‘Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance’ is here!

The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance was released on Netflix today, over two years after the Jim Henson Company announced that it was in the works. It’s a multi-episode prequel to the original 1982 Jim Henson movie. Over a hundred puppets were used in the making of the first season. Season 1, Episode 1 is a full hour and is called “End. Begin. All the Same.” (This title is taken from a line delivered by the astronomer/prophet Aughra in the original film.)

As in the original, the story is a battle between good and evil. The ruling Skeksis, a species of ugly flightless bird, are draining the Gelflings — first only figuratively with heavy taxes, then literally by magically extracting their “vital essence.” A large purple stone, The Crystal of Truth, is used to mediate these energy exchanges. However, the crystal has already begun to malfunction, a sign that the world is out of balance.

The aesthetic is Game of Thrones…

…and Stranger Things…