The original He-Man and the Masters of the Universe, like many children’s cartoons of the time, was designed to run indefinitely. While there was some light continuity, each episode would generally end with everything returned to how it was at the start of the episode—i.e, to the status quo for the series. There was no real overarching plot nor did the characters greatly grow and evolve. It was simply the ongoing adventures of He-Man and his friends in a world filled with magic and futuristic technology. Thus, Masters of the Universe: Revelation begins by doing something both necessary and heartbreaking: ending He-Man and the Masters of the Universe.
*This review contains major spoilers for Masters of the Universe: Revelation.
After years of adventure, things are finally changing. Man-at-Arms is finally ready to step down while Teela has been deemed worthy of taking over her father’s role. Of course, it is at this time that Skeletor executes his latest plan to gain the power within Castle Greyskull. However, unlike all the other times he has tried, this time Skeletor succeeds—and stopping him costs He-Man his life while damaging the magical nature of their world.
With He-Man’s death comes a personal fallout for those close to him as his secret identity as Prince Adam is revealed to both Teela and the King—causing the latter to lash out at those who knew the secret and the former to abandon her position in protest. By the time the first episode comes to a close, it’s clear why this series is called just Masters of the Universe instead of He-Man and the Masters of the Universe: it’s no longer He-Man’s story. Instead, it’s Teela’s.
This entire first season of the series is an exploration of Teela and the lasting trauma the death of He-Man has created within her. For Teela, finding out that He-Man and Adam were one in the same is a deeply personal betrayal. Adam was her best friend. They has been raised together. One day, he would’ve been king and she would’ve been his man-at-arms. Save for her father, there was no one she was closer to. Yet, despite this, she was excluded from knowing his secret. For years she had been saving the world alongside her best friend without ever knowing it was him. Her father knew. Their bumbling wizard friend knew. Even the cowardly pet cat knew. She alone did not.
The confusion, the betrayal—perhaps these were things she could have gotten over if Adam hadn’t died at the moment the truth was revealed to her. She was never able to ask him the most important question: “why?” Without an answer, how could she even be sure who Adam was? Was he the blond Adonis spouting bad puns or the lazy-yet-kind boy she had grown up with? Was he secretly laughing at her each time she and He-Man battled the forces of evil?
It’s no surprise that she has changed so dramatically in Revelation. While still a good person at heart, she’s determined to be the master of her own fate. She has no interest in being a self-sacrificing hero. The mercenary life—and its inherent ability to choose who she works for—gives her the control she feels she lacked. Likewise her additional muscle mass ensures that she no longer needs a “He-Man” to help her out of tough spots—in fact, she is able to be that for her own young sidekick.
Yet, when it comes down to it, she’s not a person who can just stand by and watch everything she knows and loves come to an end—no matter how much unresolved anger and resentment boil inside her. Her journey together with both former friends and enemies shows her what she was meant to be: the guardian of her world.
It’s an excellent story about changing as a person and realizing that those around you can change too. It is also a tale of forgiveness—one about understanding that everyone makes mistakes, even those you love.
If anything, the weakest thing about the first season is bringing back Adam and Skeletor so soon. There was so much more to explore about Teela and her companions in this future deprived of both the ultimate good guy and ultimate bad guy. However, that said, the season’s shocking ending leaves us with an intriguing setup. With both Adam and Skeletor resurrected, what does this mean for our heroes who have learned to live without them? Will they fall back into their old roles or will they be able to develop new, healthy relationships based on the people they have become over the course of their adventures? I, for one, am excited to find out.
Masters of the Universe: Revelation season one can be seen on Netflix.
Top image copyright: ©Netflix, Mattel Television, Powerhouse Animation Studios.
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