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KittyEmpyre
Reviews
Succession: Sh*t Show at the F**k Factory (2018)
What.
I don't know what i expected from a show like this but definitely not what i found when i went into this episode.
For one, no one here has any idea really what's going on, despite everyone looking for the same thing no one seems to have a plan, and everything takes three 360 turns before it settles absolutely nothing. Every one of these characters is stupid and misplaced, in a way that makes this lean way more towards a comedy show than a drama, the only half witted person in the room is in critical condition and everyone else tap dances over his hospital bed without paying attention to the man on the centre of the huddle. At points it feels like a cleverly disguised episode of Seinfeld.
I'll give it to the title that it does very accurately represent what seems to happen here. I can't give myself a clue of what's going to be next, in part since these 55 minutes challenged my patience with these people more than my interpretative skills, but also since this is my first time watching the show, so I'll try not to rush any judgment.
Contrary to what may seem, I am still interested in what the show has to offer and i wanna know how it develops, but so far nothing - outside of stupid millionaires quarrelling - has happened, and I feel dizzy.
BoJack Horseman: BoJack Horseman: The BoJack Horseman Story, Chapter One (2014)
kick in the urethra
Well, I enjoy this episode less every time i watch it, despite never really ending up disliking it.
Many would declare that this is a terrible introduction to the tone of the series and it doesn't prepare us for the themes that would be tackled in the future, but i think the real issue with this first episode is that it's just slow and forgettable, many of its plots are irrelevant to the future of the show and even for what they serve, being wacky jokes in an adult animated comedy, they don't really stick.
Despite its flaws there are things that this episode does well, it introduces the 5 main characters and each one's relationship with each other pretty effectively, and as it is the first episode it kicks off the chain of events that would develop through the rest of the show, something i'm very grateful for.
She-Ra and the Princesses of Power: Reunion (2019)
Odd episode to end a season with, but I'll take it
Warning: contains spoilers for this episode.
I honestly had never thought about Bow's past until I watched this episode, but it's nice that the show explains it anyways, and that it creates such a creative and unexpected backstory too.
Adora and Glimmer follow Bow to his parents' house where they find out he's actually supposed to be at a boarding school at the moment, studying history, and that his dads both belive that is what's happening. The best friends squad pretending to be scholars is really funny, and Bow's dads are great!!! Specially after Adora sets off a first ones' security protocol and everyone's true identities are revealed, when they accept Bow for who he is despite their own ideas of princesses and rebellion fighters.
She-Ra and the Princesses of Power: Light Spinner (2019)
One of the main reasons why Shadoweaver is an S-tier character
Warning: contains spoilers for this episode
The past is once again mixed in with the future in light spinner (this seems to be a theme in the best She Ra episodes) as shadoweaver reminisces her past while being kept prisoner in the fright zone.
Turns out Shadoweaver used to be a very powerful sorceress who was teaching king Micah at a dire time for Etherea, eventually the situation caught up with them and they had to make a decision on how to act, Shadoweaver looked for power in a dark magic spell that was considered too dangerous to be casted by the rest of the sorcerer crew. She ignored their warnings and went through with it anyways with the help of Micah, but it went wrong and she was horribly affected by it and exiled from Mystacore.
The story itself is nothing special, but how her own attitude is reflected by Catra and how that explains Shadoweaver's abuse of the wildcat, makes it all the more heartbreaking when after offering her the closeness Catra had desired to get from her all of her life, the sorceress manipulates her to escape from the cell, leaving her to hold a magic hologram.
She-Ra and the Princesses of Power: White Out (2019)
Yet another very silly episode!
Warning: contains spoilers for this episode
Maybe not as much as the last one, but it's still full of goofy moments considering drunk Adora is back, yeah!
The horde plants an outpost in the northern reach in pursuit of some first one's tech that's been signaled to be there, and which the rebellion is also looking for. Catra find out about the evil piece of tech that possessed Entrapta's robots back in system failure, her introductory episode, and was intrigued by the effect it had had on Adora, so she decides to actually use it on her.
