The squad finds the Crimson Waste isn't uninhabited after all. Adora decides to trust Waste leader Huntara, and Hordak tells Entrapta about Horde Prime.
Tropes
- Art Shift: Hordak's flashback is done in a simpler style.
- Bad Boss: Right after seeing Hordak's genetic defects, Horde Prime sent him out to die on the front lines. This is despite that fact that Hordak was completely loyal, to the point where he still wants to prove himself to his creator despite being discarded.
- Bad Guy Bar: In the middle of the Crimson Waste, built into a giant Desert Skull.
- Clone Angst: Hordak reveals that he is a clone of Horde Prime, a powerful warlord in the universe outside of Etheria. Hordak was ostracized by Horde Prime for being genetically defective, and now seeks to prove himself to his "brother" by conquering Etheria.
- Cordon Bleugh Chef: From Imp's reaction, Entrapta's soup isn't the greatest.
- Crush Filter: Hordak sees the background light up behind Entrapta when she tells him that she finds imperfection beautiful.
- A Day in the Limelight: Hordak and Entrapta are the main characters of the B-plot. Hordak even moreso.
- Expository Hairstyle Change: Hordak's hair gains a more relaxed, tousled appearance after he saves Entrapta from the portal blowing up, and it stays that way after he softens up around her and she gives him new armour.
- Eyelid Pull Taunt: While mocking one of Huntara's subordinates, Glimmer sticks her tongue out while pulling down one of her lower eyelids.
- Foreshadowing: There are a few hints to Huntara's past as a Horde soldier in her design— mainly, her extendable sword seems to be modified out of a battle staff like Adora wielded during training in season one, and her boots are very similar to Adora's own, only older and mended. She also creates a compass with one of the levitating rocks in the waste, in the same way Adora does, which she described as part of her Horde training.
- Freudian Excuse: Hordak wants to prove himself to Horde Prime.
- Obliviously Evil: Entrapta reaches new levels after hearing Hordak's Origin Story. He explained that he was a soldier in the service to a Galactic Conqueror, and she still isn't bothered about working for him.
- Queer Establishing Moment: Randomly, Adora being instantly smitten and going starry eyed when seeing Huntara is the first instant when her Sexuality isn't linked to Catra and being able to explained away with their friendship.
- The Reveal: We finally learn Hordak's Origin Story; he is a clone of Horde Prime, the leader of a gigantic fleet in space, and was sent to die in battle after it was discovered he was defective. He ended up on Etheria by accident, and is trying to conquer it so he can prove himself.
- Shout-Out:
- The idea of a General Ripper making an entire army of clones of himself to fight his wars is taken straight from the origins of the Sontarans.
- Horde Prime is referred to as The Emperor of the Known Universe.
- Significant Wardrobe Shift: When Entrapta discovers that Hordak is ill, she creates a new cybernetic exoskeleton for him. The exoskeleton is powered by a small First Ones crystal embedded in the collar, which says "loved" in First Ones language.
- Smitten Teenage Girl: Adora is immediately smitten with Huntara. This goes away after she betrays them.
- Stab the Scorpion: Huntara threatens Adora when the latter asks "What are you running from?" but instead stabs a small creature.
- Those Were Only Their Scouts: Hordak reveals this to be the case with him, as he is only one of many clones of Hordak Prime.
- Tuck and Cover: Hordak protects Entrapta from a lab explosion in this manner, damaging his cybernetic armor in the process.
- Tsundere: Hordak tries to be nice to Entrapta after she rebuilds his armor. His attempts to do so are awkward.
- Villainous Friendship: While Hordak had generally just tolerated Entrapta due to her usefulness until now, this episode sees him begin to develop a genuine friendship with her.
- Wall Pin of Love: Entrapta does this to Hordak while demanding he tell her his backstory.
- Wham Shot: Mara's ship embedded in the center of the Crimson Waste.
- You Are Better Than You Think You Are:
- Entrapta does this to Hordak, telling him that he is too preoccupied with being a defect. Imperfection is beautiful and is what makes scientific experimentation possible.
- With goading from his imp, Hordak gives a proper acknowledgment of the new armor Entrapta makes and by extension that she is not a failure. Normally when Hordak acknowledges the accomplishments of his underlings with a layer of detached professionalism. When Hordak thanks Entrapta, it comes off more as a hammy villain speech, indicating how genuine it is.
- You Fool!: Non malicious variant. Entrapta tries to get close to the portal machine as it malfunctions, which Hordak warns her against, calling her a fool since the machine is about to explode.
