TV REVIEW. Netflix’s Masters of the Universe: Revelation settles for a more nuanced story in Grayskull-grey.

by Thinus Ferreira

5 TVs 

It's not - and perhaps never can or could ever be - the kids' cartoon again, with Netflix's reimagined Masters of the Universe: Revelation that is a much more gritty and depressing, and more adult "next chapter" of the story of the denizens of Eternia now inhabiting a post-apocalyptic version of their fantasy world.

Yes, the Netflix trailers were deceiving. Masters of the Universe: Revelation, although it is telling the story onwards from after the end of the iconic Filmation animation series, isn't so much a story about He-Man or Skeletor.

Now Teela is taking centre stage in a hero's quest of her own in Part I and its set of five 25-minute episodes (part II will release later with no date specified yet).

It's impossible to review Masters of the Universe: Revelation without noting some dramatic narrative events and character developments, so spoilers ahead.

Masters of the Universe: Revelation functions as a sequel of sorts to the 80s He-Man and the Masters of the Universe cartoon that was a TV vehicle to sell Mattel toys, but this time - as with the journey from child to adult - the He-Man universe has also matured into a much more shades-of-grey approach.

The new series is one where characters are no longer one-dimensionally "good" or "bad". 

It's one where characters die and where individuals, even when faced with existential crises of environment, social order and faith don't necessarily choose to do "the right thing" to save themselves or others.

Masters of the Universe: Revelation brings surprising character growth that they've never had before to a now-disillusioned Teela, the wasting-away Orko, and most successfully to the no-longer-actually-evil Evil-Lyn.

It's especially Evil-Lyn who has the most interesting journey in moving beyond her stock character set-up, to voice the frustrations of having been a perpetual henchwoman-in-waiting of Skeletor. Evil-Lyn wasn't incapable of succeeding, it's skull-guy who didn't allow anyone else any space.

Longtime He-Man fans who grew up with the show or discovered it decades later and who just want a familiar story and fan service, might definitely feel ambivalence over Masters of the Universe: Revelation.

Prince Adam as the muscled, sword-wielding saviour and the purple-clad skull-faced Skeletor are reduced to cameo status in the first episode and only again seen towards the end, while all of the characters who look familiar, no longer act how "they're supposed to" in a grittier world that's run out of magic.

It's not just the Sword of Grayskull that's been fractured - it's relationships, trust and friendship. 

The new magic in Netflix's Masters of the Universe: Revelation is emotion - the characters are emotional and more rounded as they exhibit moments of self-aware introspection. 

Surrounded by an ever-present sense of loss, they actually talk honestly about loss as adults no longer tethered to a kids' show but functioning as adults in an adult world.

Masters of the Universe: Revelation is more violent than before (well, it maybe always was and we just didn't see it). The world is more nuanced as side characters who were along for the ride previously on "side quests" are moved into an Eternia main story.

It feels weird when a "main" character is killed off (perhaps, not permanently?) but is in keeping with the new Masters of the Universe mythos that exchanged the black-and-white choices, done-in-30-minutes, fantasy world of Eternia for an unfolding, serialised story with painful choices, now told in Grayskull-grey.

Masters of the Universe: Revelation Part I is on Netflix from 23 July

First look: See He-Man, Skeletor and the entire Eternia in their new Masters of the Universe: Revelation series coming to Netflix from 23 July.

by Thinus Ferreira

Netflix and Mattel Television have revealed the first look of the "new" He-Man, Skeletor, Teela and a host of other characters in the next anime series chapter of the iconic 1980s animation series, Masters of the Universe: Revelation - and all the characters look exactly how they should.

Masters of the Universe: Revelation Part I that will have 5 episodes will release on Netflix on 23 July, produced by Powerhouse Animation with Kevin Smith as executive producer and showrunner, and will continue to tell the story of He-Man and the characters living in Eternia, that picks up where the original series left off in 1985. 

Chris Wood is the voice artist behind He-Man, while Mark Hamill is voicing Skeletor and with Sarah Michelle Gellar as Teela. Alan Oppenheimer who originally voices Skeletor returns to voice Moss Man in the new series.

The other voice artists include Lena Headey as Evil-Lyn, Liam Cunningham as Man-At-Arms, Stephen Root as Cringer, Griffin Newman as Orko, Diedrich Bader as King Randor and Trap Jaw, Alicia Silverstone as Queen Marlena, and Justin Long as Roboto. 

Alan Oppenheimer, who played Skeletor in the original Filmation series, is returning as the voice of Moss Man.

