Masters of the Universe: Revelation Part 2 review – He-Man reminds the world it’s his show, but now with more developed characters
Masters of the Universe: Revelation Part 2 (MOTU Revelation) picks up where Part 1 left off, and like the show’s subtitle proclaims, a lot is revealed. The show reveals Teela’s origin, Evil-Lyn’s origin, and what happened to the rest of Eternia after He-Man’s death. But it also reveals that the Power Sword was the conduit for the power of He-Man, but Adam was always the spark. Mild spoiler, for those who haven’t watched the trailer, when Adam calls for the power without the Power Sword, he becomes Savage He-Man.
Part 2 is very dark, and the first episode features some fates that are worse than death. Continuing and enhancing the sentiments of Part 1 of MOTU Revelation, the show continues to feel like a natural progression of the franchise. The characters are much more developed and have tremendous depth. The artwork is fantastic and enhanced by the fluid and adrenaline-pumping animation. The story continues to develop and tie in so many fringe aspects of the franchise. It is a masterpiece example of a franchise growing up that I hope more “nostalgic” properties follow Revelations lead. IDW does a great job of it with their comics and Voltron: Legendary Defender is another shining example.
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- Masters of the Universe: Revelation: Part 2. Lena Headey as Evil-Lyn in Masters of the Universe: Revelation: Part 2. Cr. COURTESY OF NETFLIX © 2021
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- Masters of the Universe: Revelation: Part 2. Chris Wood as He-Man in Masters of the Universe: Revelation: Part 2. Cr. COURTESY OF NETFLIX © 2021
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- Masters of the Universe: Revelation: Part 2. Cr. COURTESY OF NETFLIX © 2021
Without giving any notable spoilers away, that were not already revealed in the trailers, the story expands to an epic scale in Part 2. Skelegod ups the ante and brings out some of the worst and best of the other characters. The stakes are high and the magnitude is felt throughout all five episodes of Part 2. The amount of progression and story in 5 30-minute episodes is truly impressive. Adam, Teela, Andra, and Evil-Lyn have incredible advancements in their characters. Evil-Lyn’s is the stand out among them with her complexity and Lena Headey’s powerful performance. But I also want to note, that Prince Adam has never been more of a hero than he is in Part 2. He is complex and flawed which serves to enhance his heroics. There’s a reason the franchise is centered on him, and it has never felt more deserved. Personally, until this, I would have said Man at Arms/Duncan was the real hero.
Fans of the franchise will likely be elated by the inclusion of more Masters of the Universe Champions like Fisto and Clamp Champ. But what is sure to make everyone go nuts, I believe even those who despite Revelation, is Savage He-Man. Savage He-Man is pretty much power incarnate. It is an absolute thrill to watch him molly whop everyone dumb enough to stand up to him. The animation for his fight scenes is top-tier. I would equate it to MHA: World Hereos Mission. Gorgeously colored, flawlessly fluid, it is a profound spectacle of the medium. The only drawback, and this is very personal, it felt like Broly. It just didn’t feel unique. Then after the fight, he felt like Hulk. It’s the only lull in the series, and it is probably a lot asking for more, but it just felt kind of lackluster because of its familiarity.
Masters of the Universe: Revelation: Part 2 (L to R) Chris Wood as He-Man and Mark Hamill as Skeletor in Masters of the Universe: Revelation: Part 2. Cr. COURTESY OF NETFLIX © 2021
With all that said, it seems almost unjust to not mention the huge backlash the series has received from “fans” who tend to have an entitled sense of ownership over the franchise. There were a number of comments of my review of Part 1, all over the internet, and I’m sure my MOTU Revelation Part 2 review could draw some of the same ire. Regardless, I am still completely okay with Revelation ruining their childhood. I respect not liking the series and my writing, it’s part of the job and the world. Me liking something doesn’t make it good. Things could be good and unliked. I am also known to love stupid things. I respect the opinions and would love to discuss them. But I also thoroughly enjoy it when the crybabies lose it over any sort of change, especially how vitriolic they get if inclusion and diversity are involved; the type to use woke like it’s an insult. If you care that much, why aren’t you putting yourself in a position to create the content or in place to prevent it from being something you don’t like? Get that privileged entitlement TFOH and EAD. Personally, I think the series is going in a direction that the whiners wanted, it just took some time to develop the other characters to add gravitas to everything. If you don’t think so, I’d love to discuss it. I don’t believe there’s a right or wrong, it’s art. I’m game to talk it out, or if you want to attack me, my Twitter is @fenixdy and the comment section is down below.
