'She-Ra and the Princesses of Power': Scorpia and Catra offer valuable life lessons in when is the right time to leave a toxic friendship
Spoiler alert for Season 4 of 'She-Ra and the Princesses of Power'
The "magical power of friendship" is a potent thing. Many animated series work to make this literally true — magical powers that grow more powerful when everyone is together, connected, united in purpose against approaching darkness.
It's an important message for people of all ages, but there is a danger in thinking of friendship as a fix-all, or something that should be relied upon no matter what. It's a difficult topic for any show to cover, much less a children's show, but 'She-Ra and the Princesses of Power' manages to do just that.
Friendships are frayed throughout the show's latest season. Adora (Aimee Carrero) and Glimmer (Karen Fukuhara) butt heads as they argue over how the war against the Horde should be handled.
Catra (AJ Michalka) finds companionship and like-mindedness in Double Trouble (Jacob Tobia) but it's ultimately a friendship based on financial compensation.
Even Hordak (Keston John) spends a certain amount of time wallowing in self-pity at Entrapta's (Christine Woods) perceived betrayal. At the start of Season 4, the only one who is convinced that friendship will win out, in the end, is Scorpia (Lauren Ash) — and she really shouldn't be.
Scorpia and Catra fall into the very definition of a toxic relationship. Catra continually takes Scorpia for granted, insults her, and takes complete advantage of how much Scorpia cares for her whenever Catra needs something done.
Scorpia takes it all with a cheerful smile, and she does this for two important reasons that Season 4 takes the time to illustrate: she clings to the hope that things will get better (any day now, really), and that even if they don't, she's been told that she doesn't deserve any better.
Just like Sdora, the Horde has been lying to Scorpia for her entire life. They conquered Scorpia's homeland and told her the move would be better for her people. They took away Scorpia's birthright and made her believe that she wasn't worthy of being a Princess.
They told her that the only worth she had was as a soldier who followed orders, and it's a lesson that Catra reinforced at every turn.
Scorpia's positive attitude still sees her trying to be the best Horde soldier she can possibly be, but in Episode 6, 'Princess Scorpia', Scorpia finally comes face to face with the many lies she has been told.
For many fans, Scorpia and a friendship with her are viewed as a path towards Catra's redemption. Catra is too far gone, at this point, however, and takes out all her frustrations on Scorpia.
When Scorpia finds out Catra used her to frame Entrapta for betrayal, it's the last straw — at a certain point, it's just not Scorpia's responsibility anymore to redeem Catra or make any more excuses for her.
In a moment of profound but quiet strength, she says her goodbye to Catra with a simple, "You're a bad friend," and leaves the Horde so she can ask for the Rebellion's help in rescuing Entrapta. Catra, for her part, doesn't even realize she has left until a few episodes later.
Scorpia, though treated with hostility and suspicion by the Rebellion at first (she is, after all, an enemy solider) finds a sense of true belonging with the Princesses, even through fleeting reactions.
It's a feeling she never thought she was worthy of. Frosta (Merit Leighton) talks to Scorpia about belonging a little — being different does not preclude one from belonging.
Though it's under rather doomed circumstances, Scorpia finally steps into her role as one of Etheria's Princesses in the season's finale — and how that changes things for her in Season 5 is sure to be one of the series' most anticipated plotlines.
It takes strength, and a challenging amount of self-examination to understand when a situation has become untenable. It is a very mature step to have to take, and as Season 4 matures its characters transition into new roles, it becomes one of the most important lessons the season can impart.
