★★★★★
She-Ra and the Princesses of Power
Written by Noelle Stevenson
Starring Aimee Carrero, Karen Fukuhara, AJ Michalka, Marcus Scribner
Produced by DreamWorks Animation Television, Mattel Creations
Review by Brian C. Baer
For all intents and purposes, season three of She-Ra and the Princesses of Power can be viewed as “season 2B”. Last season’s batch of seven episodes where released in April of 2019, and did a lot of lifting in terms of world-building, character development, and setting up storylines. The six episodes dropping this week follow through and allow the plot to kick into overdrive.
Season three of the acclaimed series from DreamWorks Animation and Netflix picks up where season two left off, with the escaped Shadow Weaver traveling to Bright Moon to aid the Princesses in their battle against the Horde. Meanwhile, Hordak’s punishment for the failed Force Captain Catra looms. Many characters, both good and bad, soon find themselves traveling to the deadly Crimson Wastes to seek out an elusive piece of First Ones technology, which has the power to either save or destroy the entire planet of Etheria.
In the midst of all the action and high stakes, there’s still plenty of room for the series’ typical humor and focus on character growth. It’s particularly nice to see how Adora and Glimmer have both become more confident in themselves and their abilities. Catra, on the other hand, faces the dilemma of forging her own life and destiny, or continue to be driven by revenge.
In the first two episodes alone, there are major reveals regarding the origins of both Adora and Hordak. While Dreamworks does not have the rights to explore certain elements of the wider POP/MOTU mythos, keen-eyed fans of the classic He-Man and the Masters of the Universe and the New Adventures of He-Man characters may appreciate what is alluded to, or accomplished by creatively skirting copyright restrictions.
One feather in the cap of She-Ra and the Princesses of Power season three is the inclusion of fan-favorite character Huntara. As voiced by Geena Davis, Huntara is a tough and cynical warrior who is both an excellent foil for, and compliment to, the earnest but impressionable Adora. Fans who have been clamoring for this character to make an appearance should not be disappointed.
These newest episodes of She-Ra are the strongest ones the series has offered up yet. The action is fluid and intense, the voice-acting is heartfelt, and the planetary stakes never outweigh the personal conflict between Adora and Catra. Any MOTU or classic POP fan who has not yet given this show a chance should, for these most recent episodes if nothing else.
“FOR THE HONOR OF GRAYSKULL!”
All 6 episodes of She-Ra and the Princesses of Power Season 3 are available for streaming on Friday, August 2nd on Netflix!
