I think the biggest problem with the new Masters of the Universe isn't even fan expectations, but the fact that it's a very weak cartoon. All the episodes are clichéd, the characters talk clichéd, everything is predictable, poorly directed, and very silly.
Most of the time we listen to the characters whine, with Kevin Smith literally trying to teach us how to live our lives properly.
As a result, the characters don't reveal themselves through action. With the same result, you could have saved on animation and voiceover and just let the text over the picture, who cares?
And yes, it's not enough to bring the female characters to the forefront, it doesn't automatically make your story better.
This is especially true of Theela. Instead of a strong female character, we're given a whiny kid who has no coherent motivation for conflict.
The fact that she didn't know Adam was He-Man isn't enough to justify her behavior (abandoned war post, accusing Adam of daring to die, etc.). She looks foolish.
And let's be honest, in the moment where Teela confronts her fear in the face of He-Man, who overwhelms her with his muscularity Kevin Smith doesn't have the balls for real, adult conflict.
Like this one:
