>The only character that has any sort of real arc this season is Catra, who struggles with her new leadership role, now that Shadow Weaver (Lorraine Toussaint) has been ousted. The season sees Catra unravel as she desperately tries to maintain control and please Lord Hordak (Keston John). This isn't as interesting as Catra's arc in season 1, dealing with her hurt feelings over Adora leaving her, and trying to rise in the ranks of the Hoarde, but at least it's something. I will admit, Scorpia's (Lauren Ash) attempt to be a close friend to Catra, and get past the walls Catra puts up is a fun and sweet character arc. Other characters may have character moments, or even an episode dedicated to their development - Bow (Marcus Scribner) and Shadow Weaver both get episodes explaining their backstory - but they don't have character arcs that span the season, not even Adora.
>Season 1 culminates in a big princess battle against the Hoarde, as the Hoarde directly attacks Bright Moon, and gets closer to conquering the world than ever before. Luckily, the princesses come together, defeat the Hoarde, and the Princess Alliance is officially reformed. Season 2 sees no such big culmination or end battle. It's final episode could be any other episode, and only the cliff hanger at the end indicates that there is anything significant about it. The second season also sees far less of the princesses working together, and, except for some nice Princess Frosta (Merit Leighton) character development in the season premier, the other princesses are mostly relegated to the background.
>The show is just as funny as it was in season 1, it's goofy humor easily producing belly laughs and giggles, and it's just as sweet (just wait until you meet Bow's family), but hopping around from subplot to subplot makes the show feel shallow, and lacking in the deeper moments that made season 1 so full of feeling. The animation at least, is unwavering in its beauty, but is not enough to save the season.
