Classic ’80s Show Featuring Beasts, Barbarians, And Babes Now Streaming For Free

By Chris Snellgrove
| Published 16 seconds ago

Acclaimed author William Faulkner once wrote, “The past is never dead. It’s not even past.” Certainly, the last two decades of entertainment media have proven him correct. We’ve seen the return of numerous beloved ‘80s properties, including Transformers, Ghostbusters, G.I. Joe, and so many more. Because these revivals have been so hit-or-miss, it’s easy to worry when a new one gets announced. That’s how I felt when the Masters of the Universe movie was first announced. He-Man was my absolute favorite hero when I was growing up. Were they going to screw it up? My fears notwithstanding, I got more excited the closer we got to the movie’s premiere. 

As it turns out, my faith was rewarded: the new Masters of the Universe was more exciting than most MCU and DCU films, offering an absolutely brilliant reboot of this killer IP. Of course, He-Man has been rebooted many times before, but this film put me in the mood to go right back to the cartoon that started it all. If you’d like to go on this “good journey” with me, you’re in luck: He-Man and the Masters of the Universe is now streaming for free on Tubi!

He Has The Power

The premise of He-Man and the Masters of the Universe is that the distant planet of Eternia is constantly being threatened by Skeletor, a demonic warrior with an army of evil allies. Fortunately, the planet has its protectors, including Man-At-Arms and his warrior daughter, Teela. One of those protectors is Adam, a prince with a fabulous secret: when he holds aloft his magical sword, he transforms into He-Man, the most powerful man in the universe! He is Skeletor’s greatest enemy, and he fights to save the rest of his kingdom from certain death.

In retrospect, the most notable thing about He-Man and the Masters of the Universe is how nonviolent the show really is. It was based on toys that encouraged epic battles by including special features like battle damage. But in the show, you never really see He-Man use his sword for anything but deflecting ranged attacks. With living creatures, our hero never used his sword or even his fist; he’d just throw them out of frame. If he did punch something, it was always a robot. While all of this can be goofy or even frustrating, it does make it that much easier to share with your own children.

Helter Skeletor

In He-Man and the Masters of the Universe, the plot is a bit like the violence: borderline nonexistent. There’s not much complex lore here, and episodes are mostly a loose collection of Maguffins, toy cameos, and cheesy dialogue. Why, then, am I recommending that you revisit the cartoon? For one thing, because of the cheesy dialogue. Phrases like “I have the power” have entered our cultural lexicon as easily as Skeletor’s colorful ranting has become the source of countless memes. All of this adds up to B-movie perfection you’ll enjoy if you, like me, are a huge fan of ‘80s-style schlock. 

Additionally, He-Man and the Masters of the Universe is filled with iconic designs. Both the aforementioned Skeletor and Castle Grayskull are seriously spooky, and they speak to the emo goth kid within all of us. He-Man, in turn, remains the ultimate symbol of masculinity and strength for an entire generation. Oh, and Snake Mountain is the coolest evil lair ever put onscreen. All of these characters and locations help bring to life a world where sci-fi and fantasy collide. Like, be honest: where else are you going to find a barbarian riding a speeder bike to chase down a magician with no skin?

A Really Good Journey

If you’re in a properly nostalgic mood, you’re likely to find He-Man and the Masters of the Universe hilarious. You can’t really keep a straight face when Skeletor is blurting out lines like, “It’s the sorceress, you boob!” On top of the cheeseball dialogue and funny character antics (Cringer and Orko are always good for laughs), one of He-Man’s funniest aspects is the public service announcement at the end of each episode. As an old-school “what’s the moral of this story?” wrap-up, each message is throwback perfection. Plus, you’ll find some standouts that range from accidentally hilarious (He-Man conflating potions and drugs) to surprisingly horrific (Orko warning kids about weirdos touching them!).

While He-Man and the Masters of the Universe is great for anyone who loves vintage, animated schlock, it will appeal the most to anyone who played with He-Man toys growing up. Seriously, rewatching some of these episodes helped unlock absolutely wonderful memories from my childhood. The result is a very nurturing nostalgia that takes us back to a wonderfully simpler time. Good always triumphs over evil, might never makes right, and every struggle is just a lesson in disguise. In our own world of instability and outright chaos, this escape to a simpler time is practically an exercise in meditation.

Ready for a little peace of mind yourself? Don’t worry: you won’t have to storm Snake Mountain or learn how to fly a hoverbike. And you won’t have to match wits with Skeletor or unlock the power of a magic sword. All you have to do is grab your remote and stream He-Man and the Masters of the Universe for free on Tubi today. With the money you save, you can make like Prince Adam and pay for a gym membership. Don’t worry; I’m sure you’ll have his physique in no time!