Going into the season, I had one concern above all others; would one more season be enough to wrap everything up, or would it feel rushed! The answer is: kinda! The season hit every beat it needed to- heck, it even hits most of them well- but I couldn't help but think it'd be boosted if everything had a little more room to breathe, if we got just a little more time with Catra and Glimmer bonding, a little more time on Catra and Scorpia reuniting, a little more time on Adora and Catra's reconciliation... well, okay, it sounds like most of these are about Catra, and for good reason! Her redemption arc is one of the cornerstones of the show, and they pulled it off. It's just I was hoping they would knock it out of the park. But it's not just her. Adora's and Glimmer's conflict was the driving force of Season 3, and here, it's resolved in about one conversation. Bow and Glimmer get an entire episode devoted to it, and they should have! It's just that an episode should've been devoted to them as well.
I sound overly harsh- it's just that everything that is here is so great. The amount of things they did squeeze in for secondary characters like Entrapta, Mermista, and Scorpia was impressive, and even more minor characters like Double Trouble get fun send offs. It's just the curse of 13 episodes a season- everything has to be economical and serving of the arc. 'Filler' is a derogatory term, but I think it's used too harshly. Filler fills in the gaps. I wanted to see more of Adora and Catra as friends before dating. I wanted to see more of Catra and Glimmer leaning on each other and learning about each other in a hostile environment instead of it lasting a mere two episodes. What's there is great; I just want more. And really, is that even a criticism?
If there's one real criticism I have, it's that Shadow Weaver's arc feels particularly unearned, like they only decided how it would end near the last second. But other than that, the season hits its marks. The themes resonate with a precise clarity, the characters are fully drawn, and the level of representation it has is unmatched. I'll always want more of this show, and if Season 5 isn't the best season it's ever had, it's at least a damn good send-off.
It's hard not to feel anything when it all ends. Endings are negations, and to lose something, someone, you've spent so much time with, having fun, laughing, and loving, it hurts. When Adora and Catra confess their love, when Etheria lights up, and when Adora hugs Glimmer, Bow, and Catra and asks if they want to go on one last adventure, I felt something. No, I did not get the catharsis I wanted, but it was still somewhat satisfying. Despite all my complaints, "She-Ra and the Princesses of Power" is beautiful and I'm glad I saw it through to the end. They won.
SCORE: 7/10
Shout by LeeBlockedParent2020-05-23T14:00:18Z
noelle said gays stay winning