Kevin Smith's Masters of the Universe on Netflix
Posted: Tue Jul 27, 2021 8:56 am
Just finished watching part 1 of his new series on Netflix.
There's going to likely be a ton of spoilers here, so read at your own peril beyond this point.
Overall, I think it really well done except it was a bit misleading in its trailers.
Its less He-Man, and more the "The New Adventures of Teela".
I suppose it's a balsy move to kill off your principal character in the first episode, then apparently again on the last one. Yes, it's not what the people were expecting, but by that same token it's not what that people were expecting.
Also, why are we killing off the secret identity? Does not make much sense.
He-Man is just o.k. Having him limited to short flashbacks mostly makes it hard to actually get to know the character well and see how well Chris Wood does at it.
With that said however, I think it's a well done series so far. Well crafted story, good beats and good use of characters. I was actually disappointed Evil-Lyn did not join the good guys at the end, but went back to Skeletor. Which proves how good she was written that you actually god invested in her. Leena Heady does a great job as her. Its just not what you traditionally expect of a He-Man show. Big then again it was never called a He-Man show. Just Masters of the Universe.
Mark Hamill's Skeleton is not bad, but somehow it pales in comparison with Alan Oppenheimer's version. I just get too much Joker out of him, not enough nasal skeleton. Sue me, I have a special place in my heart for Oppenheimer's Skeletor as I do Beastman and his snorts.
Also not sure what drove them to make another castle hidden beneath the Castle Grayskull facade. Its not like they were ever hiding that Grayskull was important. It just did not really make sense.
Sarah Michelle Gellar does a great job as Teela. Totally did not get a Buffy vibe from her at all. But Teela overall is not all that compelling a character here. I understand what Kevin Smith was trying to do with her, I just don't think it works. Her motivations are thin at best. "oooh no, they lied to me... I'm leaving. everything now". Was not really invested in her. But in actually getting He-Man back, which kind of weakens her character.
Also, damn Randor was totally douchey. Don't remember Randor being that unlikeable before.
I did get a tiny bit nostalgic when Triklops shows up in the Roton. Was pretty much the only toy I had from He-Man. Never had anything else, and still absolutely loved that cartoon.
Tony Todd is criminally under used. Somehow I think he would have worked better as a really evil Skeletor rather than Mark's less laughy Joker attempt.
All in all, its a good try at it. It just feels like not what people were led to expect is all, and while part 2 may correct that, it's going to dissappoint a lot of people for now.
What are your thoughts on it? Did you like it? where you appalled by the changes? Did you even get invested in Teela?
There's going to likely be a ton of spoilers here, so read at your own peril beyond this point.
Overall, I think it really well done except it was a bit misleading in its trailers.
Its less He-Man, and more the "The New Adventures of Teela".
I suppose it's a balsy move to kill off your principal character in the first episode, then apparently again on the last one. Yes, it's not what the people were expecting, but by that same token it's not what that people were expecting.
Also, why are we killing off the secret identity? Does not make much sense.
He-Man is just o.k. Having him limited to short flashbacks mostly makes it hard to actually get to know the character well and see how well Chris Wood does at it.
With that said however, I think it's a well done series so far. Well crafted story, good beats and good use of characters. I was actually disappointed Evil-Lyn did not join the good guys at the end, but went back to Skeletor. Which proves how good she was written that you actually god invested in her. Leena Heady does a great job as her. Its just not what you traditionally expect of a He-Man show. Big then again it was never called a He-Man show. Just Masters of the Universe.
Mark Hamill's Skeleton is not bad, but somehow it pales in comparison with Alan Oppenheimer's version. I just get too much Joker out of him, not enough nasal skeleton. Sue me, I have a special place in my heart for Oppenheimer's Skeletor as I do Beastman and his snorts.
Also not sure what drove them to make another castle hidden beneath the Castle Grayskull facade. Its not like they were ever hiding that Grayskull was important. It just did not really make sense.
Sarah Michelle Gellar does a great job as Teela. Totally did not get a Buffy vibe from her at all. But Teela overall is not all that compelling a character here. I understand what Kevin Smith was trying to do with her, I just don't think it works. Her motivations are thin at best. "oooh no, they lied to me... I'm leaving. everything now". Was not really invested in her. But in actually getting He-Man back, which kind of weakens her character.
Also, damn Randor was totally douchey. Don't remember Randor being that unlikeable before.
I did get a tiny bit nostalgic when Triklops shows up in the Roton. Was pretty much the only toy I had from He-Man. Never had anything else, and still absolutely loved that cartoon.
Tony Todd is criminally under used. Somehow I think he would have worked better as a really evil Skeletor rather than Mark's less laughy Joker attempt.
All in all, its a good try at it. It just feels like not what people were led to expect is all, and while part 2 may correct that, it's going to dissappoint a lot of people for now.
What are your thoughts on it? Did you like it? where you appalled by the changes? Did you even get invested in Teela?