As an extremely popular show dedicated to complex characters and elaborate interpersonal relationships, She-Ra and the Princesses of Power has plenty of twists, turns, and shocking events.
- Hordak revealing in "Huntara" that he's just a clone of Horde Prime, who he plans to summon to Etheria, and revealing his true nature as an outright Tragic Villain. Suffice it to say that many didn't see that coming and it changed the game for both Hordak's character and the show itself.
- Season three's final episodes bring quite the shake-up to the series, mainly due to the change in Catra and Adora's relationship. Catra snaps from dealing with another of Shadow Weaver's rounds of abuse, tases Entrapta and has her exiled to Beast Island, opens the portal, and begins warping reality with full consciousness that she could wipe it out, not caring anymore and absolutely desperate to finally one-up Adora. In the process, Angella pulls a Heroic Sacrifice and Adora finally decides against trying to redeem Catra, instead calling her out, defeating her, and returning reality to normal. It became a Signature Scene very quickly and sets the stage for their final arc.
- "Hero" has Mara revealing that Etheria itself is a weapon drawing on the planet's natural magic reserves, that she never went mad at all but locked everything away in Despondos to save everyone, and that the power of She-Ra is a key to the planet's weapon.
- The last two episodes of the fourth season hit hard, delivering shock after shock. These range from Double Trouble revealing the truth about Entrapta to Hordak, leading Hordak and Catra to an emotionally-charged fight that devastates the Fright Zone to Adora breaking the Sword of Protection upon realizing it's a weapon of the First Ones and that her life was a lie, as well as Double Trouble brutally deconstructing Catra and utterly breaking her spirit to the biggest shock of all: Horde Prime arrives, mind-wipes Hordak, kills the conflict entirely, and takes Hordak, Catra, and Glimmer into space as he prepares to conquer Etheria.
- Catra finally redeeming herself against all odds in "Corridors."
- Adora summoning the true power of She-Ra, manifesting a new sword and a new outfit, all using The Power of Love in "Save the Cat."
- Hordak regaining his memories and turning on Horde Prime to save Entrapta, declaring his individuality and freeing himself in "Heart, Part 2." Does a moment of such clear finality end there, though? No. Horde Prime possesses Hordak's body and declares, in one final fit of rage, that he's going to wipe out everyone, himself included, with the Heart, just to spite Etheria for their defiance of him.
- Shadow Weaver of all people pulling a Heroic Sacrifice to save Catra and Adora in "Heart, Part 2."
- Catra and Adora declaring their love for one another, resolving five seasons of tension, miscommunication and struggle between the two of them, and saving Etheria with The Power of Love in "Heart, Part 2." The fanbase was lit on fire by this moment, and with good reason.
- Even after the biggest moments in "Heart, Part 2," She-Ra hands out one last surprise: When Adora was a baby, Hordak saved her with no reason but his own kindness, saying a fond "I remember you" after she saves his life from Horde Prime's possession, causing things to come full-circle and reuniting him with Entrapta.
