Likable 1980s reboot has strong hero, diverse characters.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 8+?
Any Positive Content?
Violence & Scariness
some
Battle scenes feature explosions and machines that fire laser blasts at people. Giant insects and other creatures threaten communities. Characters face perilous situations. Weapons are used, and characters are ensnared in ropes and traps. There are deaths, and characters are sometimes injured, but blood and gore aren't shown. Shadow Weaver, a maternal figure to She-Ra and Catra, can be cruel and manipulative toward the young girls. Characters relive childhood memories of abandonment and fear and sometimes engage in self-destructive behavior as a result.
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The show centers a female hero who's strong and powerful, as well as kind and able to show vulnerability without it being associated with weakness. Several LGBTQ+ characters and relationships include She-Ra herself, who falls for another female character, married princesses Netossa and Spinerella, and prominent character Bow's two dads, George and Lance, who are loving and raise a happy family together. Gender is expressed in different ways, with some female characters, such as Scorpia, having short hair and a more muscular body type, and Double Trouble, a nonbinary character (voiced by nonbinary actor Jacob Tobia) whose they/them pronouns are respected even by the evil Hordak. Within the central three friends, She-Ra is White, Glimmer is East Asian and voiced by Japanese American actress Karen Fukuhara, and Bow is Black and voiced by Black actor Marcus Scribner. Princess Entrapta is autistic. Other supporting characters have varying skin tones, and the show does a good job of making sure their voice actors are similarly diverse. The show was created by queer writer-illustrator Nate Stevenson, who's previously mentioned being bipolar and having ADHD.
Friendship is important. It's OK to make mistakes, as long as you learn from them. Stand up for what's right, even if it means facing danger or losing friends. Love and kindness can overcome cruelty and greed. Courage and integrity are important character strengths. Everyone has different skills, and working together can make you stronger and help save the day.
Positive Role Models
some
She-Ra willingly departs from her past and the only reality she's ever known to fight for the oppressed. Doing so pits her against old friends for the sake of new ones. She embraces a new destiny and steps up to the challenges it poses for her, showing courage and integrity, and her new compatriots help her find her way. Villains will stop at nothing to achieve power.
Educational Value
very little
Series intends to entertain rather than to educate, but it does show characters fighting for justice and fairness even when it puts them in harm's way. It also champions inclusivity.
Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that She-Ra and the Princesses of Power revamps the character who was first introduced to viewers in the 1980s series She-Ra: Princess of Power. The story has lots of images of girl power, from She-Ra (Aimee Carrero) herself to her many strong female compatriots. Women really do dominate on both sides of the good/evil divide, and She-Ra and her friends model courage, determination, and adherence to a strong sense of justice and integrity. LGBTQ+ representation and ethnic diversity appear both on-screen and within the voice cast. While the Horde soldiers are inspired by power and driven by manipulation, She-Ra and her friends fight for peace. Expect battle scenes that show unarmed characters being hurt by explosions or laser blasts, suggesting that some are killed. Characters have crushes and share a few kisses. Positive messages about friendship, understanding your own worth, and working together make the series full of great lessons for kids.
Abusive behavior in a love interest -- not for young kids
I haven't seen the 5th season yet, but I'm not sure this show is good for young kids. In particular, knowing that Adora and Catra end up kissing on the lips, I'm concerned that Catra is physically and emotionally abusive, not only to Adora but also e.g. to Scorpia. And her abusive behavior ends up being okay because she and Adora end up having romantic feelings for each other? I like many things about the show but am concerned about young kids getting these messages about abusive behavior in a love interest. Now I have to figure out how best to distract my young kid from the show before she sees the 5th season. I feel that the reviews I've seen should have warned me of this.
This show is full of LGBT representation with a character using they/them pronouns, and 2 married same sex couples. The show also has different races. One character is Indian or Hindu, while another is Japanese, and another is Philippino. A character is transgender, and another has autism. Also every character has different and realistic body types. There is little to no discrimination based on gender, sexuality, race, species, or appearance. The show also has good messages like showing the harmful and unhealthy effects of a toxic friend, and how change can happen good or bad in a realistic way. Also that you can own and rewrite your destiny. There are very inspiring quotes said like, "Imperfection is beautiful, at least to me." And "You're worth more than what you can give to other people. You deserve love too." There is also a same sex kiss and the end, and a happy ending. I do warn there are some scary scenes during season 5 and with the character Shadow Weaver. Otherwise, the show is amazing and brilliantly written . I highly recommend it.
What's the Story?
SHE-RA AND THE PRINCESSES OF POWER opens as Adora (voiced by Aimee Carrero) and her best friend, Catra (AJ Michalka), prepare for their first opportunity at real battle experience after spending most of their life training for the Horde's retaliation against a local insurgence. But a chance encounter with rebels Glimmer (Karen Fukuhara) and Bow (Marcus Scribner) leads Adora to a magical sword that reveals her true identity as She-Ra, a lost princess and the only hope for the planet Etheria's freedom from the Evil Horde. Faced with a difficult choice between the life she's always known and the destiny that awaits her, Adora joins the rebellion to fight against Catra and the rest of the Horde's army to free Etheria from its grasp.
The female hero of 1980s cartoons makes a comeback in this reboot, bringing her story of personal destiny and the good fight to a new generation of viewers. This time around in She-Ra and the Princesses of Power, she's untethered to a male origin story, as there's no mention of her legendary twin brother, Adam/He-Man, leaving Adora alone in the spotlight. Much as she doesn't want to be the hero Etherians believe her to be, Adora/She-Ra steps up to the role for the sake of justice and embraces the duties of her new purpose. There's much more diversity in the characters surrounding She-Ra in this version, too, including LGBTQ+ storylines and people representing a wide range of ethnicities, skin tones, and body shapes.
Adora is an excellent role model, thanks to her integrity, courage, physical strength, and impressive problem-solving and leadership skills. Her willingness to reconsider her own beliefs when faced with new truths and to stand up to her friends' pressure bodes well for what kids will take away from She-Ra and the Princesses of Power. As the Etherians fight for honesty and freedom in the face of danger, they remind viewers that some things are worth big sacrifices.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about heroes in She-Ra and the Princesses of Power. What makes a character a hero? Are all TV heroes good all the time? If not, how does seeing their frailty influence your admiration of them? Does She-Ra have any shortcomings? In what ways does she work on them?
How do you think it felt for She-Ra to be forced to choose between her friends and what she knew to be right? Have you ever made a decision like this that you've regretted? How do people use peer pressure to manipulate others?
What examples of integrity and courage do you see in this series? How does She-Ra respond to difficult circumstances? Do these character strengths make her a leader you'd like to follow?
The show has many non-White and queer characters. Discuss how they're portrayed. Can you think of other animated series that include underrepresented groups? Why is it important to see diversity on-screen?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
By Emily Ashby
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based on child development research. How do we rate?
