Netflix: The Three Suns Set on the Dark Crystal

This summer Netflix went on a tear of new material. Every week a new movie or series dropped on the streaming service. Netflix did an amazing job with them, and most received a second season/sequel either before release or that week. Meanwhile, fans of the legendary production The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance waited over a year for any word on if the show would garner a second season. Sadly, the three suns set on the era of the Dark Crystal.

Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance resurrected a cult classic movie from the early 80s and gave life to a world beyond imagining. It brought an all-star cast to a type of production never seen sine the original movie. The puppetry wowed critics and fans alike when it finally hit TV screens last year. It currently sits at 88% among critics and 95% among fans on Rottentomatoes.com.

It even went so far as to win an Emmy on 9/20/00 for Outstanding Children’s program. Now I am sorry but not all Emmy awards are equal. The Mandalorian from Disney+ walked home with a final total of 7 awards out of 15 nominations. I love the show, but look at the awards. The wins were all for production (sound, music, visuals, etc.) AoR won for BEST CHILDREN”S PROGRAM! Meaning it won the best picture award for children! Then the next day hopes are dashed and the show ends.

Three Suns Set – Henson Ends Speculation

So after over a year, Lisa Henson and Netflix finally released a statement to io9 confirming the show would not return for any more episodes. Lisa Henson had the following to say:

“We can confirm that there will not be an additional season of The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance. We know fans are eager to learn how this chapter of The Dark Crystal saga concludes and we’ll look for ways to tell that story in the future. Our company has a legacy of creating rich and complex worlds that require technical innovation, artistic excellence, and masterful storytelling. Our history also includes productions that are enduring, often finding and growing their audience over time and proving again and again that fantasy and science fiction genres reflect eternal messages and truths that are always relevant. We are so grateful to Netflix for trusting us to realize this ambitious series; we are deeply proud of our work on Age of Resistance, and the acclaim it has received from fans, critics and our peers, most recently receiving an Emmy for Outstanding Children’s Program.”

Lisa Henson, Henson Co CEO and executive producer

Netflix also commented with the following:

“We are grateful to the master artists at the Jim Henson Company for bringing The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance to life for fans around the world. We’re thankful to the executive producers Lisa Henson and Halle Stanford, and Louis Leterrier, who also directed all episodes, as well as the writers, cast and crew for their outstanding work and thrilled they were recognized with the Emmy this weekend.”

Netflix statement

Three Suns Set – What Is Success?

From day 1, Netflix has remained tight lipped over AoR and its numbers. Upon release AoR stole every headline around for being an amazing show of puppetry and effect with an incredible story and A+ world building. Netflix, however, never responded to the press. Did the show garner enough hits? Or was the fan base simply that loud and motivated? We will never know.

Netflix has an odd track record with cancelling shows. Many, with the Chilling Adventures of Sabrina being a prime example, are cancelled while still on fire. Most of Netflix’s show end before season 3 with a few exceptions. Netflix seems to come down even harder on its sci-fi/fantasy titles. Lost In Space seemed to do well, but it too sat in limbo before being renewed for one more season. I guess the lesson is be careful what you become attached too with Netflix, especially Emmy Award winning shows.

While, Netflix never talked budgets or viewership totals, it can safely be stated AoR took a LOT of money to make. Not only money, but AoR took longer to shoot than any other Netflix property made so far. When looking for hit shows, Netflix wants it cheap and fast apparently. The project was large and ambitious. Many saw the writing on the wall when longtime executive Cindy Holland, who brought AoR into being, was pushed out of the company. Those who count inside Netflix saw it as an expensive appointment. Yeah, Emmys are so disappointing.

Three Suns Set – The future of the Thra

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So is that it? Does poor Deet walk off into the sunset corrupted by the dark energies of the crystal? Will we never see the Garthim Wars? Never say never. Last I checked there were these great inventions made of paper called books. Also, in the next couple of weeks BOOM Studios will wrap up its third 12 part story line of comics. When The Dark Crystal sequel, starring a girl made of fire, failed to make it to the big screen, it found its way to the comic book pages. The print future for Thra looks as bright as ever.

Could there be more? Quite possibly. It hurts that Cindy Holland can no longer champion the project, but if Thra could find another champion amongst Netflix big-wigs perhaps other avenues could open. When originally pitched, the idea was to make a CG/anime type feature to tell the story. Holland then championed the puppetry, but perhaps an anime or cartoon could bring us more stories in the future. The movie waited nearly 40 years to be revisited. Never say never. As Aughra said:

“Its the end of the world, or the beginning. *hmph* End. Begin. All the same. Big change. Sometimes good *hmph* Sometimes bad. Ah, there it is.”

Aughra

One day someone will find the shard once more.