​​​​Stream It Or Skip It: ‘He-Man and the Masters of the Universe’ Season 2, A Fresh Take on An ‘80s Legend

He-Man and the Masters of the Universe, not to be confused with Masters of the Universe: Revelation, is a CGI reboot of the classic animated series from 1983 of the same name. Its explosive first season debuted on Netflix in September 2021 to mostly positive fan response, and now it’s returned for another round of episodes that pick up from where the first season left off.

The first season already introduced viewers to familiar faces from the original show, and by the end, a brazen Skeletor had become the King of Eternos, pursuing a path to becoming a god. At the end of the story, all seemed lost, with Adam/He-Man’s friends, the Masters of the Universe, seemingly dead. Now, as the second season gears up, we learn that He-Man and his friends are still very much alive, thriving, and ready to save Eternia from Skeletor and his loyal followers. It appears the Castle of Grayskull was saved, and Adam, along with friends Krass’tine (Judy Alice Lee), Duncan (Antony Del Rio), and Cringer (David Kaye) have made their way to the planet Avion, making allies with the birdlike people who live there and gearing up for a major comeback to push Skeletor back. From there, they must all work together, especially with newfound friend Stratos (Zeno Robinson) and the bird people of Avion, to figure out how to fell Skeletor’s plans.

HE-MAN AND THE MASTERS OF THE UNIVERSE: SEASON 2: STREAM IT OR SKIP IT?

Opening Shot: Young Adam is engaged in a mock battle with his father, as the king explains to his son why the people of Eternos had a falling out with the bird people and merpeople in their respective kingdoms. King Grayskull refused the ultimate power that so many desperately wished for. We flash back to the present, where Skeletor gushes over his recent victory, cackling with his cronies about how no one can stop him.

The Gist: Adam and company have arrived on Avion, with the Castle of Grayskull intact behind them. Meanwhile, down below, Skeletor continues to plot his path to becoming a god. No time has passed since the previous season of the series, and now we get to see things play out with the Bird People high in the sky. That includes the introduction of Stratos, one of He-Man and company’s biggest allies in the classic series.

What Shows Will It Remind You Of?: There’s a very strong Star Wars: Rebels vibe to the entire production, from the CGI animation to the character design, attitude, and overall tone, with modern accoutrements, phrasing, and the occasional silliness that accompanies shows like these. Obviously, you’ll love the source material, the original ‘80s He-Man and the Masters of the Universe as well, or even its sister show, She-Ra: Princess of Power, and its modern remake.

Our Take: He-Man and the Masters of the Universe returns with another slate of high-octane action that borrows just enough from the original series to make an impression on older viewers. It’s simultaneously nostalgic in every way that counts, while also building a new mythos that older fans can enjoy. This second season has started out quite strong, introducing a fan-favorite character in the form of Stratos, who steals every scene he’s in with his quips and snappy reactions to what’s going on around him.

Sex and Skin: Zero. This is a kids’ show, after all.

Parting Shot: Beast Man finds Adam and crew and gets in touch with Skeletor to let him know of their location. Skeletor is intrigued and wishes Beast Man “happy hunting,” as the gnarled, monstrous enemy jumps down to pursue the Masters of the Universe. It looks like they’ll be in for some trouble when the next episode opens.

Sleeper Star: Zeno Robinson is a hilariously vain royal of Avion as King Stratos when we first meet him. He feels almost like a superhero, but one with benevolence he wants to share with Prince Adam and the rest of the Masters of the Universe. His ebullience and enthusiasm for the role is palpable, and you begin to look forward to his clever one-liners when he delivers them. His comedic timing is perfect, too, as you’ll soon see.

Most Pilot-y Line: Upon meeting Stratos after appearing in the land of Avion with Castle Grayskull in tow, Prince Adam tries his best to explain the situation to a doubtful Stratos. “Things went sideways, and we lost Eternos. Then my uncle tried to destroy the castle. So we moved it and wound up…here?” That’s about the size of things, and a good refresher for anyone who forgot what happened last season.

Our Call: STREAM IT. This is an inventive, modern take on the classic He-Man series that knows its audience and what the story is capable of. It doesn’t try to erase history or forge ahead with something totally different and unlikeable. Instead, it melts things fans of all stripes enjoyed from the past and mixes it up with fun, sci-fi storytelling and rebellious heroes that any viewer can sympathize and enjoy watching from episode to episode. Whether you’re a fan who’s been here from the beginning or want to see what the fuss is about He-Man, this series is a great place to start.

Brittany Vincent has been covering video games and tech for over a decade for publications like G4, Popular Science, Playboy, Variety, IGN, GamesRadar, Polygon, Kotaku, Maxim, GameSpot, and more. When she’s not writing or gaming, she’s collecting retro consoles and tech. Follow her on Twitter: @MolotovCupcake.