The Masters Of The Universe Headcanon Season 1: The Power Of Grayskull

Mattel's 1980s toy shilling cartoon was far from Ahead Of Its Time in the writing department. Despite an amazing 80s voice cast, many of the episodes were pretty schlocky, even for a kid's show. I didn't have many fond memories of it despite having a complete set of the action figures, castles, and vehicles when I was a kid.

Bored at work in 2022, I decided to listen to the Kevin Smith continuation of the story while I did paperwork and data entry. I was surprised by how progressive and entertaining it was. I decided I should check out the old series. It, uhh...it didn't endear me.

But there are some episodes that feed into the 2021 series that are not only watchable but entertaining in a nostalgic way.

I have made a four season series leading up to the Kevin Smith's series, including ten episodes per season of the 1983 He-Man and the 1985 She-Ra series that were historically important to the new series but also fun to watch.

The first season introduces you to the characters and sets up the journey to the 21st century cartoon. The animation is dated, the writing is...fine. The surprise to me is that even the 80s series is surprisingly progressive, at least when it comes to gender representation and alternatives to violence. One of the recurring themes is that heroes and villains need to work together/keep each other safe from physical harm.

Season One:
​The Power Of Grayskull

101. Teela's Quest

A really cool introduction to the good guys. We first see how Eternia is connected to Earth, and then we follow Teela as she searches for her birth mother. We also meet Orko, The Sorceress, and Merman. And we see that He-Man is a true hero, not just a violent barbarian. 


102. The Diamond Ray Of Disappearance

Meet the rogues gallery as Skeletor summons all of his henches to Snake Mountain in order to organize an attack on The Royal Palace and capture Castle Grayskull. Plus, meet the never-fleshed-out tertiary heroes whose action figures you only got if you were super whiney or your parents were super rich. 


103. Creatures From The Tar-Swamp

So far, Orko has been the clumsy, somewhat annoying comic relief. In this episode we learn how the magician saved Prince Adam and Cringer as a child (and a kitten). You'll be shocked to know that this episode also features Skeletor trying to conquer Castle Grayskull.


104. Dawn Of Dragoon

More Orko! A female, uhm, Orko arrives and guides him back to his home world where he battles a half-man half-dragon and gets back in touch with his magical powers.  The Sorceress gives He-Man some Alice In Wonderland style magic to help bring Orko back home. 


105. The Witch and The Warrior

He-Man and Teela  journey to a desert to protect a magic fountain from the evil Kothos. Then, jealous Skeletor decides he should take the fountain instead of Kothos, and sends Evil-Lyn and Clawful to interfere. 


106. Prince Adam No More

Skeletor fires Beast-Man for incompetence, and the King of Eternia reluctantly agrees to be guarded by Prince Adam instead of He-Man. The two stories intersect with disastrous results. 


107. The Search

He-Man must stop Skeletor as he drills to the center of Eternia in order to something something power something something Castle Grayskull. 


108. Evilseed

The...gnome?..dwarf..? farmers of Eternia plant an invasive vine that cracks a damn and floods a fertile crescent and then threatens to destroy the palace. The only way to beat the plants may be to team up with a certain skeletal themed villain destined to betray them. 


109. The Taking Of Grayskull

It's Orko's birthday and nobody is paying attention to him. But while their backs are turned on him, they're also turned on Grayskull which, along with He-Man's sword, totally disappears. Sadly, this is the first episode where not one but two strong female characters can't handle the danger themselves and need to be rescued by He-Man.


110. The Problem With Power

Skeletor's new plan to build a giant portal isn't just evil, it's also not going to pass an OSHA inspection. And when He-Man acts first and thinks later, he causes collateral damage causing him to rethink whether he is worthy of the sword of Grayskull.