When you deprive people of power, what happens? That's perhaps a more existential question than even
Shadows House merits, but we certainly do see one answer on display this week: sometimes the powerless seize it wherever they can. That seems to be the case with Barbie, the so-called “Star Bearer” we met last week. If the subtext is to be believed, Barbie's in charge because of her Shadow Master, not anything she's done herself, and she's likely to be very aware of that. Rather than building up her own strength among the dolls by being a good Star Bearer, she's taken a different route, preferring to be a tyrant among them and proving her authority by abusing her power.