you can dislike Catra and her redemption all you want but many struggle to realize just how bad off she had it and why she even did what she did in the first place
imagine you are Catra. you grew up always being compared to Adora, your best friend. Adora was the perfect child in Shadow Weaver's eyes. Adora did good and was good. it didn't matter that you were right there with her. Adora was the good one. she was an angel and extremely skilled. but you... you were bad. you did bad and was bad, never as good as Adora in the eyes of your mother figure.
despite all of the abuse and manipulation from Shadow Weaver, you stay best friends. she is the light in your dull life and the only thing you have. that is... until she abandons you. she chooses not to come with you. she replaced you. she used you. she thinks you're worthless.
of course this isn't true, Adora still loved you but you didn't know that. she ran away, abandoning Adora. you build resentment. not only is your best friend now the enemy and turning the tides of the war, but Shadow Weaver still prefers her. someone who is like a mother to you... still picking Adora.
just like Adora, you realize you do not need Shadow Weaver. you don't need Entrapta. you don't need Scorpia. You don't need Hordak. you just need to make Adora suffer. you need to hurt her worse than she hurt you. everything is about Adora. you don't care about anything else.
you don't have an Uncle Iroh supporting you. you have a Shadow Weaver and Hordak, both who tear you down. they egg you on, provoke you to do worse and worse things. your own inner demons, who have been growing over the years, are now fully formed, screaming at you to hurt Adora.
and then suddenly, you're ending the world. you pulled the lever, staring into the eyes of your best friend, relishing in her fear. you finally hurt her the way you wanted to. but it doesn't feel good. Prime is here and snaps you back to reality. he can see through your charades. he can see that you still love and care for Adora. he admits it before you ever would. you just want your friend back.
when Glimmer gives you the chance to do good, you take it. you want to repent for what you've done. nothing you can do now will ever make up for the things you've done, but you can at least try. you sacrifice yourself to save her, and to save Adora. it is still all about Adora.
but it doesn't work. Adora is just as obsessed with you as you are with her. she comes to rescue you anyway, putting her life at risk, and she does. but you're angry. she wasn't supposed to save you. you were supposed to die. you deserve it. you don't even want to face anyone. you're ashamed and broken and lost.
Adora proves why she was picked for being She-ra. she does good and is good, and so do her friends. and now, so do you. you are not second best to Adora. you are not a slave to Hordak or Shadow Weaver. you are not the insolent child. you are Catra.
...and also you get punched tf out by Frosta. you deserve worse but they aren't going to punish you for it because you are no longer bad. you are good and did good and they all see that.
