She-Ra and the Princesses of Power Rewatch 4.7, "Mer-Mysteries"

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Tensions rise and the stakes elevate as the fourth season continues.

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4.7, "Mer-Mysteries"

Written by Noelle Stevenson, M. Willis, Josie Campbell, Katherine Nolfi, and Laura Sreebny
Directed by Jen Bennett

Synopsis

Something of a cliché, admittedly
Image taken from the episode, used for commentary

On a dark and stormy night in Bright Moon, Queen Glimmer, the princesses, Bow, Sea Hawk, and Flutterina confer regarding a failed mission. They debrief, and the idea is arrived at that there is a Horde spy among them. Mermista purposes to uncover the spy's identity.

There is some confusion about the idea as Mermista begins to take charge of the investigation. Adora lends her voice to the idea, however, and investigation proceeds. Shadow Weaver is swiftly set aside as a suspect while others are interrogated in turn.

They're a sneaky one.
Image taken from the episode, used for commentary

"Flutterina" makes a report to Catra about current circumstances. Catra expresses concern that Double Trouble will be exposed; Double Trouble sets aside the concern against shapeshifting.

Questioning proceeds, if somewhat ineptly. Accounts of events are reported in turn, with the problems in the mission put on display. Early clues had been discounted as equipment problems. Shadow Weaver does make a helpful suggestion, however, on which Glimmer and Adora follow up after a time and some strife between them.

Wasn't there just somebody on the stool?
Image taken from the episode, used for commentary

Questioning continues, running into a large gathering from which Glimmer absents herself. Adora moves to talk with her as Glimmer purposes to address the issue directly. Adora confronts Glimmer about trust. And news arrives that communications have been cut, renewing suspicions of an infiltrator. With the principals gathered together, Glimmer notes that a backup device is available, and Mermista pursues the traditional mystery method. Accusations follow, and "Flutterina" slips away amid the distraction.

Ew. Just, ew.
Image taken from the episode, used for commentary

She moves against the noted backup device and is caught amid her endeavor. Her spycraft is uncovered, as is Double Trouble's identity. And Double Trouble reveals much of the Horde's ongoing machinations--which range to a substantial, succesful assault on Mermista's home that has already happened. It has been laid waste by Hordak's own hand.

And, elsewhere, another threat begins to direct itself towards Etheria.

Discussion

One element of the episode that presents itself early, working from the cliché of the murder mystery, is an excess of drama. Movies and television now commonly regarded as badly written and worse acted tended towards the kind of scenery-chewing and bathetic fallacy being sent up in the present episode. (Even were it in earnest, it can be forgiven in a children's show; kids have not yet learned the cliché to know it needs to be avoided or how it can serve as a common touchstone. I seem to recall that Catherine Molloy's 2010 College English piece, "The Malcliche: An Argument for an Unlikely Episteme," having something useful to say on the topic. And I do note how it dates my scholarship that I refer to such an article.) But there is medieval antecedent for the practice; such pieces as Malory's and Sir Gawain and the Green Knight make much use of such, with knights weeping abundantly and Arthur acting extravagantly, and such pieces are hardly excoriated for it.

Aside from that, the issue of isolation queenship emerges in the episode again in the evident strife between Glimmer and Adora. It continues the concerns noted in several earlier episodes of the present season, deepening the connections between Glimmer and her medieval antecedents and thus the medievalism of the series as a whole.