Started the series tonight. After this post, spoilers, so don't read on if you don't want to be spoiled.
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Episode 1, "End. Begin. All the Same."
First impression was really bad. I didn't like the introduction at all. I would have much preferred if the epsiode had started afterwards. Everything in it would have been much better presented during the events of the episode itself, instead of a bombastic infodump.
After that, it got a bit better. I really like the idea that the Gelflings trust the Skesis. We get to see them interact with characters we know are going to go bad. It does make me wonder how the series is going to end. We know that the Gelflings are almost all wiped out, but that doesn't mean it has to happen during or at the end of the prequel time frame.
I think a little less would have been more. A lot of the camera work zooming all over the place was disorienting. It was nice to see a lot of the vistas, when well shot. GCI post effects were gratuitous and over wrought.
Man, I could not tell you the names of each of the Gelfling characters. There's the scholar/princess, the underground girl, and the son of the castle guard. Not much to tell about them, they weren't nearly as interesting as the Skesis, who are fun and colorful characters. Still, we've got a few episodes to go, hopefully the protagonists will get some development as events progress.
So, I'll give it a C. Rough patches, good stuff, bad stuff, but worth continuing to watch for now.
Nobody else watching? Despite my criticisms, the show does have it's moments.
Quote from: Ratman_tf;1101898Nobody else watching? Despite my criticisms, the show does have it's moments.
I'm at a point where I don't watch sequels, prequels, reboots anymore. Might do an exception for the Ghostbusters movie tho.
Quote from: Ratman_tf;1101898Nobody else watching? Despite my criticisms, the show does have it's moments.
A lot of uncanny valley creepiness for me when I look at the gelflings. It may have been there decades ago, but it didn't bother my kid self the way it does crusty old me.
Episode 2: Nothing Is Simple Anymore
Much better. There was a minimum of intrusive CGI, the characters are coming along, I really liked the Paladin, Hup! Even the ex-guard, Rian, who started out rather bland.
I really appreciated Deet's walk through the forest when she emerged from the underground. I joked with my brother that no movie would ever have a scene like the riverboat journey in the original Dark Crystal movie, but this was pretty close. Just taking in the world and the ambiance. Very nice.
This episode got pretty close to the feel of the original movie, IMO>
I thought you were reviewing the whole thing, so I left when you said "spoilers."
It's ok stuff, but it's harder to be impressed with CGI than Henson's puppets. I assume there are still plenty of actual puppets, though--many of them have necks which move more like wrists, if you know what I mean.
What disappoints me? It's the same damn story as the movie. Chrissake, Henson makes this amazing new world, filled with things nobody's ever seen before. They have 30 frickin' years to come up with something new and..."let's just do the same thing as the 1.5 hour movie, but over the course of 8 hours."
I grant when they did Watership Down it was the same as the novel, but one could guess that from the title. Here they have a new title and...the same story, just fluffed out more.
Quote from: Doom;1102999I thought you were reviewing the whole thing, so I left when you said "spoilers."
It's ok stuff, but it's harder to be impressed with CGI than Henson's puppets. I assume there are still plenty of actual puppets, though--many of them have necks which move more like wrists, if you know what I mean.
Hm? According to the show makers it's almost all puppets. The CGI is used for post effects and to remove puppeteers.
https://www.radiotimes.com/news/on-demand/2019-08-31/dark-crystal-age-of-resistance-puppets-or-cgi/
I think one of the most striking things is how high definition has made the images too clear and sharp, and too easy to tell that they're puppets.
I liked the Dark Crystal. But for me the original movie always seemed to be enough. I never felt any desire to further explore that world or the characters.
But it's so progressive!
Quote from: Warboss Squee;1103078But it's so progressive!
It's funny you say that, because I play SJW Bingo with Netflix shows, trying to complete my card as they go through the obligatory lesbian/male homosexual/interracial couple/Republican talking points coming out of villain's mouth/white male subservient to black female and other common issues...generally I can shout "Bingo!" before episode 5.
I'm optimistic this won't happen in Dark Crystal, seeing as it's all puppets.
Optimistic, but not certain...
Quote from: Doom;1103086It's funny you say that, because I play SJW Bingo with Netflix shows, trying to complete my card as they go through the obligatory lesbian/male homosexual/interracial couple/Republican talking points coming out of villain's mouth/white male subservient to black female and other common issues...generally I can shout "Bingo!" before episode 5.
