Why The Dark Crystal Age of Resistance Was Cancelled (a ramble) 

From an artistic and cultural point of view, this was probably the best and most important show Netflix has ever produced in its whole history.

The primary reason this new series works so well is because it was make with the same blood sweat and passion of the people who hand made the movie in the 80s

I love how netflix said the show was too expensive, yet my subscription price constantly goes up from spewing mediocre shows and movies.

Another part which i am really annoyed about is that they got most the expensive stuff done already, so the next season would be less expensive.

Show was a Masterpiece.

But don't you understand?! Netflix needed to redistribute their funds so they could make the PedoDream movie and ANOTHER season of Fuller House! It all makes sense!

It exposed Netflix execs as Skeksis

There's still a petition going on right now on twitter. Actually two of them. And the numbers are growing.

I have a LOT of HOPE that a 2nd Season, will Happen in the future because of this statement, "Age of Resistance's opening season took several years to prepare, but don't expect to wait that long for season two - now the puppets and environments are built, most of the work is done."

Completely me too I wasn’t expecting how good this was

This is sacrilege, oh my. They can't just cancel that masterpiece!

The show recently crept back into my mind and I actually rewatched it and I am still upset about Netflix cancelling it. It’s such a good show and it not getting a season 2 is just a crime. From the puppetry to the story telling it was all done beautifully and I just wish we got to see more. The characters were very well written and genuinely enjoyable to see on screen. Yes they might be puppets but they’re still characters and a lot of fans including me did have some attachment towards them. Even if it’s just a book or something like that I would like to see where the story continues and how it connects to the movie.

The best show in the world. Cancelled.

Everything is weird that didn't fit Hollywood's formula. And it's simply true. And you're right about peoples slowness to accept creative design with puppetry.

They didn’t advertise it at all !! I didn’t know this show existed til I rewatched the movie the other day and found out Netflix made a series 🤷🏻‍♂️ HBO Max should pick this show up since they have the movie, plus HBO can get away with darker stories like this.

That scene when Chamberlin killed the General was F’in fantastic! Stuck the curved blade in him and said “your in my seat”. Twisted the blade, that squish sound and you could literally feel the generals pain and his death-melt!! They canceled the show… are they stupid?! Wtf! 🤦🏻‍♂️🤔

The producers knew from the get go there would not be a season 2. It costed too much to make. A new chapter will either come in 10 years, by another platform, Netflix, or through a feature film. We just need a visionary and a risk taker to come along again.

I've signed the petition to save the series, I won't be satisfied until I see Skekung in action.

We're in a world where Halo and Kenobi gets green lit for a second season but age of resistance gets tossed to the side just feels so fucked up, I'm livid

Find the hidden symbolism in the Dark Crystal AOR, and you know EXACTLY why they cancelled it. It was hitting to close to what is currently happening in the real world.

They had 4-5 seasons worth of material?? Man now I’m really pissed

THey should have never started this without the dedication to keep bankrolling it. ITs so increadable awsome and magical but so expensive to make.

It's funny how badly it did in both cases commercially, and yet how enduring the fandom is. Most fans of the original movie never grow out of it. Personally, the original movie, cuts deep with me (and subsequent media including "the Age of Resistance"). The setting, characters, and themes of Thra are unlike any other. I feel lucky for whatever I can get, and will be there for anything else that might come out.

People who prefer CGI over Practical Effects make me sad because when made it gives that thing more life and realistic feeling to it, this genuine energy, and CGI is amazing but it isn't as intriguing

I am pretty disappointed in Netflix but they said they will try to find a way to Finnish the story hopefully either Netflix un cancels the show or they do some thing els

They did such an amazing job on age of resistance.

Disney would dumb this show down

If kids want puppets they'll have to wait for another Thunderbirds thing

My problem is it' sounds like quite a few involved didn't see this going any farther. So maybe stop making shows leave off on cliff hangers. Wrap it up folks . Just in case your niche , expensive, taxing hard to make show that isn't really getting any advertising doesn't get a second season . Same thing happened with firefly. Cliff hangers are overrated and just screw over fans

