The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance

:

Season 1
  • Network: Netflix
  • Series Premiere Date: Aug 30, 2019
Metascore
82

Universal acclaim - based on 20 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 15 out of 20
  2. Mixed: 5 out of 20
  3. Negative: 0 out of 20
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Critic Reviews

  1. The Telegraph
    Reviewed by: Ed Power
    Jan 3, 2020
    60
    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.
  2. The Guardian
    Reviewed by: Jack Seale
    Dec 4, 2019
    60
    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.
  3. Time
    Reviewed by: Judy Berman
    Aug 28, 2019
    60
    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.
  5. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
    Reviewed by: Rob Owen
    Aug 29, 2019
    57
    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.
  6. CNN
    Reviewed by: Brian Lowry
    Aug 29, 2019
    50
    Much of the series is beautiful to look at conceptually, but there's no getting around the sameness of the character design (Gelflings tend to look alike), the lack of expression in those big, soulless American-doll-style eyes, and the lifeless storytelling, which certainly isn't helped by the generic characters and some of the irritating Jar Jar Binks-type dialogue.

Awards & Rankings

31
#31 Best TV Season of 2019
18
#18 Most Discussed TV Season of 2019
84
#84 Most Shared TV Season of 2019

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
8.6

Universal acclaim- based on 122 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 109 out of 122
  2. Mixed: 7 out of 122
  3. Negative: 6 out of 122
  1. okc_rocker
    Sep 2, 2019
    10
    This show is light, dark, sad, and joyful. But it's absolutely epic and one of the most charming things I've experienced. The effects, music,This show is light, dark, sad, and joyful. But it's absolutely epic and one of the most charming things I've experienced. The effects, music, singing, and voice acting are all amazing! Not once during the season did I feel unnecessary scenes. Everything that happened had a purpose, and everything came together so well. I never felt bored, and I lost sleep for it. It was worth it! Hup is my hero.… Full Review »
  2. treestand
    Sep 7, 2019
    10
    Dark Crystal was one of my favorite films growing up. It remains one of the few films I enjoyed as a child but can appreciate just as much, ifDark Crystal was one of my favorite films growing up. It remains one of the few films I enjoyed as a child but can appreciate just as much, if not more, as an adult. When I heard about this 'revival' I immediately tempered my expectations. I assumed it was just another cash grab that would never hold its own against the original and could potentially tarnish the name and memory of a masterpiece. Thankfully, 'Age of Resistance' is an exception to the rule, and I could not be more thrilled about it. 'Resistance' is not only a seamless follow up to the film, but it expands upon the world, story and designs in ways that prove that this was a work built on love, trust and compassion for the source material. The series isn't a mere puppet show, it is a fully realized fantasy epic that holds its own against all the classics. (But it is also an excellent puppet show, and at times, an excellent puppet show within an excellent puppet show.) I hope 'Resistance' begins a new renaissance for masterfully crafted fantasy stories free of the dull grit and insta-dated CG that has inundated the industry in recent years. "Resistance' is a breath of fresh air, which is surprising coming from a 36 year old puppetry property. The characters, the artistry, the acting, it's all gold. Watch this, share this, and see what it means to love your work and utilize the gift of imagination we all hold within our hearts.… Full Review »
  3. OlivierPiel
    Sep 3, 2019
    0
    Had to stop 15 min in. The cinematography is nauseating: Maybe puppets and camera action do not work and felt disjunct (in particular when theHad to stop 15 min in. The cinematography is nauseating: Maybe puppets and camera action do not work and felt disjunct (in particular when the eyes do not move with the rest of the body). The villains are not so much scary as unbelievably grating in their design and voices. Really unbearable. Plus, the story background, the world building at the start of the show, doesn't make any sense whatsoever.… Full Review »
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