The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance is the highly-anticipated prequel series to Jim Henson’s 1982 fantasy film, The Dark Crystal.
Set on the planet Thra, the film tells the story of Jen, a Gelfling who embarks on a quest to find the missing piece of a magical crystal that will defeat evil forces that have plagued his world. It was an ambitious film for its time with groundbreaking animatronic puppets created by the Jim Henson Company, known for The Muppet Show, Fraggle Rock, and Sesame Street.
The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance takes place before the events of the film, and is about three Gelflings who discover the secret to the Skeksis’ power and head out on a journey to save their planet.
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If you need a refresher before the series drops on Netflix this Friday — or have never seen The Dark Crystal — here’s a guide to some of the creatures and beings that inhabit the world of Thra.
Gelflings
Gelflings are a race of intelligent elfin-like humanoid creatures that love singing and dancing. They can also communicate telepathically. They’re about three- to four-feet tall with long, pointy ears and four fingers on each hand. Female Gelflings have wings that allow them to glide short distances, although at one time, all Gelflings could fly.
urSkeks
The urSkeks are a noble alien race of tall humanoids. They arrived in Thra via an energy portal, and possess advanced technology that appears as if they have magical powers. When the Crystal cracked during an event called the Great Conjunction, they were divided into two species: the Skesis and the Mystics (also known as urRu).
Skeksis
The Skeksis are the villains in The Dark Crystal. This race of creatures resemble a cross between vultures and lizards, with toothy beaks, tails, and two pairs of arms (although only one pair is functional). They have declared themselves the Lords of the Dark Crystal, controlling the castle where the crystal is kept and practicing their dark arts. They despise the Gelflings and drain them of their essence.
Mystics/urRu
The Mystics, also known as urRu, were the other species created when the urSkeks split up. They are a wise, gentle race who took on the sorrows of Thra. They have reptile-like features, long tails, long hair, two pairs of functional arms, and wrinkled skin etched with symbolic patterns.
Podlings
Podlings, or Pod People, are a simple race that lives in the forests of Thra. They are kind-hearted and love dancing, singing, and nature. When the Skeksis believe they’ve exterminated the Gelflings, the Podlings are enslaved and drained of their essence.
Aughra
Aughra was born from the rocks of Thra and is the only creature of her species. She is short with spiraled horns and three eyes. While two of her eyes were blinded from the energy released when the urSkeks arrived on Thra during the Great Conjunction, her third eye still has sight and can also be removed. Knowledgeable on matters of science and spirituality, she observes the movements of planets from her observatory.
If you just can’t wait until Friday, here’s a featurette with The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance‘s cast and crew on returning to Thra nearly four decades after the film. And once Friday comes, add Wiretap to Chrome so you can comment on this highly anticipated series with friends and other fans.
Photos and Videos Courtesy of Netflix
