---
title: "The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance"
year: 2019
kind: "series"
canonical: "https://film.one/tv/the-dark-crystal-age-of-resistance"
fi1m_id: "the-dark-crystal-age-of-resistance"
imdb_id: "tt6905542"
tmdb_id: 71809
wikidata_id: "Q48698729"
fi1m_score: 76
critics_score: 80
critics_reviews: 13
published: "2026-09-30T20:50:46.089702+00:00"
updated: "2026-09-30T20:51:13.170399+00:00"
region: "AU"
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance (2019)

Created by Jeffrey Addiss, Will Matthews · Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Action & Adventure, Family

## Identity

The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/tv/the-dark-crystal-age-of-resistance
- **Type:** Series
- **Fi1m ID:** the-dark-crystal-age-of-resistance
- **IMDb ID:** tt6905542
- **TMDB ID:** 71809
- **Wikidata ID:** Q48698729
- **Same entity:** https://www.imdb.com/title/tt6905542/, https://www.themoviedb.org/tv/71809, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q48698729

**Fi1m score: 76** · Critics 80 from 13 reviews

*In a sentence:* The villains dine like decaying bishops and steal every scene from the heroes, who are busy explaining the lore

> Built by hand and moved by hand, this prequel to the 1982 film is lovelier than almost any fantasy television around it, and it spends ten hours where six would do. Stay for the Skeksis, who eat, scheme and rot with real relish.

## Synopsis

On the planet Thra, three Gelflings live under the rule of the Skeksis, the vulture-like lords who guard the Crystal at the heart of the world. Rian (Taron Egerton) is a guard at the Castle of the Crystal until he watches the Skeksis strap a fellow guard into a chair and drain her life into a vial, and runs. Brea (Anya Taylor-Joy), youngest princess of the Vapra clan in the city of Ha’rar, has started asking why her people pay the Skeksis a tithe at all. Deet (Nathalie Emmanuel), a cave-dwelling Grottan, is sent to the surface with a warning that a blight called the Darkening is spreading through the soil. In the castle, the Emperor skekSo (Jason Isaacs) has found a new way to prolong his life, and the ancient seer Aughra (Donna Kimball) is waking up.

## Review

Louis Leterrier’s ten-part prequel goes back to Thra, the world of Jim Henson and Frank Oz’s *The Dark Crystal* (1982), and it goes back the hard way: with puppets, moved by people, filmed on sets you could walk through. It is the most beautiful fantasy television we have seen in years. It is also two or three episodes longer than it needs to be, and it knows a great deal more about its own history than it can comfortably say aloud.

Gavin Bocquet’s sets are the first thing you notice and the last thing you forget. The Castle of the Crystal is a place of black stone, dripping pipes and a throne room lit from beneath by the Crystal itself; the Gelfling city of Ha’rar is pale and airy and looks like a seashell someone has moved into. Brian Froud’s costumes give the Skeksis robes of brocade and rot, layered like compost, so that every lord looks as if he has been dressed by a slow flood. Erik Wilson keeps the camera down at puppet height and lets it move, gliding through corridors and across banquet tables, and the effect is to make you forget how tall the performers under the floor must be.

The Skeksis are the reason to watch. Jason Isaacs plays the Emperor skekSo as a ruler who gave up on dignity long ago and misses it, and Ralph Ineson gives the Hunter skekMal a voice like gravel under a boot. They eat with their whole heads. And in the first episode they do something worse: the castle’s scientist straps a young Gelfling guard into a chair before the Crystal, draws a light out of her until she is grey, and pours what is left into a vial for the Emperor to drink while the others crowd round asking for a sip. We were horrified, more than a PG certificate led us to expect, and what did it was not the draining but the appetite. Nobody in the room is troubled. They are hungry.

