The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance

The absolute joy [is] evident in every frame of “Age of Resistance,” where puppetry skills and computer-generated artistry combine to exult in seamless perfection. Muppet fans will surely recognize the intuitively expressive Henson style; others might admire the skill with which the writers balance simplicity (and humor) with the intensity and complexity of the plot.

I am here to tell you that there is no way this show won’t satisfy you. ... Age of Resistance is like an immense, ten-hour magic show, engrossing down to the very last wondrous detail. This is an altogether staggering artistic achievement, and a joyful continuation of the Henson tradition.

One of the most ambitious and immersive TV events of the year. ... The level of detail in the puppets and their surroundings is, to be blunt, astonishing. Still, “Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance” would’ve been nothing more than a technical feat without a story and characters to match, so it’s to the writers’ credit (not to mention the voice actors’ and impressive puppeteers’) that the interwoven stories are equally compelling.

Enjoy The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance for what it is, a masterpiece of expertly crafted puppet-driven fantasy, and do it while you can. It’s not just a new Netflix series, it’s an event, and you don’t want to be left out.

Executive-produced by Lisa Henson, “The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance” is, quite simply, one of the all-time great fantasy epics, as well as the masterwork of puppetry most closely aligned with Jim Henson’s humanistic philosophy since his son Brian helmed 1992’s holiday perennial, “The Muppet Christmas Carol.” ... A wondrous, fully realized masterpiece.

Thanks to Jeffrey Addiss, Will Matthews, and Javier Grillo-Marxuach’s outstanding script, Age of Resistance is surprising, funny, sad, and heartwarming all in turn. The pacing is swift but metered. ... For those who dare to let Age of Resistance overwhelm you, there will be nothing better this year.

The result is extraordinary. ... Filling 10 hours is always challenging, but this narrative is dense to the point that we barely spend time with three out of the seven tribes, and it sacrifices dramatic tension to immerse us in Thra’s varied cultures. ... Nevertheless, neither should you be perplexed by a gnawing desire for a second season you may harbor. There is much to be learned about this expansive vision of Thra, and even accounting for its shortcomings, its gargantuan effort merits the reward of more time.

A beauty with a fully realized world which seems to know where it's going and how to get there.

The series boasts visual mastery and a stimulating plot, but its message of hope and community gives it a far richer purpose. “Age of Resistance” matters, and that’s some admirable alchemy at work.

It’s dense going, until the outlines of the heroes’ journey snaps into focus. ... Age Of Resistance is the best type of YA fantasy fiction, engrossing and escapist and full of hidden depths, ideal for viewers weaned on Harry Potter and The Legend Of Zelda but not quite ready for George R.R. Martin.

All of this detail starts to pay off when the story gets more complex, and the pace quickens a bit. Because so much work has gone into making all of the characters distinct and individualized, you never once feel distracted by the puppetry, or jarred out of the series’ serious tone.

When it comes to story and character, it's in all ways a smarter, funnier and more narratively thrilling enterprise. Whether you're watching for fulfilled nostalgia or current pleasure, this is a whimsical, fun and entertaining series.

Political metaphors and messages about the environment abound, but it’s not as if we’re being lectured. “The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance” is primarily a screen-popping plunge into pure escapist fantasy, filled with trippy imagery and gorgeous landscapes. It’s a series of memorable dreams punctuated by the occasional nightmare.

Age of Resistance is, in many respects, an extraordinary accomplishment. Which isn't to say it doesn't run into some problems along the way. ... The series shares its most frustrating problems with many other streaming-age shows that try to spin one long narrative over many installments.

There are real pleasures to be had watching beautiful puppets running, kissing and poking each others’ eyes out. But the Dark Crystal is in such a hurry to create a splash it plunges off the deep end too soon.

Those invested in this world will lap up every nuance, meaning that, for better or worse, The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance is unabashedly a fans-only thing.

The visual detail is astounding, from the puppets’ ornate hairstyles to an immersive backdrop of enchanted forests, imposing castles and cave cities constructed in miniature. ... The premise is more fantasy boilerplate, though it does resonate in divisive times. The real problem is the pacing; the show spends so much time panning over landscapes and watching puppets hang out that you can start to lose the plot. It takes nearly half of the 10-episode season to get the quest set up.

The show’s visuals — often achieved through a combination of puppetry and computer-generated effects — can be enchanting, especially in a library location, but the backstory of Thra society requires a lot of unpacking. Telling the puppet characters apart sometimes proves a daunting challenge, and it’s difficult to mount much enthusiasm for the task given the first episode’s plodding pace.