Tropes Media Browse Indexes Forums Videos Ask The Tropers Trope Finder Media Finder Trope Launch Pad Tech Wishlist Reviews Tools
Cut List New Edits Edit Reasons Launches Images List Crowner Activity Un-typed Pages Recent Page Type Changes Changelog
Tips
Creating New Redirects Cross Wicking Tips for Editing Text Formatting Rules Glossary Edit Reasons Handling Spoilers Word Cruft Administrivia FAQ
Tropes HQ
About Us Contact Us Advertise DMCA Notice Privacy Policy Report Bug
Go Ad-Free Changelog
  • Show Spoilers
  • Night Vision
  • Sticky Header
  • Highlight Links
 

Follow TV Tropes

Following

Mythology Gag / She-Ra and the Princesses of Power

Go To

https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/4fe0b8a4_e137_41de_a2ea_c6db3100b8d8.jpeg
"Ooh! We all get hats!!"

She-Ra and the Princesses of Power

Mythology Gag in this series.
General
  • Catra's positioning as Adora's main foe doubles as a Development Gag: it calls back to the 1985 show, where Catra was initially envisioned as the main antagonist before it was decided to integrate more elements from the Masters of the Universe toyline.
  • The unique Netflix Vanity Plate for the series brings to mind the old Filmation Vanity Plate for the original series.
  • Adora's position (as She-Ra) in the series' title cards is the same as She-Ra's on the cover of the first Princess of Power minicomic.
  • As seen here, several scenes through the series, are direct homages to scenes from the Filmation series.
  • As noted here, Hordak's , Horde Prime's, and other Horde Prime clones designs are based on and reference their past incarnations.note 
  • A number of episodes share names with those of the Filmation She-Ra seriesnote , and each having at least some similarity to the episode they share name with.
  • Adora being the second She-Ra in universe is a nod to the fact that this is the second She-Ra series, which means Adora is the second She-Ra two different ways.

