When Mattel and Netflix hired Kevin Smith to reboot He-Man and the Masters of the Universe in 2021, the goal wasn't a complete modernization. Instead, Masters of the Universe: Revelation served as a continuation of the 1980s syndicated adventures for adult fans who grew up with the original animated series. However, the bold decision to seemingly kill off the main character, voiced by Chris Wood, in the first episode sparked backlash and disappointment from fans.
In response, Kevin Smith returns with Masters of the Universe: Revolution, a somewhat confusingly named sequel that appears to address fans' concerns about the previous reboot. This iteration provides a pulpy and vibrant story of He-Man versus Skeletor. Skeletor receives a technological upgrade, refocusing on ruling Eternia, while He-Man deals with his own struggles. While not overly complex, Revolution brings the characters together to face a new threat, attempting to repair the wounds left by the Apocalypse.
Stars: Melissa Benoist, Mark Hamill, William Shatner
In terms of animation, Revolution maintains a familiar style, progressing smoothly from the hand-drawn work of He-Man's original studio, Filmation. The characters and backgrounds are vividly rendered with bold colors, creating a visually pleasing experience. CGI is used sparingly to enhance fantasy and science fiction elements, preserving the nostalgic charm of '80s television animation.
However, the action in Revolution is less consistent. While some moments evoke emotion, others move at a slower pace, failing to convey the urgency or impact of each hit, zap or boom. The visual images, especially during power-up sequences, can be both impressive and confusing. Despite this, Revolution maintains its cool factor, appealing to the nostalgia of '80s kids.
The writing is full of corny jokes and clunky exposition, encompassing He-Man's clumsy one-liners. While it may cause occasional eye-rolling, the writers' reverence for the source material injects heart into Revolution. The characters are not treated as mere fighting machines and their motivations are rooted in genuine emotions. However, the landing is more successful for some characters than others.
A major challenge facing Revolution is the current television landscape of shortened episode orders and releases all at the same time. With just five 30-minute episodes, it attempts to recreate the feel of an '80s cartoon without considering the structure of the original show, which thrived on 130 episodes over two years. Revolution, despite its comforting embrace of the familiar, lacks time to fully immerse viewers in that warmth. Doubling the episode count could have improved the nostalgic experience.
In conclusion, Masters of the Universe: Revolution is visually appealing with a story and writing style that will comfort long-time fans. However, the lackluster action sequences and short length detract from its potential as a crowd-pleasing classic, even for newcomers.
Watch Masters of the Universe: Revolution 2024 Tv Series Trailer
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