History YMMV / HeManAndTheMastersOfTheUniverse2002

* FridgeBrilliance:
** Man-At-Arms particular interest about the Sorceress's amnesiac husband (who is also Teela's biological father) makes sense since the latter's background is quite similar to another person he knew of who had amnesia; his brother. However due to his experiences with [[ParentalNeglect Brother Neglect]], Man-At-Arms honestly believes that Fisto abandoned his wife and child.
*** Hence, why Man-At-Arms (in the pilot movie) initially took an aggressive tone following Adam's supposed ''departure'' from battle. He thinks he is just a coward as Fisto.
** Since Adam is descended from King Grayskull, that would mean Randor and possibly Skeletor are also the King's descendants. Which might explains both Skeletor's desire to rule Eternia and his obsession to claim the power of Elders. Being Grayskull's descendant, Skeletor believed that he is entitled to have the power that his ancestor once bore.

* VindicatedByHistory: While the show was critically acclaimed by fans and critics and is considered a CultClassic, it had very [[InvisibleAdvertising little advertising]] and poor toy sales and the series ended up only lasting two seasons and there wouldn't be another entry from the franchise until 2018's ''WesternAnimation/SheRaAndThePrincessesOfPower''. As the years gone by it's gotten more attention over the years, especially as the concept of cartoon reboots became controversial in the [[UsefulNotes/TheNewTens late 2010s.]] This series has been highly praised for being ahead of it's time and being very faithful to the original while also having it's own creative spin. It also gotten further vindication when ''WesternAnimation/MastersOfTheUniverseRevelation'' released and became very divisive among fans to the point some wished that this show was continued instead.
* TheWoobie: King Nikolas Powers, otherwise known as The Faceless One. Once King of Zalesia, his love for Queen Maligna was such that he broke a treaty with King Hiss to marry her and have a family. This led to Maligna dying in childbirth, him being stripped of his humanity and cursed with immortality, being confined to his castle, and being powerless to watch as his realm was destroyed. Even worse, he had to send his daughter Evelyn into the future to protect her, and though he was eventually able to raise her she turned to evil and joined Keldor, who eventually became Skeletor.

* AuthorsSavingThrow:
** People complained about how in the original series, the titular character suffered from massive ClarkKenting. They fixed that in this series by making Prince Adam short and scrawny in contrast to the more muscular He-Man. However, FridgeLogic is still in effect regarding this; why did nobody ever notice the big lightning that comes down during the transformation and wonder "Hey, wasn't that where Prince Adam was?", or notice the sword on his back that looked a lot like He-Man's...
** "The Sweet Smell of Victory" was this for Stinkor. The character had been laughed off as having a ludicrous gimmick, to the point of the Filmation staff mocking him and refusing to ever feature him in ''WesternAnimation/SheRaPrincessOfPower''. In this series, the writers offered some humor about Stinkor, but also gave him some depth and portrayed him as being quite dangerous.

* VindicatedByHistory: While the show was critically acclaimed by fans and critics and is considered a CultClassic, it had very [[InvisibleAdvertising little advertising]] and poor toy sales and the series ended up only lasting two seasons and there wouldn't be another entry from the franchise until 2018's ''WesternAnimation/SheRaAndThePrincessesOfPower''. As the years gone by it's gotten more attention over the years, especially as the concept of cartoon reboots became controversial in the [[UsefulNotes/TheNewTens late 2010s.]] This series has been highly praised for being ahead of it's time and being very faithful to the original while also having it's own creative spin. It also gotten further vindication when ''WesternAnimation/MastersOfTheUniverseRevelation'' released and became very divisive among fans to the point some wished that this show was continued instead.

* InkStainAdaptation: Skeletor's backstory in this incarnation of the series. Where he was once Keldor, King Randor's evil Gar half-brother who invaded King Randor's kingdom and has his face burned when Randor reflected the acid Keldor threw at him. Who then made a deal with Hordak which turned him into Skeletor. While the 1983 series is the most well known version of the ''Franchise/MastersOfTheUniverse'', the majority of fans see this version of Skeletor's backstory as his canon one.

* FoeYay: In "The Last Stand", Skeletor flat out says that Adam is good looking although in a taunting way.

* NightmareFuel: The Snakemen. Especially King Hiss. Their first appearance involves them ''eating Zodak's brother alive.''

* HarsherInHindsight: At the end of "The Last Stand", Man-At-Arms intended to retire because he blames himself for Skeletor almost being victorious. But King Randor stopped him and insists that it wasn't his fault. Come ''WesternAnimation/MastersOfTheUniverseRevelation'' where He-Man/Adam sacrifices himself to prevent Skeletor from getting the power of Grayskull and King Randor finds out Adam is He-Man, he blames Man-At-Arms for his son's death and banishes him from his Kingdom, a complete 180 turn here.

*** Hence, why Man-At-Arms took an aggressive tone following Adam's supposed ''departure'' from battle. He thinks he is just a coward as Fisto.
** Since Adam is descended from King Gray Skull, that would mean Randor and possibly Skeletor are also the King's descendants. Which might explains both Skeletor's desire to rule Eternia and his obsession to claim the power of Elders. Being Grayskull's descendant, Skeletor believed that he is entitled to have the power that his ancestor once bore.

* FanonDiscontinuity: "Out of the Past" features a flashback that introduces the Sorceress's husband and Teela's father. He is said to have fought in the Great Unrest--requiring many bandages for his wounds and having suffered amnesia. The episode never reveals his true identity and just says that he eventually departed for unknown reasons not long after conceiving Teela. The show ended before his identity could formally be revealed, but WordOfGod says that he is [[spoiler:Fisto]]. Some fans rejected this claim, though--preferring for him to instead be Man-At-Arms. A theory that had a strong basis in the final scene of "Out of the Past", when the Sorceress tells Man-At-Arms that because her duties didn't allow her to devote the time to raise a child, she left Teela with her father. Man-At-Arms corrects that he is Teela's ''adoptive'' father, to which the Sorceress visibly hesitates before quietly agreeing.

* HarsherInHindsight: At the end of "The Last Stand", Man-At-Arms intended to retire because he blames himself for Skeletor almost being victorious. But King Randor stopped him and insists that it wasn't his fault. Come ''WesternAnimation/MastersOfTheUniverseRevelation'' where He-Man/Adam sacrifices himself to prevent Skeletor from getting the power of Grayskull and King Randor finds out Adam is He-Man, he blames Man-At-Arms for his son's death and banishes him from his Kingdom. a complete 180 turn here.