History Fridge / SheRaAndThePrincessesOfPower

* Hordak has a patch of white scar tissue on his upper back. Hordak's flashback in "Huntara" shows vitrines full of Horde Prime clones with umbilical cords attached to their backs instead of their abdomens. The scar tissue on Hordak's back isn't due to his illness -- that's his "navel".

* Shadow Weaver's garden is a metaphor for how she trains people. She guides them, helps them grow... but ultimately, the garden exists at the pleasure of the gardener.

* Given how much thought Netossa has put into the weaknesses of her fellow princesses and their allies, it's a very good thing she was never subverted by Horde Prime. Take a look at ''ComicBook/JusticeLeagueOfAmericaTowerOfBabel'' (or its adaptation ''WesternAnimation/JusticeLeagueDoom'') for an example of how badly ''that'' particular situation can turn out.

* Bow's knowledge on knots in the Sea Gate episode may involve with his archery skill since he had to learn about fletching and bow-making, both of which involved usage of ropes for tying arrow's feathers and bows' strings respectively.

* In a cross between Fridge Brilliance and HeartwarmingInHindsight, Bow's ImagineSpot in ''Roll With It'' includes his giving himself the moustache his '80s incarnation sported. Out of universe, it's a ProductionThrowback. In universe, come ''Reunion'', we can see that he ''gave himself his dad's moustache''.

* At the end of season 4, Hordak attacks Catra after learning that she betrayed him by exiling Entrapta to Beast Island. Later, Horde Prime psychically attacks Hordak for supposedly betraying him by loving Entrapta and acting autonomously. Both Catra and Hordak failed to secure the affirmation they craved in the end. As above, so below.

* In season 1, with regard to Catra, Hordak tells Shadow Weaver, "If you have failed to condition her properly, you have no one but yourself to blame." In season 4, Horde Prime decides to subject Hordak to "re''conditioning''". Hordak thinks of Horde soldier training as "conditioning" rather than "raising" because ''he'' was not raised, but conditioned as a mass-produced clone.

** At the end of season 4, three characters are trapped on board Horde Prime's ship: Glimmer (who activated the Heart of Etheria and unwittingly brought the planetary weapon out of Despondos ''and'' drew Horde Prime's attention), Hordak (who created the Etherian Horde, conquered much of Etheria, and who created the portal used to contact Horde Prime), and Catra (who almost erased all of Etheria's inhabitants by activating the portal, and who participated in the conquest of Etheria). All three characters damaged the world in some way, and now they're together on board a ship with a man who wants to damage the universe. The three people who ruined the world may well work together to save it in season 5.

* In retrospect, it was best that the protagonists rescued Entrapta from Beast Island rather than Hordak. First, the rescue gave Entrapta the opportunity to reconcile with her old friends, thereby tying up a loose end from season 1. Second, the island would have made quick work of Hordak due to his deep-seated pain and insecurities.
* When Hordak engages in combat, he usually does so at a distance from his target, either firing on his target with an ArmCannon or hurling an object at them. This tactic will come in very handy if and when he fights Horde Prime in season 5, since fighting his progenitor at close range would put him in danger of another mind-wipe.

* Crossing over with FridgeHorror: With what we learn about Light Hope in season 4, "Promise" becomes a lot more significant. Why did it pick the memories that would hurt Catra the most? Because Light Hope, or at least her Heart of Etheria programming, is ''deliberately'' trying to set Adora and Catra against each other, just like Shadow Weaver did. That way, Adora has one fewer personal connection standing between her and doing what Light Hope wants...

* The Whispering Woods shifting landscape can be interpreted as a EldritchLocation. The idea is that the characters getting lost there is scarier than what it was portrayed as, as it would be possible to get lost there forever, since the woods can make you walk in circles without realizing.

* By the end of Season One, Entrapta has aided the Horde in causing massive devastation to Etheria, at the very least destroying the Whispering Woods and probably much more with her attempt to "hack the planet." Even if she is "rescued" by the Rebellion, it's almost certain that since Entrapta has no mental filler she's going to tell them ''everything'' she did and her reasons why. How is the Princess Alliance going to deal with one of their members causing the near destruction of Etheria's environment and basically being a war criminal? She may be better off staying with the Horde.