So basically, we get Scorpia and drunk Adora stuck in the same room, a recipe for a good time, and if you were still left with room for more, eventually Seahawk pops up and him and Scorpia decide to have a little heart to heart about their relationship with Adora listening, while the rest of the crew are fighting for their lives against some enormous first ones' tech bug-monsters.
After all that and Catra's near-death Entrapta reveals she already had the piece they were seeking for a couple of days but didn't want to tell them because they "were having so much fun". Just awesome.
She-Ra and the Princesses of Power: Signals (2019)
Least fav episode this season
Warning: spoilers for the episode
I was thinking of leaving this one without a review but I decided against it last moment because well, I've already kinda written something about the first half of the first season, so it doesn't get much less interesting.
The best friends squad's mission in the first ones' village is still pretty irrelevant, but I like seeing Entrapta prove herself worrhy to Hordac, her incredible intelligence and insubordinate personality is really funny contrasted with Hordac's deeply hierarchical mindset, and their relationship is something you wouldn't usually get from a character like Hordac, but I'm grateful for it because it's a great development, makes me like Entrapta even more.
She-Ra and the Princesses of Power: Ties That Bind (2019)
Fun and touching... at least one half of it
Warning: spoilers for this episode
Glimmer and Bow's mission to rescue Entrapta ends with them kidnapping Catra and asking her for Entrapta's situation, but as Catra does she plays with them through the whole episode, when she gets bored she calls an ambush on them two and gets away by threatening with killing off Entrapta if they do anything, but of course that's a bluff. Before she goes away though, she makes sure to show them how Entrapta is happily working for the horde, oblivious to the consequences of what she's doing. Bow and Glimmer's guilt in leaving her behind doubles.
As for the thing with Adora and the marxist horse Swift Wind trying to bring the tower back... it happened I guess, not like it's ever even mentioned again.
She-Ra and the Princesses of Power: The Frozen Forest (2019)
Derivative and forgettable, but a fine episode
Warning: spoilers for this episode
I can't remember much about this episode honestly, but well, the princesses keep fighting against the horde and we see a little bit of their blooming relationships, which is always nice, I guess I just wish it made a little more sense as a unit, but it's still entertaining.
Eventually they do find out Entrapta is still alive and in the fright zone, from the first ones' tech used for the bots, and start their rescue mission that would start off the next episode.
She-Ra and the Princesses of Power: The Battle of Bright Moon (2018)
honestly? bad
Spoilers for the episode blah blah blah
This is the worst episode of She Ra, I didn't skip it on rewatch but I was more concentrated on the pistachios I was eating, I wasn't even looking at the screen most of the time I just watched the lights flash and by the episode I felt like I already knew what went on the entire episode, even though I had completely forgotten about it, rebellion gets together and beats the bad guys, and with just that I already have to tag this review spoiler.
Something I've noticed watching a lot of TV shows is that with the best, if you look away for just a few seconds you might miss something really moving, important or significant, and don't get the wrong idea, She Ra is sometimes like that, but this is not the case, and nutrition is important.
She-Ra and the Princesses of Power: Light Hope (2018)
Not a very memorable episode, but important things happen
Well, Adora is saved from the danger by light hope herself who explains her fate and the story of the first ones, before she is snapped out of it by her friends who tracked her through marxist horse's connection to her. So that's important I guess.
Meanwhile Catra takes advantage of shadow weaver, takes away her connection to the black garnet and leaves her in the fright zone's prison, a satisfying moment for Catra and the audience considering what we saw last episode. Entrapta has a plan to use the black garnet's power against the rebellion and Hordac and Catra start following through with it.
She-Ra and the Princesses of Power: Promise (2018)
Yet another new high for the show
Warning: contains spoilers for the episode only
Promise follows from Adora's quest to learn how to heal with her sword, as to help Glimmer, which crosses Catra's plan of finding first ones' tech to bring back to the horde, so they both get trapped in the Crystal Castle and try to break out while the castle plays with both of their memories recreating scenes and locations from their past.
