Remember / The Portal | She-Ra analysis Pt. 2
Similarly, in The Portal, we get a glimpse of Angella's "perfect" alternate reality. Micah is alive and well, both a comforting presence and an active teammate on the throne, and Angella does not bear the deep wounds of grief. Glimmer is happy, much less impulsive, largely obedient, supported by two loving parents and an avid student of sorcery. Angella and Glimmer's relationship is largely uncomplicated and lacks the familiar tension; perhaps Angella feels she could have been a better parent as a team player alongside Micah and without the crippling fear she lives with from the trauma of his loss. The "obedient, uncomplicated child" theme continues with Bow (bespectacled?! midriff covered?!) as an apprentice historian, following unquestioningly in his fathers' footsteps.
Unlike Remember, where Catra attempts to fix what she believes to be the root of her problem - Adora leaving - Angella's "perfect" does not wrestle with the choices she made that led to losing Micah, but simply imagines that he never died. Which (spoilers) he didn't. While on a first-time watch, it seems that Micah's presence is a clue to this not being a true reality - certainly Angella interprets it that way - perhaps this portal glitch has simply transplanted him from Beast Island. As Angella flies away, Micah tries to speak to her and shouts something that could well be "I love you" - or, perhaps, he was trying to tell her that he is, in fact, alive, just trapped.
Having been reminded of who she could have been with Micah still by her side, helping her be brave, Angella decides she has left the weight of the world on teenagers' shoulders for too long and borrows that bravery to save Etheria.
