1x13 The Battle of Bright Moon

• I mean, I don't feel like our characters are in danger because 1. I don't know what the threat is, externally or internally, and 2. it's just lightning and dark clouds. We haven't even seen anyone get hurt or see an army.
• Man, I wish I could see those tidal waves, thunderstorms and earthquakes
• Ok, now I'm worried
• What is "the darkness"? Again, so vague
• Spinnerella and Netossa? Wish they had more screentime...

"Not even She-Ra can take out an army of Horde soldiers on her own." Did you see episode 2, Bow?

• How much gold do they have???
• Automated tanks?
• "For the Rebellion!" what is the Rebellion again? Who are the Horde? What do either represent?

"Hey Adora." — Catra
Lol, Catra's delivery

• Netossa and Spinerella are cool! Why don't we get more of them?
• RIP She-Ra's back
• What about darkness covering Etheria forever, Catra?
• Is Brightmoon just that castle? If so, eh
• You see, it doesn't work for me because this is a "save the world" plot with tons of mindless action. Like, what is at stake here? Why should I care about this world? What is even going to happen if the Horde takes over or if darkness engulfs Etheria?
• Princess Alliance deus ex machina? Okay
• Why did all these princes come to help?
• Wait, what? She-Ra deus ex machina?

"The princesses are united. This is how it's supposed to be." Okay, now I'm disappointed

• They all glow now, yay. Except Sea Hawk, rip
• I'm weirdly disconnected from all these characters as they celebrate

Now that we're at the season finale, the lack of substance and cohesion is rearing its ugly head. 1. There's a lot of telling done in this show, and it never helps make this world feel more alive. 2. Plus, the mindless in this episode is so mindless because what are they fighting for ideologically? and what's at stake? 3. Characters also like to say, "we can't do this!" without bothering with an explanation and I'm just left confused. 4. There's also the Rebellion and the Horde. What is the Horde's ideology, and what do they want? What's the Rebellion's ideology? All these issues built up and have finally become clear to me in this episode.

Surprisingly, this episode left me bored because it's all plot and not a lot of fun character interactions like the rest of the season. Plus, deus ex machina save the day so everything just feels so unearned. And these usually aren't a problem if I knew what was at stake and cared about their victory. Like, what happens if they lose? I don't know.

SCORE: 5/10