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Snippets I drew for some of my favorite moments in the series TTATC (Tied to a Triple Changer) fics!
It is by @seraghoul and you can read it here, it is absolutely amazing go check it out if you are looking for a good Blitzbee fic <3
"how do you feel about labels as a queer person?"
道可道,非常道。名可名,非常名。
Truc (reposted
Cygate for today because I MISS THEMMM
Ok so She-Ra pulled such a great hat trick with Hordak's characterization, and I LOVE it
One of my favorite things about 2018 She-Ra is Hordak's story and development (and Entrapdak cough but that's not the point of this particular post), and the cleverest thing is that so much of it is actually being set up and told to us in seasons 1 and 2 before we even realize that that's what's happening.
When we first see Hordak in the show, he's giving "generic evil overlord" vibes. Garden-variety baddie. Maybe a little more reasonable than some and clearly capable of long-term thinking, but that just serves to make him intimidating. Everything about him--the way he runs his empire, his armor, his color scheme, his minion, his Villainous Eye Makeup(TM), even his name--are all projecting to the audience "yup, Acme Bad Guy here. Move right along."
But then, backstory. And everything snaps into focus. Not only is it one of the first big oh SHIT moments of the show, where we suddenly zoom out and realize that there is SO much more going on than we realized--it's also the start of the audience seeing Hordak as a character rather than an archetype. Suddenly we realize that he's not conquering Etheria because he wants power, or hates happiness and sparkles, or whatever--he's doing it out of a desperate attempt to prove his worth to his brother/creator/god. This moment where Hordak lets Entrapta in is also the moment the show lets us in on what makes our favorite spacebat tick.
On top of that, we've also seen him bonding with Entrapta and opening up to this person that he respects and trusts...probably the only person he's ever respected or trusted apart from Prime. And she's Etherian--someone of a lower species, someone he's supposed to subjugate, someone who he has been raised and trained and programmed and mind-controlled into believing is below him in every way.
But instead she's brilliant and creative and mesmerizing. She's not afraid of him, and she's fascinated with his work. For the first time since being abandoned by Prime, Hordak finally has someone that he can talk to, who is on his level and both understands and cares about the science! (because he is a giant nerd). She's kind to him, a mere defect. And it just sends his whole worldview into a spin, and that's all before--
Bam, mans is a goner. Entrapta's "Imperfections are beautiful" comment punches right through all the toxic bs that Hordak has been steeped in his entire life. You can see on his face here--I think it's the moment Hordak fell in love with Entrapta, but this is also the face of a spacebat reevaluating his entire worldview. If Entrapta, who is amazing, believes something different from Prime...what does that mean? If Entrapta, who is brilliant, believes that he is worth something, and that she herself is a failure...
Well. We know what happens after that, and how Hordak begins to doubt, and eventually fights back against Prime (and remembers his love for Entrapta after TWO mind wipes help my heart ack). But we also get to see what life in the Galactic Horde looks like: the only life Hordak ever knew before coming to Etheria.
It's not nice.
It's really not nice.
Prime operates in a very specific way, and we learn a lot about it in season 5. Prime expects complete obedience, devotion and worship from his clones. He allows no individuality from his subjects, not even a name. Failure or deviations are punished, mind-wiped, or destroyed. We even learn from Wrong Hordak that facial expressions are considered a privilege reserved for Prime (apart from, presumably, expressions of rapture caused by being around Prime).
And once we learn all of this, suddenly thinking about season 1 Hordak becomes very interesting indeed. The time we spend with the Galactic Horde and Prime throws absolutely everything that we know about Hordak into a whole new context. Now all those traits that made him a generic villain are actually hugely effective characterization! And what that characterization is telling us is that Hordak had already moved much farther away from Prime than we (or, probably, he) had realized, even long before he met Entrapta.
