The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance season 1 premiere recap: End. Begin. All the Same.

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Photo: The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance; Credit: Kevin Baker / Netflix /

The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance brings viewers back to the world of Thra!

As someone who has never seen the original Jim Henson film, this is my time traveling to this magical universe. However, The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance offers plenty of backstory in the opening minutes that viewers unfamiliar with the source material will be able to jump right in. From the narration, we learn about a planet named Thra, which circled three suns and houses a Crystal of Truth.

Like all sources of power, the Crystal attracts other beings searching for power. Aughra (Donna Kimball) is the sworn protector but finds herself swayed before the story begins. Creatures called the Skeksis arrive and wow her with stories of the universe. They create a device so she can explore the stars and take over her duty to protect the crystal. Of course, their version of “protection” is really drain it of energy so they can live forever. A bunch of greedy leaders desperately trying to prolong their wealth and way of life with zero regard for the rest of the dying planet? The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance is definitely not subtle when making a commentary on climate change.

Also on Thra are the Gelfings, these adorable elf-like creatures that live throughout the planet. There are seven unique races: the Stonewood who live in the Dark Wood, the fierce Spriton, the mysterious Grottan who dwell in the Cave of Obscurity, the royal Vapra in the Ha’rar mountains, the Drenchen living in the Swamps of Sog, the sea-loving Sifa, and the Dousan of the desert.

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We’re first introduced to the Skeksis as they converge once again to try and steal power. However, the Crystal has grown weaker and unable to provide them with much more. The Emperor (Jason Isaacs) alleves the fears from his fellow leaders but is growing more and more discontent with the failure to ensure their immortality. The Scientist (Mark Hamill) is tasked with finally figuring out a way to save them all via his experiments in the catacombs. The Chamberlain (Simon Pegg), who is next in line to lead, helps the scientist discover they can use the Crystal to drain life from other people to keep it for themselves.

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