The show set up a lot of potential avenues for Shadow Weaver's about-face and then just dropped the ball. She might have developed a less instrumental relationship with people because of Catra's redemption, or her mentorship of Glimmer, or her old friendship with Micah... but instead it happens with no explanation.

Don't you think it might have felt repetitious to have Horde Prime try to present himself as a beneficent power, when we already had a similar storyline with the First Ones? For the first few seasons they seem like distant, powerful, basically benign beings, and then we learn (through Light Hope) that they were actually conquerers intent on stripping Etheria's resources.