I largely agree with your argument and conclusions. I would hit harder at Netflix's anemic, aimless marketing strategy (which sucks in general), but frankly, that wouldn't have made much of a difference to the bottom line. Netflix's content philosophy is increasingly driven by austere algorithms and myopic executives and the brand is pivoting ever harder to trashy IPs and the low-cost "millennial reality TV" genre. It gives me a little cold comfort knowing that if something like Breaking Bad, Six Feet Under, or The Sopranos had been a Netflix original it would have been mercilessly cancelled after the first or second season (look what happened to David Fincher's Mindhunter). Netflix is interested in the business of making money rather than art, but I'm reminded of this quote by former Disney CEO Michael Eisner: “We have no obligation to make art. We have no obligation to make history. We have no obligation to make a statement. But to make money, it is often important to make history, to make art, or to make some significant statement. We must always make entertaining movies, and, if we make entertaining movies, at times, we will reliably make history, art, a statement or all three." "We cannot expect numerous hits, but if every film has an original and imaginative concept, then we can be confident that something will break through." This is what Netflix fundamentally fails to understand. Not only are they atrocious at nurturing and marketing their niche and cult interest shows, but they don't have any long-term vision in general, and historically, that's been necessary to make a lot of money in the entertainment industry (recent Hollywood history seems to discredit this idea to some degree, unfortunately, but here we are). I've been a Dark Crystal fanatic since very early childhood, and I was happy to immerse myself in the weird, mystical, tactile, viscerally eerie world of Thra again, if only for a short time. I consider it the swan song of that nearly extinct genre of dark fantasy. Age of Resistance and Blade Runner 2049 are like long lost cousins, each echoing the tragic legacy and cult status of their predecessors. It makes me feel a little warm and fuzzy knowing that both will be cherished in the years to come while the overwhelming majority of everything else will be relegated to the dumpster of streaming age garbage. I appreciate the time and care that obviously went into this talk. Good stuff.

I think that Disney+ would be the perfect home for The dark crystal age of resistance.

12:33 - Actually Universal *ONLY* has the Theatrical Distribution rights to The Dark Crystal but not all of the film including the home video rights, merchandising, etc. So the Jim Henson Company still own IP rights to the film.

Actually, cost wise puppets are much cheaper the CGI. Puppeteering is a LOT of work, but the actual recording takes less time then animating, and less render work involved. BOTH are expensive mind you, but yeah CGI animation is still more expensive then hand drawn OR puppets

A big problem with the original film was because of the lack of any human interaction onscreen. It was a big reason for human characters in Labyrinth. Audiences back then found it difficult to empathise with the gel fling characters. I actually loved it then and now.

The Dark Crystal Age of Resistance was SOOOOO DAM GOOD. I have literally been patiently waiting for an announcement of 2nd Season till Today. I had no idea this show was cancelled, you literallly informed me Today. 6/30/2022. Ya. Seriously. I had no clue. I am extremely upset, dissapointed, and shocked. I hope HULU, or Amazon, or HBO picks this up. I do agree that, the reason it was NOT picked up during that time frame 8/2020-6/2022...because Netflix went COMPLETELY WOKE. And the showrunners of this show, probably straight up said, NO, were not going to make this WOKE and that was probably the MAJOR reason it was cancelled. Everything during that time frame was extremely WOKE in Netflix. I am proud that Netflix has finally WOKE UP and started getting rid of this cancer, and maybe they will pick this show back up. It deserves it.

We'll get three Kissing Booth movies with some of the worst life lessons in relationships for impressionable teens! But The Dark Crystal Season 2 gets cancelled...

I was an original 80s kid who Loooovved this movie in the theatre. And who loved the mythos behind the new series. Now NOTHING.

Broke my heart, amazing show

They made magic with this show. I was a huge fan of the dark Crystal from the time I was very little it came out when I was 5 years old 1982 and I grew up with that movie and I did not want a remake because I thought it was going to ruin it and I was actually anti dark Crystal remake reboot whatever you want to call it I did not want to like it and I loved it so much and it's disgusting disheartening heartbreaking that they would take all the effort that they put into that and just throw it away after one season what a waste of talented people of beautiful script writing of beautiful world building and they just threw it all away cuz Netflix is effing retarded

I saw the original Dark Crystal when I was in first grade (I'm 43) and this movie was so awesome.... I was even happy when they made the Age of Resistance... was so hurt that they cancelled it....

This was a very thorough video essay

Netflix has made an enemy for life

I don’t understand people not watching this for the reason of it being too “dark”? What does that even *mean* ? Do people not watch TV shows/movies put out today?? They go BEYOND “dark” and people seem to obsess over them…. And yeah, as far as appearance of these puppets, they are a little off-putting at first but you quickly get use to them. Like… you get OVER it…. Lol

It was cancelled due to supposed “financial issues.” Listen, I understand the business world, yes, the international outreach wasn’t as expansive as they’d hoped. But those are very weak reasons to permanently cancel such an astounding Emmy Award Winning show. Netflix is high in debt, however, they are not bankrupt. Though it costs a lot of money to make this, Netflix should simply stop making movies based off of bloody wattpad stories and focus more on high-quality content such as TDC: AoR!

