do irreparable damage to others, and to himself.

Casta: So what is your plan?

Shadow Weaver: We make ourselves stronger.

because that’s just her answer to everything

Catra: What was that? Why did that wall try to eat me?

Then they come to a place that looks exactly the same as where they first entered.

Adora: Isn’t this where we started?

And they start hearing growls…

Entrapta: The energy signature is just ahead of you. Go through the door on your left.

Adora: Door? What door?

Catra: We’re not really going through that, are we?

Adora: Well, Entrapta says this is the way, so, let’s go.

Catra: Seriously? How have you guys stayed alive this long?

They walk for a while, but don’t appear to make any progress…

Entrapta: Adora, are you there? Wrong Hordak downloaded the rest of the record from Prime’s occupation of Krytis, and guess what? This planet was once a First Ones colony like Etheria! It looks like Horde Prime and the First Ones were fighting for control of this planet, and Horde Prime won, but something on the planet drove him away before he could conquer it. He tried to erase all records of his failure.

Wrong Hordak: Horde Prime lied to us. He is not all-powerful!

Adora: See? We’re on the right path!

Bow: But we have to get out of here first, and that door still isn’t getting any closer.

Entrapta: Sorry, what door?

Catra: What do you mean “what door”? The one you told us to go through!

Entrapta: That wasn’t me. This is the first time we’ve talked since the last floor.

It’s pretty obvious if you pay attention – Wrong Hordak was constantly interrupting before, but he was conspicuously absent in the previous “conversation with Entrapta.”

Catra: I knew it! I knew this was a terrible plan! This place is weird, and unnatural, and we need to get out of here before-

Entrapta: By the way, who’s your new friend?

Glimmer: What are you talking about? It’s just the four of us.

Entrapta: Hate to disagree, but there’s a definite heat signature right behind you.

And Catra just immediately tackles the guy before anyone else can react. Clearly, she doesn’t want to risk losing Adora again.

But then they vanish and reappear outside.

Catra: Adora! I’m down here!

Then it changes into a giant cat-thing!

Adora: I’m coming!

Catra: Hurry.

But getting down to Catra doesn’t turn out to be such a simple matter, as they’re immediately surrounded by spikes again!

Bow: Adora, what do we do?

Adora: I don’t know. Just- just nobody move!

Bow: Glimmer! What are you doing?

Glimmer: Hang on, I have to try something.

Glimmer: Illusions. These are all illusions. And that means…I knew I was feeling something about this place! I thought it was bad, but it’s- it’s not. It’s magic.

So that makes things a little simpler, seeing as the mage can finally use her spells again (if not the full extent of her powers).

Meanwhile, Catra gets acquainted with the resident. At first they’re both wary of each other, but Catra’s adorable sneeze seems to break the ice, as the stranger promptly imitates it and settles down.

Then the others manage to get down there, and are shocked to find this adorable scene playing out.

Adora: Are you- are you petting the thing that’s been trying to kill us?

Catra: I’m trying something here, if you didn’t notice!

Bow: It’s just…so…cute!

Catra: It’s not cute!

Adora: Get away from her!

Catra: No! Don’t. I’m sorry. I got angry. It’s something I’m working on.

Adora: Oh! You are?

Catra: Yes! Now can you please- Yes. I am. I think this thing responds to emotions, so can you not give me a hard time right now?

Adora: No, sorry, sorry, do your thing.

Catra: It’s okay. We won’t hurt you.

Say hello to Catra’s emotional support animal!

Adora: You’re- you’re magic, aren’t you? Me, too.

Catra: Uh, what’s it doing? Uh, guys, can you hear it talking, too? Please tell me you can hear it talking.

Bow: It must’ve imprinted on you. It trusts you.

Catra: Well, it shouldn’t. Why is everything with you guys so weird?

Catra: Says its name is Melog. It’s been here by itself for a long time. It thought we were enemies, like, um, like the ones that came to take its magic? They dug into the ground, built machines.