The plot serves to bring closeness to the two characters, while explaining their relationship and how the events of the show so far affected it, why Catra still resents Adora for leaving her, their relationship with shadoweaver and how her mind tricks affected Catra's self esteem, and her and Adora's attitude against each other since kids.
The episode ends with Catra leaving Adora behind in the danger, with the idea in mind of how she had broken the titular promise of always having her back through the hardship she made when they were little. Hard stuff.
She-Ra and the Princesses of Power: The Beacon (2018)
First of many slower relationship based episodes
Warning: contains spoilers for this episode only.
This is one of my favourite genres of She Ra episodes, in this one we get another look at Glimmer's relationship with her mother and herself: she returns from being kidnapped glitched and she tries to hide it from her mother while Adora goes on a mission to learn how to heal with her sword so she might save Glimmer. Meanwhile in the fright zone it's revealed that Entrapta is still alive and is being kept prisoner, during which Catra realises she can be very helpful for the horde and willing to cooperate if she gets her own lab and materials, fitting considering her personality.
The highlight of this episode comes at the end, when Glimmer's mom finally realises about her problem and they both bond over their flaws, a touching moment that foreshadows the tone of the show for what's to come.
Breaking Bad: Pilot (2008)
I believe perfect is the word
Pilots suck, there are many different reasons why they do, all pretty logical: it is the first experience with the show for its creators so in many cases the direction is still unclear; they must also introduce the main characters, premise and at least hint at the main conflict; in other cases you might be run into a creative wall by the publishers of your show because you have to find an audience to make them money, which is usually what matters most to them, and there are still many other things to factor in that one must keep in mind while making a pilot.
So with all of this said l have a reason to be generally sceptical of pilots and forgive otherwise great shows for their rockier beginnings , but in this case I don't even need to, this isn't any of that, it (at least in my opinion, I know of people who perhaps wouldn't agree) keeps all of these demands in balance to deliver a pilot that doesn't feel like an introduction to anything, it just comes off as another breathtaking episode from a brilliant series, and when you think of it as a pilot, instead of appearing sloppy or forced, it gets even better. It's beautiful to see how much care was put into the showmanship of these 60 minutes, and even looking back on it after having seen the series a couple of times more details to like about it are revealed: words that echo on the characters' future, plot connections you hadn't seen the first time around...
She-Ra and the Princesses of Power: No Princess Left Behind (2018)
Couldn't ask for a better follow-up to princess prom
Warning: contains spoilers for the content of this episode only.
The consequences of the previous episode are dealt with, as Adora and the other princesses go rescue Bow and Glimmer from the horde in an epic mission.
This is a kind of mirror episode to princess prom, this time it's the rebellion that's going into horde territory and this time it's Catra the one who can't let herself win at the expense of Adora, when at the end of the episode she hands her back the sword and tells her it's not because she likes her, yeah right.
Things don't entirely go over as planned either, one princess is left behind, Entrapta. The rebellion is sure she's dead, but we'll see...
She-Ra and the Princesses of Power: Princess Prom (2018)
Masterpiece
Warning: contains spoilers for the content of this episode only.
Ah yes, the turning point for the whole series, no longer just a character introduction episode, we do get the best friend squad trying to win over Frosta but the most important part is actually Catra's plot of trying to stop her along with Scorpia, another of my favourite characters.
The tension (of all kinds) between Adora and Catra is insane, every character is sublime and for once the conflict doesn't have an easy resolution, it is very explicitly shown in how Adora is unable to let go of Catra at the end of the episode both physically and psychologically, which eventually leads to the horde capturing her friends.
Such an iconic episode, I could rewatch it a kajillion times and I would still think it is genius and every part of it great.
She-Ra and the Princesses of Power: In the Shadows of Mystacor (2018)
Character introduction episode?????
Warning: contains spoilers for the content of this episode only.
An odd one, if we follow the trend of character introduction episodes which character would introduce us to??? Glimmer's aunt??? It's not like she's a princess and they need her help for the rebellion direly. Anyways.
