A Normal Guy

One of my favorite things about Dark Crystal AoR is the complexity in all the characters.

Taking the Gelfling, for instance. In the movie, they're the 'prefect' species, the best and brightest and Thra, the poor, sad, weak ones that the Seksis hunted down. And the show doesn't change that. But...

They're weren't some peaceful, all-knowing and loving people in their perfect society--they had their faults. They were racists, they put their personal clans first, and the gelfling above all other species (They did not seem to notice--or maybe not care--that the gruenaks had suddenly disappeared). The Vapran, in particular, cared about looks and had a very classist system. We even see this in some of the heros (And that terrible guard who SO deserved what he got, get sucked Tolyn). The Skeksis fed into their egos to gain their rule over Thra.

But they also cared about their home, and their faults and mistakes didn't mean they deserved to be drained. Great heroes came from the gelflinh, who would learn from their mistakes and the mistakes of their people, even their own parents. They had beautiful cultures, and all contributed to Thra. And they would not go peacefully.

Mother Aughra made many, MANY, mistakes, among them giving her duty to the Skeksis, turning away from her home, and objectively favoring the gelflings over everyone else in Thra. But she owned up to her mistakes and worked tirelessly save Thra, even sacrificing herself for the few. And she would end up all alone for trine, surrounded by false crystal shards that had lead to her children's downfall.

And even the skesis were fleshed out--not to be redeemed, but to be more human. Audiences can sympathize with the abused Skektek, even as we're horrfied the next moment as he drains esssences and beats the gruenak to death. Even the Emperor, with his quiet moment of dreams and holiness, a longing he refuses to give into. This doesn't excuse their actions, but instead points out they--like SkekGra--could have choosen different. It cements the skeksis as villains while keeping humanity in the UrSkeks worst halves.

I just like how real all of them feel. The gelfing and Aughra make mistakes, the Skeksis are, dare I say, relatable. Hup of course is perfect and is who all of Thra should inspire to be.