![]() ![]() The Gelflings, by contrast, are almost painfully earnest, with the main heroic trio made up of classic archetypes. That they have managed to convince the entire world that their greed is acting in everyone’s best interest is the show’s hardest-hitting tragedy. ![]() The Skeksis are both power-hungry monsters and, as the show emphasizes with elaborate set pieces and dizzying camerawork whenever they get into a frenzy, completely ridiculous. Awkwafina and Andy Samberg bring a more overtly comedic sensibility to the proceedings as The Collector and The Heretic (respectively), but it works. Still, “Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance” would’ve been nothing more than a technical feat without a story and characters to match, so it’s to the writers’ credit (not to mention the voice actors’ and impressive puppeteers’) that the interwoven stories are equally compelling.įans of the movie will recognize the villainous Skeksis, who went mad with power after discovering that they could live longer and better off Gelfling “essence.” But they will be greeted by a murderer’s row of new voice talent bringing them to life, including Simon Pegg (as the simpering Chamberlain), Jason Isaacs (as the bombastic Emperor), Harvey Fierstein (as the drooling Gourmand), and Mark Hamill (as the conniving Scientist). The level of detail in the puppets and their surroundings is, to be blunt, astonishing. As the documentary reveals, the sheer scale of opening the “Dark Crystal” universe open in this way required a staggering amount of work (and money), and the effort shows onscreen. Even when the Gelflings’ mouths don’t quite match the voices (an admittedly common occurrence), the way they move and react still feels more tangible than their CGI counterparts would have been. The test footage in which a puppet Skeksi faces off with a CGI Gelfling does, in fact, show exactly how uncanny even the best CGI can be, and how much more texture and personality a great puppet can lend a moment. It flies on the backs of jaw-dropping creatures, dives into glowing caves, stages fearsome battles - and all, it must be said and underlined, with practical sets, puppets, and minimal CGI.Īs detailed in the show’s (excellent, feature-length) accompanying making-of documentary (“The Crystal Calls”), “Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance” went through several stages before production in which the creators tried different combinations of puppets with CGI characters. ![]() As a band of determined Gelflings (the plucky underdogs of “Dark Crystal) mount a growing rebellion against Skeski rule, the show travels to verdant forests, glittering deserts, and icy castles. It builds out the mythology of the original “Dark Crystal,” revealing hierarchies and the truth of how the Skeksis first unraveled. ![]() Over 10 episodes, “Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance” introduces the world they destroyed and carefully unpacks how it became the husk of the movie. (Though as a note to curious parents: No, neither “Dark Crystal” nor its TV adaptation are quite appropriate for young children.)Ĭrucially, the series acts as a prequel to the catastrophic events of the movie, which picked up on a devastated planet with the imperious, vulturesque Skeskis picking over the carcass. But as conceptualized by Jeffrey Addiss, Will Matthews, and veteran producer Javier Grillo-Marxuach, “Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance” simultaneously acts as a gift to fans packed with Easter eggs and a powerful primer for the uninitiated. For those who are wary that not being devoted to “Dark Crystal” in the 37 years since it debuted will make this series a completely impenetrable experience: Trust me, I was also skeptical that I would understand a single thing, let alone become someone who diverts casual conversation for twenty minutes to gush about the emotional resonance of a Podling puppet. ![]()
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