Netflix unexpectedly canceled a promising fantasy series after just one season, a show many believed could have taken the place of Game of Thrones as the genre’s biggest hit. While HBO has continued the Game of Thrones story with spinoffs like House of the Dragon and A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, other fantasy shows such as The Witcher, The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, and The Wheel of Time have also emerged as competitors.
While The Rings of Power hasn’t matched the success of The Lord of the Rings films, and The Wheel of Time was canceled despite being a strong show, Netflix’s The Witcher faced its own challenges. Although it started well, the departure of Henry Cavill and some controversial choices slowed its momentum. However, Netflix has another fantasy series that actually had a better first season.
The Dark Crystal: Age Of Resistance Was Game Of Thrones With Puppets
Kevin Baker/©Netflix/Courtesy Everett Collection
As a huge fantasy fan, I think Netflix really hit it out of the park with The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance. It’s honestly the best fantasy show they’ve released since Game of Thrones finished. What I loved most is how similar it feels to Game of Thrones – it’s a really immersive, politically charged fantasy with a beautifully detailed world, and it looks incredible. It’s a prequel to the original The Dark Crystal movie from Jim Henson, and the puppetry and visual effects are even more amazing. But don’t worry if you haven’t seen the movie, you can totally jump right into this series and enjoy it!
The series takes place on the planet Thra and centers around the Gelfling, a unique species, and the Skeksis, their rulers. Initially believed to be kind, the Skeksis are revealed to be on a destructive path that threatens the Gelfling and the entire planet. Three Gelfling – Rian, Deet, and Brea – uncover this truth and begin a rebellion against their oppressors, challenging a political system that has stood for a thousand years. The show features rich world-building, with diverse Gelfling cultures and the Skeksis’ manipulative tactics creating divisions, comparable to the depth seen in Game of Thrones.
Similar to the HBO show, this series doesn’t hold back – a character who initially seems important dies shockingly early on. Many of the character storylines echo those from Game of Thrones. For example, Ordon (Mark Strong) shares traits with Ned Stark (Sean Bean): both are honorable, skilled warriors who put too much faith in those above them, and both deeply love their children. Like Ned Stark and Jon Snow (Kit Harington), Ordon has a complicated relationship with his son, Rian, who ultimately becomes a heroic figure.
Sansa Stark (Sophie Turner) and Seladon (Gugu Mbatha-Raw) both judge their sisters for not behaving like traditional royals. While they’re intelligent and driven, they’re too focused on respecting powerful, but flawed, figures like Joffrey Baratheon (Jack Gleeson) and the Skeksis. Despite this, others often underestimate Sansa and Seladon.
The show Age of Resistance includes four actors who also appeared in Game of Thrones. Emmanuel, the voice of Deet, is famous for playing Missandei. Lena Headey, who played Cersei Lannister, voices Maudra Fara, while Natalie Dormer (Margaery Tyrell) is Onica. Ralph Ineson, known as Dagmer Cleftjaw in Game of Thrones, plays the intimidating Hunter, also called skekMal.
Age Of Resistance’s Rotten Tomatoes Scores & Cliffhangers Prove It Shouldn’t Have Been Canceled
Kevin Baker/©Netflix/Courtesy Everett Collection
The cancellation of The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance is particularly disappointing because the show was so well-received, earning an 89% score from critics and a 94% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes. While the first season ends with a fulfilling conclusion that wraps up many storylines, it also leaves several questions unanswered, making Netflix’s decision to cancel it even more frustrating.
| Title | Rotten Tomatoes Critics’ Score | Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score |
|---|---|---|
| The Dark Crystal (1982) | 78% | 81% |
| The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance (2019) | 89% | 94% |
Many questions remained unanswered, such as what happened to Deet after she absorbed the Darkening’s power, the meaning behind her visions, and the consequences of the Skeksis creating the Garthim. The story also needed to bridge the gap to the events of the original movie, which meant Age of Resistance had the potential to continue for several seasons, similar to Game of Thrones. Additionally, the fate of the Dark Crystal shard found in the Dual Glaive needed to be addressed.
As a huge fantasy fan, I’ve been waiting for Netflix to deliver a show that can really go toe-to-toe with Game of Thrones – even though they cancelled plans back in 2020, they still haven’t. While The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance was amazing – the puppetry was incredible! – I don’t think it would have reached Game of Thrones levels of popularity, simply because of its unique style. But honestly, it was a show that could have matched its quality – it really was that good.
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2026-02-19 15:12