Season 1

  • The village of Thaymore, mentioned in "The Sword: Part 1", and appearing in Part 2, is the same village were the Filmation series started in "The Secret of the Sword" Compilation Movie / Five-Episode Pilot.
  • Sea Hawk is still a boisterous person loudly declaring his love for his love interest. However, this time it's Mermista he's interested in, not Adora.
    • Like in the Filmation series, the same episode Sea Hawk is introduced ("The Sea Gate"), the port town of Seaworthy is.
  • Mermista being one of the few left defending Salineas against the Horde, resembles how she was the only one of her kingdom who opposed the Horde in the Filmation series.
  • When getting ready for the ball, one of the outfits that Scorpia wears resembles the one she had in the original show, including exaggerated green eyeshadow.
  • With Scorpia, most past versions of her were antagonistic towards Catra...except also the UK Princess of Power Annuals they were also friends◊. And like in the Annual, Scorpia in this series also gets access to her magic.
  • The gag in which Bow tells Adora that everyone refers to "The Horde" as evil. The Evil Horde is precisely what the Horde was called by everyone in the original series.
  • Horde soldiers (and armor they wear) are based on Horde Troopers, but are people wearing armor, instead of robots as they are in most versions.
  • Rogelio (and to lesser degree, others of his species) is based on the initial design◊ of Rattlor◊, which was also used in the minicomics◊. Rogelio, like Rattlor (mostly) was in the Filmation series, is a big guy who doesn't use human language.
  • The non-humanoid Horde Robots present through the series till season 5 resemble the Monstroid depicted in Marvel/Star comics and it's toy.
  • The Horde general from the episode "Razz" is an unnamed Grizzlor, going from a major character in the original series to a minor role in a single episode. He's only confirmed by the credits that it's him.
  • In the same episode there is a plush toy that looks exactly like Kowl, Bow's Talking Animal sidekick.
  • The title of Perfuma's introductory episode ("Flowers for She-Ra"), is direct reference to her first appearance in Filmation series ("Flowers for Hordak"). The episodes itself have also a a similar story (ie Horde causing a magical forest to wither, in order to enable their conquest).
  • One from the 2002 He-Man reboot appears when Light Hope tells Adora the history of Etheria. She mentions that Mara, the previous She-Ra, trapped Etheria in Despondos, which was the name of the Dark Zone Hordak and his Horde were trapped in from that series. It becomes even more of reference to the 2002 series when it's confirmed in season 3, that in this series Hordak is indeed also trapped in Despondos.
  • Another one from the 2002 series, is the Sword of Protection's overall design - like 2002 Sword of Power, it's a broad sword, with technological elements (circuitry), that grows during transformation. The hilt of the Sword of Protection though, is visibly based on the Filmation version of the Crystal Castle◊.
  • Peekablue and Sweet Bee are briefly mentioned when Adora is doing "tacticals" for the Princess Prom.
  • Madame Razz says she's friends with a creature called Loo-Kee who likes to hide, immediately holding up a paper fan with the konseal's face on it. Similarly, during "Princess Prom" there's a blink and you'll miss it shot of Laa-See in a group with some princesses.
  • Part of the 6 Runestones of Etheria, are based on objects from past incarnation of the franchise:
    • The Sword of Protection, being obviously based on it's past incarnations.
    • Bright Moon's Runestone, the Moonstone is based on the magical gem/device of the same name from the Filmation series and Masters of the Universe Classics/MOTUC◊.
    • Salineas' Runsetone, the Pearl, is based on the Power Pearl (sometimes just called the Pearl) from the Filmation series.
    • The Fright Zone's Runestone, the Black Garnet, being inspired by the Gem Hordak used to transform and empower Shadow Weaver - known just as the "Power Gem" in the Filmation series, but as the Gem of Horokoth◊ in MOTUC continuity.
  • Catra kidnapping Glimmer, and Queen Angella almost surrendering because of it, is based on the "Glimmer of Hope" book from the Golden Super Adventure story series.
  • Sea Hawk tricking Scorpia by pretending to be a Horde inspector in "No Princess Left Behind", is a direct reference to Bow doing the same in the Filmation series episode "Small Problems".
  • Entrapta being an Etherian royal recruited by Catra into the Horde is something inspired by her MOTUC backstory.
  • Adora's Battle Armor/Battler◊ She-Ra form◊ used in "The Battle of Bright Moon", looks very much like how Adora's She-Ra's form◊ was depicted in◊ DC's Masters of the Universe comics. In concept, it also resembles He-Man's own Battle armor◊ dating to the 80s, or various armors He-Man used in the 2002 He-Man series.
  • The shot of the Rebellion near the end of "The Battle of Bright Moon" right before they defeat the invading Horde forces, is a direct tribute to shot of the Rebellion◊ in the opening of the original She-Ra cartoon.

Season 2

  • The episode "Signals" has the village of Alwyn appears, and the town of Erelandia is mentioned - both being locations also in the Filmation series. In the same episode, Adora says she expected the First Ones to be "big epic figures", which was the case in the Filmation series.
  • The episode "Roll With It" gives the Imagine Spot for Bow's plan, where the characters are dressed in the costumes of their 80's counterparts. Catra even has the same Shapeshifting abilities that '80s Catra had. The end credits are also a version of the '80s end credits, complete with lyrics.
  • Norwyn appears in episode 6's flashback, and like in the Filmation series is the previous leader of Mystacor. And like his Filmaton series counterpart, tries to stop Light Spinner/future Shadow Weaver, only this time he is killed by her.
  • Light Spinner's design◊ appears to be a combination of her designs in the UK MOTU Comic (hairstyle), Filmation series (colors of clothes and veil)◊ and UK She-Ra comic (overall design of clothes).
  • The design of the Eldritch Abomination summoned by the spell of obtainment, and that merged with Light Spinner, is extremely similar to the Eldritch Abomination summoned by Skeletor in the 2002 He-Man and the Masters of the Universe episode "History".
  • George, one of Bow's dads, looks like a brown-skinned version of Bow's original '80s design, complete with the mustache. According to writer Josie Campbell, his name was also a Shout-Out to George DiCenzo, Bow's original voice actor.
  • One of the incorrect translations of the "legend" of She-Ra is that she transforms using the phrase "For the power of Grayskull", an obvious reference to He-Man.
  • The constellation of Serenia (and the First One hero it's named after in-universe), are named after a location of the same name in the Filmation series.