Adora: The First Ones. That’s what they were doing! They were mining this planet’s magic, just like on Etheria.

Catra: But they took too much. And then…the One Who Destroys came. He tried to conquer this place, but- but couldn’t! The magic of Krytis was too wild for Prime. He didn’t understand what it was. He couldn’t use it, couldn’t defend against it.

Glimmer: Magic is Horde Prime’s weakness!

Catra: Melog drove Prime off, but couldn’t defeat him. And now…it’s the last of its kind.

Adora: I’m sorry for what happened to you, but we’re gonna make sure it never happens again. Our planet has magic, too – it might be the last place in the universe that does. If you want to come with us, I think you’d really like it there. Entrapta, we’re on our way back down, and we’re bringing a friend.

Entrapta: That’s great! And I’m happy to report that Wrong Hordak’s existential crisis has resolved!

Wrong Hordak: Brothers! Horde Prime lied to us. He is a false ruler. We must rise up against him, and free the universe from his unjust reign!

Adora: That’s the plan.

Melog has an interesting history with the franchise. Basically the only thing he has in common with his OG counterpart is that they’re magical beings with shapeshifting abilities. In the original, Melog was a creature made by Shadow Weaver to look like She-ra. What’s more interesting is the genesis of Melog within this series. Apparently, Stevenson originally planned on introducing Clawdeen, a pink lion, as Catra’s pet, but worried it was a little too similar to a certain other pink lion. Thus, we got Melog in the form of a big cat instead.

Casta: I can’t believe I fell for this. You don’t care about Micah. All you’ve ever cared about is getting more power for yourself. Well, I’m putting a stop to this right now-

Shadow Weaver: Everything we were taught in the Sorcerer’s Guild was wrong. The First Ones didn’t enhance this planet’s magic with their tech, they weakened it. Etheria isn’t a weapon, it’s a living creature, and its magic has been here the whole time, slumbering, waiting to be awakened. Prime has taken our strongest fighters, but he does not yet know what this planet really is. We can destroy the restraints the First Ones built, set the magic of Etheria free, and use it against him.

Casta: You just want to take the magic for yourself.

Shadow Weaver: I want to save Micah. I owe him that much at least. Come with me. Help me undo what the First Ones did, and…stop me if I try to take the power for myself.

Casta: You better believe I will.

So this seems to be the plan Shadow Weaver’s been hinting at for basically a whole season now, but never got a chance to explain after Glimmer was abducted and all hell broke loose. But we’ll come back to it another episode.

This episode also draws some direct parallels between the Horde and the First Ones, which is all the more ironic considering that they appeared to be mortal enemies (the Horde was probably high on the list of the First Ones’ enemies that they intended to use the Heart of Etheria against). While the Horde obviously just wants to destroy and assimilate, the First Ones perpetrate a more insidious kind of evil. They plunder the planets under their sway in the guise of a “fair exchange of resources,” while doing little to actually better the lives of their subjects. They even appropriated the legacy of She-ra (a person who had presumably existed as long as the Etherians), taking Etheria’s guardian and making her into a weapon they could control. The First Ones just had superior propaganda, not actually a vision of freedom for their colonies. They might be better than the Horde, but that bar’s on the floor.

Anyhow, Catra came up with a plan: Have Melog make the ship invisible (as that appears to be his main power).

Glimmer: So, just to make sure I get it, we’re gonna go running through a Horde blockade while relying on the magic of a creature we just met?

Catra: That about sums it up, yes.

and catra instinctively holds adora’s hand during the ordeal

But of course it works.

and catra suffers through the requisite group hug

Adora: It worked. It worked! Melog did it!

Glimmer: Catra saved the day!

Bow: Aw, come here! Best Friend Squad hug!

Catra: No! No, absolutely not!

Adora: We made it! We’re home.

Until next time…