Neurodivergent Diversions: Entrapta: Smart with Robots, Not with People
by James Coulter
She-Ra and the Princesses of Power will be leaving Netflix on Feb. 21, 2026. Since its 2018 debut, the animated show has been praised for its diverse representation with characters of different skin colors, body shapes and sizes, and especially sexual orientations and gender identities.
However, while the cartoon has been celebrated for its colorful cast of characters across the LGBTQ spectrum, it’s also been lauded for having a character on the spectrum—the Autism Spectrum, that is!
An Autistic Princess
Entrapta is the eccentric princess of Dryl, one of the many kingdoms in the magical realm of Etheria. A technical super genius, she uses her skills to build robots and weapons that help the Rebellion fight the evil forces of The Horde.
She’s also an autistic‑coded character, meaning she displays Autistic traits and behavior even though she’s never explicitly stated to have Autism. In a 2020 tweet, series creator ND Stevenson confirmed this fact: “Yes, we wrote her that way. One of our crewmembers was on the spectrum and related to her specifically, and had a huge part in shaping her story and character!”
Entrapta’s hyperfixation on machines often leads her to spend hours working alone in her lab, away from other people. And when she does interact with others, her lack of interpersonal skills often results in her speaking in a direct, matter-of-fact tone, disregarding personal space, and frequently makinginappropriate comments and questions.
She’s smart about machines, but not so much other people, and this gap between her technical and social skills often causes tension with others.
Good with Tech…
(DISCLAIMER: The following contains SPOILERS for She-Ra and the Princesses of Power.)
During a rescue mission with the Rebellion, Entrapta was accidentally left behind and captured by the Horde. Its leader, Hordak, impressed by her abilities, invites her to design machines for him. Entrapta, thrilled by the chance to experiment with new technology, accepts. When her friends discover she’s alive and attempt to bring her home, she refuses, choosing to stay with the Horde because it allows her to pursue her love of technology.
Later in the series, Entrapta rejoins the Rebellion, but her friends understandably struggle to trust her. In one episode, they confront her for seeming indifferent to their feelings and for how her impulsive, reckless behavior puts others at risk.
“You don’t consider how your actions affect other people,” Perfuma scolds, “even people who are supposed to be your friends.”
“Like us,” Frosta adds, “the ones who were getting beat up by your dumb bots, and whose kingdoms you almost destroyed.”
Saddened by the realization of the harm her actions have caused, Entrapta tearfully responds: “I’m not good at people, but I am good at tech. I thought, maybe, if I could use tech to help you, you’d like me, but I messed that up, too.”
…Not Good with People
People with Autism (like Entrapta) are often accused of lacking empathy. But they do have empathy. They simply experience and express it differently than people without Autism. They struggle with social cues, communication, and theory of mind, which can make it harder for them to interpret others’ emotions or predict their thoughts. These challenges can be mistaken for a lack of empathy, even though the underlying feelings are very much present.
As a person with Autism, I’ve unintentionally hurt others many times through my words or actions. It usually wasn’t because I meant to be rude or mean, but because I wasn’t thinking about what I was saying or doing. My Autism simply made it harderfor me to realize how what I said or did came across to the people around me.
Of course, none of this is an excuse. People with Autism are still responsible for how they treat others and should acknowledge when they’ve made a mistake. At the same time, others can be more patient and recognize that these missteps are often unintentional, rooted in misunderstanding rather than malice.
Entrapta’s friends assumed she betrayed them. But the reason she sided with the Horde wasn’t that she agreed with its cause or hated her friends, but because she loves creating machines, and the Horde gave her the freedom and resources to explore that passion more fully. She simply didn’t realize the harm her machines caused other people and their kingdoms. In the end, she apologized and pledged to do better.
