THE Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance has finally arrived on Netflix after the streaming giant had announced plans to develop a prequel to Jim Henson’s family film of the same name.
With the release of its first series on Netflix, here’s all you need to know about the adventurous show, its cast and so much more.
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What is The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance about?
According to Lisa Henson CEO of the Jim Henson Company, the show takes place years before the events of the 1982 film, following three Gelflings as they rise up in arms against a cruel emperor.
The official synopsis from Netflix teases that the world of Thra is collapsing.
“The Crystal of Truth is at the heart of Thra, a source of untold power.
“But it is damaged, corrupted by the evil Skeksis, and a sickness spreads across the land.
When three Gelflings uncover the shocking truth behind the power of the Skeksis, a thrilling battle unfolds as the fires of rebellion are lit and an intense fight for the planet commences.
It’s not needed that viewers must see the original film before catching the new series on Netflix, with the show’s director Jim Leterrier revealing that season one is driven around an entirely new concept.
He stressed: “Kids these days haven’t seen puppets that look like this.
“This is quite different, and sometimes quite scary. It’s multi-generational. The design and look is exactly the same [as the original], you’re going to like it.”
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Who is in The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance cast?
Helena Bonham Carter
What’s a good fantasy series without the inclusion of Helena Bonham Carter?
Famously known for roles in movies such as Bellatrix Lestrange in the Harry Potter series and Marla Singer in Fight Club, Helena now portrays the character of All-Maudra on the Netflix original show.
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Awkwafina
Awkwafina is continuing her successful run in Hollywood after landing her breakout role as Peik Lin Goh in the critically-acclaimed Crazy Rich Asians.
The actress, who is also expected to star in the forthcoming Little Mermaid movie, plays The Collector in The Dark Crystal.
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Caitriona Balfe
Outlander star Caitriona Balfe is making moves as Tavra in the new Netflix fantasy series.
In 2011, she landed her first big break playing Elizabeth Lamb in Super 8, which eventually led to her recurring role as Breanna Sheehan in H+ and Claire Randall in Outlander.
Other notable names featured in the cast of The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance include Dave Chapman, Harris Dickinson, Alice Dinnean, Taron Egerton and Harvey Fierstein.
While discussing all the amazing talent that Netflix managed to acquire for the show, Henson mentioned in a statement: “It is humbling to see so many truly gifted actors join The Dark Crystal universe by adding their voices to Age of Resistance.
“As with the original film, we are now adding a voice cast of the highest caliber that will provide textures and range to the puppetry performances that are the heart of the series.”
“It is thrilling to see this assembled team of artists, puppeteers and now voice actors, many inspired by my father’s original film, work together to realise this unique world at a scale that is rarely seen today.”
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What are the reviews for The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance?
Jezebel’s Rich Juzwiak describes the fantasy show as “utterly audacious” and “a little bit crazy” – but that’s exactly what you hope to see from the prequel, he says.
“If I hadn’t grown up watching the movie, I doubt I’d be as invested as I am.
And despite having mixed feelings about the idea of watching a reboot to a classic puppet film, Juzwiak was pleasantly surprised by how much he liked the Netflix series.
“I did go in a skeptic (“How could they possibly pull off a 10-hour puppet show???”) and I found myself frequently absorbed, especially during rather gracefully choreographed action sequences.”
He went on to gush about a certain point in the series that saw him close to shedding a tear, stressing: “I almost cried once? What the fuck!
“A 10-hour, family-friendly puppet show based on an almost 40-year-old movie is at the vanguard. I never would have predicted it, but I’m thrilled that it happened.”
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Meanwhile, on IMDB, The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance has scored an incredible 9.5 out of 10, so it goes without saying that viewers are definitely impressed with Netflix’s offering.
ScreenRant had a different take with their review, explaining that the show felt as if it was simply trying to bring back nostalgic moments blended with a modern twist.
Kevin yeoman writes: “At 10 hours, the series is simply too long and too awkwardly paced to be more than another attempt to package and sell adult nostalgia.
“As flat as many of the Gelflings are, the most uneven aspect of Age of Resistance is perhaps the Skeksis themselves.
“The tonality of the characters swings wildly from one scene to another, as the creatures appear to be bumbling fools one second and murderous fiends the next.
“It can also be difficult to tell the individual Skeksis apart, making it a challenge to discern which creature is conspiring against which and why.”
Is there a trailer for the Netflix series?
Prior to its release on August 30, Netflix had teased the season premiere with an exhilarating two-minute trailer on May 30.
Fans are introduced to gelflings Deet, Brea and Rian as they head out on an epic adventure to find hope in the midst of Thra falling apart, while also revealing their own destiny.
By the end of July, the clip had gained an impressive 4 million views on YouTube alone, showing clear signs that Jim Henson story still carries a strong following almost four decades later.
