Masters of the Universe: Revelation Part 2 Review: Philosophical and … sexy?

Just like He-Man’s Power Sword in the Master of the Universe Continuation show epiphany, the series itself was split in half, with the first half airing in July 2021 and the second being for release in November. Netflix was lucky enough to find an organic midpoint for the break in Kevin Smith’s animated recap, even though the show was written as a single season. The first half ended with two major cliffhangers, and the final five episodes only fulfill half of the midpoint’s initial promise. But the second half of the series is incredibly rewarding. It doesn’t flow as smoothly as Part 1, skipping a handful of vital emotional beats. But Part 2 is so packed with huge ideas that the bumps in the episodes feel less like a bug, more like an inevitable feature.

[Ed. note: Significant spoilers ahead for part 1 of Masters of the Universe: Revelation.]

Even though epiphany is packaged as a Gen-X nostalgia act, it’s still primarily a kids’ show. (Albeit not as much as Netflix’s other 2021 He-Man series, a complete reboot aimed at a much younger audience.) Still epiphany‘s second half matures in intriguing ways, mostly in relation to Evil-Lyn (Lena Heady), the MVP of Part 2. At the same time, it continues to deliver the goofy thrill you’d expect from a series based on a toy line.

Part 1 ended with slain Prince Adam (Chris Wood) giving up Eternal Paradise to help his friends, only to be stabbed to death by a returning Skeletor (Mark Hamill). By the mid-season finale, the show had both the possibility and the potential aftermath of Adam’s second death rolling, knowing he could only rise from the dead once. But Part 2 finds a convenient way to get around the puzzle. While the fast resolution borders on a fake-out, epiphany

Image: Netflix

The resulting power-up design is the kind of cool iteration a new action figure is set to sell to hardcore fans: Skeletor grows bigger, grows a pair of ram horns, and has a neck made entirely of flame. His power-up is one of several What if… Fantasies the show responds to, not as fan service (well, not only as fan service), but in a way that usually exposes a character-related dilemma.

For example: what would happen to Prince Adam if he did called down “the Force” without using his sword as a channel, as he has always done in the past? The answer comes to life through zippy, anime-inspired action, but this insane power fantasy paves the way for a deeply personal father-son story while also informing you about epiphanyThe main themes of the second half: the nature of power and the fine line between holding on and giving up voluntarily.

As with that other He-Man reboot in 2021, epiphany wrestles with the basic premise of its predecessor from the 1980s, in which only a chosen warrior has “power”. The show puts a significant narrative focus on the fact that Prince Adam transformed into He-Man so many times that he returned to his human form just as many times instead of staying in superpowered He-Man form. When he becomes mindless and angry (based in part on the toy) Wun-Darr or “Wilder He-Man”), it’s a nifty narrative, as it both prevents him from making that graceful sacrifice again and inadvertently aligns him with villains like Skeletor, who never willingly give up their power.

But while He-Man and Skeletor have more screen time in Part 2 than they did in Part 1, the story still largely belongs to the women who were their pals on the original show. He-Man’s ally Teela (Sarah Michelle Gellar) finally gets to grapple with the secrets of her ancestry – a narrative thread that the 80s show was never able to tie. Unfortunately, her bow is no longer given the same amount of time and care as in Part 1. She often rushes from blow to blow without defending himself as strongly as before, even when faced with difficult ideas such as maternal abandonment.

It goes through a tremendous change in the status quo over the course of the year epiphany, and while it’s visually spectacular, it also comes out a lot easier than its setup suggests. That’s arguably the biggest mistake of Part 2. And yet, this narrative sacrifice almost feels worth it, as this time around there is more focus on Evil-Lyn, Skeletor’s deputy, and a character who is the focus of the show’s thematic considerations on power.

Image: Netflix

Using his newfound skills, Skeletor recruits Lyn as the new Sorceress of Grayskull, a role that opens up surprising new opportunities for the series. Among them is the ability to experience the full picture of the universe for oneself – a universe that Skeletor hopes to master, as the title suggests. The show presents this approach via a dazzling visual representation that also hits the series at a fundamental level by introducing grandiose ideas like cosmic nihilism into a kid’s cartoon. The reconciliation between these heady concepts and the stormy action is often good-natured, especially in the way the show blends every major theme with Lyn’s character arc and her intricate relationship with Skeletor. There’s a fascinating, melancholy form of apocalyptic villainy here.

The aesthetic expression of Lyn’s story is equally intriguing, from dreams and abstract visions designed to contextualize the enormity of her experience to the change in her appearance in Part 2. As with the introduction of “Savage He-Man,” her changes act as a power fantasy, but also facilitate character development. She also has a unique physical allure that is not often found in modern day kid entertainment. (It was more common during the original He-man.)

Her embrace of her new shape feels far more meaningful than the usual goggling look of the pinup fantasy, which is meant exclusively for straight men and teenagers. There are scenes where her seduction is central, but it’s a confident trick, and her physical transformations feel almost on par with He-Man in terms of how chiseled and muscular the show makes them feel. She certainly goes beyond the strictest standards of feminine beauty. As their outfits become more revealing and become more like 80s metal album covers, they show physical power.

Teela’s dad, the bearded, stocky Duncan / Man-At-Arms (Liam Cunningham) acquires a similarly unconventional (and emotionally rooted) sensuality with shirtless scenes that show off his broad and hairy torso while centering his soft voice centers on vulnerability. These more enticing designs are arguably intended for the now adult audience of the original show. But as with Part 1, writer, story editor, and executive producer Kevin Smith doesn’t seem to have any adult nostalgia in mind, save for a couple of little hints of fan service.

His narrative deals with complex spiritual ideas, but simplifies them for younger viewers. A key episode of the rise is titled “Comes With What You See Here,” as if trying to contextualize ancestry through the language of a Mattel play set. While the original He-Man has a reputation for being a straight male power fantasy, the visual appeal of some of the characters here feels a lot broader, between Duncan’s bearish looks and the butch hairstyle that Lyn ends with (similar to Teelas in Part 1 ).

Image: Netflix

It’s a little joke for a queer read of the show, but it’s just a joke. The secondary character Andra (Tiffany Smith), who shared a flirtatious dynamic with Teela in Part 1, is far less present in Part 2, which also suggests that Teela’s previous development is being postponed in favor of an acceleration trajectory. However, both characters end up in the middle of some notable action sequences. Part 2 improves on its predecessor, among other things, with its more varied set pieces, which are not only larger and more colorful, but also flow with a livelier energy, while Bear McCreary’s rousing, adventurous score continues to pulsate.

In addition, the action never feels like empty calories. Despite an ever-growing arsenal of magical powers and technological accessories used against a faceless horde, battles are always rooted in character blows and punctuated by meaningful decisions – the kind the show was worth following.

With bigger action, surprising loyalties, and a good-versus-bad dynamic that revolves around recognizable philosophies, part 2 of Masters of the Universe: Revelation proves that familiar children’s adventures can still feel fresh, even if it comes in the form of a nostalgia revival 30 years later. While Part 2 is a lot more messy than Part 1, its bumps are a by-product of coming to terms with weird and giant narrative ideas that most kids’ shows wouldn’t touch, and he manages to wrap them up in shiny packaging.

Part 2 of Masters of the Universe: Revelation is now streaming on Netflix.