Skeksis Explained (The Dark Crystal)

[@PToastman]

"The Skeksis, with their hard and twisted bodies, their harsh and twisted wills. For a thousand years they have ruled. Yet now, there are only ten: a dying race, ruled by a dying Emperor, imprisoned within themselves in a dying land."...ahh, childhood memories!

[@adamgray1753]

Sounds like the Illuminati really...

[@realhumanbean7945]

@@adamgray1753 sounds like jews

[@Joan1Marti]

@real human bean; not like jews, but like zionists.

[@IgnemFeram01]

When I first saw this, I thought it was just blah. I then watched it a second time followed by the Age of Resistance, I realized it was actually a well crafted story. As far as I can tell, nothing happens because the story told first happens (like with Star Wars after the Disney buyout). Only because the story has laid it out.

[@thehillbillygamer2183]

I've watched some of the new prequel and what I don't understand is it the skeksis came from space how can I be connected to the mystics cuz of the mystical space 2

[@Arkanoid1212]

The surreal fantasy style is still something to behold. The forests especially. It feels alien. It is very well done.

[@pershing5286]

The Skeksis: Essential what happens if you ask a War hammer 40,000 designer to make a vulture look like a wizard.

[@timothy1742]

Skeksis dinner scene is great lol

[@vgernyc]

Roast Nebrie is everyone's favorite

[@samrizzardi2213]

That was the last scene to be filmed. At that point, the puppeteers just said fuck it and dirtied the puppets with rancid noodles and KY jelly

[@benb3316]

It's what made me like the movie totally. As a young kid, all the hassle with "Table manners" then look at what the Skeksis did coz they had the power of the Dark Crystal! You don't need no manners when you got that power. Oh, and from the deluxe sourcebook, the furry runner was just a wheel toy. Wheel, axle, rubber band, string - has metal 'arms' that just turn the torsion from the rubber band into rolling the wheel. This was way, WAY before the "Maker revolution" and all the cheap ICs easy to program. The Engineers were having trouble making the scene, then someone showed them the toy people made from scraps to sell in Mexico and they used it!

[@shenglongisback4688]

Reminds me of my drunk uncles.lol

[@tysargent9647]

Really? That must've been quite the wrap party.

[@l33fox]

Being 35 years old TDC was one of my favourite movies growing up along with the Labyrinth. I’m looking forward to the series I just hope they stick to the puppeteering and don’t fuck it up with CGI. Great video H as always. Hope your pup gets better soon 👍🏻

[@ecnayonnA]

Just glad they are going practical for their effects for this.

[@wickedcrayon6022]

These things scared the crap out of me when I was a kid😅

[@silent_stalker3687]

Eternal entropy I see a Skelsis and I want it painted black

[@Sawrattan]

I didn't mind the Skeksis but the Garthim terrified me with their glowing eyes and chattering sounds.

[@Melodyofthesea78]

Huh.....nothing in that movie scared me when I was a kid....then again I watched horror movies too when I was 7.....

[@popesocket7765]

I always thought they were funny

[@somenolifeloser.7752]

Same lmao

[@williamcrowe2576]

The Trial by Stone (or Haakskeka) was a very important and sacred rite. Failure of the trial and/or refusal to accept the challenge would prove disastrous for those chosen to endure it.

[@whyaddnamehere]

This and Labyrinth are my favorite movies from my childhood. My daughter love them now.

[@richardbowman6227]

Same here lass

[@frozenofferings8361]

Cora B my mother bfor she passed last year watched the dark crystal special edition every night laying in bed to help her sleep

[@christianhinojosa848]

Samee

[@kelst75]

Me too. I was in love with Jareth

[@kelst75]

Thanks for this. When this movie originally came out, the Skeksis terrified me as a nine year old. The Dark Crystal was an amazing movie.

[@easygrin1127]

The Gartim general was always my favourite... love the mystics too the personalisation of pure good and wisdom reminds me of my grandfather

[@funkyweapon1981]

The Mystics remind me of Native American shamans.

[@77HadassaH77]

The skeksis are not only the “physical” counterparts of the urrus,. They are counterparts on all levels.

[@beastwarsFTW]

Basically skeksis are the ids while urrus are the super egos. Ironically despite skeksis seemingly embodying most of their sins the one sin that urrus embody that skeksis don't is sloth, most urris have bystander syndrome and don't do anything to stop the horrible things their skeksi counterparts do, except The Archer and The Wanderer.

[@mastermind2681]

All higher beings devoted to service to self, will run into entropy of the body. Higher Races of service to others realize service to others is service to self, thus no need for energy vampirism. The dark crystal is correct and inline with occult and hermetic teachings.