The Gelflings have a harder time. Taron Egerton, Anya Taylor-Joy and Nathalie Emmanuel give Rian, Brea and Deet clear, likeable voices, but the faces they are speaking through can blink, tilt and widen their eyes and not much else, so the actors carry the emotion in their throats and sometimes push too hard. The bigger problem is the script. Jeffrey Addiss and Will Matthews, with a writing team that runs to nine names, have built a whole history for Thra, and they want us to have all of it. Characters explain the seven clans, the Darkening and the meaning of the Crystal to one another in scenes that exist for no other purpose. We started to feel like students who had missed the first week.

Ten episodes is the length of the trouble. Andrew MacRitchie, Kate Baird and Jesse Parker cut the individual scenes well enough, but the middle of the run keeps three separate journeys going at walking pace, and by the sixth episode we caught ourselves counting how many were left. Leterrier’s fights are the other weak point. He shoots the puppets close and cuts fast, which is how you hide the fact that a puppet cannot throw a punch, and the result is a blur in which it is hard to tell who is winning or where anyone is standing.

What holds it together is the people you never see. Dave Chapman, Olly Taylor, Helena Smee, Damian Farrell and Katherine Smee are credited for various characters, which undersells them; they are the lead performers here, and the small things they do, a hand hesitating over a table, a Skeksis settling his robes before speaking, are what make the world feel lived in rather than displayed. Daniel Pemberton and Samuel Sim’s score is large and choral and rarely quiet, and it suits the castle better than the caves. Donna Kimball’s Aughra, waking from a long dream and bad-tempered about it, is the one character who seems to find the whole business as absurd as we sometimes did.

Set against the 1982 film, this is warmer, busier and far more talkative. Henson’s picture was strange and sparse and trusted you to be lost; this one worries that you might be. Watch it two episodes at a time, with children old enough for the chair, and skip nothing in the castle. The Gelflings will be fine without you for a while. They have a lot to explain.

*Fi1m score 76, published 30 September 2026.*

## What the critics say

Most critics like it, and the praise lands in the same place almost every time: the puppets. Eleven of the thirteen reviews are positive, and nearly all of them single out the practical creature work and hand-built sets, which they find tactile and alive in a way digital effects rarely manage. The world of Thra draws repeated admiration for its detail, and several reviews call the series a worthy expansion of the original film rather than a retread.

The reservations concern the storytelling rather than the craft. The Telegraph finds the plot convoluted and the exposition overloaded, and faults the Skeksis performances. The Guardian, the lone negative review, thinks the series runs long and is mainly for committed fans, noting that the Gelflings’ fixed expressions can distract. Collider, otherwise enthusiastic, points to some voice-casting misfires. The spread is wide at the bottom but narrow elsewhere: most reviews sit comfortably in the eighties and above.

## Straight answers

**Is The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance worth watching?**

*The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance* is worth watching for anyone who can forgive ten episodes of a story that would fit in six, and we scored it 76. The hand-built sets and the vulture-like Skeksis, who eat, scheme and rot with relish, are the best fantasy television craft we have seen in years. The Gelfling heroes spend too long explaining the lore, so watch it two episodes at a time.

**Where can I watch The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance in Australia?**

*The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance* is streaming on Netflix in Australia. Availability is checked daily; the links above go straight to each service.

**How does The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance compare to Labyrinth?**

*The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance* is the handsomer and longer of the two, while [*Labyrinth*](https://film.one/film/labyrinth) is the shorter, odder and funnier. Both come from Jim Henson's studio and Brian Froud's designs, and both wander, but the film wanders for under two hours and the series for ten. Choose *Labyrinth* for goblins who bicker and David Bowie's Goblin King; choose the series for its villains and its sets.

**Is The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance based on a true story or a book?**

*The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance* is not based on a true story; it is a prequel to Jim Henson and Frank Oz's 1982 film *The Dark Crystal*, with a novel by J.M. Lee credited as source material. Knowing either matters little, because the characters explain the clans, the Crystal and the Darkening to one another at length. Newcomers to Thra will be caught up, if anything, too thoroughly.

