cruelfeline: Gosh, I love this scene. It’s so brief and somewhat out-of-the-way in terms of th
cruelfeline: Gosh, I love this scene. It’s so brief and somewhat out-of-the-way in terms of the greater narrative, but I love how it demonstrates the support and companionship that Hordak offers Entrapta.Here she is, glancing between Hordak and Catra, suddenly realizing that she seems to have made another social faux pas. She is interrupting a meeting. She is somewhere she should not be. And she’s immediately apologetic. Once she becomes aware of her supposed mistake, Entrapta’s body language shifts from “completely oblivious” to “I’m so sorry, don’t mind me.” Hands up, palms out. Expression submissive. Backing up, making herself smaller. She begins to do what she assumes is the correct thing: to remove herself from the situation. Leave, so that she does not bother the people who are supposed to be there. Stop taking up space, so to speak.And what does Hordak do? Well! First, he informs Catra, who has expressed “concern” over Entrapta’s presence in the sanctum, that Entrapta’s actions are none of her business. Shuts her down pretty handily. Which is nice to see, because how often does anyone actually come to Entrapta’s defense? Essentially never.What does he do after that?He says three simple words. Just a quick, off-hand command. “No. You stay.”It’s such a small thing, isn’t it? He doesn’t pull her aside and reassure her. He doesn’t call significant attention to the situation. He doesn’t make a big show of it. Heck, he probably doesn’t give the exchange much thought at all. And yet that’s everything, isn’t it? Those three words, naturally spoken without any sort of fanfare or embellishment, are everything. In those three words, Hordak tells her “you aren’t interrupting; you aren’t unwanted; you aren’t being annoying.” He tells her “you are where you are supposed to be.”He tells her “you belong here.”And he tells her those things as if it’s the most natural, automatic thing in the world, because it is. For him, it is natural to want Entrapta there. No questions asked, no hidden motives, no lies or manipulations. He says what he means, and what he means is that Entrapta should stay where she is, because she is where she belongs.And it’s followed up with this moment of them so clearly comfortable with one another: her eagerly discussing plans with him, him leaning in close and giving her his full attention. It further confirms what his quick command suggests: that Entrapta is anything but annoying to him, and that he absolutely wants her near him. That she belongs near him.In other scenes, with other characters, Entrapta appears constantly uncertain of whether or not she belongs. The only other time she is told she does is with Catra, back when she is initially incorporated into the Horde. And in those scenes? There’s this constant undercurrent of deception, of manipulation, of hidden coercion (heightened by that invasive hair-stroking). When Catra says that Entrapta belongs with them… well, we know that it’s a manipulative ruse. She’s saying it because it is the sort of thing Entrapta wishes someone would say to her. She’s saying it to deceive Entrapta into switching sides.We know that Catra doesn’t actually have any affection for her. We know that she has zero interest in making Entrapta feel included, in being her friend and accepting her. We know that she is only tolerating her for her abilities. We know that it’s all a lie.But when Hordak says it? There is no predatory intent or smarmy attempt at forging a fake bond. There is no veneer of forced tolerance over cunning exploitation. There is only Hordak’s honesty. His blunt sincerity. His true desire for her company.“I guess I should be going.”“No. You stay.” It’s such a lovely thing to see. -- source link