[@Amrah75]

I didn't know Netflix are doing Dark Crystal. Loved it as a child and still do. Well a head of it's time, dark fantastic story and them Skeksis, the "Mmmm" Chamberlain in particular, stole the show! Hope it turns out good.

[@samrizzardi2213]

As someone who watched the original cut of the film, I wish they had kept the Skeksis speaking their own language. They're much less comical and more threatening in that cut, and a lot less talkative during the dinner scene, in which you really get the impression that they're sizing each other up. It would also fix the plot hole of the Chamberlain's English suddenly sounding broken and foreign whenever he interacts with Jen and Kira.

[@wheatboi8255]

I always thought he talked like that because he thought so little of them that he was talking down to them like children.

[@-Siculus-Hort-]

"ME! THE EMPRAH!"

[@h.plovecat4307]

Wait they have 4 arms?

[@smiley77060]

Yup! You can see Chamberlain's when he's stripped and exiled

[@h.plovecat4307]

@@smiley77060 Holy crap I never noticed that! :D

[@AlextheHistorian]

@@smiley77060 I only see two arms on Chamberlain when he's stripped.

[@ElazarY]

Brain Stem Soup neither did I!!!

[@TheFreeBass]

Brain Stem & Penguin; you probably didn't notice it because they only have 2 arms

[@alexanderphillips1904]

The Skeksis story doesn't end with the movie, they return in the sequel comic when the Crystal cracks again and they and the Urhu are spit back out

[@SevenEllen]

I always thought the Gartham were mostly like crosses between Scarab beetles and lobsters (their claws are lobster-like).

[@glorifieduniverse5313]

I took shrooms and watched Dark crystal, it was such an enlightening and beautiful experience

[@stephendarcy9803]

I took shrooms & thought I was in The Dark Crystal!!

[@intuitivedruid5732]

Oh wow, i bet!

[@AROBASPARK]

The Chamberlain definitively best Skeksis, along with the Collector from the expanded Universe.

[@ron131367]

hmm hmm

[@funkyweapon1981]

MmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmMMMmmmmmmmmMMMMMMmmmm!

[@slig4656]

MmmMmmMMMMMmmmmMMmmMM

[@soflovixen]

GearGades I’ve gotta check out all the material that came out since 1982’s release of the movie. I was born in 1983 so I got the dark crystal vhs 📼 on one of my first birthdays needless to say those Skeksis were my childhood monster/boogie man until Labyrinth came out in 1986 & stoked my childhood fears again being the big sister to 7 siblings those long babysitting gigs I’ve called on the goblin king plenty to scare my siblings into being compliant at bedtime😈😉😜 #80sbabies90skids

[@cturner956]

Having seen the series now, I’d say the Hunter is my favorite. The only fit and swole Skeksis around, badass.

[@alexeastwood5029]

That one skeksi - HMMMMMMmmmmm

[@tysargent9647]

One more thing. After the death of the Skeksis Emperor, the rest of the Skeksis formed their own factions. The Skeksis Chamberlain and the Skeksis Ornamentalist were joined by the Skeksis Scroll Keeper, the Skeksis Garthim Master's faction consisted of the Skeksis Scientist and the Skeksis Slave Master, and the Skeksis Ritual Master's faction included the Skeksis Gourmand and the Skeksis Treasurer.

[@landfair123]

The Skeksis made their way kind of into World of Warcraft as the arakkoa.

[@slytub]

Looks like gelfling ... smells like a gelfling ..

[@funkyweapon1981]

Maybe you are Gelfling.

[@slig4656]

Drop him

[@funkyweapon1981]

The Great Conjunction is the END OF THE WOOOORLD! Or the beginning...hmph.

[@nickmattio3397]

“Mmmhhjmmmheehhhh!!! Don’t Know!”

[@geogemini8528]

Loved that movie since I seen it as a kid. Jim Henson was a media genius! RIP. Hoping this new one is done right and not just a money grab.

[@halfofakitty]

You forgot to mention the Skeksis second pair of arms are useless now. They're way smaller, withered, and plastered against their back, which almost resemble the claws on the edge of a bat's wing. Refer to Chamberlain's derobing.

[@MsRahvin]

I think these are my favourite videos right now, thank you

[@jordantucker9799]

Should've added a few scenes where they had spoken their "original" language. That would have been really intriguing.

[@Redrung]

I like to imagine that dark crytral is how the old one of warhammer 40k race end up

[@shainewhite2781]

Cool, another one of my favorite movies! Thanks and Happy New year!!!

