The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance: 6 best moments from Episode 1

6. The Dark Crystal story

Finally, we get to hear some of the backstory of this tale we know and love from the original Dark Crystal film. We saw a scanning view of the world of Thra and learned about the seven Gelfling clans. This was presented in a way that was reminiscent of Game of Thrones, carrying us from one place to another, showing the symbol of each clan as we go. That format continued throughout.

The history lesson also told of how the land used to be, with perfect harmony in all things, and of the coming of the aliens, the Skeksis. They gave Aughra the great knowledge of the heavens and built her the famous orrery (that model thingy of all the planets and stuff in the sky).

Of course, she was enthralled by all this amazing knowledge and decided she would just endlessly think about it from then on. Having cared for the crystal and therefore Thra (as they are one and the same) all of her years, she decided it would be safe and necessary to entrust the crystal to these seemingly superb creatures while she learned about the heavens and stuff.

Unfortunately, the Skeksis were up to no good, but no one knew this. They kept The Crystal of Truth hostage and drew its power to give themselves everlasting life. But it wasn’t going so well now that 1,000 trine (years of the three suns) have passed. Now it was The Dark Crystal, and this is where the real story starts.

5. The plan

Since the Dark Crystal was no longer providing what the Skeksis needed to sustain their eternal youth and grace, they looked for another solution. The Scientist spent his time creating a machine that he hoped would send new energy into him and his friends, but things went sideways.

Lucky for him, The Chamberlain showed up just in time to turn off the machine before the crystal sucked him completely dry. This was the discovery that led to the podling essence extracting machine we saw in the original Dark Crystal film.

We are aware that by that time, essence was drawn from podlings and only The Emperor could partake. But at this time, it was still a hatching idea.

The Scientist was sure he had failed after experiencing the drawing effects of the Dark Crystal, but The Chamberlain pointed out that he had in fact, solved their problem. He suggested to the Scientist that they draw from Gelfling, those closest to Thra, and use that essence to strengthen their own. The plot was hatched.

4. The Sanctuary Tree

Deet, a Gelfling from the underground clan of Grottan, was minding her own business the day that the baby nurloc snapped at her unexpectedly. She was even more shocked when the big one bit her wing and ripped it, tossing her aside. These creatures were her buddies and she was stunned.

It was even more surprising when The Sanctuary Tree spoke to her. After she got past the fact that it was talking, (but only to those who can hear), she learned that she had a mission.

The tree showed her scenes of a horrible future that was to unsettle all of Thra if something wasn’t done to change the course of events. She learned of “The Darkening,” a concept which immediately reminded me of a politer execution of Gmork explaining “The Nothing” in The Neverending Story.

Deet had to go into the world above and journey to the All-Maudra (basically the queen of all the Gelfling clan queens) and tell her what was happening. She didn’t know what it all meant at first, but her Maudra did. Once Deet told her of the vision of Aughra, she knew it meant she was chosen.