Aughra's Origins & Lore - The Dark Crystal Explained

Where did Aughra come from? Are there more than one of her? Is she even a her? All this and more on our latest Lore video about all things The Dark Crystal.
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Special thanks to the extra details about "female" in relation to Aughra from Ethan UrSkek (be sure to pause and read his comments @ 5:08 & 5:12).
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Closing song "Aughra Of Thra" (prod. DJ RoboRob) by Zalenka • Aughra of Thra (feat. ...
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Some photos of the Aughra puppet taken by legrande62.deviantart.com (other creds in past videos).

[@DarkCrystalConjunction]

Be sure to pause @ 5:08 & 5:12 for more on Aughra just now being "female".

[@dragonfire810]

Origin and Lore of the Skeksis: kzbin.info/www/bejne/ooWoiKqonpx0lck

[@poppeta22]

Favorite line in the new series: "How dare you attempt to control Aughra? AUGHRA can barely control Aughra!!" What a mood.

[@DarkCrystalConjunction]

They nailed her voice/personality in the show. I was so happy about that!

[@Akatsukileader9]

"Your brain would have exploded!"

[@problematicprincess6270]

I love that line she's such a queen 😂

[@Peppermon22]

Yes!!!

[@redcodec]

"I heard that she sneezed and an entire mountain collapsed..." -random gelfling soldier in new series

[@ashleycook6025]

IT'S TRUE!!!..... it's ALLL TRUE!

[@omegasynth2775]

"You want to control Aughra? AUGHRA CAN BARELY CONTROL AUGHRA!"

[@angelangelis8362]

So if Aughra is Thra....then Thra must be the snarkiest damned planet out there. After all, if the planet made the incarnation of Sass, then the planet must have a LOT to complain about.

[@intuitivedruid5732]

The planet is not heard or noticed except by her in most cases. Its a reflection of our own world. If we noticed and tended to the planet more it wouldnt be so cranky. I believe this is why her character is so brilliant.

[@eseguerito2629]

I think we can all relate to Aughra. We’re all essentially the means by which this physical world experiences itself. Our eyes and ears and brains are made from it’s same atoms.

[@manlystranger4973]

I saw the Dark Crystal in theater during the original release at 9 years old. Aughra was my mother and sisters' favorite character and we all loved how she could pull out her eyeball. Good times...

[@bigorange2082]

I was seven. I was blown away as a kid.

[@ashleycook6025]

Ageing goals: ornery, cantankerous sass machine. When I am a crone I would be lucky to be like Mother Aughra.

[@LambastMercy]

As a 7-year-old kid, it was the Chamberlain and Augha that I liked the most. Everyone else was just fine, but the creeping oily bad guy and the moody old woman are the two I wanted more of. . and Fizzgig.

[@thomasfoster7387]

hmmmmmmMMMMMMMMmmmmmm

[@NerdOutWithMe]

Aughra was my favorite character in Dark Crystal, and also one of my favorite Henson characters. I always wished he would have made a story about her.

[@DarkCrystalConjunction]

She continues to play a big role in the comics/books.

[@Thaumh]

As I understand it, Augra was always "old" looking, gnarled and wrinkled. She even said as much in Age of Resistance. Much like the Maiar of Arda. However, I've always wanted to see fan art of a young looking Augra.

[@Thaumh]

Now I want to set up Augra and Radagast on a date.

[@DarkCrystalConjunction]

Ya, I at least like her "greener" look. Makes her seem like a fresher plant lady rather than gnarled roots. She has such an amazing look either way.

[@derekroberts6654]

It’s hard not to see Yoda in Augra. Her free spiritedness combined with her infinite wisdom and urgeness for perseverance of her apprentices is so.....”Yoda”

[@DarkCrystalConjunction]

Oh ya. She was also puppeteered by the same one who did Yoda, Frank Oz. Before they dubbed her voice you can hear Frank Oz (in behind the scenes) doing her voice and it is even more Yoda-like. :D

[@d2thezdeezee113]

Is no one going to ask how Aughra’s eye hears? She’s not lip reading either. Her eyeball listens.

[@azhrayharris8]

A lady never reveals her secrets

[@bobalcoholic1199]

Aughra is so disgustingly BEAUTIFUL!!! My childhood movie has returned. And....with a series 👍

[@TheDreamSyndicateArts]

Like so many of the Jim Henson and Brian Froud collaborations, Aughra has such a cool character design!