**What should I watch after The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance?**

After *The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance*, try [*Labyrinth*](https://film.one/film/labyrinth) (1986, Fi1m 74): Henson and Froud again, with Bowie in tights and goblins who bicker properly. Then [*Princess Mononoke*](https://film.one/film/princess-mononoke) (1997, Fi1m 88): A sick world, a young hero and villains who are not simply wrong; and [*Kubo and the Two Strings*](https://film.one/film/kubo-and-the-two-strings) (2016, Fi1m 83): Stop-motion fantasy made by hand, with a quest that knows when to stop.

### Reviews we read (13)

- **Vulture**, Matt Zoller Seitz (95/100, inferred): The critic calls the series a staggering artistic achievement and a joyful continuation of the Henson tradition. He especially praises the puppetry’s naturalism and the practical effects that make its elaborate creations feel alive. [Read](https://www.vulture.com/2019/08/the-dark-crystal-age-of-resistance-netflix-review.html)
- **IndieWire**, Hanh Nguyen (90/100, inferred): Nguyen calls the series a bewitching, enthralling achievement and says it expands on the original film. She especially praises its practical sets, puppetry, and richly imagined world. [Read](https://www.indiewire.com/criticism/shows/dark-crystal-age-of-resistance-review-netflix-ending-spoilers-1202169946/)
- **Variety**, Caroline Framke (Critics Pick): Framke calls the series an ambitious, immersive example of fantasy television done right. She especially praises the astonishing detail and tactile personality of its practical puppets and sets. [Read](https://variety.com/2019/tv/reviews/dark-crystal-age-of-resistance-netflix-review-henson-1203315352/)
- **The Hollywood Reporter**, Daniel Fienberg (80/100, inferred): The critic calls the series a satisfying, entertaining adventure and a best-case expansion of the original. He praises its breathtaking visuals and more expressive characters, while noting occasional overpolished effects and excessive abundance. [Read](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-reviews/dark-crystal-age-resistance-review-1234750/)
- **The i Paper**, Emily Baker (★★★★): The review praises the series as a stunning, family-friendly fantasy spectacle. It singles out the detailed artistry of the sets, models, and puppets as its greatest strength. [Read](https://inews.co.uk/culture/television/the-dark-crystal-age-of-resistance-netflix-review-332704)
- **The Telegraph**, Ed Power (60/100, inferred): Power finds the series worth sticking with, despite its convoluted story and overloaded exposition. He praises the exquisite, tactile puppetry, while faulting the Skeksis performances and the show’s rushed setup. [Read](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/on-demand/0/dark-crystal-age-resistance-review-prequel-hasexquisite-puppetry/)
- **The Guardian**, Jack Seale (35/100, inferred): Seale finds the series a lavish, occasionally wondrous experience that ultimately suffers from Netflix bloat and is mainly for committed fans. He praises the organic feel of its retro puppetry, while noting that its fight scenes and Gelflings’ limited expressions can be distracting. [Read](https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2019/aug/31/the-dark-crystal-age-of-resistance-review-puppet-fantasy-is-purely-for-the-fans)
- **Paste**, Allison Keene (9.8/10): Keene calls the series an exceptional, immersive fantasy epic and urges viewers not to dismiss its puppetry. She especially praises the practical creature work and the richly realized world of Thra. [Read](https://www.pastemagazine.com/tv/the-dark-crystal/the-dark-crystal-age-of-resistance-review-1)
- **/Film**, Jamie Righetti (95/100, inferred): Righetti calls the series a fantasy masterpiece, praising its immersive world and compelling story. They single out the intricate plotting and worldbuilding as especially successful. [Read](https://www.slashfilm.com/568876/the-dark-crystal-age-of-resistance-spoiler-review/)
- **Den of Geek**, Chris Cummins (5 out of 5): The critic calls the series a creative and entertaining triumph. They especially praise its ambitious puppetry and the seamless life brought to its characters. [Read](https://www.denofgeek.com/tv/dark-crystal-age-of-resistance-review/)
- **Consequence**, Clint Worthington (85/100, inferred): Worthington finds the series an imperfect but deeply rewarding return to the Jim Henson Company’s finest work. He especially praises the tactile puppetry, costumes, and richly realized world of Thra. [Read](https://consequence.net/2019/08/tv-review-the-dark-crystal-age-of-resistance/)
- **Collider**, Dave Trumbore (★★★★★ Excellent): The critic calls the series a masterfully crafted fantasy and a worthy continuation of the original. He especially praises the tactile puppet artistry and production, while noting a few voice-casting misfires and wishing for a theme song. [Read](https://collider.com/dark-crystal-review-age-of-resistance/)
- **The Ringer**, Alex Siquig (78/100, inferred): The critic finds the series a strong, emotionally affecting expansion of the original. They single out its lovingly rendered world and faithful, joyful honoring of Jim Henson’s vision. [Read](https://www.theringer.com/2019/09/04/tv/the-dark-crystal-age-of-resistance-netflix-binge-jim-henson)