** Fortunately, no harm has come to Kyle from his superiors as of the end of season 4, when he leaves the Horde with Lonnie and Rogelio.

* It's jarring how easily abuse victims settle into resigned normalcy with their abusers in the story. Even though Hordak tortures Catra with the atmospheric modification device twice, she works alongside him in late season 3 and season 4. Even though Catra dominates Hordak by ripping the First Ones crystal out of his armor at the beginning of season 4, he works alongside her through the season, seemingly without holding a grudge. Even though Shadow Weaver kept Glimmer captive and temporarily disabled her powers in season 1, Glimmer seeks her counsel and learns magic from her in season 4. All these character dynamics remind viewers how abusers can seem less destructive to their victims because they aren't abusing 24/7, and how frighteningly easy it is to settle into a relationship with an abusive person.

** This is exactly what happens in season 5. Horde Prime learns about Catra's insubordination and lies from Hordak's memories, and undermines her every effort to manipulate him. When he no longer needs her, he brainwashes her and uses her as a psychological warfare tactic against Adora.

* Horde Prime would '''not''' have amused by Imp's existence. {{Word of Saint Paul}} is that Imp is the result of Hordak splicing his DNA with that of a bat-like Etherian creature while trying to clone a viable body for himself. First, Imp is living proof that Hordak was exercising free will and practicing cloning like his master, which Horde Prime would see as an affront. Second, Horde Prime would have been furious that Hordak tainted his genetic line with that of an Etherian animal.

** The same three characters have all been stripped of their mightiest assets. Glimmer is far from her kingdom, far from her friends, and unable to use her magic. Catra and Hordak do not have the Etherian Horde (or what's left of it) to help them. Hordak has no technology with him, the First One's crystal is absent from his cybernetic armor, and his brilliant mind was subjected to a mind-wipe. The confidence all three characters once had is probably gone. Glimmer and Catra are likely demoralized after the seismic events of "Destiny, Part 2", and if Hordak regains his faculties, he'll be demoralized after losing everything he cared about. All three will have to figure out who they are and what they can do without their titles, tools, allies, reputations, and egos.
** Finally, all three characters have something the others need. Catra has Horde Prime's ear, and may be able to distract or mislead him long enough for the trio to develop an escape plan. She was also the last person in possession of the First Ones' "LUVD" crystal, which Hordak needs to operate his cybernetic armor. If Hordak somehow regains his mental faculties, he knows the layout of Horde Prime's ship, how to operate galactic Horde technology, and how to manage his clone brethren, all of which they'll need to escape. Glimmer knows about how the Etherian superweapon operates, and may be able to mislead Horde Prime long enough to keep him from using it and to escape. Glimmer also knows that her friends left for Beast Island to rescue Entrapta, which might give a demoralized Hordak the hope he needs to keep going.

* Horde Prime will '''not''' be amused when he learns of Imp's existence. {{Word of Saint Paul}} is that Imp is the result of Hordak splicing his DNA with that of a bat-like Etherian creature while trying to clone a viable body for himself. First, Imp is living proof that Hordak was exercising free will and practicing cloning like his master, which Horde Prime will see as an affront. Second, Horde Prime will probably be furious that Hordak tainted his genetic line with that of an Etherian animal. Imp will be in danger if Horde Prime and/or his soldiers set foot on Etheria.

* The Horde should be condemned for using child soldiers, ''but so should the Rebellion.'' Adora, Bow, and Glimmer are all in their mid to late teens at the start of the series. Frosta is only eleven when she joins the Rebellion as a warrior. The protagonists accept Flutterina as a Rebellion member without question. While the Horde provides training and equipment to its soldiers and doesn't send them out into the field until their mid to late teens, the Rebellion isn't shown training or equipping its fighters en masse and has no problem with sending children into the field.

* Mermista also feels uncomfortable being represented by Lipstick in "No Princess Left Behind". Common ingredients in some lipstick include Spermaceti[or sperm whale blubber] & Pearlescence[which contain fish scales]. She certainly has her reasons for feeling disturbed.

** Hordak's physical appearance is a perfect visual metaphor for his personality. He projects power and might by wearing armor that makes him appear muscular, but underneath the armor, he's emaciated and sickly. Hordak wants others to see him as a powerful conqueror, but beneath his public image, he's weak and dysfunctional. Also, while wearing his armor, Hordak codes as a middle-aged man, but with his armor off, he resembles a skinny teenage boy -- which is precisely his level of emotional maturity.

