The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance’s Cancelation by Netflix Still Leaves Fans Mad

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Jim Henson’s 1982 film captivated audiences and has become a lasting part of pop culture, celebrated for its incredible puppetry. Building on the film’s popularity, The Jim Henson Company created a short-lived prequel series that aired in 2019.

Critics and fans alike hailed The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance as a stunning and unforgettable fantasy series, calling it a true artistic triumph. Despite its incredible quality, Netflix decided not to renew the show for a second season. This cancellation is widely considered a major error in television, and fans still express their disappointment with the decision.

The Dark Crystal TV Show Was a Glittering Tornado of Fresh Air

Fantasy shows on television include some of the most acclaimed series ever created. From shows like Game of Thrones, Supernatural, and The Witcher, the genre offers incredibly varied and imaginative worlds that appeal to a broad audience. Then came The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance, which took fantasy to a level of excellence unseen before or since.

You don’t need to have seen the original 1982 movie to enjoy this incredible series. Like the film, the show really showcases amazing puppetry and creature design. Every puppet, from the biggest monsters to the smallest creatures, was created at Jim Henson’s Creature Shop. The designs were created by Brian Froud and Dave Goelz, who also performed many of the characters.

As a huge fan of The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance, I was blown away by the voice cast! They had so many incredible puppets to work with, and they really nailed the choices. Anya-Taylor Joy, Andy Samberg, Taron Egerton, Helena Bonham-Carter, and Nathalie Emmanuel gave so much heart to the Resistance fighters. And the Skeksis? Forget about it! Benedict Wong, Simon Pegg, Awkwafina, Mark Hamill, and Keegan-Michael Key were absolutely brilliant – they perfectly captured those villainous creatures. It was a truly star-studded group, and it really elevated the whole series.

Beyond the main cast, Age of Resistance featured impressive voice actors like Lena Headey, Sigourney Weaver, Eddie Izzard, Bill Hader, Mark Strong, Alicia Vikander, and Natalie Dormer. Notably, three actresses who played popular characters on Game of Thrones – Margaery Tyrell and Missandei – also appeared, all in heroic roles. Despite this shared talent, The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance still surpasses Game of Thrones in quality, even if you exclude the final, poorly-received season of Game of Thrones.

The diverse group of performers really boosted the TV show, but it wasn’t the only reason for its success. Age of Resistance offered a fresh and unique experience, particularly because the original Muppets had become less well-known over time. Given the enduring popularity of The Muppets, it makes sense that a darker, fantasy-based spin-off would be so widely praised.

As a huge fantasy and sci-fi fan, I was immediately drawn into the world of Thra. It’s a beautiful place, lit by three suns, but the story quickly gets complex with this interesting clash between a fantastical setting and a more grounded, almost harsh, sci-fi element. The world is home to the Gelfling, who remind me of a sweet mix between Hobbits and Elves – they’re just genuinely good-hearted. But then you have the Skeksis, and honestly, they’re terrifying! Their looks are truly unsettling, and it perfectly reflects how corrupt they are inside. What’s really clever is how the whole power structure in Age of Resistance feels like a reflection of what’s happening in our own world.

I was completely captivated by the contrast between the Skeksis – these ridiculously over-the-top villains – and the genuinely good-hearted Gelflings. It made for some seriously tense moments, especially as the season built to its dramatic ending. I even saw people on Reddit joking that the Scientist sounded just like Mark Hamill’s Joker, which I took as a huge compliment! Though, some viewers felt the Gelflings weren’t quite as interesting or original in design compared to the Skeksis, and I can see where they were coming from.

Despite its short run of just ten episodes, Age of Resistance quickly became a fantasy classic. The show is beautifully made, with detailed sets, compelling characters, and stunning special effects that always feel real. What truly sets it apart, though, is its rich and expansive backstory, which makes the world feel both new and deeply established.

Season 1’s Mythology and Character Arcs Were Left Stranded

As a huge fan, I was completely captivated by the opening of Age of Resistance. It immediately showed us what happened after the events of the original prequel series, giving us a glimpse into the history of the Skeksis and the Mystics. It’s fascinating to learn they both came from the shattered Crystal of Truth – that lost piece is central to everything, both in the movie and the show. Honestly, if you’ve seen The Dark Crystal, you already had a pretty good idea where Season 1 of Age of Resistance was headed, which makes the cancellation even more heartbreaking.

The movie immediately highlights how few Gelflings are left—only two remain after the Skeksis wiped out the rest. This instantly makes viewers realize how hopeless Deet, Brea, and Rian’s quest is. Any progress they made in the first season might have been short-lived, and their future is uncertain.

Did the characters in Age of Resistance – like Jen and Kira – have family connections? What happened to Deet’s fight against the Darkening? Did Rian finally achieve his goals? And would Brea become the next All-Maudra of Ha’rar? These storylines, and how they all connected, were sadly never finished, leaving fans feeling frustrated and let down.

As a big fan of the Thra universe, I’ve noticed some cool connections between the original film and Age of Resistance. Aughra shows up in both, pretty much playing the same character, and the Skeksis haven’t changed a bit, which is great! What’s really interesting is Kira’s backstory – being raised by the Podlings seems to hint that Hup from the series had a hand in things. It’s a bit sad, but the Podlings in the movie end up in the same unfortunate position as the Gelflings in the show – they’re essentially used by the Skeksis as a source of life essence, which the Skeksis then drain away.

As the title The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance suggests, the story unfolds during a time of rebellion, when the different Gelfling groups joined forces. Between the events of the original movie and this prequel, the Skeksis defeated their opponents and became incredibly powerful, ultimately taking complete control of the weakening world of Thra. The show is noticeably lighter in tone than the movie, a contrast that, due to the lost narrative bridge, remains unexplained.

While Age of Resistance brought up the original UrSkeks, it only showed us two of the Mystics: urVa the Archer and urGoh the Wanderer, who were connected to skekMal the Hunter and skekGra the Conqueror. The meeting between the Skeksis and Mystics was the big finale of the story, but the show didn’t have time to fully explore each of their pairings.

Overall, the original film prioritized impactful moments over a lengthy story. It didn’t fully explore the details of the fascinating world it created. Age of Resistance tried to fix this by presenting that world in a fresh way and expanding the story’s potential, letting it unfold naturally. However, interference from Netflix prevented it from fully succeeding.

Will The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance Ever Come Back?

It was particularly ironic that Netflix canceled The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance, a show many consider one of the best original series ever made for streaming. The cancellation was announced just one day after the show won an Emmy Award for its children’s programming. But even though Netflix has ended the series, the story of Age of Resistance might not be over.

The series was produced by , with Lisa Henson – daughter of the company’s founder – providing expert oversight. In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Lisa Henson explained that the company has a history of building detailed and imaginative worlds that demand both technical skill and strong storytelling. She emphasized the series’ grand scope and its critical acclaim.

Despite the show’s cancellation, there’s still hope for the future of The Dark Crystal. Lisa Henson highlighted fans’ enthusiasm for a conclusion to the story and indicated they’re exploring other avenues to continue it. The showrunners had even started planning a second season as early as September 2019, with a detailed outline already in place. Halle Stanford, from The Jim Henson Company, confirmed they’re prepared to revisit the world of Thra whenever a partner is ready.

We’ve seen several TV shows saved after cancellation – like Tuca & Bertie, One Day at a Time, and Sense8 – so there’s hope for The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance to get the ending it deserves. The show’s story is better than most fantasy, even in novels, and it’s frustrating that it was left unfinished.

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2026-01-06 03:08