Masters of the Universe: Revelation Part 2 continue the genius culmination of the He-Man franchise into a mature and evolving story. The feeling that a show from one’s past caught up to their level of age, maturity, and sophistication permeates the entire series. Themes of tackling one’s past, recognizing the flaws of someone they have devoted their lives to, and realizing the power of acceptance, are experienced by the characters and shared with the audience. The depth of emotion and the scope of the story told in just 10 episodes is truly astounding. The only my only critique in Part 2 is Savage He-Man, as awesome he was, just felt like other characters who have kind of been there did that already. There is nothing bad about it, it’s just kind of lackluster in comparison. It adds a lot to the lore of Adam, but just didn’t quite win me over. Outside of that, Part 2 was phenomenal and I truly believe can win many fans over. This Masters of the Universe: Revelation Part 2 review gets a 4/5.
Masters of the Universe: Revelation Part 2
TLDR
Masters of the Universe: Revelation Part 2 continue the genius culmination of the He-Man franchise into a mature and evolving story. The feeling that a show from one’s past caught up to their level of age, maturity, and sophistication permeates the entire series. Themes of tackling one’s past, recognizing the flaws of someone they have devoted their lives to, and realizing the power of acceptance, are experienced by the characters and shared with the audience. The depth of emotion and the scope of the story told in just 10 episodes is truly astounding. The only my only critique in Part 2 is Savage He-Man, as awesome he was, just felt like other characters who have kind of been there did that already. There is nothing bad about it, it’s just kind of lackluster in comparison. It adds a lot to the lore of Adam, but just didn’t quite win me over. Outside of that, Part 2 was phenomenal and I truly believe can win many fans over.
Hey linking the trailer in your article was a great wink. It’s literally the biggest catfish in the history of television. And I did not appreciate this paper thin show buying into the trope that women cannot be accountable for their actions (genocide and then nah it’s all good), and that everything they do is based on hormones or emotion (i dont wanna sorceress because friendship!!! I will take the power from skeletor because sexiness!!!).
Also the idea that women have to be monstrously jacked like men to be powerful is idiotic. Kevin Smith makes M. Knight look like a good writer again
My question for you, is what direction would you have liked the show to go? Like, if it just kept focusing on He-Man, wouldn’t it just be bigger and badder bad guys but you actually get to see him use his sword? I just don’t see how if He-Man and Skeletor were the only focal points like before, I don’t see the series making any significant growth or other characters getting major depth to their characters. Like Superman got interesting again when he had a kid, but otherwise, they had to make him go Super Saiyan. I feel like that would have been the only progression if the series didn’t open focus to everyone. else.
Part 2 was worse than Part 1. Absolute trash. And not because it’s too woke, or too female, but because of idiotic mistakes in lore and writing.
1. Prince Adam manages to cut Goddess Evil-Lyn in the face
2. He-Man at full power can’t even touch her (even WITH God Skeletor’s help??)
3. Teela is vastly more powerful than He-Man now, the fact that she says she’ll always need her hero is nonsense, she can literally fly, is stronger (because Evil-Lyn is stronger and Teela was just as strong/stronger than she), and has insane thought magic without any expressed limit (but whatever it is we know it’s greater than Goddess Evil-Lyn).
4. Evil-Lyn never gets her comeuppance. She commits genocide on an ENTIRE REALM. She literally erases Preternia and everyone in it. And then she’s forgiven? What?
5. Evil-Lyn is never defeated. Nope, she seems vaguely less powerful than Teela, but in the end they just sort of stop fighting because emotions.
6. He-Man and Skeletor are completely superfluous. He-Man never defeats anyone who matters, and when he attacks the army of evil you have to wonder what’s the point? Man-at-Arms, Randor, Orko, and Adra were absolutely crushing it before he arrived. In fact as far as I can tell not a single citizen or Eternia solider was injured in that battle.
7. Now that we know both Teela and Evil-Lyn are more powerful than He-Man, let’s just pray this series gets canceled before season 2, which it probably will be.
This is an incredible breakdown! While I do have opposing sentiments towards the series and some different interpretations of events, I do not argue or disagree and am seeing it from angles I took for granted. You dropped some hard facts and definitely gave me a lot to think about. Where I differ is I interpreted Teela and Evil-Lyn to be more transcendent beings in the end. Like the original sorceress/Teela’s mom was more powerful but bound by whatever reason to not just decimate Skeletor over the years. Then Evil-Lyn is the counterpoint and things ended in a celestial balance. I also thought that Preternia and Subternia were brought back at the end, so they let it slide especially because she saved Orko. But I could just be optimistic and ignorant.