!FridgeBrilliance

* [[spoiler: Horde Prime]]'s name makes even more sense than in his previous incarnation since he's [[spoiler: the original being Hordak and his "brothers" were cloned from in this continuity]].
* Likewise, Imp's name takes a new meaning [[spoiler: after the reveal of Hordak attempting to clone himself to ensure the Horde's takeover long after his death along with the implication that Imp is a failed clone]]. After all, what do you call [[spoiler: a creation that isn't 100% completed? '''Imp'''erfect]].

** Hordak's physical appearance is a perfect visual metaphor for his personality. He projects power and might by wearing armor that makes him appear muscular, [[spoiler:but underneath the armor, he's emaciated and sickly. Hordak wants others to see him as a powerful conqueror, but beneath his public image, he's weak and dysfunctional. Also, while wearing his armor, Hordak codes as a middle-aged man, but with his armor off, he resembles a skinny teenage boy -- which is precisely his level of emotional maturity.]]
** Similarly, [[spoiler:Horde Prime's]] appearance is a perfect visual metaphor for [[spoiler:his]] personality. [[spoiler:His clothing and hair are white, pristine, and futuristic, capturing the perfection that he believes he embodies. His clothing is also ''colorless'', symbolizing how he tolerates no diversity of thought or appearance among his ranks. His chest is completely exposed, suggesting that he's vain. Finally, he has multiple eyes gazing in different directions, symbolizing his ability to see into the minds of his clones, and through them see the larger world.]]
* Catra has a chance to leave the Horde and rule the Crimson Wastes. But her need for approval makes her return to her subordinate position under Hordak. [[spoiler: Hordak currently rules his isolated faction of the Horde. But given the chance, his need for approval would have him return to a subordinate position under Horde Prime. As above, so below.]]
* At the end of season 4, [[spoiler:Hordak attacks Catra after learning that she betrayed him by exiling Entrapta to Beast Island. Later, Horde Prime psychically attacks Hordak for supposedly betraying him by loving Entrapta and acting autonomously. Both Catra and Hordak failed to secure the affirmation they craved in the end. As above, so below.]]
* Green is the defining color of the Fright Zone, which has green walls and electronics that give off green light. In Hordak's flashback, green is the color of [[spoiler:Horde Prime, in contrast to Hordak's red. This may symbolize how Horde Prime's influence and Hordak's longing for Horde Prime's respect hangs over Hordak's projects on Etheria.]]

* Imp carries out wicked actions (spying and ratting out other Horde members, which usually leads to their torture) to gain Hordak's approval. Imp looks positively blissful whenever Hordak pets him after doing a good job. [[spoiler:He's much like Hordak in that respect, as Hordak is carrying out wicked actions (conquest and tyranny) to win the approval of ''his'' progenitor, Horde Prime. Like "father", like "son/clone".]]
* Hordak has a [[spoiler:patch of white scar tissue on his upper back. Hordak's flashback in "Huntara" shows vitrines full of Horde Prime clones with umbilical cords attached to their backs instead of their abdomens. The scar tissue on Hordak's back isn't due to his illness -- that's his "navel".]]
* In season 1, with regard to Catra, Hordak tells Shadow Weaver, "If you have failed to condition her properly, you have no one but yourself to blame." [[spoiler:In season 4, Horde Prime decides to subject Hordak to "re''conditioning''". Hordak thinks of Horde soldier training as "conditioning" rather than "raising" because ''he'' was not raised, but conditioned as a mass-produced clone.]]