[@kiroropupper3914]

My sister: "you would probably like the dark crystal" My KZbin account: SO I HEARD YOU MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN THE DARK CRYSTAL

[@glitterboy2098]

she's only 3 1/2 feet tall? that makes the Gelfling's only about 2ft tall and Podlings less than 1ft... no wonder the Skeksis complain about low ceilings in gelfling buildings.

[@DarkCrystalConjunction]

Haha, ya and that is really only puppet size... technically Jim Henson wanted no human references so :P But the puppet scale was a little different on Age of Resistance, primarily the Skeksis were bigger so some scale changed... not show if this affected her or Gelfling height. :)

[@KlaxontheImpailr]

I love how Aughra is the way Thra can know itself, like what carl Sagan said of us.

[@billvolk4236]

I like to think that Aughra was making some kind of pun that went straight over Jen's head. It's consistent throughout The Dark Crystal that every immortal being has no biological sex, since there was never intended to be any more or fewer of them. The Gelflings were accustomed to thinking of everything in terms of their two genders before meeting any immortal beings like Aughra and the Ur'skeks, so their language probably also genders everything, even inanimate objects, like many Earth languages do. The Skeksis adopted gender as an affectation to make the impressions they wished to make upon the Gelflings, and Aughra may have done the same thing, or just accepted being referred to as female out of frustration because it's not worth taking the time to explain.

[@Scarshadow666]

Parts of Aughra kinda reminds me of some elements of Odin and various Nature god(s)/elemental protectors mythology now that I think about it (the way the Gelfling revere her reminds me of the Lord of the Rings wizards/angels)! 🤓🤓🤓🤓🤓🤓

[@djinndevyl7077]

She's Ogma from Celtic myth

[@aSandwich.13]

I nearly pissed myself laughing at the song at the end, holy shit. Was not expecting that.

[@eseguerito2629]

Aughra and Yoda would get along so well.

[@gypsylily2949]

They would have a family of little Gizmos

[@whiskeyvictor5703]

You're shipping them now?! Yodghra? 😄

[@23mega23]

I love your channel I’m so glad I stumbled upon it The lore of dark crystal is something I’ve always loved, but never knew deeply about until now

[@DrDuckMD]

That line “in an another world in another time” will always remind me of that song crystal method - trip like I do

[@CosplayCore]

I had to pause about halfway through just to comment... "MY THEORY WAS RIGHT!!!! AUGHRA IS A GODDESS!!!!".

[@DarkCrystalConjunction]

The Goddess Grotesque!

[@victorhernandez8723]

Aughra was my favorite character from the Dark Crystal!

[@nelliesilvers1210]

I loved her but she scared me at the same time. Her eyeball coming out and being popped back in always creeped me out

[@morbel3029]

Come back m8 I'll watch all of your new videos till the 2nd season of Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance arrives

[@KyraKenny-nu9nn]

the little song at the end, i need more please, i crave it its so good!!

[@jXd]

yup, see description for details on that song: Closing song "Aughra Of Thra" (prod. DJ RoboRob) by Zalenka

[@anthonyrose2496]

This is so informative and amazing. You are so thorough.

[@easygrin1127]

Jup im gonna watch this movie again really soon... the music also made this movie perfect

[@elijahbrooks1472]

This movie kreeped me out as a kid lol but I grew to like it

[@christinastanley2162]

The Great Conjunction is the END OF THE WORRRLD! Or the beginning....hmm!

[@Fuzzyfire]

I often wonder whatever happened to the prop of that huge Orrery in Aughra's home.

[@MistahBryan]

I've heard Augra had a son, does the Book mention him anywhere? Ah, nevermind, just saw your video on him

[@sheilabradley-johnson4303]

Hey there every1 everywhere!! Im bambie; & am a lifelong fan of dark crystal and anything & all things jim hensen n his creative unique world.... Hope reboot n prequel gets made n put out 2 see & enjoy asap!!! Love the beautiful wording n story telling style of augras origin!! It wld behoove the makers to include the writing as is in the reboot(s) &-or prequel too! I hope im right that the makers wrking on the reboots n ect;will do the tasteful n gr8 justice to the film(s) & characters n that it'd b a gr8 omage paid too. Hope 2 c sum new-ish dark crystal asap!!!!