## Details

- **Created by:** Jeffrey Addiss, Will Matthews
- **Creator:** Jeffrey Addiss, Will Matthews
- **Director:** Louis Leterrier
- **Writer:** Will Matthews, Jeffrey Addiss, Richard Elliott, Simon Racioppa, J.M. Lee, Javier Grillo-Marxuach, Vivian Lee, Margaret Dunlap, Kari Drake
- **Story:** David Odell
- **Novel:** J.M. Lee
- **Cinematography:** Erik Wilson
- **Editor:** Kate Baird, Jesse Parker, Andrew MacRitchie
- **Music:** Daniel Pemberton, Samuel Sim
- **Production design:** Gavin Bocquet
- **Costume design:** Brian Froud
- **Producer:** Ritamarie Peruggi
- **Cast:** Taron Egerton as Rian (voice); Anya Taylor-Joy as Brea (voice); Nathalie Emmanuel as Deet (voice); Donna Kimball as Aughra (voice); Jason Isaacs as skekSo (The Emperor) (voice); Dave Chapman as Various Characters (puppet); Olly Taylor as Various Character (puppet); Helena Smee as Various Characters (puppet)
- **Release (Australia):** 30 August 2019
- **Genres:** Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Action & Adventure, Family
- **Trailer:** https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a3_owZfYVR8

## Where to watch in Australia

- Netflix: streaming

*Checked 2026-09-30.*

Also available in: AE, AR, AT, AU, AZ, BE, BG, BR, CA, CH, CL, CO, CZ, DE, DK, EC, EE, ES, FI, FR, GB, GR, HK, HR, HU, ID, IE, IL, IN, IS, IT, JP, KR, LT, MX, MY, NL, NO, NZ, PA, PE, PH, PL, PT, RO, RS, SE, SG, SI, SK, TH, TR, UA, US, VN, ZA. Add `?region=XX` to this URL for another country.

## If you liked this

- *The Dark Crystal* (1982): The original: stranger, sparser and wordless where this one lectures; still unsettling.
- *Labyrinth* (1986), Fi1m 74: Henson and Froud again, with Bowie in tights and goblins who bicker properly. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/labyrinth.md)
- *The Storyteller* (1988): Henson’s folk tales in half hours; puppetry and a dog that talks back.
- *Princess Mononoke* (1997), Fi1m 88: A sick world, a young hero and villains who are not simply wrong. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/princess-mononoke.md)
- *Kubo and the Two Strings* (2016), Fi1m 83: Stop-motion fantasy made by hand, with a quest that knows when to stop. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/kubo-and-the-two-strings.md)

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/tv/the-dark-crystal-age-of-resistance