★★★★★
In the world of Thra, three Gelflings discover the horrifying secret behind the Skeksis' power, and set out to ignite the fires of rebellion and save their world.
Episodes: 10 Classification: PG Channel: Netflix
“I like to think of The Dark Crystal as sort of a work of art, and of all projects, it’s the one I’m most proud of" - Jim Henson
Probably the finest use of Netflix's incredible creative wealth and resources, this prequel continuation of Jim Henson's magical world of Thra is a visually captivating, beautifully told adventure of brave heroes, menacing villains and compelling storytelling. Henson's vision is now shepherded by his daughter Lisa Henson, along with Jeffrey Addiss, Will Matthews, and Louis Leterrier as this series is a flawless creation of pure creative prowess. Utilising the Jim Henson Company's world-renowned skills as creators and puppeteers, every creature and set is brimming with life and wonderment as movie magic is pounding through the veins of the show with every frame. It's an incredible blend of technique, while CGI is used to enhance the environment or hide a puppeteer, the heart of the show is in the puppets themselves, the fidelity to the designs from the original is perfect and make the returning iconic imagery all the more awe-inspiring.
From the heroic Gelfling to the villainous Skesis, no detail is left to chance as the production team spend every last dime they can to make Age of Resistance an unforgettable experience. It's high fantasy adventure at the top of its game, with fascinating lore, tragic storylines and incredible feats of action and emotion making every episode an emotional thrill ride for anyone watching. Knowledge of the 1982 film is not required to enjoy the series as it is still a prequel but those who are fans of the film have nothing to worry about as Age of Resistance honours what came before it but does so much more to stand on its own. It has an amazing sense of bittersweet tragedy as the series under the marvellous direction from Louis Leterrier continues the mature storytelling the film was known for. Due to the seemingly blank cheque from Netflix, everything about this series is oozing grandiose, confident storytelling, the ending of the first episode alone is a bold mission statement that this show won't play it safe and that just because the characters are puppets that this won't be a friendly tale. It's a clear tribute to the ethos Henson had with the original film and it carries over to the incredible characters and storylines as the journey across these ten episodes is nothing short of epic.
The cast of Age of Resistance is enough to make your jaw drop as this collection of talented puppeteers, Oscar winners, movie stars and acclaimed character actors combine to make a vibrant collection of heroes and villains. While the Gelfling characters are all new creations based on the original heroes, the majority of the Skeksis are the same with new additions and a deepening of their histories. This is a prequel done right as foreknowledge of many of the characters fates are not certain and despite knowing the outcome of the Gelfling rebellion. We know that Simon Pegg's duplicitous character of the SkekSil the Chamberlain makes his way to the timeline of the original film along with many of his Skesis brethren but there are so many new elements and developments that the journey of how the Skeksis will survive and defeat the Gelflings can still be an incredibly engaging one. Its all about the performances, as Taron Egerton, Anya Taylor-Joy, and Nathalie Emmanuel form the three main protagonists as each embarks on a quest to uncover the secrets of Thra, the Darkening and the Skeksis.
The emotion and empathy that can be drawn from these puppets are palpable especially from Egerton's character of Rian who experiences immense loss and struggle just from the first few episodes. It applies for every character, from the brave Podling Hup to the mighty Skeksis Emperor, whole books can be dedicated to every nuance of the dual performances of voice actor and puppeteer in every character. It's a symbiosis that just immerses the audience completely into the world of Thra and has them immediately invest in the mythology and stakes of the drama. It takes a bit of time to understand every detail and remember every name but Age of Resistance really fleshes out its history with new material while utilising all of Henson's original ideas, nothing has been thrown away and the series benefits from having the film's original conceptual designer Brian Froud, work to design all of the new creatures and locations for a fluid integration of old and new. It's a large part of what makes the series such a heartwarming experience, that despite all the new techniques and technologies being used to update The Dark Crystal, it still has the nostalgic charm so when the Castle of the Crystal appears on the screen for the first time in 37 years, for many it can
feel like coming home and for the rest it's the exhilarating start to a new adventure.
Even with the traditional fantasy tropes of magical lands, heroes, villains, prophecies and destiny the whole show keeps everything grounded through the relationships the characters have with one another. While the three heroes are thrust into their world-changing quests, it's their relationships to their friends, loved ones and family that makes them so likeable and despite them being fantasy creatures so human. Rian's bravery is built from his love for Mira, his respect for his father Ordon and with every trial, he faces he becomes more of a traditional fantasy protagonist but with a strong foundation from his character development. Not every character, however, goes through a traditional Campellian journey, it's the complexities and variety in character that makes Thra such an interesting environment. From the omniscient Mother Aughra, the distinctive Gelfling clan members, the enigmatic Mystics all add the astonishing tapestry of storytelling of the show. One storyline that stands out revolves around Seladon, a Gelfling princess who is sister to Brea, one of the main characters, voiced by Gugu Mbatha-Raw who leads a tremendous display of character transformation. Seladon is a clear example of the tragedy that Age of Resistance can evoke from its storytelling as her desire to lead and be loyal to the ideals of her whole life lead to her corruption but not corruption from the dark crystal but from distrust, fear, and anger. Seladon's arc like many others gives great humanity to the fantasy of The Dark Crystal and shows how the traditional lines between hero and villain can be blurred.