As for the rest of the episode shadoweaver directly confronts Adora and her crew and it makes for some cool moments, since shadoweaver is one of my favourite villains ever.
She-Ra and the Princesses of Power: System Failure (2018)
I love Entrapta
Warning: contains spoilers for the content of this episode only.
And thus my favourite princess' (aside from Adora) introduction episode, Entrapta's personality is really colourful and likeable and the voice acting couldn't fit her better, but this isn't her best episode, in fact I would argue it's her least best appearance ironically, which is still pretty good, and again the conflict is inconsequential and short lived.
Also I must mention how endearing Adora is when she's affected by the virus. I can't.
She-Ra and the Princesses of Power: The Sea Gate (2018)
A little better than the last episode
Warning: contains spoilers for the content of this episode only.
Another one of these character introduction episodes, and although I do love Mermista we barely see her throughout the episode, the character we do see is Seahawk who well is pretty annoying not gonna lie, his shanties in this episode are kinda weak but I do like the fact that setting boats on fire is an important part of his personality, makes for some nice jokes.
She-Ra and the Princesses of Power: Flowers for She-Ra (2018)
One of my least favourite episodes
Warning: contains spoilers for the content of this episode only.
This is the closest She-Ra and the princesses of power gets to an ordinary children's cartoon, everyone who I've talked to about this show (which is not many people lol) can agree on that.
It's usually the same deal with these character introduction episodes, a random conflict is presented and it's resolved by the end of the episode. If you're going to find anything compelling about it, it's going to be the characters being presented, and honestly I find Perfuma and her village to be pretty annoying throughout the whole episode, so much so I thought the princess would disappear after this episode.
Only real good thing I have to say about it is that it's still a She Ra episode and you're gonna have Adora, Bow and Glimmer so that alone raises the grade all the way to a 6/10.
She-Ra and the Princesses of Power: Razz (2018)
Fair enough
Warning: contains spoilers for the content of this episode only.
This episode is the start if what's definitely the worst run of the series, from here to episode 7 of season 1.
The plot is weird as the character of Razz isn't really fully explained and comes off as confusing and the only conflict that is presented, Adora being hated by the townspeople, is resolved by the end of the episode without any character development, just She Ra.
Not much else I have to say, I guess the episode is still entertaining while it's on and Adora finally joins the rebellion but that's mostly a thing of the previous episode...
She-Ra and the Princesses of Power: The Sword: Part 2 (2018)
A better second half in my opinion
Warning: contains spoilers for the content of this episode only.
Unlike the first episode, part two has a main plot, it centres around Adora's moral decision between staying with the rebellion, now that she knows she's a princess, or returning to the horde she's grown up with.
Bow and Glimmer take her through the rest of Etheria showing her the joyfulness of the life of the townspeople and how the horde takes that away from them, which makes for some great Adora moments like when she goes to her first party despite being a horde prisoner because Bow is too good and he can't resist it, also we see in that same sequence the creation of the marxist horse (yes i'm going to keep calling him that)
One of my favourite scenes and one of the most important moments of season one comes at the end when Adora faces Catra and asks her to join the rebellion if she really wants to be with her but she refuses, turning Catra into the main antagonist of the season, despite her relationship with Adora.
She-Ra and the Princesses of Power: The Sword: Part 1 (2018)
Nice start to it all
Warning: contains spoilers for the content of only this episode.
Very representative of what would come shortly after: great character moments, not so great episode plots, at least for the first half of season one.
The only episode in which we see Adora working for the horde, it makes for some great catradora moments, but it is interrupted pretty quickly by Adora's dreams, that lead her to go searching for the sword, which also leads to her first encounter with Glimmer and Bow, enemies at first, friends by the end of the episode.
It all moves a hasty pace, we are introduced to the main two characters, Adora leaves the horde, she becomes She-Ra, finds Glimmer and Bow and befriends them in less than 22 minutes, all with a very jammed together plot.
There are still a lot of memorable moments (like Catra sleeping at Adora's feet hddhfjjdfjjd) and it's a very enjoyable experience overall, not to mention how it sets up the fantastic show that would come after it.