Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance: “She Knows All the Secrets” shows the Gelfling banding together
In “She Knows All the Secrets,” Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance shows the connections between the Gelfling as their strength — right before hitting viewers with a devastating ending.
For the first half of Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance, the Skeksis lords have successfully managed to deceive and exploit the Gelfling — and much of their success at this stems from how divided the Gelfling clans are. During “She Knows All the Secrets,” however, viewers get a taste of just how much the Gelfling can accomplish when they come together.
The episode opens with Rian in the clutches of SkekMal, and things aren’t looking good for the runaway Gelfling. It almost seems as though his father’s sacrifice will have been completely futile, but the (now former) Chamberlain, skekSil arrives just before SkekMal manages to do any real damage. He takes Rian, hoping to return him to the other Skeksis lords and get himself back into their good graces, but the captive situation is shortlived.
Gurjin and Naia manage to extract Rian from the Skeksis’ grip, but not before viewers get a fascinating exchange between Rian and the ex-Chamberlain. After drinking and crushing the last of Mira’s essence, skekSil tells Rian that he’s bringing him to the other Skeksis lords so that he’ll lie for them. He wants Rian to tell the Gelfling that what they’re doing is for the general good, and of course, Rian initially refuses.
But skekSil’s tries to persuade Rian by telling him just how many Gelfling he’d save if he sided with the Skeksis. Not only would Rian’s cooperation help them avoid a war, but it might convince the Skeksis to spare some of the Gelfling population. We, of course, know that skekSil is full of it, but the fact that Rian considers the offer confirms one thing: All the Gelfling are connected and care deeply about one another, despite their separation by clan.
Meanwhile, the Skeksis lords at the Castle of the Crystal begin making their genocidal plans a reality by asking All Maudra for volunteers. They don’t specify what they’ll be doing with the Gelfling who choose to go with them, but the viewer already knows what will become of them. And once All Maudra and Brea have a much-needed dreamfast with one another, All Maudra comes to understand what the Skeksis are up to as well.
Deet also happens to arrive at the Castle of the Crystal to speak with All Maudra around this time, and she’s called to the Dream Space, along with the other main characters of the series. Mother Aughra spends this episode attempting to listen to Thra and hear its song, and she eventually reaches out to Deet and the others to inform them that the Crystal is broken.
All of the Gelfling present for Mother Aughra’s speech have a role to play when it comes to saving Thra, and they take her warning very seriously — well, most of them do anyway. And when they return to their present realities, viewers get to witness an all new side to the leader of the Castle of the Crystal, and it becomes evident where Brea got her fierce nature from. All Maudra storms into the Skeksis lords’ chamber and demands her Gelfling back.
Unfortunately, All Maudra’s big moment is shortlived. The Skeksis don’t like being questioned, and they strike her down in front of Brea and Seladon. But while both girls are distraught at seeing their mother killed before their eyes, they react in very different ways. Brea, ever the rebellious sibling, is ready to fight for Thra and her people. Seladon, on the other hand, sides with the Skeksis, agreeing that her family has become a bunch of traitors.
“She Knows All the Secrets” ends with Brea, Deet, and Hup being carted away as prisoners at Seladon’s command. The Skeksis name Seladon the next All Maudra, and it’s clear that she’s beyond reason. She and Brea may be alike in their stubbornness, but this episode pits them resolutely against one another in their goals and beliefs. It’ll be interesting to see how their relationship plays out during the second half of the season, especially with All Maudra gone.
Next. Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance: The series gets darker. dark