‘The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance’ Recap – ‘Prophets Don’t Know Everything’

Written by John Edward Betancourt 

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Over the course of its first seven episodes, The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance has wowed us in so many ways. Because not only has this series done a phenomenal job of resurrecting and expanding upon a world we were first introduced to thirty-seven years ago, it has found ways to stand out on its own by providing its audience with powerful and quality storytelling, the kind that sucks us in and takes us on quite the safe emotional ride. And I use the word ‘safe’, simply because this saga has made an active choice to only flirt with darker storytelling elements. But I think we all knew when we started this journey, that it was only going to be a matter of time before this saga let darker elements consume this story and it just so happens that that ugly moment arrived in the next episode of this magnificent series.
 
For ‘Prophets Don’t Know Everything’ saw our characters put to the test like never before as the Skeksis continued their desperate power play to conquer the Gelfling and perhaps the best place to start when it comes to breaking down just how quickly this series is taking a downward spiral in the right way, is to explore Seladon’s story in this tale. Because she made a journey to the Castle of the Crystal in order to broker a peace deal and prove to her fellow Gelfling that she was indeed the all-powerful, All-Maudra she claimed to be, only to find herself blindsided by her lords. For the Skeksis were completely transparent with her about the rumors surrounding their actions and they were quick to capture her without giving it a second thought, and while I can find no pity for Seladon, since she didn’t quite get it even after hearing the truth from the Emperor’s mouth, what makes this segment of the story so dark and so powerful, is the sheer fact that the Skeksis are no longer hiding in the shadows. If anything, they’re embracing their special brand of evil and are happy to instill fear in their subjects and that was a chilling revelation to say the least.
 
Yet, the show wasn’t quite done with stunning us with unsettling moments, and the rest of them came about by way of Rian and Deet’s journey. For they made their way to the Caves of Grot to find the Glaive and instead stumbled upon chaos and sorrow there. Because the Arathim arrived in Grot, first, and they wasted no time in forcing the Grottans to submit to the Ascendancy in order to reclaim their original homeland and this was just… intense. For it was horrifying to see Deet’s friends and family succumb to mind control and watching these innocents be dragged away kicking and screaming to join the collective was equally as harrowing, and you couldn’t help but feel for Deet when she saw her brother in a zombified state and it really seemed for a moment there, that there was no hope for either of them since the odds were against them and the Arathim were everywhere. But Rian and Deet’s quick thinking and dedication to the preservation of life allowed for this episode to take quite the interesting turn.
 
Because the Asendancy spared them assimilation, and instead asked for their help in fighting the Nurloc, now that they were committed to the Darkening and attacking the Arathim at every turn. And getting an opportunity to stand before a former sworn enemy of the Skeksis and come to the conclusion that these caves were dangerous, allowed for Rian to help these unfortunate creatures realize that they were being double crossed. Which meant that a new alliance was formed, and that required a quick exit from the caves so that everyone could regroup and prepare for an offensive against the Skeksis. But their only way out was through the Sanctuary Tree, and their escape route was compromised by the Darkening. Because it had reached the Sanctuary Tree, prompting Deet to beg the tree for some sort of solution in regard to curing this affliction and well, Deet was granted her wish in unique fashion. For the Tree gave her its power and the ability to rip the Darkening away from infected beings, along with a quick glimpse at a terrifying future, wherein she herself might be consumed by this evil. 
 
If anything, I was ill prepared for how dark this episode turned out to be and I think that was the point. Because this was powerful and poignant, and everything that happened here, helped to add to the tension that’s been building for ages now and hopefully this newfound alliance and Deet’s new gifts do wonders for the fight ahead. Either way, this was a true treat, one that definitely sets the stage nicely for the final battle to come, and the finale of the saga in general since Deet had a quick flash forward of a familiar Gelfling named Jen, and it was nice to see that shout out to the movie. But I digress, because in the here and the now, the battle draws near and it’s best I bid you all farewell to see what other surprises await me in this magical series. Until next time.  

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