I think a major problem was that they(Netflix) would not advertise it well. Don’t get me wrong, seeing the Gelfling at first site and time is sheepish. But the story and setting gets you used to it and more interesting. If they would at least get the hype up and produce a more welcome introduction to this story (show) it would most likely preform well.

I'm afraid of what Disney might do to the Dark Crystal. God forbid Rian Johnson should get his hands on it.

Was one of the best shows i enjoy in netflix.

I agree completely with you about all your points. It blows my mind this series was canceled

I hoping season two of the dark crystal age of resistance will come back this year 2023 when the petition is finished after I’ve waited like two years to happen

what about the claim that netflix didn't market this sufficiently to the audience that would like this show?

But what about the other Skeksis and Mystics that we see in the original movie, the rise to power, and the Henson effects? That was a great show. Why would Netflix cancel it?

No way that the creators found out it was canceled when we did. Come on now. They had to know by December 2019. I have no doubt. They think fans were born yesterday.

So the cutie thing actually has a lot more weight than you are thinking. Although it's not the direct reason, at the time, two different higher ups were running for the same position. To give them the authority to decide what direction Netflix was going. On one side we had the person who was pushing things like dark crystal and just good storytelling to draw an audience, and on the other side we had the person who wanted more foreign shows and films that could be dubbed over and just make a lot of money by drawing in a wider audience. You can guess which one got the position.

Wow , been goin 2-3 years strong awaiting the new season. I don't know how I missed it. The vacuum created, by the false hope I've been living with for 3 years leaving; is entirely suffocating this mourning ; /

The series teaches, entertains, observes and moves to the limit. Like a beautiful film from 1982, it is filled with symbolism and beliefs of different cultures. I remember when I was no more than 10 years old when I saw him on TV, I sat spellbound and didn't know what charmed me more, whether evil shown in a way that I have not seen in any other fairy tale or beauty that was also shown in such a way, that I couldn't describe it in constructive words at the time. And then for years I did not know where from time to time permeating music came from my memory and only when I managed to find the Dark Crystal on the internet did I understand that this music was from here and it stuck with me that when I heard it I had the same feeling like the first time as a child, such anxiety, concern, sadness and beauty. And now we have a series! This is just a gift! See it all as an adult. 1. A thousand years, a millennium - a mass of possible interpretations, generally the turn of the millennium, so both the end and the beginning of the world 2. Two races, duality, left (skeks) and right (mystics) hemispheres of the brain. 3. Spiral (mystics), symbolizing nature and Triangle (skeks), symbolizing technology (and many other things) 4. Number 2 - opposition, dualism, necessary to create the world and further division, the pair of main characters, two races ---> vesica piscis? 5. Number 3 - also many meanings, but it is a number of spirituality, awakening, wholeness (see triads of deities) 6. Third eye - in many places, including on Aughra's forehead, three suns in conjunction inside a triangle form an eye, a symbol of spiritual awakening 7. Astrology, stars - as in heaven, so on earth, the unity of the universe and its influence on people 8. Chakras (apparently painted by Mystics) and sand mandalas many many others... The symbolism could go on for a long time, but I think the ending clearly enough sums up the philosophy contained in the film. It's a very good movie, and the author knew what he was doing from start to finish. I'm impressed. A multi-layered film - made for young children but it is a DARK fantasy, a brutal dangerous world where the specter of terrible death hangs over each of the characters. The film warns against what subservience to ruthless corporations, disunity, division and fear can lead to. The creators 41 years ago knew exactly what they wanted to teach children, so today it may seem like a threat to people in power. Poor Mira, so quickly forgotten by Rian. Poor Deet, what tragic characters. They didn't deserve such a suspension in a vacuum, so... give me the second season here! ru-vid.comND3QH-jNDwU?feature=share

I regretfully have to concur with most of your opinions as being likely. But I still feel that the biggest reason was that when SkekZok was leering over the gelfling volunteers that it hit too close to home to some in the higher ups. (god that shot was beautifully framed)

Just I really wish they didn't end it off with such a masssssive set up for a second installment

I figured they couldn't exploit enough children.