Season 3

  • Like in the DC Masters of the Universe comics, in the episode "The Price of Power", Adora uses the Sword of Protection to heal an evil adoptive parent, in DC comics it was Skeletor, in this series Shadow Weaver.
  • The Crimson Waste appears, similar to it's Filmation incarnation, being a rocky desert. It also has elements of the Filmation series' Valley of the Lost - like it, the 2018 Crimson Waste is described incorrectly as a completely desolate location no-one returns from, and there are skeletons of colossal beasts scattered through the waste, as were in the MOTUC version of the valley. And indeed, in season 4, it's revealed the Valley of the Lost in the 2018 series, is a location inside the Crimson Waste.
  • Huntara appears and ultimately fights with Adora in the Crimson Waste, though her backstory as an ex-Horde member, is inspired from an unused idea for her in the original Filmation series◊.
  • Mara's normal, non-She-Ra appearance is based on ambassador Mara from the The New Adventures of He-Man, only Ambiguously Brown.
  • In "Once Upon A Time In The Waste", Scorpia comments that the Crimson Waste's desert environment agrees with her. In the '80s series, the Crimson Waste was her homeland (here, her homeland is the Fright Zone).
  • Tung Lashor appears in the episode "Once Upon a Time in the Waste", and the members of his gang are visibly meant to be Snake Men. Him being the leader of Snake Men, is reference to Tung Lashor being the second in command (or at least second most powerful) of Snake Men after King Hiss in the UK Masters of the Universe Annuals◊.
  • Part of the battle between Catra and Tung Lashor references the final battle between Teela and Tung Lashor in the 2002 He-Man series - in both Tung Lashor disarms his female opponent, gains upper hand, and holds them upside down, only for both Catra and Teela to turn the tables on him.
  • The three headed giant snake chasing Adora, Bow and Glimmer in the Crimson Waste, seems to be be a reference to Serpos, god of Snake Men◊ in the 2002 He-Man series. Especially seeing it lives close to Snake Men, who also inhabit the Crimson Waste.
  • Hordak, while calling Horde Prime his brother, him being essentially Prime's son by being his clone, takes inspiration from DC's Masters of the Universe comics were Horde Prime and Hordak are father and son, not brothers. Hordak being specifically a disgraced and spurned child of Horde Prime was also the case in DC comics.
  • Catra helping Hordak to contact Horde Prime to have him arrive to Etheria/Despondos, which is a threat major enough that even Shadow Weaver helps to try to stop them, resembles how in the 2002 He-Man series Evil-Lyn wanted to summon Hordak to Eternia from Despondos/Etheria, and was also opposed and stopped by other villains (King Hiss and Count Marzo) in doing so.
  • A redesigned version of Horde Prime's flagship from the Filmation series, the Velvet Glove, appears first in the stinger at the end of season 3, and as seen latter, is as colossal as it's Filmation counterpart.

