She-Ra and the Princesses of Power Rewatch 1.5, "The Sea Gate"

Read the previous entry here!
Read the next entry here!

The rebellion brings in another princess.

---

1.5, "The Sea Gate"

Written by Noelle Stevenson, Sonja Warfield, and Josie Campbell
Directed by Jen Bennett

Synopsis

Yes, there is something of Han Solo about him.
Image taken from the episode, used for commentary.

Angella dispatches Glimmer to recruit the sea-princess Mermista, albeit with some reservations. Their expedition swiftly takes them to a shady sea-port, where they recruit Sea Hawk. And they are observed; Shadow Weaver dispatches Catra and Scorpia to retrieve Adora. The over-ocean trip sits ill with Catra.

She does seem to have things in hand.
Image taken from the episode, used for commentary.

The trip Adora, Glimmer, and Bow take with Sea Hawk goes better, though annoyingly for all involved, given Sea Hawk's self-aggrandizement--and his driving them off course in the name of adventure. The problem that faces them in their off-course shenanigans is swiftly dispatched, however, and they proceed to their intended destination with no further incident.

The Horde forces arrive at the Sea Gate Mermista guards. Catra purposes to go through the gate, rather than around it, earning a bit of admiration from Scorpia.

Not thrilled, indeed.
Image taken from the episode, used for commentary.

Adora, Glimmer, and Bow arrive at Mermista's kingdom, Selenias, finding it largely empty. They are escorted to Mermista, who does not seem thrilled at the intrusion. Glimmer introduces herself and states her case; Mermista notes that the Sea Gate is weakening, and that people have left her kingdom because of it, and that the Horde is attacking. Adora offers to help with the Gate, recognizing the Gate as ancient technology she can affect. Glimmer and Mermista strike a deal.

Adora makes her attempt to reinforce the Sea Gate, if somewhat slowly, channeling power as She-Ra until distracted. Meanwhile, Sea Hawk makes to leave; Glimmer confronts him, and he confesses the prevailing ill-regard in which he is held. She recognizes their shared problem and makes to aid him.

Victory is thrilling.
Image taken from the episode, used for commentary.

The Horde forces attack at that point, Catra appreciating the serendipity of finding Adora along her route. Mermista and Bow move to interdict the attack. A melee ensues, with Glimmer and Sea Hawk assisting, and Catra moves on Adora, trying to persuade her back to the Horde and attacking her when she refuses. The Horde forces are repelled, and Adora restores the Sea Gate. In the wake of the victory, Sea Hawk persuades Mermista to join Glimmer.

Discussion

If it is the case that there is much of the Arthurian in the series, if perhaps buried under other trappings or mixed in with other motifs entirely, then it seems to me that Sea Hawk is in some ways an echo of the Malorian Sir Kay the Seneschal. I've had opportunity to go on about Kay before, and I remain secure in my assertion that he instantiates several forms of bullshit, particularly in boasting about capabilities he purportedly has but then does not display--much. Malory's Kay claims to be one of the mightier knights, and at one time, he was, but he is quickly overshadowed by others in the narrative, even if he seems never to realize that he has been supered. Similarly, Sea Hawk reports an inflated sense of his own skills and worth, although he does prove to be of some particular use, if only now and again. And, somehow, both characters retain positions they should not, recurring in the narrative (as will be demonstrated for Sea Hawk in later episodes; it is a rewatch) despite the clear disdain that many within the milieu feel for them. As in earlier episodes, it may be a thing that strikes modern audiences strangely, but it is still a thing that has ample antecedent, including in the medieval.