[@brianbyles3737]

I absolutely love this movie and am definitely excited for more dark crystal stuff

[@ColpoRosso]

This is great, but can we have a new Farscape series now?

[@Mulcam29]

I agree

[@pepercat17]

Birds are now classified as a subclass of reptiles

[@funkyweapon1981]

Dinosaurs have been revealed to have feathers.

[@oldleatherhandsfriends4053]

@@funkyweapon1981 And the vote!

[@TheAdorkableRJ]

''Death MOCKS life! MOCKS Skeksis!''

[@jocas7940]

TheAdorkableRJ 😂😭😭

[@Takaho31]

"Kneel! ... BOW!" Haha Happy New year, Mr.H

[@glorifieduniverse5313]

Dark Crystal was about greed, gluttony , and corruption. No modern day SJW nonsense just a good story.

[@dinosauradventures173]

Glorified Universe They tried to model each of the skeksis after the seven deadly sins, but had to make a couple of duplicates

[@AEGISDEFENSE]

SJWs tend to find a way. I am cautiously optimistic...but fuck I didn't think they could do it the Punisher and they announced they did.

[@TheropodHunter]

Those three tend to describe SJW's anyway.

[@thefool3130]

Dark Crystal has nothing to do with 'SJWs', why the fuck are you even mentioning that bull here?

[@alphatrion100]

@@TheropodHunter you mean trumpists

[@RECONRED1]

Love this film when it came out ..be nice to see what they do with it .. With all the new thing they have now a days that they did not have in the day ..

[@TheSoulCourier]

Childhood favorite!! Mmmmmmm, Yessss?

[@lmreade]

Hmm you keep calling them Uru's but i always knew them as the Mystics. What am I missing?

[@lmreade]

@Laurence Morgans can you point me in the direction of where I would see that please? Like is it from a comic that i didn't know about? I just grew up with the movie and anything past that is soooo new to me. I love it!

[@robynhighart2026]

[Spoilers] So Aughra apparently entrusted the crystal to the Skeksis... But the Skeksis were created by the tampering with of the crystal... so how could she trust them with it after that?

[@woomod2445]

She entrusted it to the urskeks, who (half of) then became the skeksis.

[@robynhighart2026]

@@woomod2445 thought it said skeksis in the new series

[@jonathankool1997]

Actually she's mentioning it to them as though it was the Urseks that she intrusted it too that's why she says it to them still I left it to you but as she still recognises that they though are skeksis in a way there still the Urseks are Urseks. That's why she says to skektech we were once friends and why when you see her first meet them she says effectivly you have changed and are not as glorious as before.

[@CharlConstantine]

Damn I love this film. Can’t wait for the series!

[@griffingiles2534]

The Skeksis kinda remind me of vultures or dromaeosaurs (raptors) that have the dinosaur equivalent of the mange.

[@catspaw3092]

I loved this movie as a kid & still do Jim Henson was a genius thank you Jim also great explanation of how the Skeksis came to be.

[@philipgilbert3772]

Still love this movie. :D The Graphic novels they made in the last few years were great as well, which you mention in the video. Love how they showed Aughra as a plant as well that grew into her.

[@Kylo_ren518]

How many Skeksis/urRu were born after the great conjuction? Was it always 10 on each side or were there as many as 100 on each side?

[@mosquitomilk9877]

Initially there were 18 and after they split a Skeksis killed two Uru so as a result there were 16 Skeksis remaining

[@nickmattio3397]

“MmmMMMMMMMM!!!-Lord Chamberlain’s whimpers

[@zeokingsilver]

the Gelflin might be front and center but its the skeksis are what we really want to see

[@intuitivedruid5732]

9:00 you called it! Lol great video, info and prediction! ;)

[@TheOnlyElle.]

Happy New Year Everyone! May 2019 see You all happy, healthy and prosperous! Slange! 🍻 Looking forward to this series!!

[@AAron-gr3jk]

if the chamberlain is so shrewd, why did he pick Trial by Stone, which would favor his oponent, the much stronger general.

[@FrogworfKnight]

It only really favored the general because he was JUST THAT strong. Really, Trial by Stone with the way Chamberlain played it, is about knowing where best to strike the stone. He was basically winning until the General did what was obviously not done for all the previous times Trial by Stone happened.

[@brightglory5734]

Thanks for covering this H.

[@WorldRobotNews]

Explain why in the new series the scientists one has muppet hands not the boney hands

[@superscaryguy01]

He wears gloves. He has always worn red gloves.

[@The-Artless-Gallery]

I adored that movie when i first saw it in the movie house.