Horde Prime does not allow his underlings to have names, personalities, or any differences of appearance. Not only does Hordak allow this among his own troops, he chose a name for himself as well! Season 5 tells us that his very name is an act of blasphemy against his god. And yet Hordak took one for himself, and that name is part of the core identity he is able to hold on to when rebelling against Prime.
Horde Prime cast Hordak out when he showed signs of physical imperfections. Hordak not only keeps Imp (who is by all appearances a failed clone or similar experiment) around, he treats Imp more gently than we see him treat anybody or anything before Entrapta. Imp is not simply "generic evil guy's minion," he is proof of Hordak's capacity for compassion, and evidence that Hordak cannot bring himself to cast aside "defects" as easily as Prime. Considering where Hordak came from, Imp's existence is a huge, flashing neon sign telling the audience this guy here is better than the hell that molded him, and we don't even realize it until 4 seasons after it's been shown to us!
Very cool, ND.
There's more, though. Hordak's red and black color scheme? His dark eye makeup and lipstick? Very Evil Overlord chic. But nope! Actually these are actually expressions of individuality on a level that Hordak knows would be abhorrent to Prime!
Reading between the lines, I see this as Hordak desperately trying to reconcile two diametrically opposed beliefs in his head: (1) devotion to Prime, whose approval he desperately craves, and (2) maintaining some degree of unique personhood, of Hordak, from which to draw strength. Because a failed, defective clone cannot survive on a hostile world, cut off from the hivemind and from Prime's light. A failed clone cannot create an empire to offer Prime as tribute, nor build a spacetime portal from scraps and memory to call Prime back. A failed clone cannot create cybernetic armor to keep his hurting, weakened body alive; to force himself to keep going no matter what, to fight through the pain and the doubt by sheer force of will.
But maybe Hordak can.
And so there it is. Hordak had plenty of time to gain and explore his individuality while separated from Prime, but I think the reason he did it so effectively (while still deluding himself that Prime would forgive him for these little sins, if only Hordak could prove his value) is because he had to.
Wrong Hordak gained his individuality surrounded by kind, quirky people who took care of him; Hordak was ripped from the hivemind by Prime himself and had to fight for his survival against all odds. And that produced a dangerous and damaging foe for Etheria. But it also produced the one clone with the strength of will to defy Prime himself.
This is long and rambling, but ultimately my point is that 1) I love Hordak, and 2) I love love love love that the show was so clever about his characterization. We learn so much about him and how much progress he's already made in breaking from his psycho abusive cult upbringing, and we don't even recognize it until the show wants us to. Hordak had come so far, all on his own, before he met Entrapta. She just helped push him over the edge and finallyrealize (at least consciously) that Prime's worldview might not be the correct one.
Idk, I just don't know if I've ever seen all the trappings of Basic 80's Villain(TM) so successfully subverted, where looking back 4 seasons later is actually a smack in the face with the "effective character building" stick. Amazing.
WHY HE'S SO BIG????? I DIDN'T CHANGED ANYTHIN IN PRIME SIZE, HE'S LITERALLY THAT BIG
(KEEP IN MIND THAT HORDAK IS TALLER THAN THE AVERAGE CLONE)
while hordak shoulder match with she-ra chin, horde prime shoulder matches SHE-RA entire head, like???????
A Map of Etheria (and other details)
Hi everyone! If you've been following me for a while you would know I was working on a map of Etheria, but I never ended up finishing it.
Then, I noticed I was nearing 1,000 hits on my fic Alliance of the Heart, so I decided I would remake it and type up some things about each country.
Also, thank you to everyone who created the She-Ra Fan Wiki because it came in clutch for this map.
Anyway, here's my info dumping about my head cannons regarding the geographical features of each land.
Etheria
Etheria is a planet about the size of Venus located on the outskirts of the Eternian Solar System. Since it is so far away from the Ethernian sun, the planet is sustained by its moons and the magically created heat they give off.
Each moon gives off a certain temperature, so the different climates are based on what moons travel over the most.
