Ok I wanna talk about shadow weaver, specifically her “redemption arc”. It pissed me off: but it was meant to. Shadow weaver only sacrifices herself for herself. To be the “good person”, the “hero”. We can see this in her last words, nothing but a parting phrase to hurt someone she fucking abused further and to make herself feel better. Her “redemption” arc is about her, not fixing what she’s done or helping those she’s hurt.
It’s like she saw an infographic of how to redeem herself and liked the idea, but doesn’t want to put in any work. And I think that’s the point. I would be fucking outraged if shadow weaver was actually redeemed- abuse is one of the few crimes I Think there is no exscuse for. Her “redemption” is just like everything else she does- selfish, and meant to make her happier.
She holds the fact that she’s “not evil” anymore and “not hurting anyone” over catra’s head at EVERY opportunity, hurting her further. And then, instead of helping, apologising, admitting she was wrong she does the easy thing and does some stereotypical “heroic sacrifice”.
Her entire redemption arc only exists to make her feel like a good person and like what she did to catra was somehow justifiable. She’s a great criticism of redemption arcs for certain characters I think and why being better has to be not about you but the people you’ve hurt.