** At the end of season 4, three characters [[spoiler:are trapped on board Horde Prime's ship: Glimmer (who activated the Heart of Etheria and unwittingly brought the planetary weapon out of Despondos ''and'' drew Horde Prime's attention), Hordak (who created the Etherian Horde, conquered much of Etheria, and who created the portal used to contact Horde Prime), and Catra (who almost erased all of Etheria's inhabitants by activating the portal, and who participated in the conquest of Etheria). All three characters damaged the world in some way, and now they're together on board a ship with a man who wants to damage the universe. The three people who ruined the world may well work together to save it in season 5.]]
** The same three characters [[spoiler:have all been stripped of their mightiest assets. Glimmer is far from her kingdom, far from her friends, and unable to use her magic. Catra and Hordak do not have the Etherian Horde (or what's left of it) to help them. Hordak has no technology with him, the First One's crystal is absent from his cybernetic armor, and his brilliant mind was subjected to a mind-wipe. The confidence all three characters once had is probably gone. Glimmer and Catra are likely demoralized after the seismic events of "Destiny, Part 2", and if Hordak regains his faculties, he'll be demoralized after losing everything he cared about. All three will have to figure out who they are and what they can do without their titles, tools, allies, reputations, and egos.]]
** Finally, all three characters [[spoiler:have something the others need. Catra has Horde Prime's ear, and may be able to distract or mislead him long enough for the trio to develop an escape plan. She was also the last person in possession of the First Ones' "LUVD" crystal, which Hordak needs to operate his cybernetic armor. If Hordak somehow regains his mental faculties, he knows the layout of Horde Prime's ship, how to operate galactic Horde technology, and how to manage his clone brethren, all of which they'll need to escape. Glimmer knows about how the Etherian superweapon operates, and may be able to mislead Horde Prime long enough to keep him from using it and to escape. Glimmer also knows that her friends left for Beast Island to rescue Entrapta, which might give a demoralized Hordak the hope he needs to keep going.]]
* Catra's journey very much parallels Hordak's, with her rising to become his top general, being sent to her death, then rejecting the chance for freedom to continue a futile quest for approval. [[spoiler: It's even implied that like Catra, Hordak doesn't ''truly'' want Horde supremacy, but affirmation and love. Horde Prime even cups Hordak's face the same way that Shadow Weaver has done when manipulating Catra, Adora, and Glimmer, showing that Hordak too is a victim of the cycle of abuse.]]
* Someone on Tumblr noted that Hordak tends to address people by their title -- "Force Captain" and the like -- unless he's genuinely praising them, or has developed a fondness for them (Entrapta, Catra in parts of Season 4). [[spoiler:Given that he's a clone, and his "original" detests him for having independence and free will, of ''course'' he'd see using someone's given name as a big deal. Having your own name is a universal symbol of being an individual!]]
* The Horde practicing EqualOpportunityEvil makes more sense when we learn [[spoiler:that Hordak is a clone who was mistreated and cast out for being "defective." He's now desperate to prove himself to his superior and show that he can stand on his own merits, defective or not. With that in mind, it makes sense that he'd give ''everyone'', no matter their species, gender, or origin, the same chance to make themselves useful and prove themselves loyal.]]
* In retrospect, it was best that [[spoiler:the protagonists rescued Entrapta from Beast Island]] rather than [[spoiler:Hordak. First, the rescue gave Entrapta the opportunity to reconcile with her old friends, thereby tying up a loose end from season 1. Second, the island would have made quick work of Hordak due to his deep-seated pain and insecurities.]]
* When Hordak engages in combat, he usually does so at a distance from his target, either firing on his target with an ArmCannon or hurling an object at them. This tactic will come in very handy if and when he [[spoiler:fights Horde Prime in season 5, since fighting his progenitor at close range would put him in danger of another mind-wipe.]]
* Despite his high intelligence, Hordak is not skilled at detecting lies, [[spoiler:a weakness that Catra exploits.]] This weakness makes sense after "Destiny, Part 2" revealed that [[spoiler:Horde Prime can read the minds of his clones. Hordak never learned how to lie, and thus identify lies from others, because he never ''could'' lie to Horde Prime.]] This revelation may also explain why Hordak reacts so furiously at being lied to. [[spoiler:If he was never allowed to lie, why should anyone else be able to?]]
* Crossing over with FridgeHorror: With what we learn about [[spoiler:Light Hope]] in season 4, "Promise" becomes a lot more significant. Why did it pick the memories that would hurt Catra the most? [[spoiler:Because Light Hope, or at least her Heart of Etheria programming, is ''deliberately'' trying to set Adora and Catra against each other, just like Shadow Weaver did. That way, Adora has one fewer personal connection standing between her and doing what Light Hope wants...]]

