After the lukewarm reception of Masters of the Universe: Revelation, the new series Masters of the Universe: Revolution has impressed returning fans with significant improvements. The original series faced criticism from long-time He-Man fans for its drastic changes to the story of Eternia's warriors. However, creator Kevin Smith seems to have learned from this feedback, resulting in a much more positive response to Masters of the Universe: Revolution.
Revolution Brings He-Man and Skeletor Back into the Spotlight
The universe's biggest players are given time to shine
Masters of the Universe: Revolution collage featuring Skeletor and He-Man - The universe's biggest players are given time to shine - Revolution Puts Big Names Like He-Man And Skeletor Front And Center
Revolution Had Better Characterization
Masters of the Universe: Revelation faced backlash for killing off Prince Adam and Skeletor in the first episode, making Teela the main character. Fans were disappointed that the iconic characters were sidelined so quickly. Fortunately, Masters of the Universe: Revolution addressed this by bringing back He-Man and Skeletor as the central figures.
Revelation didn't do much to develop its flagship characters
Prince Adam summoning the power of He-Man in Masters of the Universe - Revolution - Revelation didn't do much to develop its flagship characters - Revolution Had Better Characterization
In all honesty, Masters of the Universe: Revelation did a good job with character development, especially for supporting characters. Teela's transformation from uncertainty to determination to protect Eternia stood out as a significant growth for her character. The focus of the series was mainly on restoring magic to Eternia and overcoming Skeletor's damage, with personal struggles taking a secondary role.
Interestingly, Evil-Lyn's shift from being a villain to becoming a Cosmic Enforcer was a surprising and positive turn of events in the series.
Revolution Had A Lasting Impact On Eternia
The end of Masters of the Universe: Revolution saw the culmination of several satisfying character arcs. Evil-Lyn's transformation into a Cosmic Enforcer was a pleasant surprise, showing that villains in Masters of the Universe can have depth. Prince Adam's internal conflict between being He-Man and fulfilling his royal duties added complexity to his heroism. The added time since the release of the second batch of Revelation episodes allowed these arcs to develop and resonate with audiences.
The homeworld of the Masters of the Universe will never be the same
Masters of the Universe Revelation Heroes of Preternia - The homeworld of the Masters of the Universe will never be the same - Revolution Had A Lasting Impact On Eternia
Teela Is Given More Depth in Revolution
In Masters of the Universe: Revolution, the character of Teela is portrayed with more complexity and depth compared to the previous series. The show delves into her emotions, struggles, and growth, allowing viewers to see a different side of her that was not explored before.
The follow-up series was sure to address the shortcomings of its former protagonist
Masters of the Universe revelation heman skeletor teela - The follow-up series was sure to address the shortcomings of its former protagonist - Teela Is Done Better In Revolution
Despite being the main character in Masters of the Universe: Revelation after He-Man, Teela's portrayal in the first series didn't sit well with most viewers. If Teela had been shown differently, maybe fans wouldn't have reacted so negatively to the switch from Prince Adam to her as the main focus. Unfortunately, in Revelation, Teela came off as unlikable, entitled, and easily discouraged, which led to criticism of the changes made to her classic personality.
In response to the feedback, Masters of the Universe: Revelation made significant changes to Teela's character while still keeping her as a secondary protagonist alongside Prince Adam. This time, Teela's attitude and choices aligned more with the wise mentor she was in the original '80s cartoon. The show even brought in Melissa Benoist, known for her role in Supergirl, to voice Teela and better portray her new direction.
The Character Designs Are More Faithful To The Original
Revolution's slight art-style shift was a welcome sight
He-Man with his battle armor in Masters of the Universe - Revolution - Revolution's slight art-style shift was a welcome sight - The Character Designs Are More Faithful To The Original
Masters of the Universe: Revelation debuted with a fresh art style, drawing on Netflix's rich animation background to bring the vibrant world of Eternia back to our screens. While the previous series had decent animation, many felt that He-Man's iconic characters lost some of their original charm with toned-down physiques and more realistic costumes. The slight shift in art style in Revelation brought back the fantastical muscle-bound heroes and outlandish outfits that fans loved, much to the joy of viewers.
Revolution Teased She-Ra
The slight but noticeable change in art style in Revolution brought back the fantastical muscle masses and unbelievable outfits that the series was originally recognized for.
Adora's possible inclusion opens up a whole new world
She-Ra Princess of Power - Adora's possible inclusion opens up a whole new world - Revolution Teased She-Ra
Revolution Confirmed The Live-Action Movie As Canon
Despite being originally created as a female answer to He-Man existing within the same universe, She-Ra has existed outside the continuity of Kevin Smith's Masters of the Universe series, instead featuring in her own Netflix show, She-Ra & The Princess of Power. Smith cited legal licensing issues as having barred him from using the character in Masters of the Universe: Revelation (via Den of Geek). However, it seems She-Ra may have been introduced by Revolution already, something Revelation could only dream of alluding to.
Revelation could only make vague references
Masters of the universe revolution Gwildor - Revelation could only make vague references - Revolution Confirmed The Live-Action Movie As Canon
Revolution Had Better Overarching Villains
In Masters of the Universe: Revelation, the presence of Gwildor from the '80s live-action film has stirred up nostalgia among fans. The series also includes subtle references to the film such as trademark lines and the unique flying disc vehicles. Moreover, Revolution took it a step further by introducing Gwildor as an original character and referencing events from the movie in a conversation between Gwildor and Man-At-Arms. This confirmed as canon what Revelation had only hinted at.
Revelation's villainous forces were far too scattered
Masters of the Universe Revolution Skeletor in his new menacing form - Revelation's villainous forces were far too scattered - Revolution Had Better Overarching Villains
The Shorter Season Streamlined The Story
In Masters of the Universe: Revelation season 1, Skeletor's early demise left a void that was hard to fill for other villains like Dark-Lyn and Scare Glow. The series struggled to maintain the same level of antagonistic presence without Skeletor. However, Masters of the Universe: Revolution managed to not only feature Skeletor more prominently but also introduced new threatening villains like Hordak and Motherboard, adding a fresh dynamic to the storyline. These new villains brought a more tangible and consistent presence to the series, helping to streamline the overall story.
Netflix's limitations wound up working in Revolution's favor
Teela Man-At-Arms He-Man in Masters of the Universe Revolution - Netflix's limitations wound up working in Revolution's favor - The Shorter Season Streamlined The Story
In Masters of the Universe: Revelation, Kevin Smith and his team released a total of ten episodes, split into two parts with five episodes each. However, when Netflix condensed Revolution into just five episodes, Smith and his team had to streamline the plot, resulting in a more focused narrative that avoids unnecessary detours and confusing subplots seen in Revelation. Ultimately, Masters of the Universe: Revolution emerged as the stronger story, utilizing its limitations to its advantage.
All five episodes of Masters of the Universe: Revolution can be streamed on Netflix.
Sources: Den of Geek
Editor's P/S:
The article provides an insightful comparison between "Masters of the Universe: Revelation" and its successor, "Revolution." It highlights the significant improvements made in "Revolution" that have addressed the criticisms faced by its predecessor. The return of He-Man and Skeletor as central figures, the enhanced character development, and the more faithful character designs have all contributed to a more positive reception from fans. The article also discusses the inclusion of new villains and the streamlining of the story in "Revolution," which has resulted in a more cohesive and engaging narrative. Overall, the article effectively conveys the positive changes made in "Revolution" that have led to its success among returning fans of the franchise.