I'm optimistic this won't happen in Dark Crystal, seeing as it's all puppets.
Optimistic, but not certain...
Watch the CW and you'll have bingo by the first commercial break.
Quote from: HappyDaze;1103135Watch the CW and you'll have bingo by the first commercial break.
Still shocked Supergirl wasn't a CW show.
But if you want a bingo game, check out how many shows on CW have had either cast or crew hit with charges of sexual harrassment or assault.
Quote from: Warboss Squee;1103156Still shocked Supergirl wasn't a CW show.
But if you want a bingo game, check out how many shows on CW have had either cast or crew hit with charges of sexual harrassment or assault.
Ye gods Supergirl. Watched much it before the convergence was so blatant. Making a big deal out of her punching out Superman, and thus she's the strongest, was nigh the last straw, though I'm sure I watched a few more episodes past that.
Quote from: Doom;1103173Ye gods Supergirl. Watched much it before the convergence was so blatant. Making a big deal out of her punching out Superman, and thus she's the strongest, was nigh the last straw, though I'm sure I watched a few more episodes past that.
I liked the short-lived anti-gun effort on Arrow when half the team are blazing away with pistols and the main character skewers people with arrows every episode. Unlike Supergirl, they realized how idiotic it was and just went back to shooting the bad guys.
I've watched the first few episodes so far and overall I really like it.
There ARE some SJW moments in there, such as they ensure the female characters pretty much lead the show and make a special point they're mentally and physically superior to male characters.
But looking past all that, The special effects and CGI are not overbearing and put in tastefully.
It felt like they tried to keep practical effects and puppets in as much as possible, which I really appreciated.
I liked how it's telling the story from a prequel perspective. I found the expanded content from the movie engaging and interesting.
I particularly liked how they tried to preserve and use the Flora and Fauna from the movie.
I don't know how far this season 1 (are there going to be more seasons?) is going to go and whether they'll tell the entire story of the Dark crystal up to where it's repaired or end it earlier, or perhaps even extend it past the end of the movie.
I guess that all depends on how successful it is.
Overall, given the times we live in ATM, it was a great series and I hope it's successful. As so far, if the quality of this current season stays consistent, I'd definitely watch another season.
Episode 3 "What Was Sundered and Undone"
Aughra meets the Skesis. Apparently they weren't always so corrupt. Now I'm kind of interested what the Skesis were like before Aughra gave them custody of the Crystal.
I suspect Aughra's next visit it to the Mystics. We'll likely get some more backstory then.
I'm really enjoying seeing Gelfling society before they were (almost) all wiped out.
But I'm also getting a kind of "filler" vibe from this episode. I do like a story to take it's time to establish stakes and build tension, but there's the danger of the story stalling out if it's not paced well.
The writing is generally good but...the SJW maniacs blew it all up. Damn them all to hell. They enfaginated puppets. It was completely unnecessary for a character to have two fathers.
Dammit. They enfaginated puppets.
Quote from: Doom;1104336The writing is generally good but...the SJW maniacs blew it all up. Damn them all to hell. They enfaginated puppets. It was completely unnecessary for a character to have two fathers.
Dammit. They enfaginated puppets.
You must be further in than me.
Episode 4 "The First Thing I Remember Is Fire"I really liked the Hunter Skeksis, until he started jumping around like Yoda in Attack of the Clones. Sometimes less is more, and I'm assuming they used CGI to have him leap around like a squirrel on crack. Bleh.
I knew Rian's Dad was gonna die when he learned the truth about the Skeksis.
The stone golem thing was cool.
I miss the music from the movie. They played the title theme like once in the first episode, I think. Since then, the music has been bland and forgettable.
Quote from: Ratman_tf;1104435You must be further in than me.
I really liked the Hunter Skeksis, until he started jumping around like Yoda in Attack of the Clones. Sometimes less is more, and I'm assuming they used CGI to have him leap around like a squirrel on crack. Bleh.
Yeah it kinda lost me for a while when the Hunter Skeksis starts jangling about as a puppet, then goes all "Predator" leaping about perfectly.
Then jumps down and goes back to being a puppet again and all jangly.
Just looked stupid and pulled me out of the immersion for a while.
So far, I've watched up to and including episode 5.
Overall, still really liking it.
Episode 5 "She Knows All the Secrets"
Or Aughra kicks the plot forward.
