( i’m so so sorry for my horrible english, i swear i tried my best, feel free to correct me, obviously with respect)
ok I was philosophizing a lot about Catras redemption and I realized something super important that I think many people don't understand.
First, Catra is mentally ill and I think that is already quite clear, her entire past and present was full of abuse and that makes her behave as she did before S5. A clear example of the cycle of abuse. Catra was only looking for acceptance. Her main goal was not The Horde to win because they were good, she wanted to make people see (and Adora) that she did have value and that that is why people loved her. And this is very clear in all the situations where she says "I am important to you, you need me" (which in the end neither Hordak nor Horde Prime give her its entirety but thats another topic to talk later lol). if you think about it, she does not look for that acceptance from people like her, she wanted acceptance from people with power or higher rank. Catra treated everyone badly and that can be seen very clearly with Scorpia, someone who treated her well but still received screams and mistreatment from Catra. I feel that, until a moment, you can empathize with Catra's situation, but even so, a moment does come when she crosses the line and we even see that Scorpia herself leaves her saying that she is a bad friend. Completely understandable, if a person doesn't treat you well, stay away. That Catra was abused and had trauma completely exonerated her from treating people well? No. There will always come a point where it is too much.
i feel that the key point of Catra's redemption is when she hits bottom thanks to Double Trouble and I think we all believe that, but I see it differently. Catra was aware of her problems but like almost every mentally ill person she did not want to accept it or simply did not want to be aware of it, until Double Trouble only confirms her what was wrong with her. Many say that he tells him that everything is her guilt and there she realizes. But I think what Double Trouble makes her understand is that she will never win the acceptance she wants if she doesn't change her attitude. He makes her realize that the acceptance that ,partially, gave her Hordak and that later gives her Horde Prime is not what she is really looking for (acceptance of horde prime is purely for convenience and she realizes it later) and that if she doesn’t change she will never get "to feel loved, useful and accepted." As we saw with Scorpia and Adora.
In the case of Adora, she did repeat over and over that she wanted to help her and that she was going to be there for her, but obviously if you are already trying to help someone who is sick and they don't want to, you can't do anything and it becomes even worst for you. Imagine that your partner has depression, and you are constantly offering help and tell him how much you care, but this person, due to his mental condition, does not accept it and after many attempts he does not want to improve. Well, it tires and becomes toxic. This is why Adora tells her "you have already made your decision" and then on s5 tells her that if she no longer wants to see her again, she can tell her and she will accept it. All this because the last step to overcome a mental illness is to want and accept to receive help and really try it, the last step must be taken by you. Having Double Trouble say "you drive them away wild cat" not only exposes the fact that Catra's actions hurt others but also that if she do not think to change no one will accept her. Because people were there for her and she kept wanting to accomplish her goal. Because she realized the acceptance she can get from Hordak was not going to be enough or what really makes her happy. And this is emphasized again with Horde Prime. ( i know i’m talking about two different periods of time or chapters but i hope it is understandable). She not only realizes that he uses her only as long as she serves him, but that even if she achieves her goal of being accepted and appreciated by Horde Prime, it will not be enough and it will not be what makes her happy. So she decides to change, and yet changing is a long way. We see her again at each relapse, when they show us how she almost has a panic attack when she sees Entrapta, or when she runs away again because “i don’t matter”. For Catra to overcome her trauma is a very long road and that is why I think it is so deep and so sad.
titsay
origamiaround
prguitarman
yousharknotpass
stormborns
