TV Show review
August 30, 2019 · TV-PG · Canceled · Action · Sci-Fi · Family · Fantasy · Adventure
Stream on Netflix
Based on 1 season, 10 episodes · through August 30, 2019
Return to the fantastical world of Thra in this ten-episode prequel series. Three Gelflings discover a dark secret about their rulers, the Skeksis, and start a rebellion to save their planet. The show features a matriarchal Gelfling society, which creators have highlighted as a major feminist theme. Viewers will also notice clear environmental metaphors and casual LGBTQ representation, including a main character with two fathers.
Why 59%? See the score breakdownBreakdown
These are the editorial factors and ratings behind our score for The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance.
Woke representation / casting
While the characters are puppets, the voice cast is highly diverse. More visibly, the puppet characters themselves include explicit LGBTQ representation, with a main character who has two fathers and a lesbian relationship between Princess Tavra and Onica, which adds significant weight under our scoring rules.
50%
Woke political dialogue
The dialogue remains largely in-universe and avoids modern political jargon. However, the creators acknowledged that the Skeksis denying the environmental "Darkening" of the land was written as a direct parallel to modern-day climate change denial on Earth.
15%
Identity-driven story themes
The narrative features clear feminist and queer themes. The Gelfling clans are organized as a matriarchy led by female Maudras, which the creators highlighted as a feminist element. The inclusion of same-sex parents and lesbian couples further elevates this score.
55%
Western institutional / cultural critique
While the rebellion plot is classic fantasy resistance against tyranny, the show subverts traditional social norms by presenting a matriarchal system as the default order and replacing the traditional nuclear family with a same-sex household.
30%
Woke character or canon changes
The prequel series does not swap existing characters from the original film. However, it retroactively inserts modern LGBTQ dynamics and explicit feminist matriarchal structures into the established fantasy canon of the franchise.
20%
Anti-woke backlash and complaints
Mainstream backlash against the series was almost non-existent. However, minor online discussion from some viewers criticized the deliberate addition of same-sex parents and the overt promotion of feminist matriarchal themes in the making-of documentary.
10%
Creator track record context
The key creative team is a mix. The showrunners and director have neutral track records, but key producers Lisa Henson and Halle Stanford actively champion diversity initiatives, and staff writer J.M. Lee is a queer advocate for LGBTQ representation.
35%
Production
