All Things Sapphic: She-ra and the Princesses of Power
by Alyssa Sileo
I just finished the animated series She-ra and the Princesses of Power, which has all seasons streaming on Netflix. What an emotional roller coaster! If I could go back in time and watch it again, I could. Which I just might do.
This newer series is a reboot of the series with a similar name from 1985. Noelle Stevenson is the producer who, at only 28 years old, brought this once beloved character into a new generation. People of all ages can enjoy She-ra, and guess who else can see themselves in the series time and time again? LGBTQ+ people!
There are multiple LGBTQ+ characters and couples within the show’s regular cast: sapphic women, queer men, non-binary people, and trans people! The development of a sapphic couple is one of the driving forces of the show, coming to light in later seasons. There’s not only excellent representation of queerness and gender-queerness, but also a consistent depiction of healthy femininity and healthy masculinity. I know a lot of younger people will be drawn to a series like this, and it makes me happy to think that they will have these magical role models of various races, sizes, and genders. This is not something a lot of youth-focused shows can boast, unfortunately. She-ra is paving the way for all series to come.
Here’s a summary of where the show begins: Adora is a soldier serving the Horde regime, who seeks to quell the Rebellion of the Princesses and take over the planet of Etheria. A trip into the forest with her friend Catra leads Adora to find members of the Rebellion. She also discovers a sword that transforms her into the magical being She-ra, who, as legend says, can strengthen the Rebellion. Once she learns that the Rebellion is the worthy cause from the members who quickly become her friends, Adora abdicates the Horde and works to unite the Princesses who had since drifted apart.
This Rebellion is a group fighting against climate change and imperialism, even if the series may not come out and use those words. They use both technology and magic in their strategies, as well as their power as a coalition of princesses, to achieve their goals, which are not simply won. While facing a multitude of roadblocks, they must be resilient, tactful, and honest with each other. It’s a moving allegory to our modern times of revolution and activism of the marginalized, as well as a testament to the wisdom, lived experience, and importance of women and non-binary people.
Another thing I must mention: this show has some of the best voice-acting I’ve ever experienced within an animated series. The characters are so alive, dynamic, and lovable. A couple notable cast members are AJ Michalka as Catra — yes, one of the sisters of the singing duo Aly and AJ! — Sandra Oh as Princess Castaspella, Jordan Fisher as Seahawk, and Geena Davis making a cameo as Huntara!
In this series, I’m particularly touched by the relationship of Glimmer and Bow. Stevenson took special care for their friendship to not fall into the trope of “guy and girl fall for each other because that’s what always happens with guys and girls.” They love each other and stick up for each other, which is a big accomplishment in a genre of television that consistently employs heteronormativity in relationship-building. I’m also excited about the nuanced way the writers demonstrated social anxiety and the reality of redemption. I mean, Adora and Catra literally have to fight the influence of the cult they were raised in, and rebuild themselves. It’s an emotional show for sure, and season 5 was my favorite. I almost cried several times.
If I haven’t already convinced you enough about the quality of this show, let me just gush a bit about how visually beautiful it is. (The pastel pinks and purples are just so sapphic, y’all.) The animation crew must have painstakingly spent hours creating Etheria and every other location we visit over the course of the series. It’s colorful, with gorgeous nature, sea, and space scenes.
She-ra is a great show to watch during quarantine, and a beautiful way to understand our world through traveling to Etheria. So load up your Netflix accounts…or start your adeptly planned free trials.
About the Author:
Alyssa Sileo’s Thespian identity comes first and foremost in anything she carries out. As a member of the Drew University Class of 2022, she studies theatre arts, women’s and gender studies, and Spanish. She’s a proud NJ Thespian Alumni and member of their state chapter board. She is the leader of the international performances network The Laramie Project Project, which unites worldwide productions and readings of the acclaimed Tectonic Theater Project play and encourages community-based LGBTQ+ advocacy. Alyssa is humbled to serve as the 2017 Spirit of Matthew Award winner and as a Youth Ambassador for Matthew Shepard Foundation. She believes there is an advocacy platform tucked into every piece of the theatre catalogue and intends to write outreach into the canon.