Season 4

  • Hordak wages war with an arm cannon, which is a shout out to his original 1980s design, in which he had a cybernetic arm that he could morph into an arm cannon.
  • In the episode "The Valley of the Lost" the troll Grox (if gender flipped) appears, although she is a more negative character than her Filmation counterpart.
  • In "Hero", Razz is shown to own two dolls that are based on the Twiggets.
  • Double Trouble appears for the first time in animated form, and they are also a double agent, like in the original She-Ra minicomics though this time they are secretly working for Horde, infiltrating the Rebellion as Flutterina. Double Trouble still though is a false friend to Catra in this version.
  • In "Flutterina", Catra uses a trap to electrocute Adora and Swift Wind, just like she and Grizzlor did in the Filmation episode "Return of the Sea Hawk".
  • Also part of the storyline of "Flutterina", mirrors the Filmation episode "Laughing Dragon" - in both the Rebellion (Bow, Adora, and Swift Wind ) liberate the village of Elberon, are praised for by it's mayor, and have thrown a party for them. And in both, it's not long before the village is again in danger.
  • In "Boys Night Out" Admiral Scurvy appears, as does Leech as a member of his crew, though in this version they are allied with the Horde, rather than outright members. And like in the Filmation series, he has an antagonistic relationship with Sea Hawk though in this version they were once friends.
    • In the same episode, Loo-Kee has a cameo as a guest in the bar.
  • The name and idea of the Heart of Etheria, are at least in part inspired by the core/Starseed of Eternia being called by Horde Prime "the Heart of Eternia"◊ in UK comics. And like in the UK comics, after discovering the Heart, Horde Prime wants to get it under his control.
  • In "Beast Island", we learn that Micah was alive all along and was banished there after being captured by the Horde. A similar thing happened in the original series where Micah was taken to Horde World, escaped, but was trapped in a beast ridden location called Talon Mountain.
  • Whenever Horde Prime appears on-screen, viewers receive close-ups of his hand. At the end of "The Portal", his hand is the only part of his body shown on screen. During the climax of "Destiny, Part 2", viewers see his hand close-up as he brings up an image of planet Etheria using the device attached to his index finger, gropes Hordak's face, and later touches Glimmer's face. The emphasis on Horde Prime's hand may be a reference to his appearance in the 1980s cartoon, in which he was a cloud-like eldritch abomination from which a giant metal hand would emerge.
  • Adora breaking the Sword of Protection to prevent Light Hope via the Heart of Etheria using her and the sword to wipe out non-First One life in the universe, mirrors how in DC's Masters of the Universe comics, Adam broke the Sword of Power/Eternity to prevent the the bad future were he becomes a tyrant who eventually causes the end of the universe.
    • It, and the story of Adora losing the ability of transforming into She-Ra due to the Sword of Protection becoming damaged in some way, and Adora spending time to regain this ability in season 5, also resembles the storyline of the Filmation She-Ra episode "The Stone in the Sword". Especially like it was implied in the Filmation series episode, in this series the First Ones did create the Sword of Protection. the difference being, due to the First Ones Adaptional Villainy, Adora regained her ability to transform independently of them.

