She-Ra and the Princesses of Power Rewatch 5.4, "Stranded"

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Hope is rekindled along with purpose as the final season of the series persists.

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5.4, "Stranded"

Written by Noelle Stevenson, M. Willis, Josie Campbell, Katherine Nolfi, and Laura Sreebny
Directed by Roy Burdine and Mandy Clotworthy

Synopsis

Note the placement.
Image taken from the episode, used for commentary.

Adora, Glimmer, Bow, and Entrapta proceed through space. They assess their situation, with tension emerging from Bow. Glimmer makes to ask forgiveness for her earlier misbehavior, but problems with the ship intervene. She apologizes to Adora amid the problems, but the ship's suffering a fuel problem prevents more. The group proceeds towards a noted fuel source.

On Etheria, the remaining resistance forces make camp, Scorpia offering encouragement. She confers with Swift Wind as he tries to make contact with the absent Adora. He bemoans his inability to do so, and she comforts him.

Pretty. Also, Arthurian reference?
Image taken from the episode, used for commentary.

On the planet identified as the fuel source, Adora's party finds a wasteland that the Horde had already visited; the fate of Etheria is forecast, and blame for it laid at Glimmer's feet. Sign of the fuel emerges, and Adora, Glimmer, and Bow investigate while Entrapta effects repairs. Bow remains taciturn, and Adora is of little help. A sudden fissure separates the party, sending Adora underground into crystalline caverns. She proceeds into the caves.

On Etheria, Swift Wind continues his vigil. He tries to talk to her, giving a convenient overview of the resistance's progress against the greater Horde. The lack of reply disheartens him.

As Adora explores, she finds signs of others before coming under attack. A brief melee ensues, and Glimmer and Bow reach Adora amid an ongoing resolution among Adora and her erstwhile opponents, the Star Siblings. They share the situation of being in need of fuel--and the fuel is difficult to access. Adora tries to recruit them, but they resist joining her against the Horde. Entrapta joins with a warning of impending seismic activity, and the combined group proceeds to retrieve the fuel.

It's a pretty clear sign.
Image taken from the episode, used for commentary.

The seismic activity intensifies, imperiling the retrieval efforts. Glimmer makes the retrieval while the rest secure their path of egress. As they do, Adora begins to manifest the power of She-Ra once again, and the group is able to escape with the fuel before the caverns collapse. Adora's exertions give the Star Siblings hope, and they agree to join the rebellion against the Horde.

As Adora, Glimmer, and Bow make to retrieve Catra, Glimmer apologizes to Bow; he accepts it, and the trio is at ease once again. And Swift Wind, on Etheria, feels the return of She-Ra.

Discussion

The nascent return of She-Ra fits in nicely with the long-established Arthurian pastiche, the messianic figure of the once-and-future potentate reemerging again betokening the Arthur to which Adora has long been linked. And, truly, Adora did not die, but went into another place--a much, much different one, indeed, what with flying across the cosmos.

The pastiche nature of She-Ra's Arthurian reference also again admits of her evoking Lancelot in her conduct. The return of her powers comes not at her command, not to satisfy her vanity, but in the defense of others, bringing to mind Lancelot's healing of Urre in Malory. The Round Table knight does "not do it for no presumption, but for to bear [his comrades] fellowship," and, just as he succeeds when he approaches the task humbly, Adora is able to summon the power of She-Ra almost reflexively when she is not fighting to retain her prominence but standing stable to support her friends. Nor do either of them exult in the achievement, which is something worth noting.

More of us could do with being more humble.