The bitter sweet finale of She-Ra and the Princesses of Power is sure to tug at fans’ hearts in all the right ways. 

She-Ra and the Princesses of Power’s newest and final season brilliantly brought closure to the show that the audience has been yearning for. Its continuation of character development, heart-touching themes, and action that keeps you on the edge of your seat kept the show’s true spirit alive in this last season.

She-Ra and the Princesses of Power’s first season released on Netflix in 2018. American cartoonist Noelle Stevenson created the show as a reboot from the original 1985 series. The show began receiving praise for its inclusivity, engaging action packed storyline, and complex character development. Season five, the final season, released last Friday May 15 and served its fans more of what they loved along with a heart tugging finale.

Season 5 Summary

The series follows a character named Adora (Aimee Carrero), who was raised within a community called the Horde with her best friend Catra (AJ Michalka). Adora one day finds a sword that allows her to transform into an ancient warrior princess named She-Ra. She also finds out that the Horde has actually been evil the whole time, and their goal is to take over the planet of Etheria. After finding this out Adora leaves the Horde and joins two new friends, Glimmer (Karen Fukuhara) and Bow (Marcus Scribner), in order to protect Etheria. This leaves Adora and Catra becoming enemies, however their care for each other deep down still lingers.

Season five carried the show’s characters through many new struggles and growth. The season picks up with Adora unable to transform into She-Ra due to the shattering of her sword. Glimmer has been captured by the Horde. So Adora and her friends must go save her without the ability to summon the helpful powers of She-Ra.

To make matters worse, Horde Prime (Keston John), the leader of the Horde, has begun chipping princesses and those who live on Etheria for mind control. This non-stop action and seemingly impossible struggles kept me on the edge of my seat with suspense. 

Commentary

Amazing Character Developments

She-Ra and the Princesses of Power’s amazing character development has been present from the very beginning. And season five continues to show these strong character writing skills. Many animated series have very flat one-dimensional characters, such as one character being the ‘good guy’ and the other just as the ‘bad guy’. However, She-Ra and the Princesses of Power shows that there is more to a person than just the surface by delving into characters’ backgrounds. The layers of development, experiences and complex personalities in each character helps build them a strong sense of identity. This allows the viewers to gain a deeper understanding for these amazing characters, and create a stronger connection with them. The show’s season finale brings even more character developments, especially with Catra.

Inclusivity

I have never been so pleasantly surprised by a cartoon’s inclusivity before. She-Ra and the Princesses of Power doesn’t shy away from including LGBTQ couples, and does so without making it a big deal. The writers’ choice of incorporating these characters so naturally within the show helps to normalize the existence of the LGBTQ community. Season five continues to introduce character development relating to the show’s theme of LGBTQ inclusivity. It’s always so refreshing to see a cartoon show that includes this community in such a non-stereotypical way, and She-Ra and the Princesses of Power does exactly that. 

Engaging Storyline 

She-Ra and the Princesses of Power’s final season continued with a rich and engaging storyline. It stirred up all kinds of emotions while I watched it. From feeling worried, doubtful, betrayed, to hopeful, inspired and happy, the show thoughtfully walked me through every kind of reaction a viewer could possibly have.

Conclusion

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She-Ra and the Princesses of Power is a show for all ages. It brings themes of friendship, growth, strength, and love to the audience. Watching the season finale had me tied up in so many heart tugging knots. It literally brought tears to my eyes. It was the ending we all needed and hoped for. But to find out how these characters made it through and what made this season finale just so bitter sweet, you’ll have to watch it for yourself.

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Featured image credit: Netflix and Dreamworks