TV Review: She-Ra and the Princesses of Power Season 2

She-Ra and the Princesses of Power Season 2

Starring: Aimee Carrero, AJ Michalka, Karen Fukuhara

Rating: TV-Y7-FV

Runtime: 7 episodes

It hasn’t seemed that long since the first season of the new She-Ra rebook aired and here’s another one hot on its heels! This is the typical format of late though for animated Dreamwork’s shows, such as Voltron, with relatively short seasons which are released every couple of months instead of once a year like most other shows. The rapid release rate does have its advantages – the last season is still fresh enough in most viewer’s memories for them to remember events more clearly. Certainly, it helps cut down those blues when a season finale airs to know the next batch of episodes isn’t far off.

With its pastel colour scheme and a surprising amount of diversity for a show aimed at younger viewers, the new She-Ra boot is often compared too other popular cartoons such as Steven Universe. Honestly, it’s a series I wish had aired when I was a kid because it would quickly have become one of my favourites – as an adult, however… it’s STILL one of my favourites! The series is fun, colourful and has a great cast of characters. As a reboot, it’s had complaints from fans for diverging too far from the original She-Ra series which aired back in the mid-1980s – but personally, I feel the modernisation of the show works much better for today’s watchers. The characters have quirky likable personalities and their designs are much more varied, ranging from different body types and skin colours and outfits which don’t rely on the heavy sexualisation that the original series did. The new She-Ra feels much more relatable to today’s female watchers and as such, more likable.

The second season takes place shortly after the end of the first, with the Rebellion still in full swing against the Evil Horde, led by Princess Glimmer, her friend Bow, and Adora. This season is mainly episodic, with a different adventure each week, whereas the first season focused on a more overarching storyline towards the end. The characters are the highlight of this series though and it’s through each of their adventures every episode, that they develop more and friendships are deepened or fractured more as time goes on.

This very much suffers from ‘middle season syndrome’ however – which each episode is entertaining if feels like there is very little overarching plot so far, just hints of something along the way. The final episode could easily be mistaken for just another episode as compared to other finales, there is no big climatic event our heroes must overcome. Instead, however, we see Bow’s home and meet his family, which finally gives his character more depth as his history was always something of a grey area (and purposely so, it appeared). The end comes so quickly, however, that it leaves the viewer feeling disappointed – especially as the episode suddenly ends on a dark cliff-hanger, which clashes heavily in tone with the rest of the episode. It’s almost as if this episode was filler and then the writers suddenly remembered to tack on some plot, right at the end.

Still, that’s pretty much my only grumble with the series (and that I wish there were more episodes). Side characters outside the main trio and Catra get more development as well, Scorpia, Shadow Weaver and Seahawk being particular highlights. The comedy still feels fresh as in the first season with many instantly quotable moments, and the focus on friendship is one of its strong points.  She Ra’s characters are generally likable (bar one or two such as Entrapta who is increasingly frustrating in her alliance with the Horde), and even the ones on the side of the villains get a chance in the spotlight.

Bring on Season 3 –  incoming August 3rd!