Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance: “What Was Sundered and Undone” dives further into Thra’s corruption
It was clear from the first episode of Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance that there was corruption in Thra. But the third episode of the series unravels that darkness and tells viewers how the Gelfling got there.
Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance has made it clear from its premiere that the Skeksis are exploiting the Gelfling’s trust in them for their own benefit. But the third episode of the series, “What Was Sundered and Undone,” dives deeper into the corruption that’s afoot in Thra — highlighting just how blindly the Gelfling trust in their rulers and delving into how the Skeksis gained control in the first place.
The episode opens with Brea traveling with the Order of Lesser Service — an arrangement that’s fairly short-lived. Brea manages to escape from the Order, a testament to her willful personality, and she makes her way home to continue searching for answers about her vision.
Brea’s brief time with the Order does reveal one thing, however: how willingly the Gelfling trust in the Skeksis. And this is a theme that’s prevalent throughout this episode, with Rian returning to his own home to seek help after the accusations the Skeksis and other Gelfling have leveled against him.
But even Rian’s Maudra Fara and his own father don’t believe his version of events. They refuse to dreamfast with him, falling for the Skeksis’ lies about his sickness, and they claim that his explanation of what happened to Mira amounts to heresy. It’s clear that the Gelfling won’t be swayed from their loyalty to the Skeksis, odd and misplaced as it may be.
”What Was Sundered and Undone” also gives viewers their first taste of tensions between Gelfling clans, with poor Deet getting treated like a pariah wherever she goes. Not only do she and Hup get into a fight solely because she’s a member of the Grottan clan, but she’s also barred from seeing Maudra Fara because of her green-skinned appearance.
With so much darkness underlying the relations throughout Thra, it’s really no wonder the Darkening is approaching. And viewers get a taste of where that all started through Mother Aughra’s part in the episode. She reveals that she’s the one who entrusted the Crystal to the Skeksis, though it’s something she comes to regret upon discovering what they’ve been using it for. Much like the other characters, she seems hellbent on preventing the Darkening from happening. But how any of them will manage that remains to be seen.
All in all, “What Was Sundered and Undone” paints a clearer picture of the relations throughout Thra than any of the previous episodes have. And it’s only a matter of time before the Gelfling will need to choose to work with one another or fall prey to the Skeksis. Of course, they don’t know that just yet.
Next. Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance: Episode 2 raises the stakes. dark