I always feel bad for Adora in this episode, because yes, Catra’s is the more obvious case of abuse, but Adora was raised under abuse as well - it just took a different form. Shadow Weaver was grooming her into her own pet soldier who never takes her own needs into consideration, but more than that, she treated Adora like a commander from the time she was a small child. As in anything that happened to her OR Catra would be considered her fault, because Catra was Adora’s “responsibility”. Catra thinks Adora never stood up for her, and while we can see that’s not true, Adora was also trying to protect Catra their whole lives by trying to get Catra to settle down and follow the rules. She wasn’t doing it because she felt Catra was wrong, but because she felt that it’s what she had to do in order to *protect* Catra. It breaks my heart because these are two very messed up kids with different kinds of trauma, and that makes them misunderstand and lash out at each other in the most painful ways. Neither of them are wrong in the hurt they feel, and that makes everything so much harder to witness.
As I'm sure you're aware by this point, Catra is a bit of a divisive character, and this episode is a pivotal moment for her: The viewers that couldn't sympathize with her or understand her reasons for staying after this episode probably never will. I'm an unrepentant Catra simp myself so maybe take the following with a small grain of salt, but: The moment she leaves Adora hanging on the ledge is tragic, heartbreaking, but also cathartic in a way, because that's basically what Adora did to her in the opening of the series. She tells her to "cover for her" to Shadow Weaver, who as we see her had explicitly said that she would kill Catra if not for her bond with Adora, and then over the course of a day decides to leave forever. Something she seemingly had no plans to even tell Catra about, never once in her time petting horses and eating cake did she mention to Glimmer and Bow or herself "hmm, my best friend since we were toddlers is in the Fright Zone, probably in mortal peril right now". It also recontextualizes Adora's "the Horde is actually bad" revelation and Catra's reaction to it - it isn't (or isn't just) incredulity at her naiveté, but frustration that Adora seemingly never caught on to the Horde's abusiveness when Catra was the victim, but completely reverses her allegiance the instant she sees someone else suffering under them. It's easy to see Adora leaving as the clearly right and moral thing to do, but it was also very callous with the retrospect that Promise provides. Of course, Adora never should have been put in such a position in the first place, but that's not likely to be much comfort to Catra.
The two on the left are Spinnerella and Netossa. They’re also princesses but are rarely relevant (I think like 3 episodes that they do anything lol) and introduced when Adora first goes to Bright Moon
![Eminem - Fuel (Shady Edition) feat. Westside Boogie & GRIP [Official Audio]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/k1OquBida9s/mqdefault.jpg)
I hate how Shadow Weaver simultaneously makes Catra feel worthless and Adora feel responsible for everything bad that happens.
I always feel bad for Adora in this episode, because yes, Catra’s is the more obvious case of abuse, but Adora was raised under abuse as well - it just took a different form. Shadow Weaver was grooming her into her own pet soldier who never takes her own needs into consideration, but more than that, she treated Adora like a commander from the time she was a small child. As in anything that happened to her OR Catra would be considered her fault, because Catra was Adora’s “responsibility”. Catra thinks Adora never stood up for her, and while we can see that’s not true, Adora was also trying to protect Catra their whole lives by trying to get Catra to settle down and follow the rules. She wasn’t doing it because she felt Catra was wrong, but because she felt that it’s what she had to do in order to *protect* Catra. It breaks my heart because these are two very messed up kids with different kinds of trauma, and that makes them misunderstand and lash out at each other in the most painful ways. Neither of them are wrong in the hurt they feel, and that makes everything so much harder to witness.
This is a fantastic perspective! While Adora was parentified Catra was scapegoated two different types of trauma but trauma nonetheless.
This is my favourite episode from season 1
Promise is one of the ones where I RELIABLY tear up no matter how many times I see it, I'm so emo about them
Poor baby catra
I love seeing you dissecting these episodes and characters. You guys have a really good understanding of them
CATRA AND ADORA BACKSTORY!
9:14: Good catch. Never noticed that's what that was implying.
As I'm sure you're aware by this point, Catra is a bit of a divisive character, and this episode is a pivotal moment for her: The viewers that couldn't sympathize with her or understand her reasons for staying after this episode probably never will.
I'm an unrepentant Catra simp myself so maybe take the following with a small grain of salt, but: The moment she leaves Adora hanging on the ledge is tragic, heartbreaking, but also cathartic in a way, because that's basically what Adora did to her in the opening of the series. She tells her to "cover for her" to Shadow Weaver, who as we see her had explicitly said that she would kill Catra if not for her bond with Adora, and then over the course of a day decides to leave forever. Something she seemingly had no plans to even tell Catra about, never once in her time petting horses and eating cake did she mention to Glimmer and Bow or herself "hmm, my best friend since we were toddlers is in the Fright Zone, probably in mortal peril right now".
It also recontextualizes Adora's "the Horde is actually bad" revelation and Catra's reaction to it - it isn't (or isn't just) incredulity at her naiveté, but frustration that Adora seemingly never caught on to the Horde's abusiveness when Catra was the victim, but completely reverses her allegiance the instant she sees someone else suffering under them.
It's easy to see Adora leaving as the clearly right and moral thing to do, but it was also very callous with the retrospect that Promise provides. Of course, Adora never should have been put in such a position in the first place, but that's not likely to be much comfort to Catra.
Way to go Superstar! Only two episodes left from S1! Hope you guys keep watching the next seasons. They're 🔥 🔥🔥!
Loving your spop reactions look forward to them every Friday 💜💜 keep it up can’t wait for the later seasons!!
9:10 I am so dumb lol. I've never noticed.
The two on the left are Spinnerella and Netossa. They’re also princesses but are rarely relevant (I think like 3 episodes that they do anything lol) and introduced when Adora first goes to Bright Moon
Well, at least now that Catra hit rock bottom we can start the redemption arc...