Well this is a first. A review of a TV show. I reviewed a classic Doctor Who story some years ago, however since that was a standalone episode the review may as well have been of a film. Despite having seen countless shows, I’ve never really talked about them critically. Main reason being it’s easier to review a single narrative like a film or a book than an extensive narrative like a TV show without breaking down and analysing every single episode. In the case of The Dark Crystal Age of Resistance however, where its narrative is told only through ten episodes, I think I can come to a single overviewing conclusion.

This Netflix Prequel to the 1982 fantasy takes place in a world where a species known as the Gelfling serve a great and powerful elite species known as the Skeksis. When three Gelfling discover a horrible secret behind the Skesis’ power, they flee and begin an epic struggle to warn their people and start a revolution.

The Plot

Good prequels are so rare that they may as well be non-existent, especially in TV and Film. To me a good prequel should do more than show what happens before a certain story. A prequel should have its own strengths regardless of the story it’s based on. It should take a character or an idea from its source material and expand on it.

Age of Resistance does just that. Only two Gelfling appeared in the original film, their vast civilisation is only mentioned in expositional dialogue as they were said to have been wiped out by the Skeksis. In the series however we get to see their civilisation, its hierarchy, culture and technology. Nothing about the plot is derivative of the original film, which is extremely refreshing in light of Rogue One and The Hobbit Trilogy.

Four plots, each with their own groups of characters, make up the show. All of them are established in the first episode, which is quite overwhelming at first. The fact that, out of the huge cast of characters, three of them are identical-looking sisters (Gelfing Seladon, Tavra and Brea) doesn’t help. However, by the end of the third episode, the plot has forced certain characters to embark on their journeys and you begin to understand who the characters are and how all their stories relate to each other.

The Characters

Like with any good show I think, Age of Resistance takes time to develop and engross you. In my experience the first few episodes of any show tend to be the most awkward. In Age of Resistance, some characters seem pretty bland at first but as the show progresses they become more interesting and empathetic. Rian, one of the Gelfling who discovers the Skeksis’ secret, is a good example. Initially he appears as the cliché fantasy protagonist with a good sense of humour and a bunch of likeable friends. However, when he discovers the Skeksis’ secret, he embarks on a hopeless quest to convince all his friends that their beloved masters are actually their enemies. He’s not an innocent youth on an epic journey. He’s a freedom fighter on the run from a tyrannical power.

The three Gelfling sisters I mentioned before (Seladon, Tavra and Brea) also blossom as characters (when you can tell which is which), especially Brea and Seladon. Having learned of the Skeksis’ true intentions via her own circumstances, Brea tries to tell Seladon but she doesn’t listen. Seladon’s loyalty to the Skeksis breaks the sisters apart. This is a tense and major conflict in the series because as the Gelfling-Skeksis tension escalates, you hope the sisters reunite before something horrible happens.

The Skeksis are wonderful. They’re silly, greedy and even quite scary at times. While none of them are empathetic, some are still interesting as characters. The Chamberlain, or skekSil, is unpopular among his peers and strives for their respect. He attains this usually with manipulation and deceit. He’s no better than the other Skeksis but you can’t deny that he’s fun to watch.

The World

While you’ll definitely recognise certain landscapes from the original, most of the world is either new territory we haven’t seen before or familiar lands but in a different state (the best example being the Skeksis’ castle surrounded by luscious vegetation rather than by the dead soil in the original).

The world feels bigger and more real than it does in the film, the fact that’s it realized with some CGI but mostly physical sets and puppets just makes it more impressive. The extensive periods where characters’ lower halves aren’t seen along with the occasional moment where a puppet’s mouth doesn’t perfectly sync with the dialogue may be difficult to ignore for those unfamiliar with the works of the Jim Henson company. For fans however they’re forgivable flaws.

You don’t have to see the original Dark Crystal to enjoy the show as it explains the world and mythology by itself. Hence, with its epic plot, strong characters and beautiful world, I strongly recommended the show to everyone.

I give The Dark Crystal Age of Resistance a fantastic 9 out of 10.