[@TheMichaelStott]

Interesting video. The movie only referred to the UrRu as the Mystics (Mr H for the research win 😎) Are you going to do Augrah? or the Podlings as well?

[@Spencer_Beard]

great piece of cinema, despite it's few shortcomings

[@STRAKAZulu]

Looking forward to seeing the new show. But I still wonder... WHY THE HELL 80's KIDS MOVIES WERE DESIGNED TO SCARE THE SHIT OUTTA US?! Dark Crystal, Labyrinth, Secret of Nimh, The Witches...

[@highchamp1]

80s Movies (I was about 10 when I saw it) The Dark Crystal, Labyrinth, Willow, The Princess Bride etc to Lexx and Farscape 90s - 2000s The general method was from a basic concept, improvise and cobble together various ideas. The Labyrinth movie (M C Escher drawings (very 80s), Helping hands wall are typical examples.) The Dark Crystal was from my perspective more to push the limits of animatronics as they would do with CG. But it was very intricate and well made. It did make an impression as a kid. That and Gremlins. They are good movies but a strong story properly conceived and written would be far better. Fairy tales and improv is a bit weak compared to Dungeons & Dragons and the possibilities I was looking forward to.

[@jasemac5391]

Sounds like a documentary about what’s happening on Earth now :/

[@paulgreen6925]

THANKS!! Mr. H HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@soflovixen]

Stuff like the dark crystal makes me feel so grateful I was born in 1983 #80sBabies90sKids

[@corvidox]

So you're grateful that you weren't around to experience it when it came out?

[@soflovixen]

TheoMayneeak took a while to come out on VHS that’s how I got it came out the year before I was born or even old enough to enjoy going to the movies so.... but I guess some folks aren’t at the level of intellect to figure that out for themselves hence the aforementioned⬆️ & why I had to break it down Barney style for the trolls🤷🏼‍♀️🤣🤦🏼‍♀️

[@jasonphilip1198]

Happy New Year Mr. H, thanks for all the great content!

[@SweetLilWren]

Fan-fuckin-tastic mate! This needs more views and likes!

[@Kronosbattlemaps]

Blizzard watched Dark crystal to get Arakkoa

[@paulhoad9010]

I have seen The Dark Crystal hundreds of times and I always thought it was the skeksis and the '' MYSTICS ''. It even calls them mystics in the film, on the cover and in plot references on many different websites.

[@PlanetZoidstar]

The dying Uru reminds me of SCP-682

[@deathbb703]

I'm so worried on what agenda Netflix will push in the series

[@thefool3130]

@Deighton111 nope.

[@jmn327]

...You don't know much about Jim Henson's politics, huh.

[@mosquitomilk9877]

@@jmn327 People nowadays hear the word 'resistance' and shit themselves apparently.

[@CapucineNighly]

...There are a few things that scare me when I was a child all the way to my adulthood... 1)Tiyanak (Filipino monster babies) 2) The Harpie bish from The Last Unicorn movie. 3) These mofos, the Skeksis. Seriously disturb the Hell outta me as a child and I couldn't sleep for a week! And they're making a prequel to the movie?! Ok I'm in. Brian Froud and Jim Henson's works are always amazing to see come to life. Hopefully the amazingly talented Jim Henson is working on the puppets for the movie. Now please make a decent sequel or something of the movie Labyrinth. Like the comic 'Return to Labyrinth'.

[@mosquitomilk9877]

..... Jim Henson died in 1990......

[@vezner]

Great video!

[@MadamFoogie]

SO EXCITED FOR THIS PREQUEL! ^0^

[@90lancaster]

I notice they resemble one of the Egyptian Gods - but they also look rather similar to one of the Ancient Spirits of Evil in Mum Ra's Tomb On Thundercats. (There is an interesting fella for a video Profile)

[@Monado6]

Skeksis the very embodiment of the narcissist

[@easygrin1127]

Really Mr H for the 100000 time you should be perfect as a narrator for movies like these

[@elmatador19861]

I remember watching this movie at school when i was a kid. Good times good times

[@cici6295]

I love this movie, watched it the other night. 😊❤

[@gameplayingforfunfun4003]

They could so easily make a second movie Or they could make the TV series continues

[@metrozeegle4985]

"The Skeksis are a thousand year old race with a developed and complex backstory" What I remember from the Skeksis: mmmMMMMMMMmmmmmmm

[@10dev785]

Very scary looking puppet designs back then. Remember being scared as a child leaving the movies

[@Classiccartoonarchives]

Benevolent? We must have read the prequels differently, because the alliance with the gelfling was about control and a few even just wanted to raid and exterminate them right away because it was easier

[@filmandpage1138]

The reason people are worried about the SJW thing is because of the title. I'm a big fan of the original film, and I hoping it's done in a way the respects the lore, and original film. Not something that will push modern day identity politics.

