Having watched She-Ra straight through

[conuly]

I *immediately* began a rewatch with Jenn and Eva. Eva commented on this - she would never watch or read something and then turn around and do it again right away, but I've always been like that, even as a kid. I'd read a book, turn it over, read it again. And again, and sometimes *again* until I was thoroughly done, at least until the next time I wanted to read it.

I've had a few more thoughts.

1. Scorpia was never really incompetent. Scorpia weaponized incompetence to handle her ambivalence about the Horde. (And, btw, the thought of little baby Scorpia sneaking off to hide in her ancestral hall is heartbreaking.) Of course, by the time she left the Horde she couldn't just turn that off. (Also, the image of grown-up Scorpia hiding in a pillow fort is unbelievably endearing.)

2. Frosta should be 14 by the end of the show, but somehow she still acts like an 11 year old. I get that she hasn't had the most normal childhood and was placed on a throne with apparently real power much too early (and then allowed to become a child soldier, like, even the Horde is not allowing 12 year olds on the field!) but still.

3. None of the younger characters have had any physical growth between the start and end of the show, including Frosta. It's plausible that Glimmer, Adora, Catra, and even Bow are mostly done growing by the first episode - but Frosta really ought to have gained at least a few inches by the end.

Hypothesis: Despite all the parties, food supplies are actually somewhat limited?

Unfortunately (or maybe fortunately!) that falls apart when you consider the wide range of body types.

Perhaps some sort of proto-biological weapon or an environmental toxin that stunted that generation's growth?

Edit: Also, I checked out the TvTropes page and over on the Fridge section somebody had posted a commentary that depends on the First Ones being the first people to settle Etheria and I thought it was pretty obvious in the show that no they weren't, they just said that the way European colonizers said they were the first ones to "settle" various parts of the rest of the world?

Anyway, it's still eating my brain. I know the odds of me getting any mop fic are slim, but still - any recs?

Comments

[sabotabby]

Magic did it, and/or none of these characters are human or age at human rates.

[conuly]

Those are cheating answers!

[sabotabby]

Absolutely. But still more valid than the Simpsons.

[conuly]

You bite your tongue.

[andrewducker]

Oh yes, I can't remember the details, but it definitely felt like The First Ones turned up to Etheria and found an already magical planet with at least some people living there.

The wiki backs me up: https://she-raandtheprincessesofpower.fandom.com/wiki/Etheria

[conuly]

it definitely felt like The First Ones turned up to Etheria and found an already magical planet with at least some people living there.

Mara referred to Madam Razz as "an Etherian" and did seem to realize that if her goal was to study the planet's magic, the Etherians were a good place to start.

[silveradept]

Complete agreement on 1, because when Scorpia isn't in complete control of herself, she's terrifyingly competent.

I think Frosta is also supposed to read neurodivergent, if a little less obviously than Entrapta, and her neurodivergence makes it harder for her to express her true maturity. And her short stature and slow growth could be a generic work of the Ice Princess, since ice often takes time to fully solidify itself.

I think the First Ones as colonizers is most solidified in canon once the Best Friend Squad go visit other worlds where the First Ones have been and listen to the other squad that's there.

No mop fic recommendations, sorry.

[conuly]

when Scorpia isn't in complete control of herself, she's terrifyingly competent.

Also when she IS in control of herself, but no lingering insecurities or doubts. Although then she's less terrifying and more saving people. See: That time she rescued Catra from her own mistakes when they were in the frozen place. Also: When she packed to leave the Horde, she didn't bother with her pictures or her stuffed scorpion, that is, she packed only the essentials. That shows a level of clear-headedness and focus that was lacking throughout most of her time on-screen before that - but sentimental items weren't going to help her get to Bright Moon.

I think Frosta is also supposed to read neurodivergent, if a little less obviously than Entrapta, and her neurodivergence makes it harder for her to express her true maturity.

I guess that's a valid read.

And her short stature and slow growth could be a generic work of the Ice Princess, since ice often takes time to fully solidify itself.

That, I think, is excuse-making - the artists just didn't think about the fact that these people should be getting taller, or they didn't want to be bothered with that. See also: WHY DOES ADORA NEVER GET A NEW OUTFIT.

[silveradept]

Yep. When she doesn't have a reason to play incompetent so as to get in the way of what she thinks are bad decisions by her commanders, Scorpia knows what she's doing.

I get the "Frosta is also neurodivergent" from the Journal of I Heard It On The Internet Somewhere," and have forgotten who said it, and also whether they thought of it as good rep or bad rep.

Entirely excuse-making oh the shortness, because yes, Adora needs a new working outfit and nobody designed her one, apparently.

[elisi]

the artists just didn't think about the fact that these people should be getting taller, or they didn't want to be bothered with that. See also: WHY DOES ADORA NEVER GET A NEW OUTFIT.
I think this is the answer, unfortunate as it is. A purely Doylist explanation, because there isn't an in-universe one...

Also:

I thought it was pretty obvious in the show that no they weren't, they just said that the way European colonizers said they were the first ones to "settle" various parts of the rest of the world?
Very much yes to this.