!FridgeHorror

* We've seen how badly Hordak reacted to [[spoiler:Catra's lies in "Reunion", what would happen if he found out that Entrapta didn't actually betray him, and that Catra didn't just lie about that to him, but also banished her to Beast Island? Catra better hope Scorpia can get her out of this mess if Hordak finds out.]] [[spoiler:Hordak finds out from Double Trouble and ''immediately'' goes on unhinged rampage with his laser cannon.]]
* When you think about it, there are ''a lot'' of kingdoms that seem to be ruled by teenagers or 20-somethings; Bright Moon seems to be the main exception [[spoiler:until "The Portal"]]. How many of Adora's friends did the Horde orphan, exactly?
* Hordak is not the best of arbiter of what Etherians can survive, as he was shown to be wrong about the Crimson Waste being an uninhabitable death sentence. He also believes Beast Island is unsurvivable, so there's a good chance that he [[spoiler:shed tears because he believed Entrapta was ''dead''.]]
* It's jarring how easily abuse victims settle into resigned normalcy with their abusers in the story. [[spoiler:Even though Hordak tortures Catra with the atmospheric modification device twice, she works alongside him in late season 3 and season 4. Even though Catra dominates Hordak by ripping the First Ones crystal out of his armor at the beginning of season 4, he works alongside her through the season, seemingly without holding a grudge. Even though Shadow Weaver kept Glimmer captive and temporarily disabled her powers in season 1, Glimmer seeks her counsel and learns magic from her in season 4.]] All these character dynamics remind viewers how abusers can seem less destructive to their victims because they aren't abusing 24/7, and how frighteningly easy it is to settle into a relationship with an abusive person.

!FridgeLogic

* The events of "Destiny, Part 2" have disturbing ramifications for the main characters and Etheria as a whole. [[spoiler:After Adora broke her sword, how will she summon She-Ra to defend Etheria from Horde Prime? Now that Horde Prime has taken Glimmer prisoner, King Micah is left to rule Brightmoon, but after years spent in isolation on Beast Island, he's hardly in any condition to lead. If the mind-wipe that Horde Prime performed on Hordak is permanent, what will become of him, and how will Entrapta and Imp react to his DeathOfPersonality if he returns to Etheria? What happens to the inhabitants of Etheria, and the universe, if Horde Prime finds a way to use Etheria as a weapon?]]
** With regards to the sword [[spoiler: Razz tells Mara earlier in the season that the first ones created the sword, but did not create She-Ra. Mara's ability to use some of her powers in her powered down mode while not holding the sword suggest that it might well be a MagicFeather]]

* Notice how Glimmer is the most zaftig of the princesses? It makes sense, considering one of her powers is teleportation. No need to exercise when you can just teleport everywhere.
** Same with Spinerella, whose wind powers allow her to fly.

* The jacket that Catra appropriates in the Wastes bears the prominent symbol of a snake eating its own tail. It's a fitting sigil for someone as ''thoroughly'' self-destructive as her.

* Hordak's physical appearance is a perfect visual metaphor for his personality. He projects power and might by wearing armor that makes him appear muscular, [[spoiler:but underneath the armor, he's emaciated and sickly. Hordak wants others to see him as a powerful conqueror, but beneath his public image, he's weak and dysfunctional. Also, while wearing his armor, Hordak codes as a middle-aged man, but with his armor off, he resembles a skinny teenage boy -- which is precisely his level of emotional maturity.]]

** At the end of season 4, [[spoiler:Hordak attacks Catra after learning that she betrayed him by exiling Entrapta to Beast Island. Later, Horde Prime psychically attacks Hordak for supposedly betraying him by loving Entrapta and acting autonomously. Both Catra and Hordak failed to secure the affirmation they craved in the end. As above, so below.]]

* At the end of season 4, three characters [[spoiler:are trapped on board Horde Prime's ship: Glimmer (who activated the Heart of Etheria and unwittingly brought the planetary weapon out of Despondos ''and'' drew Horde Prime's attention), Hordak (who created the Etherian Horde, conquered much of Etheria, and who created the portal used to contact Horde Prime), and Catra (who almost erased all of Etheria's inhabitants by activating the portal, and who participated in the conquest of Etheria). All three characters damaged the world in some way, and now they're together on board a ship with a man who wants to damage the universe. The three people who ruined the world may well work together to save it in season 5.]]

