User Reviews

Masters of the Universe: Revolution is the sequel to the controversial Masters of the Universe: Revelation, a series that has become infamous for angering fans due to the trailer being a bait-and-switch, and how it was done. However, seeing this sequel series, it feels like Kevin Smith and company actually listened to the fan complaints, and tried their best to fix things.

Set after the events of Revelation Part 2, He-Man and the Masters launch a successful campaign to save the souls of two fallen Masters from the collection of Scare Glow, ruler of Subternia. However, things take a sharp turn when King Randor has an organ failure and is about to pass away, immediately thrusting him to inherit the throne, but needing to give up the powers. This is made worst when Skeletor returns as Skeletek, having been modified into a cyborg by Mother Board's virus to lead her cult of technology-worshipping cultists against the Masters, who use magic, to infect Eternia with said virus, a plot orchestrated by none other than Hordak, the leader of the Evil Horde and Skeletor's former master.

As I have said, Revolution seems to have fixed a lot of the problems and controversies Revelation has. One of them is making sure Prince Adam / He-Man has more screen time (as the first part of Revelation got a lot of fan backlash for how the first episode was done, and how he was absent until Part 1's final episode). Basically, the story has Adam experiencing tough times as he is forced to become king of Eternia in his father's passing, a story I feel is a lot better than what Revelations had. Also, Revolution goes as far as to delve into more of the characters' past.

For the characters, we get a mix of returning and new. Skeletor/Skeletek is back, still voiced by Mark Hamill, but the true villain is Hordak, the leader of the Horde, voiced here by Keith David (who is best known as the voice of Goliath in Disney's Gargoyles), who does a good job playing the villain who is mostly known for being She-Ra's enemy (and before anyone asks, She-Ra is not in this, possibly due to rights issues, as Dreamworks is said to own the rights to make TV shows about her). And they even have Keldor in this, voiced by William Shattner. As for other character, they bring in more obscure characters who never appeared in the original cartoon, like Rio Blast and Snout Spout, but the biggest suprise to be in this is the appearance of Gwildor, the replacement of Orko for the 1987 Masters of the Universe movie that is a cult classic, but was a box office bomb, and even making the movie's events canon.

With iconic voice acting and a good story, Revolution is a major imrpovement over Revelation, and it makes it interested to see if they keep this up in future seasons.

Now the first 3 episodes finally got me what was lacking in Revelation (which I liked anyway): real emotional connection with the characters. I also really enjoyed the last 2 episodes, but felt them to be a bit too rushed. We finally got the kiss, we all wanted to see since we were kids, but it was too quickly cut short with humor. Still it was really good.

The cliffhanger got me excited again. Considering the fact that we saw a glimpse of Adora being kidnapped as a baby and not showing the face of the female horde soldier who saved Hordac in the end, I have high hopes for it to be her. Making Adora the next new villain of the show - oh that would just be it. Bring She-Ra in to this, please!

So I watched this season with negative expectations, I was waiting for the hammer to drop any time. I was intrigued to see that it did not.

I would say that they improved the character writing for" Randor, Duncan(man-at-arms) Teela, He-Man, Adam even Skeletor.

The story was mostly pretty good. The one thing that keeps falling head first in the mud is the writing which is so full of contrivance and convenience.

1) Randor dies and some guy just showed up without any evidence and says: "hey, I can be your king. And he just pulls some technology that he doesn't explain. And he gets the job, just like that..." Adam? Not gonna talk to your mum or Teela about this? Not even your life long confidant Duncan?!

2) Skeletor giving the technovirus to Andra, the beautiful, strong, empowered, brilliant, flawless genius who somehow does nothing with it but give it to the people... why not study it? Find a way to reverse it?

3) Adam can't be a warrior King. What exactly does Adam being king add to the throne? Is he even trained for that? Why not have a counciler to the king while he is away? A "hand of the king"? A "attendant? A "Stewart of king"? A "council of representatives"? A "prime Minister"? A "vizier"? Or just simply: "Queen take the throne while I save the world. Duncan you want a day as king? Does anyone want to be king for a day?!"

4) introducing democracy to a monarchy that doesn't even have a University or council or mayor's, chieftains, or anything. Basically inserting modern politics into a fantasy Universe of swords and magic. Have these writers ever thought that a magician could just cast a spell that turned all the votes or mind controlled the people?! This very season, they were mindcontroled and joined Hordak! At least start with a civil council or a house of representatives before you skip to "el presidente".

All in all I want to ask the writers: "Why do you hate this fantasy Universe?" You could write anything and you have to go and write about politics?! You choose the single topic that has no escapist value because that is all you know how to write?! Then. Just. Leave it. Leave it for fans or writers who are specialists of swords and magic stories to write it!

THIS is what Revelation should have been. This was a fantastically told, epic and worthy update and continuation of the Masters Of The Universe legacy. Very smart writing with many inside jokes, references and nods to the various incarnations of the IP from over the last 40+ years. The animation is beautiful, the music is on point and the voice acting is much improved over Revelation. The character redesigns are brand new and fresh but feel very much at home in this universe.

The scope is huge and the story plays out organically and sensibly.

And the final scene leaves it open to a very exciting possible future.

Well done Kevin, you listened.

For starters, Masters: Revolution is a vast improvement over the atrocious Revelation. It's perfectly clear that they listened to fan criticism, and tried to fix things.