The Chamberlian is always a fun villian. Aughra gets everyone together in a dreamfast like state to do an exposition dump and give out the main quests.
Seladon sides with the Skeksis and becomes the new All-Maudra.
Pretty good episode. Aughra is a great character, being the embodiment of Thra, but also being her own person, with her personality quirks and doesn't take herself dead-seriously, thus avoiding becoming a stick-in-the-mud.
Episode 6 "By Gelfling Hand ..."
Totally worth it for the Speak for the Dead song/scene.
Seladon becomes the goth queen of the gelflings.
Quote from: danskmacabre;1103184I've watched the first few episodes so far and overall I really like it.
There ARE some SJW moments in there, such as they ensure the female characters pretty much lead the show and make a special point they're mentally and physically superior to male characters.
If you read the lore from the books first published decades ago, then you might have learned that the gelfling were always a matriarchal society. That wasn't added by SJWs. Since on Earth human society was generally ruled by men for most of history due to physical differences like greater strength or whatever you care to name, then it stands to reason that the gelfling are ruled by women because they are physically superior to the men. For all we know, it's the men that get pregnant like seahorses.
Not only that, but the same lore from the 80s explained that Aughra, the Skesis and the Mystics were all hermaphroditic. Both male and female at the same time. That was always there, not added by SJWs.
If you tried really really hard, then you might be able to contrive a vaguely anti-LGBT message out of the show by pointing to the skeksis' transgression of gender norms. According to their lore they used to strut around naked and holding brightly colored fans before their "beauty" started fading.
Also, would you even notice these "SJW moments" if the genders of the gelfling cast were reversed and men were depicted as superior with women relegated to minor roles at most? While there are plenty of shows with obnoxious propaganda, there are loads of times where I feel people are looking for things to be offended by. Outrage culture goes both ways.
Quote from: Doom;1104336The writing is generally good but...the SJW maniacs blew it all up. Damn them all to hell. They enfaginated puppets. It was completely unnecessary for a character to have two fathers.
Dammit. They enfaginated puppets.
Because God forbid we depict a space alien culture that seems accepting of gay couples, but relegate them to nameless minor characters with barely any screen time.
We never see any explicit confirmation that Deet's fathers were gay. If we analyze the work in isolation, then we could just as easily come to the conclusion that Deet's mother was a polyandrist (married to multiple men) because the gelflings are matriarchal.
Also, did you not notice the Ornamentalist skeksis? It's affectations are clearly queer-coded.
Ok. I'd like to request that this thread be politics free. The occasional comment either way was tolerable, but I don't want arguments to take over the thread.
If any of you want to make political/culture war comments, please fork a thread over on Pundit's section.
Episode 7 "Time to Make ... My Move"
All around great epsiode. The connection between the Mystics and Skesis is explained to the group with... a puppet show. :D
We see that at least one Skesis isn't completely rotten.
Watched the whole season. (Don't worry, no blatant spoilers.) Much better than I expected.
first episode was the weakest. The background infodump at the start felt like third rate fanfic, telling rather than showing. And even though special effects by definition show rather than tell, the gaudy tour of the world felt were equally shallow, like a transparent attempt to show off all the locations. Which admittedly were kind of amazing, but it was overwhelming, and with too little context. It would have worked better if they gradually revealed all the different places over a couple of episode, incorporating them naturally into a developing story.
Also, Rian is a complete asshole. He maliciously bullies podlings and doesn't even comprehend that it's wrong, and then acts like a spoiled baby when daddy didn't put him in charge. Fuck him. Even though he ends up becoming the most stereotypically protagonisty hero in the season, he has no real character development, and no moment of self-realization. The second character, the book-loving princess, doesn't come across as much better. She's a bit nicer on the surface, but incredibly entitled. Deet is a bit of one dimensional stereotype, but at least I like her. Same with the quasi-joke character, the podling paladin. Some of the supporting characters are great. Mother Augrha is awesome, while the Chamberlain is deliciously hateable, and most of the rest of the Skeksis are strong. Nice trick with the spiders talking. All in all, some really good voice acting.
