Thoughts on the rebooted He-Man (Netflix)

[Tonguez]

Gotcha twist? Marvel just used that same move 3 times in Loki (if you include the reshown Avengers footage of Loki killing Coulson).

Seems like a trope on its own by now. Sure, it subverts what the audience is expecting based on previous story beats, but it also does a fine job of re-establishing the villain as a threat. Which, in this case was necessary, because the villain had been hiding/biding his time and presumed dead.

Will it pan out? We’ll have to wait for part 2 to know that. I know this: If I pulled that move as a DM, it would be epic!

3 times? The Coulson scene happened 10 years ago, not twice in a 2 hour run and not as both the opening and ending stakes of the story arc. Having Teela rescue Adam was a nice story, having the rescue snatched away is unsatisfying, then saying oh but he'll be back by the end of Part 2 just makes it cheap. Particularly when Smith outright states he wanted to have characters die to raise the stakes

But yeah I suppose Coulson did die 7 or 8 times over the course of the Agents of Shield, so maybe the trope is more important than hammering those stakes ...

 

[Blue]

Just don't do reboots. Of anything. Ever.

I've not seen it work even once.

Check out the new She-Ra. Far superior to the original.

 

[Morrus]

Review bombing! Or perhaps many fans really dislike it, but I suppose calling it this is a quick and easy way of dismissing their voices.

OK, folks, this thread is - ridiculously, given the subject matter - in imminent danger of getting closed because for some reasons it's giving rise to some really bad behavior. The absurd hyperbole, gaslighting, and insults are not acceptable. Let me remind you that you're talking about a cartoon, and if you can't do that civilly and in good faith, don't do it at all; and if you can't refrain voluntarily, we'll help you. My patience is running a little thin. I hope I've made myself clear.

 

[Rune]

3 times? The Coulson scene happened 10 years ago, not twice in a 2 hour run and not as both the opening and ending stakes of the story arc. Having Teela rescue Adam was a nice story, having the rescue snatched away is unsatisfying, then saying oh but he'll be back by the end of Part 2 just makes it cheap. Particularly when Smith outright states he wanted to have characters die to raise the stakes

But yeah I suppose Coulson did die 7 or 8 times over the course of the Agents of Shield, so maybe the trope is more important than hammering those stakes ...

What makes you think Adam will be back by the end of part 2? I agree he might but I didn’t see any evidence that suggested it. I only watched it once, though. Maybe I missed something?

 

[Delazar]

What makes you think Adam will be back by the end of part 2? I agree he might but I didn’t see any evidence that suggested it. I only watched it once, though. Maybe I missed something?

The wound was clearly non-lethal (for heroes). It wasn’t through the chest, it was kinda lower right abdomen. I think he’s coming back.

btw, loved the show, but indeed I would have liked to see more of He-man, and less of angsty Teela. Crossing fingers for Part 2.

 

[MoonSong]

Ok, I'll be quick. I was never in the market for this show. He-man is just not on my time -though I have vague memories of New Adventures- and I've never been in the market for the toys -for the longest time I didn't even know there were toys-. However, after witnessing some of the internet drama -which includes all of the usual suspects- I was even less interested. Then I saw the review by Scott -I selfinserted into the franchise - Neitlich and he was very excited and gleeful for it. I decided I need to see it if someone who was both passionate and self-restrained praised it. And I'll eventually get to it. I'll probably like it, or not. But I lack baggage, I'm not passionate about this, so any response I have to it will be moderate. (Though the minis and the megablocks figures look interesting)

Now I think that -regardless of the show actual quality, which is a suspended judgement until I watch it for myself- the show pushes the right buttons for a lot of people, but at the same time it doesn't for other people -and I'm not talking about the usual suspects-. Both groups are fans but for different reasons, some seem to be on it for the wide pool of characters and the lore and have kept up with all of the expanded universe and love this. Others just wanted more He-man and won't be pleased by anything but more He-man. They aren't wrong, they just thought this show was specifically for them and feel betrayed and are lashing out?(I mean, the marketing was a bit missaimed?) There is too much of "it is good but..." around to just be the usual suspects.

 

[Tonguez]

What makes you think Adam will be back by the end of part 2? I agree he might but I didn’t see any evidence that suggested it. I only watched it once, though. Maybe I missed something?

ah sorry, that impression came from a comment in the after show which is also on Netflix and in my version at least played directly after Ep. 5. Its hosted by the Andra actress, Kevin Smith and Matell TV guy, and features Kevin smiths self congratulations (so yeah he kinda does review himself) and then comments from each actor.

 

[Tonguez]

Now I think that -regardless of the show actual quality, which is a suspended judgement until I watch it for myself- the show pushes the right buttons for a lot of people, but at the same time it doesn't for other people -and I'm not talking about the usual suspects-. Both groups are fans but for different reasons, some seem to be on it for the wide pool of characters and the lore and have kept up with all of the expanded universe and love this. Others just wanted more He-man and won't be pleased by anything but more He-man. They aren't wrong, they just thought this show was specifically for them and feel betrayed and are lashing out?(I mean, the marketing was a bit missaimed?) There is too much of "it is good but..." around to just be the usual suspects.

Its not that though, the truth is Masters of the Universe has never needed He-Man, he's deus ex machina and the other Heroic Warriors including Teela and Adam were always more interesting, and a story that explored those characters and their relationships in a world without HeMan would be cool, we might get that for Part 2, but who knows.

While Revelations does have some nice cameos like Whiplash and Stinkor and the Tri-clops' weird tech cult, practically all the core Heroic Warriors are sidelined. I beleive we get an Episode 1 scene with Fisto and Clamp Champ(?) but thats it - I didnt see Stratos, Ram-man, Mechanek or any other Heroic Warrior. That leaves the protagonist team strangely small, Andra fades into obscurity after episode 2 and Duncan is sent back to Grayskull leaving Roboto as a poor chekov'd stand-in. While episode 4 gives Orko a nice character moment as we learn his true name and see some of his hidden potential, pairing him with Evil Lynn was odd. It also leaves Teela isolated being all Mary sue in confronting Scareglow....

Part 2 might be redemptive

 

[Rune]

ah sorry, that impression came from a comment in the after show which is also on Netflix and in my version at least played directly after Ep. 5. Its hosted by the Andra actress, Kevin Smith and Matell TV guy, and features Kevin smiths self congratulations (so yeah he kinda does review himself) and then comments from each actor.

I did not get that impression from that after-show. But, also, Kevin Smith tends to speak off the cuff when he’s off-script (as he clearly was in that after-show), so I don’t read too much into his exact words.

What was evident is that he was clearly excited about the show (and finally being able to talk about it). That kind of genuine excitement for geek stuff (his own and others) is characteristic of him and unusual for most people with his degree of fame.

Ironically, I think it’s the thing that Internet/You Tube Kevin Smith Haters hate most about him, although I really don’t understand why. (I’m beginning to form a hypothesis, but that’s not related to this discussion.)

To bring it back around, though, I expect Marc Bernarden would talk him out of undercutting the established stakes for Adam while he was in the writer’s room (Bernarden is real big on following through with stakes – and he’s much more critical of story-telling, too). I don’t think it necessarily means Adam stays dead, but it might.

 

[Henry]

I've now watched 3 of 5, planning to finish tomorrow. I'm liking it so far, and getting a laugh out of the in-jokes ("sorry about the mess", etc). It wouldn't be a Kevin Smith project without some Lucasfilm references thrown in.