[@DarkCrystalConjunction]

I hear ya, can't wait for the new stuff to drop! We do currently have a monthly comic from Dark Crystal and at the end of the year a new Jr. Novel is out.

[@lonesteelwolfjacksonlonewo3412]

Agra was genious gorgeous masterpiece can't imagine the creativity it took to make her

[@lukaszrower7612]

I am still waiting for the expansion of the entire universe that is happening. One story is good, but there is still a whole sea of ​​things to know.

[@darlenesmith514]

Aughra has some cool fingernails. She is a great character. Can't wait to see what she will be up to in season 2.

[@westendlolo3313]

Thank u for this I be havin such a hard time finding lore lol

[@DarkCrystalConjunction]

And more to come...

[@SirBlackReeds]

Emanation of Thra? Personally, I'm keen on referring to her as "the avatar of Thra." Is the novelization canon though? I don't recall finding anything on the wiki that corroborates Aughra's male self having rotted away leaving behind on the female self.

[@DarkCrystalConjunction]

Unfortunately the Wikis have a lot of misinformation that I have found, that was one reason I started this channel. Also, YES, the novelization is canon and it was very important to Jim Henson and he was involved in it.

[@DarkCrystalConjunction]

Having read the latest Dark Crystal YA novel (Tides of the Dark Crystal), I think it is still proper to say "emanation" as that book shows some more distinctions between the crystal and Aughra.

[@thedailydan4939]

These videos are amazing. Also do you have any idea when Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance is coming out? It was announced a year ago.

[@DarkCrystalConjunction]

It is for sure coming out 2019, we just haven't heard if it will be early or later in that year. My money would be on later.

[@episodefive]

Aughra and crazy Dagobah Yoda would be a fantastic sitcom.

[@GruffThree9]

Wait..... Augrah is only 3 1/2 feet tall? That must mean that everyone else is........ woah

[@AnyBodyWannaPeanut]

Dude this is a great video! Did you have a cold while recording the audio?

[@DarkCrystalConjunction]

haha, no i suppose i just sound like that :D

[@jeshirekitenkatt1212]

Aughra is canonically intersex - in canon, the arrival of the UrSkeks badly wounded her, blinding her and "burning away most her male half" which we can assume is a very eloquent way of saying, "They accidentally burned her d*ck off", which, ow.

[@brandonlara1454]

Instant Sub! I expect so much more following the Netflix series.

[@thunderpants3500]

Most loved scene with her was when she cussed out the Skeksis.

[@robinmeyers9851]

So I need help understanding something about the show on Netflix...why was Aughra shocked when she saw that the crystal had cracked? In the creation myths, she was there when it happened and spent quite awhile looking for the shard that fell. I may be interpreting the show wrong but I feel like they didn't get a few things right

[@DarkCrystalConjunction]

In the Netflix show she was more hurt at how darkened it was, as opposed to simply being cracked.

[@garthdavis2502]

So Aughra was born as the only one of her kind. So many questions needing to be answered.

[@DarkCrystalConjunction]

Yup, from World of the Dark Crystal (as quoted in the video): “Of the race of Aughra, I, Aughra, am alone, the first and last. Born from the need for rocks and trees for an eye to see the world. The wind blew and the blind trees sang and roots twisted in the dark rocks and the roots sang and the rocks cracked and I was Aughra. This is my song. The rocks will me to be their eye; the roots willed me to be their eye. Blind rocks that felt the heartbeat of the World; blind trees swaying in the breathing of the wind made to view for them all the shapes of the World. Slowly, slowly the roots split the rock and I was free. The First Age of Aughra was of innocence and it was long. Then it was Aughra and the race of the Gelfling who shared the World. The Gelfling sang and danced for the joy of their lives, and I was part of their joy. - Aughra”

[@franciscomontero6015]

I remenber when i saw this movie years ago as a kid that she lost her eye one and again and again but this scene disapear now, this movie is very strange.

[@dragonfire810]

Skeksis Origins

[@danlarue1]

Great vid fella 👍

[@capcom23]

The opening was like from Hey Qween. Are you working together or what?

