WARNING: The following includes major spoilers for the first episode of Masters of the Universe: Revelation, "The Power of Grayskull," now streaming on Netflix.
Although it was long ago established that only the Sorceress, Man-At-Arms, Cringer and Orko are aware that Prince Adam is secretly He-Man, the second season of He-Man and the Masters of the Universe heavily implied Queen Marlena also knew about her son's dual identity. That's now confirmed by the premiere of Netflix's Masters of the Universe: Revelation in a moment of grief that splinters the heroic warriors of Eternia.
A direct sequel to the 1983 animated series, Masters of the Universe: Revelation opens with a familiar set-up, as a celebration in Eternos is interrupted by yet another assault on Castle Grayskull by Skeletor (voiced by Mark Hamill). However, this attack is different from the countless others that came before, because the self-proclaimed Lord of Destruction has come to understand what he's long sought isn't the castle itself, but, rather, what lies beneath: an orb containing the knowledge of the Council of Elders, and the source of all magic that flows through Eternia and, indeed, the universe. To stop his arch-enemy, and save all of existence, the mighty He-Man (Chris Wood) sacrifices his own life.
In a single devastating moment, Eternia loses its greatest champion and its magic. But, of course, the heroic act also comes at a more personal cost.
When Man-At-Arms (Liam Cunningham) returns to the Royal Palace to deliver the somber news that "He-Man succumbed," King Randor (Diedrich Bader) proclaims, "Grayskull has lost her champion!" However, a grief-stricken Marlena (Alicia Silverstone), who earlier in the episode whispered "Be careful, Adam" as she watched her son leave the palace, replies, "Randor, we've lost our son!"
The confirmation that Marlena has quietly carried her son's secret is a callback to the 1984 He-Man and the Masters of the Universe episodes "The Energy Beast" and "The Rainbow Warrior." In the former, the queen endorses Randor's proclamation of "He-Man Day," saying, "I think it's about time we recognized He-Man," before looking at Adam and adding, "Don't you agree?" The latter instance was more overt. In "The Rainbow Warrior," Marlena mounts a defense of Eternos after Skeletor captures Randor, Adam, Teela, Man-At-Arms, and Orko. In her surprise attack on Snake Mountain, the former Earth astronaut frees only Adam, who later questions her decision. Marlena replies, "Because you are my son, Adam. [...] And I had a feeling you would know what to do. Adam, a mother always knows her own son, and what he is capable of doing. I've always been very proud of you, Adam."
However, there's nothing coy about a heartbroken Queen Marlena's response in Masters of the Universe: Revelation. Her admission staggers King Randor, forcing Man-At-Arms to concede that he, too, has known Prince Adam and He-Man are one and the same. Duncan's sorrowful apology, and his assertion that Adam ordered that he and the others keep his secret, wilt in the face of the king's combined grief and rage.
Randor's reaction is immediate: He strips the faithful Man-At-Arms of his title, and banishes him, adding, "And if I ever see you again, I will have you executed!" And when the newly promoted Teela (Sarah Michelle Gellar) is ordered to escort Duncan from the king's sight, she refuses, and lashes out at her adoptive father, the queen, Cringer and Orko, calling them "a pack of liars" for withholding the truth about He-Man.
Queen Marlena stands silent as Teela renounces her duties, and "magic and the monsters it makes," and turns her back on the Royal Palace, Castle Grayskull, and everyone she's ever known.
Executive produced by Kevin Smith, the first five episodes of Masters of the Universe: Revelation are available on Netflix.