Bright Moon
Bright Moon is the third largest kingdom in Etheria, but they are the richest. They are located in the middle of all the major countries, meaning they are a crossroad for trade among the kingdoms. They also possess the territories of Mystacor and the Whispering Woods.
The climate is temperate and is akin to a cool spring season. The country has mostly different types of forests and meadows with some rivers and lakes scattered around.
Salineas
Salineas is the second largest kingdom in the form of an archipelago. The northern part is cooler with more rocky beaches, and as you head south the area becomes progressively more tropical with sandy beaches. The country has some mountains in the valleys when you get inland, but the country is mostly flat.
The country is also located on a tectonic plate line, so whenever the weapon inside Etheria is fired, more islands are created.
The Kingdom of Snows
TKOS is the largest kingdom of Etheria and is almost completely covered in snow. Despite being the largest country, it has a population that is close to Scorponi. The people live mostly on the coast and in large cities.
Dryl
Dryl is a country that spans the largest mountain range on Etheria with a couple of clearings. Its population lives under the mountains in one of the Six "Systems" of Dryl, which are large, carved-out areas within and under the mountains, containing the homes and mines of Dryl. As of the beginning of the series, the Crypto Castle is the only structure on the surface.
The climate is relatively cool, with more snow as you travel further north. The area also has large patches of pine forests and other small shrubs and flowers.
Scorponi
Outside of the Fright Zone, which was the site of an ancient meteor crash, the kingdom of Scorponi is relatively dry. It's relatively flat with expansive planes, sparse forests, and a couple of canyons.
The Crimson Waste
The Crimson Waste is a desert area with large patches of cacti, rocky areas, and large canyons.
Plumeria
Plumaris is one of the small countries with the smallest population with most of the area consisting of agriculture, forests, and flower fields.
Another aspect is the territory they technically have a claim over is an area I created called The Out Fields, which is where the Watch Tower is located and where Hordak found Adora. It's a large, expansive area of tall grass.
The Unnamed Kingdom
The Unnamed Kingdom belongs to Spinnerella and Netossa, which used to be two before the girls got married. The kingdom has a climate similar to Dryl with its own Mountains and forests.
Sweet Bee and Peekablue's Islands
These are tropical islands out of the way of the other kingdoms, helping them stay out of the way of the war. They are considered humid by Etherian standards and are densely forested with many flowers and fruit trees.
The Star Sister's Island
This is a collection of islands similar to the Kingdom of Snows with a cold temperature and mountain terrain.
Beast Island
Beast Island is off the coast of Scorponi and used to be an information hub for the Eternians. As time went on, water damage corroded the tech, causing it to corrupt and branch out into the forest and create the virus affecting the island.
Conclusion
If anyone wants to use this map, please ask me (and maybe tag me because I want to see what you need it for). Also, you can adopt as many headcannons as you want, but I would like some sort of acknowledgment if you use my idea of the Outfields.
Also, if you made it this far, thank you for reading and your patience regarding me creating this
differentiation! + conceptual redemption designs
entrapta and hordak are highkey soooo romantic like wdym his memories keep being erased but they still randomly find each other multiple times across the entire universe and he always always saves her.. hes literally DEFYING HIS ENTIRE PROGRAMMING and then goes “what have you done to me…” LIKE PLS 😭😭💔
I've been thinking about this skybound canon divergent AU for a long time which is WHAT IF Megatron and Optimus fell into Earth together, got captured by the Cobra-la, and escaped together through cooperation.
Like instead of Lazerbeak being Megatron's eyes, what if it had been Optimus? Co-dependency oh yes oh yes... Very toxic, but they'll get around! Your red eyes through mine, and blues in yours.
