Masters of the Universe: Revelation (Episode 2) - The Poisoned Chalice

Masters of the Universe Revelation Episode 1 Castle Grayskull

Teela has long since given up the hero life and has settled in as an adventurer with her partner, Andra. They’ve just been hired to recover a chalice from Snake Mountain which has gotten Teela all fired up.

Masters of the Universe: Revelation (Episode 2) – The Poisoned Chalice

What happened?

Teela and Andra recovered the Glove of Globula from Stinkor who no doubt had plans to sell it. Now that magic is scarce, items infused with magic are worth a lot. Soon after completing this quest, another falls into their lap. This time it’s a mysterious old lady who calls herself Majestra. She seeks to recover an item that belonged to her departed friend. She then reveals that it’s located in Snake Mountain!

Andra is hesitant, but Teela doesn’t need a second to think about it. They arrive at the Wolf Door to Snake Mountain, however, the security has been beefed up considerably since the last time she was here. However, she also learned another way in. Teela activated a trap door and dropped down, ready to dig her way inside. Everything has changed inside, looking more like a spaceship than a castle.

They find their way to the main chamber where Tri-Klops is inducting some new recruits to his technology cult, and to do so they need to drink a bizarre liquid from the chalice they’ve been hired to recover. It transforms the first recruit, converting his flesh to metal and creating bizarre weapons out of his body. Teela creates a distraction while Andra goes for the chalice. It’s like the good days as Teela goes about kicking evil henchmen’s asses.

They manage to recover the chalice and return it to Majestra who pays them well. However, she has another job. Help her deliver the chalice to Castle Grayskull! The site has been off-limits since the battle and they are breaking the law just going there. Once inside, they find the Sorceress looking old and defeated as she maintains the last remnant of true magic. Majestra turns into Evil-Lyn and the chalice is actually the head of Skeletor’s Havoc Staff. She adds what magic it contains to the true magic and reveals the true quest that they want Teela to undertake.

Masters of the Universe Revelation Episode 2 Teela picking a fight

What did you think?

Obviously, Kevin Smith has a bit of a Teela crush. That’s fine. I do too. Just thought I should get that out of the way first, because this season seems to be focused much more on Teela. I’m not sure how much time has passed since the battle and Teela walking out on everyone, but the world seems to have moved on quite a bit. Teela now has Andra, although I can’t tell whether they are partners or “partners”. I’m secretly hoping it’s the second one, but that might just be the anime coming through me…

Tri-Klops’ technology cult was an interesting turn of events although the speeches were a bit lame. Overall, I’ve been kind of unimpressed with the script which has been a bit cheesy for want of a better word. Similar to my concerns in the first episode, it feels like it hasn’t quite fully committed to the idea that this is for adults and not children. It’s a step in the right direction, but it hasn’t gone as far as Castlevania did which has a very similar style.

I’m also a little concerned that Teela is changing back a little too quickly. Having quit because everyone lied to her and kept her in the dark, it’s surprising that her first thought is to recruit her adopted father, Duncan into their party. He’s the right person for the job, but it should have been someone forcing it on Teela so that she has to work through the betrayal she feels.

Masters of the Universe Revelation Episode 2 Teela unimpressed

What have you learnt?

One of the things Masters of the Universe has going for it is the wealth of characters and locations. There’s so much lore and history that any topic could be approached. However, rather than coming up with something truly original, this series seems to be borrowing from classics. The technology versus magic idea borrows from The Lord of the Rings and then we have the idea that Teela will need to go to Preternia and Subternia. Basically Heaven and Hell. This feels like it’s borrowing from Greek stories such as the Iliad or the Odyssey.

Now, that would have been fine had the characters spent a little more time developing. I don’t mean in the sense that we don’t know who they are or what their beliefs are. Obviously, we do, these are established characters. The problem is that Teela had the rug pulled out from beneath her feet pretty hard at the end of the last episode and has spent some time furthering her belief in technology. Then, in an instant, she seemed to swing back and even start suggesting they involve people who she recently lost faith in. From a character stance, it feels like they are doing what is required by the plot and not what they would do naturally.