There is an adage that says "A hero is only as good as their villain" and in the case of Age of Resistance, it applies tenfold as despite all the heroics of Rian, Brea, Deet, and Hup nothing in this season can top the malevolent might of the Skeksis. The frightening creatures that haunted many children's nightmares return in glorious fashion and secure themselves a place as some of 2019's best villains. From Simon Pegg's machiavellian Chamberlain to Mark Hamill's eccentric Scientist, every Skeksis is expertly portrayed in a complex mix of frightening, humorous, and downright heinous behaviour. They are a group of selfish, pompous, aristocratic dictators who seek absolute rule over Thra and hope to gain immortality by draining and consuming the essence of living beings through the power of the dark crystal. The Chamberlain is the Iago of the group, the closest to a main villain among the fiends but Age of Resistance shares its spotlight and every Skeksis is given an opportunity to leave their mark on the audience. Many of the Skeksis present are the same characters from the original but the new additions such as Benedict Wong's General or Awkwafina's Collector fit into the hierarchy with ease and contribute to the story in their own unique ways. The finest of these additions goes to the astounding villain of SkekMal the Hunter voiced by Ralph Ineson, a Skeksis like no other who pursues Rian and the heroes in the name of the hunt. The Hunter representing the Henson's company's latest skills in puppetry and immersion as the large towering killer runs swiftly through the environment, wield four blades and seemingly defies everything you thought you knew about puppetry.
Breaking away from any preconceived notions is something Age of Resistance will continue to do as the scale of the whole series will continuously shock its audience. In a time of media where most feats of wonder can be written off as CGI, the Jim Henson Company bring back the ambiguity of creativity. It is hard to pinpoint where puppets, costumes, and computer differentiate as action scenes incorporate so many exciting and thrilling shots that even the most cynical would not be able to defy the magic before their eyes. It's a living breathing world brought to life through the pure passion of the filmmakers who are experts in their craft, in the process from script to screen Jim Henson's legacy is respected in every way that matters. Its not just the visual respect but the auditory as well as the vocal performances are accompanied not only by incredible sound design for every creature and location but a mesmerising score from Daniel Pemberton and Samuel Sim. Capturing fantasy, darkness, hope, fear and wonderment in its many beautiful pieces, the vistas and characters of the show are always accompanied by the inspiring melodies.
It's probably the most unique piece of television you could watch this year but also one of the best as artistry and imagination combine effortlessly to deliver this unique world once more. There's so much to experience from every episode and it gives the sense that the creators have ambitions for far grander storytelling, that there is a commitment for this fantasy series to go above and beyond our wildest expectations. This isn't a one-off return for a beloved cult film but the first step into reinvigorating an interest into an entire art form, in this era of event television there may be no event finer than returning to the world of The Dark Crystal. The spectacle that inspired its writers, directors, puppeteers, actors and designers over thirty years ago still lives, a shining light that will clearly inspire so many more as this fantastic adventure does what its sets out to do with such wonder and grace that you can only hope that this is only the beginning.
Creator: #JeffreyAddiss and #WillMatthews
Voice Cast: #TaronEgerton, #AnyaTaylorJoy, #NathalieEmmanuel, #DonnaKimball, #SimonPegg, #JasonIsaacs, #Awkwafina, #BenedictWong, #HarveyFierstein, #AndySamberg, #RalphIneson, #AliceDinnean, #KeeganMichaelKey, #MarkHamill, #NeilSterenberg, #EddieIzzard, #HelenaBonhamCarter, #CaitrionaBalfe, #HarrisDickinson, #ShazadLatif, #TobyJones, #GuguMbathaRaw, #LenaHeadey, #AliciaVikander, #HannahJohnKamen, #NatalieDormer, #MarkStrong, #TheoJames, #LouiseGold, #KemiBoJacobs, #ÓlafurDarriÓlafsson, #BillHader, #DaveGoelz, #TheoOgundipe, #VictorYerrid, #SigourneyWeaver
Puppeteers: #WarrickBrownlowPike, #DaveChapman, #KevinClash, #DanielDewhirst, #AliceDinnean, #DamianFarrell, #LouiseGold, #BeccyHenderson, #HelenaSmee, #KatherineSmee, #NeilSterenberg, #OllyTaylor, #VictorYerrid
Release Date: August 30th 2019
Trailer:
Written review copyright ©CoreyBullochReviews
Images and Synopsis from the Internet Movie Database
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