--- title: "The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/tv/the-dark-crystal-age-of-resistance/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/tv/the-dark-crystal-age-of-resistance" critics_score: 80 critics_reviews: 13 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): what the critics said Critics' score 80 from 13 reviews: 11 positive, 1 mixed, 1 negative. 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. ## Vulture — Matt Zoller Seitz Fi1m's normalised score 95/100 (inferred from the text). 28 August 2019. 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 the review](https://www.vulture.com/2019/08/the-dark-crystal-age-of-resistance-netflix-review.html) ## IndieWire — Hanh Nguyen Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 30 August 2019. 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 the review](https://www.indiewire.com/criticism/shows/dark-crystal-age-of-resistance-review-netflix-ending-spoilers-1202169946/) ## Variety — Caroline Framke Rating Critics Pick. 27 August 2019. 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 the review](https://variety.com/2019/tv/reviews/dark-crystal-age-of-resistance-netflix-review-henson-1203315352/) ## The Hollywood Reporter — Daniel Fienberg Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 27 August 2019. 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 the review](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-reviews/dark-crystal-age-resistance-review-1234750/) ## The i Paper — Emily Baker Rating ★★★★. 30 August 2019. 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 the review](https://inews.co.uk/culture/television/the-dark-crystal-age-of-resistance-netflix-review-332704) ## The Telegraph — Ed Power Fi1m's normalised score 60/100 (inferred from the text). 30 August 2019. 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 the review](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/on-demand/0/dark-crystal-age-resistance-review-prequel-hasexquisite-puppetry/) ## The Guardian — Jack Seale Fi1m's normalised score 35/100 (inferred from the text). 31 August 2019. 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 the review](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 Rating 9.8/10. 30 August 2019. 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 the review](https://www.pastemagazine.com/tv/the-dark-crystal/the-dark-crystal-age-of-resistance-review-1) ## /Film — Jamie Righetti Fi1m's normalised score 95/100 (inferred from the text). 5 September 2019. 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 the review](https://www.slashfilm.com/568876/the-dark-crystal-age-of-resistance-spoiler-review/) ## Den of Geek — Chris Cummins Rating 5 out of 5. 6 September 2019. 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 the review](https://www.denofgeek.com/tv/dark-crystal-age-of-resistance-review/) ## Consequence — Clint Worthington Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 29 August 2019. 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 the review](https://consequence.net/2019/08/tv-review-the-dark-crystal-age-of-resistance/) ## Collider — Dave Trumbore Rating ★★★★★ Excellent. 30 August 2019. 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 the review](https://collider.com/dark-crystal-review-age-of-resistance/) ## The Ringer — Alex Siquig Fi1m's normalised score 78/100 (inferred from the text). 4 September 2019. 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 the review](https://www.theringer.com/2019/09/04/tv/the-dark-crystal-age-of-resistance-netflix-binge-jim-henson) --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/tv/the-dark-crystal-age-of-resistance.md