He-Man really doesn’t defeat anyone. I might argue he wins moral battles, but not the point you’re making, and yeah, in comparison to everyone else, he is pretty pointless. I’m definitely idolizing the series for attempting to resolve and overcome conflict versus winning a war, which is likely not what many are looking for and I can see how it opposes the franchise’s core.
Your second comment I’m in disagreement with. I saw Evil-Lyn’s “sexiness” play to take power was capitalizing on his ego and obsession with He-Man, very Harley Quinn realization sort of thing going on. I also don’t see the women as monstrously jacked. I feel when Evil-Lyn wielded the power her gaining mass was inevitable and a requirement, as Adam/Skeletor also put on mass, but figure-wise she looks like a female athlete along the lines of Gina Carano.
And I am hoping for a season 2, and want to see Triklops rise as some sort of emissary for the techno bad guy.
But yeah, great points. He-Man and Skeletor have been downgraded to essentially useless; definitely something I’ll keep in mind and use in future reviews and breakdowns.
I appreciate the support, I think it’s support, but damn. Why you gotta go after dude’s education like that? Ooof. I don’t disagree, I am just paid to be more diplomatic.
Hi James
The review is about Masters of the Universe: Revelation, not Kevin Smith. In literature, fine arts, journalism, editorial writing, criticism, or even English 101, there is a saying that goes “The author is dead,” meaning we detach the work from its creator. We do not judge the former by the latter and vice versa.
The part on the man-babies was jarring I admit since this is supposed to be a review of the show, but again, if you are familiar with the basics of reading comprehension you would know that a shift in tone, a new paragraph, and blatant disclaimers and key phrases denoting a shift in topic, tone, and even viewpoint, justify such changes.
Your comment however, raises concerns. You asserted that the writer insulted certain people. But again, look at the tone. It was quite diplomatic and personal. Even if it weren’t, he wasn’t really insulting them as much as simply describing them. If you think such people should be defended then you might want to brush up on that along with your English 101 lessons. You also mentioned that the writer was purposely doing some shady choices. That said, are you a mind reader?
Now I understand not everyone went to school or did well in it, so don’t feel bad for yourself. To avoid future embarrassment, do display confidence equal to your intelligence.
People like you are hilarious, you are just as toxic as the people you are trying to trash in your article just to make yourself look like the bigger person. You purposely left out the part in which Kevin Smith lied to fans about not changing anything from the original, just updating it and that He-man wasn’t being sidelined both of which were lies and both of which are still up on his social media. At least try to be honest, instead you are even worse than the toxic man babies you are insulting because you are purposely leaving out details to make them look bad and you look better by comparosion
I wouldn’t say I’m toxic. I’m an asshole for sure. But not being open to toxicity and belittling it as the noise it is because people do not know how to share their disdain without being a terrible person is proper etiquette as far as I am concerned. We can disagree on me being toxic, I’m not trying to prove you wrong but just share my reference point. Also, THANK YOU for saying I’m hilarious, haven’t really been practicing since the pandemic and don’t know where my funny bone is at anymore.
But as for purposely left out Kevin Smith lying, I honestly didn’t know what you were talking about. I looked it up, and I see your point, but don’t totally get the deal. If Andrew Garfield shows up in No Way Home, is he the villain for lying about it for so long? And changing things from the original, that was an outright lie. I’ll give you that, I had no idea that was a thing. But, I expected changes. It’s a new iteration, there are always changes. Definitely, a dick move to lie about it.
As for He-Man being sidelined, I get that he loss screen time in Part 1, but his presence was always resounding in my opinion. I thought it was beautiful to see his importance to EVERYTHING and also get to see how much of a role everyone has to play. It’s what I want to happen in Dragon Ball. That’s where my admiration for the show comes from.
In terms of not including those facets, it was pure ignorance. I cover a lot of things and don’t get to deep dive into the pre-show stories all the time. I personally don’t see how those lies affected the stories or quality of the show, but I can empathize with being lied to about something important. If that’s the reason to not like it, I applaud the integrity. But most of the whiners definitely did not say anything close to those words when conveying their opinion (from my experience).
Thanks for the legit comment, I’ll cop to be an asshole who is out asshole-ing toxic babies. But not gonna apologize for that. If I offended you though, I would apologize. I have no qualms with people not liking the show and truly interested to know why. I just don’t believe in giving serious attention to the overly dramatic and toxic ways many go about it. They do get the attention of my gif keyboard though.