But, it's also apparent that Kevin Smith does not like or get He-Man, as a character.

When Randor dies, he faces a false dilemma: will he lead as king or protect the people as champion. Why not both? This is challenged only by Man-at-Arms, briefly on one scene and dismissed just as quickly. On the other hand, Teela sets out to learn ALL the magicks (Zoar, Ka and Havok), even if their nature is contadictory.

When the city is attacked, he fights in a back alley to save a single boy, while the real battle happens on the main street. In Filmation, he would have done both. When Keldor appears, he takes his story at face value and even reliquinshes his crown, without a second thought or even a small inquiry. Even if it means that he accepts his father and grandfather as racists! In Filmation, he would have consulted his friends, at least.

Smith, still views He-man on DC terms, a child in a man's body, Shazam without the wisdom of Solomon.

And that's the problem, which was also the issue in Revelation. Smith sees Masters as an OR, magic or technology, lead or protect, monarchy or democracy. When it has always been an AND, Conan the Barbarian and Star Wars....

On that note, the city of Eternos never looked as a set from Xena in Filmation, it had always been a mixture of high tech AND medieval style in wonderful, bold colours.

And who cares for democracy in that setting, are going to see election fraud on the eternian primary, next?

Anyway, 5 for the sincere effort to fix the mess from Revelation, for the better characterization on everyone else (Teela, especially) and the good intentions.

Production values and art, excellent as the last time.

I totally enjoyed it apart from the politics at the end I for one love having a monarc. I know each to their own ! But I just feel it was yet another chance for netflix to have another go at our institution as they have with the crown and the bore fest of Harry and Meghan .

I do hope the bring in She-Ra and there is another season and it original she-ra not the soppy one . I enjoyed that series don't get me wrong but that's for that series and not for this if it's true to itself .

I know the bought other incarnations in too but I think that this would spoil the series and actually spoil the narrative of the modern she-ra . Voice of teela was a lot better and if you can have chemistry come through a cartoon then that real life couple nailed it Well-done all I enjoyed last series but this one was 40 waited and worth it .

Great season.

The story is far better than season one and focuses on HE-MAN and SKELETOR!!!

I think the voices of fans were heard and someone pulled their head out of the pander verse.

I loved every episode and am excited to see more.

Great idea to focus on the HORDE and Hordak for a better part of the show.

Really excited to see how they handle Despara becoming She-Ra.

There is lore that expands the show and i will say they handled it really well.

There was actual canon they used in new ways to make a great show.

I do hope season 3 brings in the Snake Men as they have a great arc for story telling.

I enjoyed Revelations, despite agreeing with most of the criticisms. The bait & switch was a misstep, and the arcs and events would have been better served as a season 2. Regardless, there is still a lot to enjoy in that series.

Revolution is a huge improvement in almost every aspect. If I'm going to nitpick, I wasn't fussed on Battle Cat's voice, or Lyn's nursery rhyme. I really am hard pressed to complain about anything else. Everything else I thought was a great mix of lore from every iteration of Masters. This really does deserve a few more seasons.

Only reason I've not given this a 9 or a 10 is because it does feel a bit compressed. Likely because it's designed to work as either a definitive end, or open enough to continue if it's well received.

I've watched the fifth and the whole thing, this is very good , Snout Spout stole the show once he makes his entrance, Stephen Root special delivery!!!!!!

I rate it as a 9 because Smith hid some of the best characters around as Stratos who had an Irish / Celtic accent in all shows from the past. Can he hire Colin Farrell to sound it from the Eire?

The lack of Stratos on the show at the end only 3 cameos, that's why I didn't place a 10.

The plot is amazing, and Hordak is like a corporative executive pulling the strings from behind, Leech amazing drawing amazing monster as for Grizzlor and Mantenna , everything about it I love it, and the twists we have two or three around good writing.

Granamyr is great in there too, is the final hero and the journey of the hero, and his fate !! Granamyr is the last action hero and his hesitant opinion about humanity. The touching moment of the 5 episodes

Zodac at the end was a plus, and fan favourites Orko and Cringer were at best. Glad to see Moss-Man back at the end, to give him a myth continuity among others like Sorceress who could reappear if needed.

I guess Mekanek and Man E Faces will appear in part 4, and Snoup Spout will have a leading role with She Ra ( who appears at the end as a brainwashed officer of the Horde) as it apoears to be now as he was back with Filmation , the only master of the universe sent there to help out the rebellion against Hordak.

I can see Duncan running for presidency with the new democratic Republic. Is the obvious thing.

He Man gear is great but he has to remind as He Man and stay as the hero . Champion.

Must watch it Bravo Kevin but bring the Irish Stratos to the Story and Snout Spout having a go against Grizzlor Leech and Mantenna.

The Democracy idea at the end is really really well written, how a monarchy was outdated. I can see Queen Marlena bigger role in the next season as She Ra and Snout Spout going with He Man to rescue Adora from the Horde .

Wasn't super looking forward to this due to season 1 being decent but not great, but this season surpassed my expectations and they even brought in Keith David possibly my favorite voice actor of all time. Great love story and father son relationship story, skeletor origin which I had no idea about. Gotta hand it to Kevin Smith on his season 2 redemption, and hope the show does well enough to get the whole talented cast back together. Can't wait to see where the show goes from here and hope it keeps panning out the history of eternia, oh and lastly shout out to the animators I loved how colorful this season was, check it out :)