The Dark Crystal is a timeless movie. Fans of the production are drawn to the compelling storyline, dramatic adventures, and practical special effects. Even though the original film dates from 1982, it still looks good compared to the new prequel series, The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance.
The new Netflix series uses the same old-fashioned effects that Jim Henson used along with a few modern touches, and there are some interesting connections between the vintage movie the and the modern series that takes place in the same world. Whether you’re a fan of the classic film or Netflix introduced you to the world of Thra, these ten connections between The Dark Crystal and Netflix’s Age of Resistance will make the show even more interesting.
The Cracked Crystal and the Shard
The “Crystal of Truth,” which literally hangs at the center of everything during these stories, appears in its cracked form in both the film and the movie. The Skeksis mention during the course of the series that it’s been a long time since any Gelfling saw the crystal. This would explain why they didn’t know it was cracked or what the Skeksis were trying to do with it. In the series, the Dark Crystal is connected to a mechanism that raises it into the Skeksis Great Hall and lowers it to the Scientist’s lab. In the movie, the crystal is always stationary.
The Orrery
The moment when the doors of Aughra’s home opens and we see the Orrery in the original film is a magical moment. In the Netflix series, we find out where the Orrery came from. The Skeksis needed to distract Aughra from their plans with the Crystal of Truth, and they used the Orrery to draw her attention. While Aughra was enjoying a journey through space and time courtesy of the Orrery, the Skeksis were ravaging both the crystal and Thra. The backstory of the Orrery as a bribe and a distraction taints the old memory somewhat but it doesn’t make this incredible set-piece any less amazing.
Aughra
In the Netflix series, the Gelfling refer to her as “Mother Aughra” and she has a lot more backstory. In the movie, “she knows all the secrets” according to the Mystics but we don’t find out exactly who she is. She seems to have a lot of cool stuff in her house and she’s not afraid of the Skeksis.
Her backstory in Age of Resistance explains this in more detail. She’s closely connected to Thra, much like the Gelflings are, and the Skeksis have always tried to subdue her because they know she’s too powerful to kill. That explains a lot about her character’s attitude and existence in the old movie, still defiant in the face of Skesis rule despite their power.
Stone-in-the-Wood
The three Gelfling clans that feature prominently in Age of Resistance are the Vapra, the Grotten, and the Stonewood. In the movie The Dark Crystal, we see very little of Gelfling civilization, other than the ruins that Jen and Kyra stumble upon while running from the Podling village. In a clever callback that’s easily missed, these ruins are restored as Stone-in-the-Wood, the residence of the Stonewood Clan, in Age of Resistance. The stone chair that Kyra sits on in the movie is the throne of Maudra Fara in Age of Resistance. The prophecy has yet to be inscribed on the wall during the era of Resistance.
The Life Essence
The Skeksis want to use the Crystal to prolong their lives and preserve their youth, but it seems it can’t do both. This is hinted at in the movie, where despite the daily ritual of cheating death using the crystal, it is not enough to halt the aging process and they are still vulnerable to death. The movie opens with the Emporer passing away, and this character in The Age of Resistance is the most insistent that the Scientist finds a solution to their problem. This is where the idea of draining essence came from, a practice which is continued in the Netflix series.
Two Halves of One Whole
The movie told us that the Skeksis and the Mystics appeared when the crystal cracked. The Netflix series explores this in more depth, introducing us to characters like the Hunter, the Archer, the Heretic and the Wanderer. These four are actually two, but the Hunter and Archer are in opposition while the Heretic and Wanderer are working together to restore the crystal. The puppet show that the Heretic and Wanderer put on to explain where the Shard of Division came from and where it was hidden is a great example of meta-drama in action.
Podlings
In both the movie and the series, Podlings have always been one of the peaceful, friendly races that lived quietly in the wilds of Thra before the Skeksis arrived. Unlike the Gelflings, Podlings tend to be less sophisticated folk, much like the Hobbits of Middle Earth. The Podlings don’t have an army, nor do they train knights or soldiers. They don’t build lofty buildings or fill scrolls with ancient philosophical knowledge. Deet’s companion Hup is a notable exception, which is why he’s such an interesting character. The connection between Hup saving Deet in the series and Kyra’s adoption by Podlings in the movie shows how influential the unassuming Podlings really are to the life of Thra.
The Garthem
The Ascendancy, made up of an insect race called the Arathim, is comparable to both the xenomorphs from aliens and the Borg of the Star Trek universe. In the movie, the Acesdancy never appears, at least not in their original form. Instead, we have the Garthem, an army that the Skeksis controls. Age of Resistance reveals the chilling secret behind the Garthem. The Scientists built them by combining an Arathim with another race called the Gruenak. The Gruenak were known for their incredible strength, but other than the two prisoners from Season One, we know very little else about them.
The Blight
The wide shots of the Crystal Castle in Age of Resistance show a vibrant, green country with lakes and rivers. In the movie, the land of Thra is barren and dead. The Narrator at the beginning of the movie references that this is traced back to the corruption of the Crystal of Truth. In Age of Resistance, the reach and effects of the crystal’s corruption are explained more clearly, and we understand how the dark magic of the Skeksis corrupted both the crystal and Thra.
Farmers and travelers speak of a blight that’s affected crops, plants, and animals. Deet, the character that is the most closely connected to the secrets of Thra, learns more about the Blight then her companions and has seen it firsthand.
The Trails
The Trail by Stone scene from the movie is one of many thrilling episodes that modern films have tried to emulate. Age of Resistance references the practice of “trails” and make it clear that it’s an invention of the Skeksis and not of the world of Thra. After the death of her mother, the All-Maudra, Seladon was challenged to a “Trail by Air” by another Maurdra for the crown. Some other Maudra objected to Fara’s challenge because the Trails were a tool of the Skeksis. We never get to see this trail, which is unfortunate, as the character arc of Seladon takes a surprising turn.
