Heartwarming / He-Man and the Masters of the Universe (1983)

• Adam bringing Adora home for the first time. Bonus points for the Sorceress having made sure that Adam got all the credit, likely countering the years of disappointment he'd received from having to play the fool.
  • It really can't be overstated how heartwarming this Big Damn Reunion is. Adam has everyone cover their eyes while he walks Adora in, and then tells them to remove their hands. The King and Queen take one look at Adora and instantly recognize her as their daughter. Cue Tears of Joy from the King, Queen and Man-At-Arms as Adora literally runs across the room to give her mother the first hug they've ever shared in 20 years. Marlena tells Adora how beautiful she is while Adora gives Adam full credit for bringing her home. Randor, usually frustrated by Adam's apparent lack of responsibility goes over to his son and tells him "Son, I want you to know that today you've made me the happiest man in all of Eternia" before giving Adam a So Proud of You hug. For the first time in two decades, the Royal Family of Eternia is whole once again.
• Teela telling the Sorceress that, while she's never known her mother, she wishes she'd be just like the Sorceress. Especially since the Sorceress IS her mother.
  • And right before that, the Sorceress congratulates Teela on a job well-done by saying, "Your mother would— is proud of you."
• While Teela spends the series wondering about the identity of her mother she apparently never wondered about her biological father. Man-At-Arms is the only father she's ever known or needed.
• In one episode, Orko tries to find a friend to play with, and ends up summoning a demon named Daimar. As risky as this move is, Daimar is very young at the time, and they get along well enough. However, after Daimar grows to adulthood, he finds himself compelled to "fulfill his destiny" and open a portal to his home dimension, with Skeletor and Evilynn attempting to help him. He-Man, initially coming to stop it, realizes from Orko's words that Daimar isn't evil so much as misguided, and helps Orko convince Daimar to stand down. After dealing with Skeletor, Daimar lets Orko and He-Man know they're good friends, and flies through the dimensional rift, closing it behind him and restoring Eternia to order. The moral is that no matter your upbringing or what you're told, you can always do good in the world.
• In one episode, a blind child is lost in a cave when He-Man goes to rescue him. However, a magical blast renders He-Man temporarily blind and the child has to help him get used to it. When the kid tells his friends about it, they tease him about making it up...only for He-Man to show up and thank the child for his help, wowing everyone as He-Man gives a lesson on how never to dismiss someone due to their handicaps.
• Typically every episode starts with Orko's magic backfiring and biting Duncan in the rear. In "Dawn of Dragoon" Orko manages to help save the day and ends with Duncan declaring "You're one fine magician and don't let anyone tell you other wise, not even me." *Cue a happy hug from Orko*
  • Likewise, when Orko was forced to impersonate He-Man to free Adam, He-Man, with a little gentle ribbing first at Orko calling him his "assistant" to convince the Ice King to free him, noted that he did a terrific job.
  • Also from "Dawn of Dragoon", the relationship that blooms between Orko and Dree Elle. (And as an interesting touch, since Trollans can't reveal their faces except to their true love, when Orko and Dree Elle reveal their faces to each other, even we don't get to see their faces.)
• In the Christmas Special, against his evil judgement, Skeletor basically turns Papa Wolf for the two earth children he's kidnapped—providing them with warm clothing, taking along the lost puppy they've found-—and despite his complaining, clearly likes it when the dog licks his face-—and when confronted with a snowbeast, immediately telling the children to get behind him so as to protect them. When Hordak and Horde Prime show up, they quickly knock Skeletor out and occupy He-Man and She-Ra with endless mooks while taking the children away. The dog wakes Skeletor up, then he screams that he has to protect the children and blasts Horde Prime in the nick of time.
  • Having no idea that he's a villain, the children consistently call Skeletor "Mr. Skeletor", respecting him as they would any adult. They thought he was another hero like those of the Rebellion or Masters and didn't at all judge him based on his frightening appearance.
  • Despite his complaining when the puppy keeps licking his face, Skeletor is clearly genuinely touched that the animal has taken a liking to him.
• Cringer is always afraid of action and fears changing into Battle Cat, even if his personality instantly changes afterwards. But when Adam or the royal family are truly in trouble, he'll still rise to the occasion even if he can't change into Battle Cat. Notable examples include him bringing a disabled Adam the Sword of Power and coaxing him to say the magic words, and when the queen is kidnapped he goes off on his own will on a mission to rescue her.
• The hints that Queen Marlena knows that Adam is He-Man, especially in "The Rainbow Warrior." When everyone but Marlena is captured, she rescues Adam first, making it possible for him to turn into He-Man and save the others. When Adam later asks her why she saved him instead of one of the proven warriors, all she will say is that she "had a feeling he'd know what to do". Although she doesn't outright admit it, she has a fairly knowing look when she tells him "a mother always recognizes her own son".
• In "Things That Go Bump In The Night," Orko accidentally crashes a ship that had been given to King Randor as a present. When Teela and Man-At-Arms find him, he immediately apologizes, only for Man-At-Arms to gently tell him that all he cares about is that Orko is safe, not whether he can fix the Stratoblaster or not.
  Man-At-Arms: Machines can be repaired; you can't. The most important thing is that you were not harmed.
• Orko's subplot in "The Great Books Mystery" is very sweet. He couldn't care less about the thousands of other books that were stolen by Batros - all he wants to do is get Adam's birthday present (a book on unicorns he's apparently wanted for a while) back, and is willing to risk his life to do so.