Despite winning the Emmy for Outstanding Children's Program, Netflix's The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance has been cancelled. It's a rough blow for those who were eager to see where the story would go next, though it's possible the creative team might find a different way to continue the tale – comic continuations are all the rage these days. Regardless, even with some cliff-hanger components to its finale, the ten episodes which the Jim Henson Company came up with are still an absolute gift to television, accomplishing so much for both newcomers to the franchise and those who appreciate the original 80's film.
For those unfamiliar with the world of Thra, The Dark Crystal was a Jim Henson film from 1982 that relied on puppetry, props, and practical effects to create a kid-friendly but surprisingly earnest fantasy world with dark elements and a post-apocalyptic tint. Among other possible interpretations, it expresses a message about the long-term dangers of unregulated climate change and the powerful elite manipulating the many beneath them for personal gain.
The world depicted in the 1982 movie is bleak and at the edge of collapse. The extensive prequel series Age of Resistance highlights the days leading to how Thra ended up in such a dire state. It manages to convey some important and timely themes to kids in a way that comes across as respectful of its audience and their ability to grasp complex ideas like social uprising and political power plays. But adults can garner enjoyment from it, as well, whether they've seen and revered the original cult classic or are new to the universe Henson created.
Age of Resistance is immediately striking in the modern film climate due to its medium – a combination of practical puppet effects with some CGI to spruce things up. It's usually apparent when CGI is implemented but all of the main characters are given a decidedly physical puppet form, and the set designs are immaculately realized. Many establishing shots contain deliberately creative details, from some quizzical vegetation to a blink-and-you'll-miss-it creature with a quirky design. The love and care put into this world is a sight to behold even to those with no nostalgia for Thra. If only for this element alone, the show is worth a watch, truly capturing the wonder of retro puppeteering with sleeker, modernized techniques and presentation.
Production quality is all well and good but it's the storytelling that can make or break a series like this, and Age of Resistance strikes a finely tuned balance between illuminating backstory for those who have seen The Dark Crystal film while telling its own stand-alone narrative in the same world. It can be precarious to do both but it's quite clear that the writers and directors put a lot of time and effort into both the overarching plot and the nitty gritty details of character arcs on both sides of the conflict. The story is certainly designed with children in mind in a deliberate fashion, but in its own way it's refreshing to experience a fantasy with political and dark components portrayed with the spirit of a children's book. The narration never speaks down to its audience, after all, and the 'high fantasy' tone helps soften the potential sharpness of it being built with kids in mind.
From the variety of its cast to its whimsical voice acting and its incredibly detailed production, The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance should not be a show left forgotten due to its status as a prequel spin-off, nor its currently unfinished plot. It is a rare gem of modern television, a true work of passion and love for the practical effects of old, and a unique, family friendly fantasy drama that deserves appreciation. Even if it got cancelled prematurely, what audiences were given was a rare gift.
The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance can be streamed on Netflix.