Written by TAKE the CHALLENGE!
An terrific group of Masters of the Universe fans have taken the challenge to watch all 130 Episodes of the 1983 Filmation Cartoon Series “He-Man and the Masters of the Universe“ for 130 days straight, one episode per day.
Be sure to check out the RE-WATCH-A-THON celebratory memento shirts and mugs (long sleeve shirts options are available too).
Today’s Episode is:
Return of the Gryphon
| PRODUCTION NUMBER | EPISODE TITLE | DIRECTOR | WRITERS | PREMIERE DATE | RE-WATCH-A-THON DATE |
|---|
| MU49 | “Return of the Gryphon” | Gwen Wetzler | David Wise | November 16, 1983 | Jan 14 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Synopsis: Trap Jaw and Beast Man steal the Jewel of the Gryphon and hide it in the Kingdom of Eternia where it is found by a young servant boy, named Thad. When the Gryphon finds out that the jewel is gone, Eternia could be in danger. | |||||
CLICK HERE to Watch on YOUTUBE (or watch it embedded below:)
OUR REVIEW:
Patience for this average episode may hinge on one's tolerance for the complaints of the Royal Page "Thad" (who feels unimportant) and the Gryphon's eyebrows (which are too prominent). At least the early team up of Trap Jaw and Beast Man is fun. (5/10)
Comment, Review and Discuss below:
Tomorrow’s Episode is: “Temple of the Sun”
I agree with your 5/10 rating – I usually forget about this episode, neither good or bad. It’s interesting we’ve gotten to the point of the series where they’re more frequently reusing background/one-shot character models, now with different voices. The one that always cracks me up is the Old Man who now sounds like Locust from “Wizard of Stone Mountain." I also like the Season 1 pairing of Beastman and Trap-Jaw, Trap-Jaw actually comes across as smarter/more competent than Beastman!
One small thing I do appreciate about this episode (and some other later ones), is the small details that they add in to sometimes existing stock scenes – like the one where He-Man runs his hands through his hair while talking to Man-at-Arms.
@battlecat327 Did he run through his fingers in his hair? When Man-at-Arms said it was farfetched I thought He-Man facepalms his forehead and without the typical DUH! He-Man said he knows what I saw.
Whatever it was I wasn’t prepared for it lol.
@northerner great point – I just rewatched, now I’m not sure – I always thought he kind of pushed his hair back but it does kind of look like he’s placing it on his forehead and the front of his hair moves as a result of his hand. Interesting that they added this in though!
@battlecat327 Very interesting and a little rude of He-Man I’d say. lol. It’s too bad the scripts aren’t online somewhere so we could check and be sure.
This episode is very average. The best part has to be Trappy and Beasty. They make a good pair and I like when Trap Jaw is a more competent villain.
Just an ok episode. I have the same problem with the Gryphon as I do the old guy in the Cosmic Comet. Sometimes they make the monsters realistic and scary and sometimes they make them cartoony. The Gryphon is cartoony and in no certain terms scary. If he was scary looking I bet I would like it better.
All I can say is that this episode is really weirdly paced. It probably has the most uninspired Gryphon design ever. It’s just a lion head on a dragon.
“If I give up the jewel, I’ll just be a nobody again. I don’t want to be a nobody. I’ll run away! That’s what I’ll do!"
Like huh?
I honestly don’t understand this kid’s logic in that moment.
This is another one of my favorite episodes… if for nothing other than how badly I wanted a Gryphon toy when I was a kid. (It always reminded me of the mythological Chimera…)
Revisiting this old show I find it astonishing how many episodes do not feature Skeletor.
3 stars. Interesting twist on recovering a magic object, but otherwise a very average episode.