Season 5

  • In season 5, Hordak is engulfed in green gas during a "baptism" in a pool of clone life force. In the 1980s cartoon, Horde Prime took the form of green gas out of which a robotic hand would emerge.
  • The pool of green liquid may be a shout-out to the Slime Pit playset from the 1980s Masters of the Universe toy line.
  • Horde Prime basically taking over Etheria in a very short time (after the planet was released from Despondos), and forcing the Rebellion/Princess Alliance on the run and hiding in the Whispering Woods (especially after Horde Prime infiltrated their camp), resembles both a more dire version of the situation how the Rebellion and Etheria were at the start of the Filmation She-Ra series, as well as how in the unmade third season of 2002 He-Man series, Hordak and the Horde after being released from Despondos, would quickly basically conquer Etheria, and force the Masters and He-Man to be on the run.
  • Another one to 2002 He-Man series, is how there is a She-Ra entity channeled by Adora (and others in the past) when she becomes She-Ra, like Adam became He-Man in the 2002 series by channeling the spirit of King Grayskull. Latter on, Horde Prime alludes this entity is his oldest enemy, just like King Grayskull was Hordak's ancient greatest enemy in ancient past.
  • in "Launch" in Horde Prime's trophy room, one of the stashed weapons (the staff on the right, second from the bottom)◊ is the◊ staff◊ past incarnations of Hordak◊ and Horde Prime◊ had◊ as toys◊ and in some comics◊.
  • Horde Prime's clones◊, especially with their hoods up◊, look a lot like Horde Wraiths◊ from the 2002 series and MOTUC◊.
  • As noted here, Horde Prime's giant hologram, is a reference to Skeletor's giant projection in the 1987 Masters of the Universe movie.
  • Horde Prime's robots are like Horde soldiers, based on Horde Troopers (but are actually robotlike, as opposed to Horde soldiers).
  • In Episode 3 Catra has a flashback to her and Adora's childhood where Catra is shown being jealous of Lonnie, even calling her Adora's new best friend. This could be a reference to the original in which Lonnie was Adora's best friend before she defected.
  • Melog looks exactly like the panther form that '80s Catra used to turn into during fights, so it's no wonder it becomes Catra's Animal Companion.
    • Melog's role also references Clawdeen, who was excluded from the new show for being too similar to Lion. And like Clawdeen in the UK Princess of Power magazine comics, Melog essentially gave Catra the ability to use magic.
    • Melog's ability to render themselves, others and objects invisible, is the same the as that of Magicats in the Filmation She-Ra series. And just like in the Filmation episode "Magicats", Purcival used his magic to allow the Rebellion to sneak through Horde forces, in "Shot in the Dark", Melog magic rendering Darla invisible and undetectable, allowed Adora, Catra, Bow, Glimmer, Entrapta and Wrong Hordak to sneak back to Etheria though the blockade of Horde Armada ships.
  • Horde Prime mind controlling people en-masse, taking control over them directly (like with Catra, among many), and possessing Hordak after he killed Prime's bodies, are very similar to how in DC Universe vs Masters of the Universe crossover Orko merged with the skull and what remained of the spirit of Horde Prime mind controlled most of heroes and villains on Earth, as well how in MOTUC after Adora killed Horde Prime, he possessed her.
  • In episode 9 "An Ill Wind", Loo-Kee has another cameo as one of the rebels against Horde Prime's rule◊. Accompanying him what seem to be redesigned versions of the Magicat Purcival, and the Magicat Queen.
  • The aliases assigned to Scorpia ("Lynda D'Ream") and Perfuma ("Tara") by Mermista are a reference to their real names in the Masters of Universe Classics continuity.
  • In "Heart, Part 1", Horde Prime infecting Adora using the First Ones guardian is very similar to how in MOTUC, Horde Prime infected He-Ro with a techno-organic virus◊.
  • In "Heart, Part 2", Shadow Weaver sacrifices her life to protect her adoptive daughter, from being killed by the leader of the Horde, like in the DC Masters of the Universe comics. There she sacrifices her life to save Adora/Despara from Hordak, in this episode she sacrifices herself to stop a monster (controlled/possessed by Horde Prime) from killing Catra.
  • Also in "Heart, Part 2", the dress Adora wears in in her Dream Sequence about a possible future strongly resembles the classic/Filmation She-Ra outfit◊. It also doubles as a Development Gag, as Adora was supposed to originally wear a very similar, classic She-Ra based dress in the episode "Princess Prom".
  • Horde Prime's final defeat and death, resemble how in past Hordak was defeated by King Grayskull in the 2002 He-Man series (as shown in the episode "The Power of Grayskull"). Especially that Horde Prime references he had been similarly defeated in the past, before Adora erases him for good.
  • As also seen after Horde Prime's final defeat, his true form is like his portrayal in the Filmation series - a dark smoke/shade with green lights within it.

Previous

Index

Next

  • Show Spoilers
  • Night Vision
  • Sticky Header
  • Wide Load

Important Links

Ask The Tropers Trope Finder Media Finder Trope Launch Pad Tech Wishlist Reviews Go Ad Free!
Crucial Browsing
Resources
Top