* Despite his high intelligence, Hordak is not skilled at detecting lies, [[spoiler:a weakness that Catra exploits.]] This weakness makes sense after "Destiny, Part 2" revealed that [[spoiler:Horde Prime can read the minds of his clones. Hordak never learned how to lie, and thus identify lies from others, because he never ''could'' lie to Horde Prime.]]
** This revelation may also explain why Hordak reacts so furiously at being lied to. [[spoiler:If he was never allowed to lie, why should anyone else be able to?]]

** In the ''Secret of the Sword'' movie, Shadow Weaver basically did this to Adora after she left the Fright Zone and saw what the Horde was really doing to Etheria. Worse to consider: would Catra have been aware of this? There's a slight delay before her "duh!" moment where Adora tells her that she realizes that the Horde is evil; was Catra really stunned at Adora's obliviousness, or was she thinking that "Adora's mindwiped again, better play the surprised friend again and bring her back to Shadow Weaver." It's not hard to see Catra taking some sadistic glee in "perfect" Adora having to be rebooted when she can't deal with reality.

* We've seen how badly Hordak reacted to [[spoiler:Catra's lies in "Reunion", what would happen if he found out that Entrapta didn't actually betray him, and that Catra didn't just lie about that to him, but also banished her to Beast Island? Catra better hope Scorpia can get her out of this mess if Hordak finds out.]]
** [[spoiler:Hordak finds out from Double Trouble and ''immediately'' goes on unhinged rampage with his laser cannon.]]
* When you think about it, there are ''a lot'' of kingdoms that seem to be ruled by teenagers or 20-somethings; Brightmoon seems to be the main exception [[spoiler:until "The Portal"]]. How many of Adora's friends did the Horde orphan, exactly?

* Hordak is not the best of arbiter of what Etherians can survive, as he was shown to be wrong about the Crimson Waste being an uninhabitable death sentence. He also believes Beast Island is unsurvivable, so there's a good chance that he [[spoiler:shed tears because he believed Entrapta was *dead*.]]

** The same three characters [[spoiler:have all been stripped of their mightiest assets. Glimmer is far from her kingdom, far from her friends, and unable to use her magic. Catra and Hordak do not have the Etherian Horde (or what's left of it) to help them. Hordak has no technology with him, the First One's crystal is absent from his cybernetic armor, and his brilliant mind was subjected to a mind-wipe. Glimmer and Catra are probably demoralized after the seismic events of "Destiny, Part 2", and if Hordak regains his faculties, he'll be demoralized after losing everything he cared about. All three will have to figure out who they are and what they can do without their titles, tools, allies, reputations, and egos.]]

** The same three characters [[spoiler:have all been stripped of their mightiest assets. Glimmer is far from her kingdom, far from her friends, and unable to use her magic. Catra and Hordak do not have the Etherian Horde (or what's left of it) to help them. Hordak has no technology with him, the First One's crystal is absent from his cybernetic armor, and his brilliant mind was subjected to a mind-wipe. All three will have to figure out who they are and what they can do without their titles, tools, allies, and reputations.]]

* Despite his high intelligence, Hordak is not skilled at detecting lies, [[spoiler:a weakness that Catra exploits.]] This weakness makes sense after "Destiny, Part 2" revealed that [[spoiler:Horde Prime can read the minds of his clones. Hordak never learned how to lie because he never ''could'' lie to Horde Prime.]]

* Similarly, [[spoiler:Horde Prime's]] appearance is a perfect visual metaphor for [[spoiler:his]] personality. [[spoiler:His clothing and hair are white, pristine, and futuristic, capturing the perfection that he believes he embodies. His chest is completely exposed, suggesting that he's vain. Finally, he has multiple eyes gazing in different directions, symbolizing his ability to see into the minds of his clones, and through them see the larger world.]]

** Finally, all three characters [[spoiler:have something the others need. Catra has Horde Prime's ear, and may be able to distract or mislead him long enough for the trio to develop an escape plan. If Hordak can somehow regain his mental faculties, he'll know the layout of Horde Prime's ship, how to operate galactic Horde technology, and how to manage his clone brethren. Glimmer knows about how the Etherian superweapon operates, and may be able to mislead Horde Prime long enough to keep him from using it and to escape. Glimmer also knows that her friends left for Beast Island to rescue Entrapta, which might give a demoralized Hordak the hope he needs to keep going.]]