Warning: SPOILERS for Masters of the Universe: Revelation season 1's finale.
The finale of Masters of the Universe: Revelation season 1 concluded with a suitable epic cliffhanger, as Skeletor acquired the Power of Grayskull as Prince Adam seemed to bleed to death. This marked the second death for the heroic young man who long protected Eternia in the guise of He-Man, who previously died to save all the universe in the first episode of the Netflix revival series. This sets up a second season that will see the warrior woman Teela taking the lead in an effort to save Eternia from a civil war of evil warriors.
Boasting an all-star ensemble of experienced voice actors and fantasy television favorites, Masters of the Universe: Revelation continued the storyline of the 1983 animated series, which is the most famous and most popular incarnation of Masters of the Universe. The story centered around Teela, former Captain of the Guard of Eternos, as she tried to build a new life for herself as magic began to fade from the world of Eternia following the apparent death of He-Man and Skeletor and the destruction of Castle Grayskull. However, Tella could not escape from her past and found herself leading a team of Eternia's greatest heroes and villains on a quest to reforge the Sword of Power and restore magic to Eternia before the universe itself was destroyed.
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Masters of the Universe: Revelation season 1 saw Teela and her companions travel to the furthest edges of Eternia and beyond, venturing into the hellish realm of Subternia and the paradise of Preternia to reclaim the two blades that were joined together to make the Sword of Power. Noble sacrifices were made along the way to see the legendary weapon restored in the finale. This set the stage for a series of miracles and a bloody twist that promises big things for Masters of the Universe: Revelation season 2.
How The Sword Of Power Brings Back Magic
The surviving party members left Preternia, with Prince Adam in tow. Despite the warning that he could never return to Preternia having been granted the ultimate reward for sacrificing his life once and that another champion should take up his burden, Adam argued that someone would be needed to call down the power of Castle Grayskull who had done it before. The ancient heroes of Preternia wished Adam well and King Grayskull opened a gate to just outside the Hall of Wisdom, which was besieged by Tri-Klops' cult.
After fighting their way into the Hall of Wisdom, Teela caught Adam up on everything that had happened after his death and how all the magic had been pulled out of Eternia following Skeletor's destruction of the Orb of Power and the shattering of the Sword of Power. With the sword having been remade, it could once again act as a conduit to draw the magic back from the primordial realms of Preternia and Subternia. Adam called upon the Power of Grayskull and in short order the garden in the heart of the Hall of Wisdom was restored, as was the Sorceress of Grayskull, who had become increasingly aged as the magic fled from Eternia. The orb within Evil-Lyn's wand began to glow as well, as the magic of Eternia was restored, and Tri-Klops and his minions fled as the illusion of Castle Grayskull around the Hall of Wisdom was restored.
Skeletor's Plan & Survival Explained
As Adam was about to complete the incantation that would transform him into He-Man, the head of the Skeletor's Havoc Staff (which Evil-Lyn had been safeguarding) levitated out of Evil-Lyn's satchel, as dark power began to flow out of her wand. Skeletor revealed himself, reforming his body and stabbing Adam through the chest with the Havoc Staff before grabbing the Sword of Power. Skeletor explained that he only had a moment before the destruction of the Orb of Power destroyed his physical form along with it, and how he used that moment to place his essence into Evil-Lyn's wand. From there, he bided his time and watched events unfold around him until the right moment came for him to strike.
Skeletor's New Form & Becoming Master of the Universe
Armed with the Sword of Power, Skeletor evoked the Power of Grayskull in the same way Prince Adam did to become He-Man. Magic surged forth and Skeletor emerged from the resulting pillar of light in a new suit of armor with an intricate headdress and glowing green highlights that resembled the armor worn by Frank Langella after Skeletor acquired the Power of Grayskull in the live-action Masters of the Universe movie. The season ended with Skeletor's image towering over Castle Grayskull, as he declared himself "Master of the Universe."
Why Adam/He-Man Is Killed Off
The biggest question in the wake of the finale of Masters of the Universe: Revelation season 1 is whether or not Adam was killed by Skeletor or merely wounded fatally. The finale ends before his fate can be confirmed one way or the other, but he did not appear to be moving as Teela was tending to him. It would seem to be pointless to kill Adam once only to have him die a second time in a way that completely negated the sacrifice of his first death. However, that would only be the case if Adam were the main protagonist of the series. In truth, Masters of the Universe: Revelation is all about Teela's heroic journey and her destiny. Given that, it was necessary - from a storytelling standpoint - for Adam to die so that Teela could get out of the shadow of He-Man. Whether Adam survives into Masters of the Universe: Revelation season 2 or not is immaterial given that the series sets Teela up to lead the battle against the reawakened Skeletor either way.
How Masters of the Universe Sets Up Revelation Season 2
While Masters of the Universe: Revelation did not spell it out explicitly, it did make a number of references to the classic 1983 He-Man and the Masters of the Universe series and that series' hints that Teela had a great destiny before her. This was shown most directly in the penultimate episode of season 1, "Land of the Dead," in which Teela evoked some kind of magical power to drive back Scare Glow and summon the dark half of the Sword of Power to her hand. The classic series suggested that Teela's destiny was to become the next Sorceress of Castle Grayskull, but that seems unlikely now given Teela's distrust of magic. It's possible, however, that the second season will see Teela overcoming her aversion to the mystic powers that have manipulated her all her life and taking the first steps down that road.
Whether Teela remains a warrior or becomes a mage to match Evil-Lyn, season 2 of Masters of the Universe: Revelation will have no shortage of foes for the heroes of Eternia to fight. Beyond the threat posed by an all-powerful Skeletor, there is also the problem of Tri-Kilops and his technology-worshipping cult. While the cultists were sent running by the restoration of Castle Grayskull, it seems unlikely they will be as quick to kneel before Skeletor as Evil-Lyn and Beast-Man were. There's also a fair chance that Skeletor's chief lieutenants are waiting for their own opportunity to turn the tables on him, as Evil-Lyn had been questioning her devotion to Skeletor's cause in the time following his apparent death. Given the potential for treachery, the biggest problem Teela and the other heroes of Eternia may face is ensuring the universe survives the inevitable war between all the Evil Warriors that once served Skeletor.