One of the greatest series ever, and they dropped it, un fuckin real.

Usually in those podcasts they tall about everything under the sun except the important stuff.

It was one of my fave series ever...

I thought I heard they are going with a different company to show the rest of the series.

Everyone that watched this series (myself included) has spoken on how Amazing it was. I remember that timing was unfortunate, it came out during COVID (so you’d have thought more people had watched it)? I don’t remember Netflix having much publicity for it! Like so many things on steaming, those services just slip stuff out there and see what resonates with audiences or as with the case of Disney “throw stuff at the wall and see what sticks”! The only two reasons that I can think of this not being renewed is A. Cost B. Legal complications and rights to the ip. Does it belong to Henson or possibly Disney? Although I believe This was in production long after the “Mouse’s” acquisition of such properties?! I’m thinking there is something more to the story that we haven’t been told!

Well, there is always the Dark Crystal movie as well as this one season series. At least the movie is attracting a new generation of appreciation and it becoming a cult classic.

Other than Deet's fate we don't really need to have everything explained, I rather keep the mystery of the films backstory. The series might have left a few loose ends, but it did tell a complete story with a satisfying ending & does ultimately conclude with the Movie.

Maybe one day another season will arrive

It's been 3 years and I'm still upset that they cancelled S02 👺👺👺

the sad thing is that they gave us hope, i wish they had done a limited series if there was no intention of making a season 2

I just wented a comic series that focused on the skeksis more than the gelfing. That was a no brainer.

Get a writer like ACH Smith or JM Lee to finish the Age of Resistance in a form of books

I also agree the burnout must've happened.

I wonder what Jim would think about this series. I’d like to think he would’ve been proud.

Lolllll the questions were funny. I also miss Rekyr

They just want, quick production & quick profits. When practical application and FX ( REAL CREATIVE ART ) takes time. I love practical effects with sprinkles of little cgi here and there. It was awesome & creative art. Art infused with the heart, mind and soul of creative humans.

I agree that Netflix made the best business decision. It was smart for them to do this. It was a beautiful show but sadly it did not have the financial backing.

They cancel all the good shows so they can fund more and more cooking infomercial shows ...

I should have a broken taste for my preferences, because I'm allergic to what Disney does, but the numbers show that everyone loves it. Dark crystal was one of my favorite things I've seen and it's a flop. I think if I hate something, it will be very successful LOL

May 2024. Still hoping for the S2...

The sets and everything on the show looked great, but they definitely could have tightened up the script a bit and made fewer sets in order to lower the budget a bit.

mmmmMMMMmmmh!

after one Emmy they have won. Drunk with Power i bet, like the Skeksis!

I'm fine with a CGI sequel.

I'm slightly obsessed with anything Jim Henson related... Continue

It was also, NOT A CHILDRENS PROGRAM

I was like this is an outrage what's next??? Are they gonna cancel green eggs and ham the series???

It was good. Sad they didn't make more.

Disney most likely bought them out...since it owns a vast majority of Henson Productions like "The Muppets"(It seems to be borrowing ideas heavily from the Dark Crystal in the LOKI series on Disney+) So far they haven't officially announced this to be the case but it is rumored that they bought the rights to both "The Dark Crystal" and "The Labyrinth". Which so far as of now hasn't shown up on Disney+...but it may in the future.

"IT'S ALL ABOUT THE MONEY, BOYS!" - Big Dan Teague

I feel like HBO max is gonna make a season 2 but it’s gonna be animated

Hi.

Guess I'll see y'all th enext decade😔

I think I have a huge idea why they cancelled this!

Netflix canceled this to bring us Cuties

Maybe Urgoh turned blue from his frequent drug use.

I would have binged more seasons, but showing the fans what is going down in the US, metaphorically of course, was accomplished in season one. Any further seasons would have primarily been murder porn. But maybe showed more resistance organizing.

Bro they literally canceled it on my birthday

Netflix saw a subscriber drop off because of the cutie controversy

I knew it!!!! Why Netflix always cancelled tv shows after season 1? Netflix sucks

I wanted to find out why it was canceled but had to nope out when they starting winging about "forced diversity". Did they start complaining about Deet's two dads too? I'll never know.

to add on to the diversity thing: there r also lgbt characters. deets dads are gay and its not a big thing its just. something that is there. theres also urgoh and skekgra who, although the relationship is a bit confusing with them being the same being and such, is easily perceived as gay.