Parents' Guide to

She-Ra and the Princesses of Power

By Emily Ashby, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 8+

Likable '80s reboot has strong hero, diverse characters.

TV Netflix Kids' Animation 2018
She-Ra and the Princesses of Power Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this TV show.

Community Reviews

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age 8+

Based on 37 parent reviews

California123
California123 Adult
May 18, 2020
age 7+

Just so you know

Great show, more violence and drama than I would like, but very entertaining. We are fine with same sex relationships, but if you are NOT okay with your kids watching that, this is not the show for you. Expect kissing and heartfelt love between same sex partners. I’m mostly speaking of season 5 here. Love the strong female characters.

This title has:

Too much violence
4 people found this helpful.
juniper678
juniper678 Adult
July 10, 2022
age 12+

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.
3 people found this helpful.
See all 37 parent reviews

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.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (37):
Kids say (126):

The female hero of '80s cartoons makes a comeback in this reboot, bringing her story of personal destiny and the good fight to a new generation of viewers. Here she is 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 heroine Etherians believe her to be, she steps up to the role for the sake of justice and embraces the duties of her new purpose.

Adora is an excellent role model, thanks to her courage and physical strength and her 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 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 does it feel to be forced to choose between your friends and what you know to be right? Have you ever made a decision like this that you have regretted? How do people use peer pressure to manipulate others?

  • What instances of integrity and honesty do you see in this series? How does She-Ra respond to difficult circumstances? Does her ability to do so make her a leader you would like to follow?

TV Details

Did we miss something on diversity?

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 suggesting a diversity update.

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