Roundup

[jaggedwolf]

She-Ra

It's hard to say anything non-spoilery, other than that I'm satisfied.

She-Ra is canonically a friends-to-enemies-to-friends-to-lovers story :D

I wouldn't have expected or bought it after last season, but then this season made such an effort that I both couldn't help myself from wondering if it would happen and being brought along for the ride. (My opinion on She-Ra ships is: oh cool dynamics in the show, will reblog cute art, don't spend a lot of time thinking about them otherwise.)

I do wonder what impact between seasons had on my reaction. A "previously on" would have been greatly appreciated, because I couldn't remember the most recent awful thing Catra has done (look, there have been a lot) or why Glimmer couldn't teleport (her magic only works on magic planets, boo space). I think I would have bought Catra's arc this season anyway, for the peak of it was her in that doorway, asking Adora to stay. The same request she's always made of Adora. Only this time, she's in the right.

And Adora! Always so ready to be the one to die, to take the hit, to make the sacrifice play, and finally being explicitly challenged on it. I love that Mara looks at her and goes, I didn't die for you to have to make the same choice, I didn't die for you to feel bound by destiny. It's a constant refrain of Mara's messages to the next She-Ra. No more heroic sacrifices for Adora >:| Hopefully she gets to keep nyooming through space, because apparently She-Ra is impervious to the forces of vacuum. But only after a very long, very relaxing vacation.

Other people got to do dramatic sacrifices though, which was excellent, from Scorpia comfortably saying "I can do this" to Shadow Weaver finally taking off her mask. The Shadow Weaver move made so much sense to me. She's rarely had trouble understanding Adora and Catra's motivations, only in trying to shape them: Adora will never make it to the heart while she thinks Catra is in danger, Catra will not leave a threat to Adora unattended and Shadow Weave wants the magic freed in Etheria.

Other redemption things I might only buy because I'm fuzzy on previous seasons: Was Glimmer actually there to know that it was specifically Catra who hit the world-ending switch that resulted in Angella having to sacrifice herself or does she think it was a general Horde action?? Does Catra even know Angella went kaput?? Either way, Glimmer is sufficiently down on her own S4 decisions and action-oriented that I buy it not coming up.

I have never wanted She-Ra fic, because the characters and their dynamics have always worked best in the show itself for me, but I now find myself wanting fic where Micah and Glimmer go on a nice father-daughter roadtrip to rescue Angella from that pocket dimension. I appreciate that their big fight ended with Glimmer going "fuck you dad I'm as stubborn as you", so this seems like it would be an excellent application of said stubbornness.

Final note: It had to be pointed out to me that the only kisses that happen are gay ones, and I approve. Who knows, maybe Glimmer and Bow are simply really good friends, ha.

Final final note: Did Castaspella and Shadow Weaver bang in the magic forest?

The Adventure Zone: Balance

Got past Lunar Interlude V - Reunion Tour.

I can't believe Davenport is plot-relevant.

Lup was one of those things I was spoiled on, but I gotta say, her reveal, specifically that bit about Taako's childhood, was really well done.

My current understanding of the situation is that there was this chunk of Light or whatever that the seven were keeping from the hunger. Against Lucretia's vote, the group decided to split them up into relics across this land they were now on, with each of them creating one relic. The relics, being incredibly powerful objects, caused all sorts of wars and chaos around them in their new places. Lucretia decided to wipe everyone's memories with the big voidfish and go a relic-hunting, but the job's too much for only one person, so she creates the bureau and uses the baby voidfish to keep the truth of the relics and the red robes secret. The Hunger is coming but Lucretia maybe has a plan to use the Light thing??

...Are the rest of the seven also liches, not only Barry Bluejeans?

Judging from the next episode titles, I guess we're gonna get to see some of these regained memories soon, which I'm looking forward to. I can enjoy an amnesia plot.

Recs

Steven Universe, Vid: This is a good vid of Steven being the saddest boy.

This Is How You Lose The Time War, Fic: THIS IS HOW YOU SURVIVE THE COHABITATIONAL BLISS THAT FOLLOWS AFTER YOU WIN/LOSE THE TIME WAR cracked me up and I hope Kierkegaard was fine with his little trip - the one in our world rarely left his hometown, even.

Links

She-Ra’s season 5 finale interview

The Worldly Exile - Edward Said’s life and afterlives.