Do Critics Forget How Zodak Fought King Hiss in the 2000 Reboot?

In recent discussions of the animated show 'Masters of the Universe: Revelation', many critics point to the lack of He-Man's central role, questioning its authenticity to the lore. However, these concerns are often dismissive of an earlier event that many do not remember - the 2000 reboot where Zodak fought King Hiss.

Why He-Man's Absence Matters

It's true that in the new 'Masters of the Universe: Revelation', He-Man does not consistently save the day. The show's creators, Kevin Smith and Sarah Michelle Gellar, made it clear from the start that the narrative would center around Teela. The removal of He-Man from the title, the promotional materials, and the trailers all indicate a shift in focus from the iconic hero to a deeper character-driven story involving Teela.

Blame Game and Misleading Promises

Kevin Smith, the showrunner, has been at the center of controversy for his misleading promises and aggressive responses to critiques. Instead of reassuring fans that this would be a He-Man story, he accused those who pointed out he was misleading them of spreading lies. In video promotions, he repeatedly assured viewers that the show is still a He-Man story, only to later backtrack and admit that it is a Teela story. This misleading approach has only fueled the anger among fans who feel they were promised one thing and received another.

The Impact of Zodak and Teela's Roles

The 2000 reboot showed that the show can indeed have characters other than He-Man taking the spotlight without diminishing the core essence of the universe. In that series, Zodak, a cosmic being tasked with maintaining balance, fought King Hiss, a powerful and malevolent force. Although Zodak played a crucial role, the story still maintained the essence of 'Masters of the Universe' lore. In 'Revelation', Teela, wielding all the power of GreySkull, takes on a similar role of maintaining cosmic balance without needing He-Man.

The Show's Confusion and Fan Response

The crux of the issue is not just the focus on Teela but the failure of the showrunners and marketing to be clear. While some fans are content with the show's direction, many feel deceived. The confusion stems from the initial promotion as a He-Man show, which was then contradicted by the actual content. Kevin Smith's promise that He-Man would not step aside before the show aired, followed by subsequent statements retracting and justifying his actions, has left fans feeling sidelined.

The Future of the Series

Smith's admission in an interview with Geatty Jersey that the show was always planned to remove He-Man from the first season, and his promise that if 'Revelation' gets a second season it will be all about He-Man, do little to assuage the current fan outrage. This suggests that the current narrative is more about immediate content rather than long-term fulfillment of fan expectations.

The core issue is not that He-Man does not save the day, but that a show promoted as a He-Man story delivered something quite different. Fans are left questioning the authenticity and integrity of the show, and the trust of the creators who initially misled them.