In the first episode of Masters of the Universe: Revelation viewers will find Eternia as well as the relationships between everyone fractured and the characters estranged. Teela tries to reunite her friends in order to save the universe.

"So much of this show has been possible because of the love and affection for this world at every level of production and the fandom surrounding this franchise," says Kevin Smith in a statement.

"So many of us were touched by these stories and these characters early in our lives and were so happy to come back to Eternia. But even if you've never watched a single episode of the show or don't know this universe at all, you can jump right into the story."

"It's a really classic, universal action-adventure epic about growth, discovery, magic, and power. This series explores destiny in a fresh way. There's a lot of reconciling with secrets, betrayal, trust, acceptance, love, and ultimately, loss."

"We're playing with the original mythology and characters, and revisiting and digging deeper into some of the unresolved storylines."

Rob David, executive producer of Masters of the Universe: Revelation and vice president of content creative at Mattel Television says in a statement that "Masters of the Universe: Revelation is the first piece of episodic content from the franchise to be produced in nearly 20 years. To celebrate the fans who have waited so long for its return, it was important to us to honor the original storyline".

"Fans who followed the adventures of He-Man and his friends in the eighties will feel like they are picking up the story where the characters left off. In our first episode, a cataclysmic battle between He-Man and Skeletor leaves Eternia fractured and the Guardians of Grayskull scattered throughout the land."

"Now it’s up to Teela to reunite the broken band of heroes and ultimately prevent the end of the universe."

"And just as the fans of the original have matured, so too has the world of Eternia. Masters of the Universe: Revelation features deeper themes, characterizations and harrowing battles than ever before, designed for the adult audience."

"Prince Adam/He-Man, Teela, Evil-Lyn and even Orko will all be very different at the end than they are at the beginning as they battle it out for the fate of Eternia. Alliances will shift, destinies will be met, secrets will be revealed."

ALSO READ: By the Power of Grayskull, Netflix revives He-Man and the Masters of the Universe as an anime animation series.

By the Power of Grayskull, Netflix revives He-Man and the Masters of the Universe as an anime animation series.

Netflix has commissioned a new He-Man and the Masters of the Universe animation series, with the new anime series that will continue on from the classic 1980s series and "focus on some of the unresolved storylines from of the classic show".

The announcement was made at Power-Con taking place in Anaheim, California.

The new series entitled Masters of the Universe: Revelation will return to Eternia and He-Man, with director Kevin Smith who will also serve as showrunner and executive producer once again exploring the world where Skeletor, Battle Cat, Orco, Man-At-Arms, She-Ra and other mythical characters of 80s kids live.

The original Masters of the Universe animation series chronicles the adventures of Prince Adam, heir to the throne of planet Eternia, who uses a magical Power Sword to transform into the warrior He-Man, and stories ending with a short summary of the life lesson from the episode.

"The war for Eternia begins again! Superstar director Kevin Smith continues the original series’ story right where it left off in Masters of the Universe: Revelation, a new series telling the epic tale of what may be He-Man and Skeletor’s final battle," says Netflix.

The war for Eternia begins again! Superstar director Kevin Smith continues the original series’ story right where it left off in Masters of the Universe: Revelation, a new series telling the epic tale of what may be He-Man and Skeletor’s final battle. pic.twitter.com/41rOXjZLtO

— NX (@NXOnNetflix) August 18, 2019

Kevin Smith said that the new He-Man will be a "wholly original story set in the epic world of Mattel's over 35 year-old global He-Man toy franchise".

Eric Carrasco (Supergirl), Tim Sheridan (Reign of the Supermen), Diya Mishra (Magic the Gathering) and Marc Bernardin (Alphas) will be the writers on the show and the series is being produced by Mattel Television.

Rob David, vice president of Mattel TV and author of He-Man: the Eternity War will also serve as executive producer. The animation is being done by Powerhouse Animation, who had previously worked on Netflix's Castlevania series.

"I'm Eternia-ly grateful to Mattel TV and Netflix for entrusting me with not only the secrets of Grayskull, but also their entire Universe," says Kevin Smith in a statement.

"In Masters of the Universe: Revelation, we pick up right where the classic era left off to tell an epic tale of what may be the final battle between He-Man and Skeletor! Brought to life with the most metal character designs Powerhouse Animation can contain in the frame, this is the Masters of the Universe story you always wanted to see as a kid!"

Rob David says "Masters of the Universe has been a cultural phenomenon for generations, inspiring fans to discover their own power within".

"Fans of this franchise have been waiting for the continuation of these characters, and Kevin Smith as a Masters superfan himself is the perfect champion and partner to expand the canon through a dynamic animated series on Netflix."