As I mentioned, the special effects in the first episode are kind of amazing, but they never stop being amazing. Seriously, even if everything else was shit, the way an alien world is visually detailed would still be worth watching, and stealing from. There's just so much going on, and it's so different from the flora and fauna of our world. The whole thing makes me wonder about the budget for each episode, because clearly didn't just blow everything on the 1st episode tour. While they're obviously puppets at times, that's actually a significant part of the charm. They do a good job of differentiating the various Skeksis and even the different gelflings, instead of making them all look alike (which would have been easy to do).
The plot's kind of weak. They just kind of travel about because of plot devices, and then come back, and things just sort of fall into place. The villainous actions are actually more interesting, because they do a good job of building the threat. The Skeksis are what happens when high level monsters rule a world in D&D. The demihumans and their allies are completely outclassed, not just at an individual level, but also by the resources the Skeksis are able draw on. There's literally a point in the series where the Skeksis are all alone and everyone else is ganging up against them, and it's not the Skeksis who are pissing their pants. But... there's also not much character development. They're static archetypes and quirky characters more than fully developed people, and things tend to happen to them rather than things happen because of them.
Thematically, it's an odd mix. It's a really dark story. We're not talking about glorious, heroic war. This is genocide and atrocities, and it's blatantly rubbed in the viewer's face. And we've seen the movie, so we know it's only going to get worse. But it's also clearly high fantasy, with the major characters following a heroic arc, even though some really dark things happen to major characters. And then there's all the snot jokes that make adults wince, but would have 5 year olds crying with laughter.
Altogether, it kind of works. The puppet show you just mentioned? It's absurd, with stage props, a dissonant operatic section, a frenetic motor mouth frustrated with a slow drawl, and more. But it's really fun, as well.
I'm not saying it's deep or revolutionary, it's not. But it's good, an unusual mix, creates a wondrous visual world, and the characters are interesting.
Don't really see the politics. More major female characters than male, but that's about it.
Quote from: Pat;1107673I'm not saying it's deep or revolutionary, it's not. But it's good, an unusual mix, creates a wondrous visual world, and the characters are interesting.
That's my impression so far. It works, and it has it's moments, but I have yet to see something that resonates as strongly as the original movie.
3 eps to go though...
Episode 8 "Prophets Don't Know Everything"
Loved the scene where Seladon meets with the Skesis.
"No!" :D
With 2 episodes to go, I'm wondering if they're going to wrap everything up, or leave it open for more episodes.
Quote from: Ratman_tf;1107845Loved the scene where Seladon meets with the Skesis.
I was going to allude to that, but it sounded like you hadn't seen it yet. It's funny and not funny at the same time.
A lot of early reviews (reviewer are really the pits nowadays) compared the series to Game of Thrones. I can see the similarity, a bunch of people dealing with medieval style politics while a big fantastical threat looms on the horizon. But I'm more reminded of Elfquest, with a group of travellers encountering the different ethnicities of gelflings (and other, fantastical creatures) in their journeys. Plus the tone of Elfquest is a much closer match than GOT.
Hell, I forgot to update.
Episode 9 "The Crystal Calls"
Episode 10 "A Single Piece Was Lost"
Well, I'm glad I gave the series a shot. There's plenty to like, and my nit picks are small.
One problem with prequels is when they try to explain everything from the source, instead of coming up with new lore. When they showed the Shard and the Garthim, I was like "Ok, yeah. Get on with it."
I really liked the fight with the Skesis and Gelflings. The Skesis weren't so much warriors (excepting for the General) as playing at being warriors.
So, we're left with a few cliffhangers, the big one being Deet's fate. I'm actually looking forward to the next season.
And it's cancelled.
https://variety.com/2020/tv/news/the-dark-crystal-age-of-resistance-netflix-canceled-one-season-1234778139/
Well, I am dissapointed. Despite it's flaws, the show had some really great moments, and I was hoping for a second season.
Not a surprise. The production costs would demand very high ratings.
Quote from: Ratman_tf on September 02, 2019, 02:03:42 PM
Nobody else watching? Despite my criticisms, the show does have it's moments.
Theres an older thread here discussing it when it first was announced and after a few episodes were out.
Personally for me it was just kinda "eh" overall with some interesting parts and some turn-off parts that combined with what looks like some CGI despite claims there isnt any CGI, just left it feeling a bit off or lacking.
Quote from: danskmacabre on September 09, 2019, 07:49:02 PM
There ARE some SJW moments in there, such as they ensure the female characters pretty much lead the show and make a special point they're mentally and physically superior to male characters.
There was hints of that in the original to.