(this was actually an old artwork. I tweaked it bc I wanted it to have more story)
It is wild to me that the SPOP fandom doesn’t talk about or even mention the fact Hordak attempted to commit suicide on screen. That just happened and then the whole fandom proceeded to be like “well he’s still selfish and mean”. Guys. He isn’t perfect but what do you mean there’s like zero sympathy or acknowledgement of the tragedy of that???
And yes, I will not argue on this. It was not ‘a metaphor’ or ‘kind of’. Hordak stepped into that pool knowing it would erase him. He did not want to live with even the vaguest of memories of who he was. He fully intended to delete everything that made him himself. He willingly tried to destroy who he was and what he felt and everything he was inside. He did it in a way that left his physical body to still be useful because he was so brainwashed that he didn’t want to be a burden even in death. He heard so much as his name and he was ready to kill the part of him that was him, was Hordak. To make himself just another face, to wipe away the feelings and thoughts he had. Destroying everything inside and leaving just a body. That is absolutely a form of suicide. Hordak tried to kill what was left of himself in that moment.
And he was partially successful.
And it breaks me every time I think about it, and again every time it’s forgotten or thrown aside just because he isn’t a main character.
YES OMG!
Just look at the face he makes:
It’s just heartbreaking.
And being told they’re selfish is something a lot of people with suicidal ideation get slapped with, and it’s the LEAST helpful thing to say to a suicidal person.
I think a lot of this fandom is still young and Hordak is a character that in no way can be fully held in a black and white understanding of the world that is just something we all have to grow out of with time. Hordak is such a complex and nuanced character and it’s what makes him the most beautiful, at least to me.
To add on. This exchange. He’s scared and determined and even warning. Hordak took that last glance at something he remembered and yet it was almost begging. It feels to me like he’s saying “sorry, I don’t want this either, but I need to, I have nothing else.” It could even be taken as, in addition to the other reasons he’s doing it, Hordak is doing this to warn her. She needs to understand the danger she’s in, and this is his way of protecting her by showing her what will happen if she continues while hurting himself. The recognition in her eyes and slight jump…she finally understood that the vision of him she’d painted in her head was a lie, and he was just as trapped and scared as she was…I wish they got a proper arc together. I felt like in that moment she realized what was about to happen but couldn’t do anything :(
1000%! There was so much in Catra and Hordak’s dynamic that is so explorable! I think it was that look he gave her that was the true pivot for her in Corridors, just having actual vulnerability from someone she sought approval from.
I like the notion of him giving her that look as a warning too and I wonder if that the first moment she’s really had like a parental figure just genuinely look out for her.
This moment is just the first time a kid sees their parent as frail or even hurt and it makes them introspect in their own choices in a whole new way.
In summation: Everybody say THANK YOU HORDAK for this too!!!!!!
Hi I’m not (will never) be over this and just. The concept of Catra finally having a parental figure that actually wants to protect for her, the realization that he could’ve been that for her all along, that he was always an option.
As he kills himself both to save her and to destroy himself.
She only realizes she had him when it’s too late. As she finally feels for him he’s dying to save her. And it’s her fault.
Mmmmmmm yeah Catra should get some therapy too—
This post keeps coming back across my feed and every addition is another crushing revelation.
Can we just accept that Entrapta taught Hordak to look beyond himself as part of a whole, to view himself as a complete being that was made better as being part of a community of individuals who can rely upon each other, and that he understood that they had worth equal to him, greater than a parasite like Prime, and move on?
That the entire universe was saved because he showed Catra, who had spent her entire life being told that she was useless, worthy only of being discarded, that she was someone worth being cared for and sacrificed for, and taught her that nobody is above redemption even when everyone else believes that they're too far gone?
Yes, I too enjoy appreciating happy ending, I wish the poor babies hadn’t had to go through so much to get there though, and it’s worth talking about how rough they had it :(
Just remember that they both got their happy endings, and it feels a whole lot better :)
Babe wake up, new all time great image just dropped
Bumblebee prime!
Edit : apparently he's called Bumble prime my bad 😏👍