[@DarkCrystalConjunction]

I haven't a clue what that is. Explain... :D

[@capcom23]

go check video on youtube hey qween. you have the same opening.. pink intro. Thought you got idea from that :-)

[@DarkCrystalConjunction]

@@capcom23 haha no, mine is just one of the default video transitions that comes built into my old old macbook pro :D

[@kayamor7678]

Aughra talks just like Yoda 😂🌱

[@DarkCrystalConjunction]

Ya, Frank Oz did puppeteer both Yoda and Aughra. He did the voice for Yoda and originally did the voice for Aughra, but ultimately they overdubbed it with Billie Whitelaw. I still hear tinges of Yoda too, and whenever I try to speak like Aughra is usually comes out more like Yoda, as you can hear in the next lore video on the Gelflings. :D

[@ShadowArtist]

Yoda is probably a child of hers (one of)... he is over 900 yrs old :P

[@RareWarRoses]

A female Yoda?

[@DavidLLambertmobile]

It was clear in the early 1980s how Henson used TESB as a launch pad or base to R&D things for The Dark Crystal later on, 1982. The Muppet film was bold & creative but in the US never had big box office # s . 🎬🎥🎞... Frank Oz did a lot too. 😉

[@SirBlackReeds]

@@DarkCrystalConjunction I hate to be a stickler, but just a little clarification: a woman provided Aughra's voice for the workprint, then they went with Frank Oz who sounded somewhere between Yoda and Grover (closer to Grover though), and finally another woman (Billie Whitelaw).

[@shorngilerhand1800]

when we c when ever has a full episode been on u tube

[@DarkCrystalConjunction]

full episode of?

[@apollicino1705]

thanks for sharing...sounds like some early trans representation ;) Dark crystal continues to be revolutionary in multifaceted ways.

[@el.bandito]

revolutionary ? or predictive programming ..

[@AngelDust666]

Augrah is the best

[@anthony20cali]

very goooood

[@rxz4140]

Why in the Netflix series does the first episode say that Skeksis arrived and enticed Aughra with stories of the stars and they built her an orrery? I thought the Urskeks did that and she entrusted the crystal with them?

[@DarkCrystalConjunction]

Keep watching and you'll get an answer (ep. 7)... but short answer is much of the same reason that the opening narration in the film leads us to believe Jen is the only Gelfling left. Also note the opening narrator is a Myth-Speaker and the Skeksis are spreading lots of lies at the time. :)

[@MattIccarus]

She...he...it. looks like one of the Muppets in labyrint

[@notsusan]

a muppet looks like a muppet??! GASP

[@christinastanley2162]

💕 love 💕 Augra

[@griffingiles2534]

Aughra sort of reminds me of Yoda. XD

[@nelliesilvers1210]

Exactly what I always thought 😁

[@kennavic]

Both are Frank Oz 🙂

[@josuakaleb420]

Schalom , Schalom

[@nomdeplume2213]

3 1/2 feet tall?? How tall are Podlings? 8 inches? Lol Skeksis are 7ft so one would think shes taller than 3 1/2 ft, right?

[@DarkCrystalConjunction]

Ya, her newest book blurb even says she is "3 1/2 feet". www.amazon.com/dp/0593094328/ But honestly, I don't like making comparisons of Thra with Earth :P

[@ErnestAutist]

So there was no need/or place for the male aspect of Thrra?

[@DarkCrystalConjunction]

Why do you say that?

[@vanessaaiselbrown3521]

So wait, augrah's a plant creature?

[@angelangelis8362]

Vanessa Aiselbrown Plant and flesh, root and vein. She is all things Thra, both animal and vegetation. So yes, partly.

[@lushiscat]

Thra has a womb?

[@DarkCrystalConjunction]

Probably speaking figuratively, when it says that. Much like saying the Crystal of Truth is the "heart" of Thra.

[@adamhaldir6727]

If Aughra is all Thra, why doesn't she has the power to destroy the Skeksis and control back her crystal. Her character is useless and noisy.

[@DarkCrystalConjunction]

She is more "part Thra", made when Thra wanted eyes to see and ears to hear. So she isn't omnipotent.

[@melonlord4889]

So basically Jesus

[@Monado6]

blasphemy! you defile the name of Aughra!

[@DarkCrystalConjunction]

:D Whatchu talkin' 'bout?