Rewatch Discussion Post: In The Shadows of Mystacor

[mod_wolf]

Hey folks!

This is the post to discuss episode 7, In The Shadows of Mystacor. As always, spoilers for the whole season are fair game.

Comments

[froggimus_rex]

So in addition to more sterling examples of Shadow Weaver's parenting techniques, there's some interesting tidbits about her here such as the fact that despite her position in the Horde, she's an Etherian native, and that she's old enough to grown into being Mystacor's childrens' boogeyman for at least two generations.

Going off her general anger/contempt for Mystacor, Micah taking over her old job, and how nasty she's going to be to Glimmer a few episodes from now, I'm wondering if there's going to be a reveal at some point that she's being the one who actually killed him.

[redrikki]

This is my second favorite episode of season one. I love just how much it fleshed out Adora's ducked up childhood. This poor girl has never learned to relax because all things must be in service to the Horde. And there was just so much gaslighting. You know her entire childhood was Shadow Weaver telling her how she was/ would be nothing without the Horde and how she actually wanted what Shadow Weaver wanted for her. One thing that struck me was just how touchy SW was with Adora and how visibly uncomfortable Adore was with it. In the flashback in "Promise" Adora looks terrified when SW strokes her cheek. I would love to know what that's about.

[suncani]

The gaslighting is why I really struggle to watch this episode, particularly when Bow and Glimmer don't believe her, and SW imitates their voices. It is an interesting episode though as it feels like the first time she's breaking free of SW rather than the Horde itself.

Regarding SW being touchy -you see it in the first episode as well. SW cradles her face with one hand and Adora looks uncomfortable for a brief second and then the camera cuts away and when it cuts back she's slightly smiling.
And again with the being told what she wants "isn't this (being force captain) what you've wanted since you were old enough to want?"