Netflix - Masters of the universe Revelation part 2 : Our review is online

By Mulder, 18 november 2021

Since its inception in 1982, the Masters of the Universe franchise has become a cultural phenomenon that spans toys, television, movies, comics, books and video games. It has transcended generations and ignited the passion of fans around the world. Now, nearly 40 years later, Mattel is bringing back Masters of the Universe to delight longtime fans and introduce a new generation to Eternia and the heroic and thrilling adventures of the Guardians of Grayskull. Recently relaunched, the new Masters of the Universe Origins line has been a huge success and has allowed all fans of the original series to rediscover a whole range of characters, vehicles and the mythical Castles of Shadows (Greyskull). When Masters of the Universe was launched in 1982, it quickly became a $2 billion franchise across toys and consumer products, solidifying the franchise's role as a staple of pop culture in the 1980s. He-Man was one of the most prolific and best-selling toy lines of the 1980s. Certainly Gary Goddard's Masters of the Universe (1987) was not only a public and critical disappointment, but could have been a true blockbuster if an American major had actually invested a significant budget (Sony's plan to adapt a new film is still on hold).

Sixth animated series to approach the universe of the Masters of the Universe after the original series (1983-1985), She-Ra, Princess of Power (1985-1986): Princess of Power (1985-1986) , He-man, the hero of the future (The New Adventures of He-Man) (1990-1991) , He-Man and the Masters of the Universe (2002 - 2003) and She-Ra and the Princesses of Power (2018 - 2020), Masters of the Universe Revelation is certainly the best one to date as it pays homage to the first series but succeeds in finding an interesting approach. After having discovered the first part of Masters of the Universe: Revelation we could discover a few days ago the five episodes of this second part which easily exceeds the first part by its size and delivers us an adventure in five acts worthy of the biggest current blockbusters

This new series allows us to find a universe that we know and characters that have become cult like Musclor (He-Man), Skeletor, Teela, the weapon master (Man-At-Arms), Evil-Lyn, Orko, The Witch and Cringer the pet of Musclor. In this new adventure, the main axis diverges from the original series by giving the main role to Teela who is entrusted with an important mission on which the kingdom of Eternia and the whole universe will depend on her success. The great success of this new series is to have taken into account the original series but also the technical progress in terms of animation. This one is very fluid and allows a better immersion in a universe we already know.

Having director and writer Kevin Smith as executive producer and showrunner shows how this animated series has everything to become a cult and has found the right approach to consolidate the foundations of the original series and find a topical approach placing an outstanding fighter Teela at the center of the story. In close collaboration with Kevin Smith, Powerhouse Animation Studios has found the perfect approach to bring the world of Eternia back to life and to lay a solid foundation for a second part that looks very promising.

This second part starts again at the end of the fifth episode of the first part but finally puts Prince Adam / He-man back in the center of the story and those who were disappointed to see this character not very present in the first part will really enjoy it. This second part leaves a lot of twists and turns to the point that we advise you to see these five episodes in a row to realize that this is a real animated movie cut in five episodes that follow each other. The open ending lets us envisage a third part even stronger in which we will dive back with the same pleasure.

While in the first part Evil-Lyn and Teela were forced to work together, in this second part things take a completely different angle. The writers have really done a remarkable job in continuing to develop the main characters but especially in giving back the place that He-man deserves in the story. The action scenes follow one another without any false note but especially leaves an important nostalgic effect for which we will shed a small tear as for the important return of one of the characters of this saga.

The great care given to the animation but also to the musical score shows that this series has benefited from a great care to find all the emotional strength of the first series. Far from being only a series dedicated to propose a multitude of quality toys from Mattel, this series is especially a way to allow many actors like Mark Hamill (voice of Skeletor / Skelegod) to give the best of him and to have in this second part a more important role.

It is also interesting to see that the writers wanted to bring their personal touch to He-man and as you may have seen in the trailer, we discover here a character who summons power without having his sword and transforms into a prehistoric man as strong as the Hulk (an obvious nod to the Marvel universe of which Kevin Smith is a big fan). The Homeric fight scenes and a colossal final confrontation impose this second part as an undeniable success and will become cult for a whole new generation of spectators.

The voice cast in the original version is well worth our attention and we find : Mark Hamill (Skeletor), Lena Headey (Evil-Lyn), Chris Wood (Prince Adam / He-Man), Sarah Michelle Gellar (Teela ), Liam Cunningham (Man-At-Arms), Stephen Root (Cringer), Diedrich Bader (King Randor / Trap Jaw), Griffin Newman (Orko), Tiffany Smith (Andra), Henry Rollins (Tri-Klops) Alan Oppenheimer (Moss Man), Susan Eisenberg (Sorceress), Alicia Silverstone (Queen Marlena), Justin Long (Roboto), Jason Mewes (Stinkor), Phil LaMarr (He-Ro), Tony Todd (Scare Glow), Cree Summer (Priestess), Kevin Michael Richardson (Beast Man), Kevin Conroy (Mer-Man)

You can see the official photos on our Flickr page here

Synopsis:
The war for Eternia culminates in Masters of the universe: revelation, an innovative and action-packed animated series that picks up where the iconic characters left off decades ago. After a cataclysmic battle between He-Man and Skeletor, Eternia is fractured and the Guardians of Grayskull are scattered. And after decades of secrets separate them, it's up to Teela to reunite the band of broken heroes and solve the mystery of the missing sword of power in a race against time to restore Eternia and prevent the end of the universe.

Masters of the Universe: Revelation Part 2
Showrunner / Executive Producer: Kevin Smith (Clerks, Chasing Amy)
Based on Mattel's Masters of the Universe
Producer : Susan Corbin (He-Man and the Masters of the Universe)
Executive Producers: Frederic Soulie (He-Man and the Masters of the Universe), Adam Bonnett (Descendants), Christopher Keenan (Justice League, Batman Beyond) and Rob David (He-Man and the Masters of the Universe)
Writers: Marc Bernardin (Castle Rock, Alphas), Eric Carrasco (Supergirl), Diya Mishra (Magic the Gathering) and Tim Sheridan (Reign of the Supermen)
With Mark Hamill, Lena Headey, Chris Wood, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Liam Cunningham, Stephen Root, Diedrich Bader , Griffin Newman, Tiffany Smith, Henry Rollins, Alan Oppenheimer, Susan Eisenberg, Alicia Silverstone, Justin Long , Jason Mewes, Phil LaMarr, Tony Todd, Cree Summer, Kevin Michael Richardson, Kevin Conroy
Composer: Bear McCreary (The Walking Dead, Battlestar Galactica, Outlander)
Produced by Mattel Television, Powerhouse Animation Studios
Series animation: Powerhouse Animation (Castlevania)
Distributor: Netflix
Release date: November 23, 2021 (Worldwide)