[@wheatboi8255]

I was wondering what you were talking about so I looked up the title. Oh for the love of... is THAT why everyone is like "They better not put GAY Geflings in this!!" I just thought it was the usual paranoid ramblings of alt right loons. No, it's morons who got triggered by the word 'resistance'. The realization of this made me face palm so hard it left a mark.

[@mosquitomilk9877]

@@wheatboi8255 Oh nice, someone with a working brain.

[@glorifieduniverse5313]

Skesis have 4 arms? I never noticed

[@nosotrosloslobosestamosreg4115]

It's hard not to expect an inclusive and diverse "dark crystal" from Netflix.

[@h.plovecat4307]

The story is already inclusive.

[@nosotrosloslobosestamosreg4115]

That means the series is a total fuck up for sure...

[@kbvisuals8694]

The Eskesis look like the Uru mixed with Shin Godzilla

[@wesleywarsmith1113]

Me and my freinds joked that the TWO factions are simply the result in One Tribe using Marijuana( Mystics) - Slow,calm ,cool, with epic tales. And the ones using Meth(Skeksies) - cruel,manic,drawn and emaciated,with Violant tendencies. The CRYSTAL SHARD was a metaphor for meth... Just a dumb joke of course heheh

[@amylyne1977]

Hey could you do a video of the new Netflix series? If you have then disregard this :)

[@MrHReviews]

i have done an indepth review :)

[@benjaminfeld6388]

I actually own the DVD the Dark Crystal. Very great movie, the get nearly enough recognition as it should. And, I just like to get a little bit of my opinion here, I always thought the Skeksis kind of bore a striking resemblance to vultures. Unsurprising, considering vultures are usually depicted as being birds of ill omen. Of course I didn't know any of their back story until I saw this video, it certainly doesn't touch upon it all that much in the movie. But hey, that's why I'm here right? LOL

[@Seiferboi]

I finally got around to watching the video lol!

[@ReignSupreme2014]

"MINE!!!!!.........I.....AM......EMPPPPEEEROOOORRRR!!!!!!!"

[@nazeemapolinario7485]

These things always give me nightmares as a kid.

[@backwoods_barbarian4134]

Excellent

[@kascnef]

Dark crystal was underrated

[@ztmsirhc9353]

These bastards scared the shit out of me when I was a child.

[@Eternalentropy]

Jews still scare me as an adult.

[@jarodpace7246]

Skeksis or Vogons? Who's more disreputable?

[@damiencrespan5003]

I don't know why this movie is rated G, it scared the shit out of me when I was little...

[@cheshirecat882]

I find it interesting the thing that skeksis hate most are the urdu, but to harm the urdu was to harm themselves. Thus their great hate is only overcome for the great love they have for themselves. As the urdu could not find malice enough to stop the skeksis the great standoff happened. As the bodies of the skeksis rotted away the urdu minds rotted as well. To the point where their rituals are done numbly in a blur of forgetfulness.

[@coolgojifan7008]

These guys remind me of vultures

[@pahjammer9173]

No one makes movies this good any more. Its all CG and blue screen garbage.

[@twstf8905]

There's absolutely nothing wrong with being a warrior for social justice. Tolerance, acceptance, and inclusion are all VIRTUES, not vices. 👍 There's nothing worse than a bully, someone who judges others, and does their best to exclude and oppress them based on something trivial like skin color, nationality, or sexual preference or identity. It's the content of a person's character that should be open to criticism, if constructive, not who they are, but what they do, how they choose to behave. And, the World wouldn't need, "SJW's," if there wasn't a healthy number of ASSHOLES lol trying to make as many other people as, or more, miserable as they are. And, in this country, at least, everyone should be able to say whatever they want, no matter how, "controversial." Not just because it's enshrined in our founding documents, but because it's the most effective way of learning who people REALLY are. I may not like what somebody has to say, but I'll defend to the DEATH their absolute right to say it. I want every hateful, bigoted, misogynistic, or xenophobic asshole to be able to tell the WORLD what they think, what they believe lol because it makes identifying who to avoid that much easier!

[@axelhopfinger533]

Tolerance and apathy are the last virtues of a dying society

[@LeeLee-pk4ss]

My sister had a chihuahua that would wine and sound like the Chamberlin

[@gabrielaubry1334]

The urSkeks are the Force, the urRu is the Light Side of the Force and the Skeksis are the Dark Side.