History Headscratchers / TheDarkCrystal

* Viewed in light of the prequel Series, the Narrator in the film never actually says that Jen (and Kira) are the only Gelfling left in the world. He merely says that the Skesis killed Jen's family and Clan. All the statements about how 'all the gelfling are gone' are by Aughra, the Skeksis, and Jen/Kira themselves. Fallible characters who are working off limited information of their own experiences, with no omniscient way of determining whether Gelfling survive. (In Jen and kira's case, their beleif they are the last is based mainly on the fact they had met no others in their lives, and seeign the ruins of the old Gelfling civilization.) Making it very possible that some Gelfling from the 7 clans may have survived in remote places of the world where the Skeksis and Aughra were unable to find them, and offering a chance for the Gelfling species and Gelfling Society to be rebuilt.

** ...Also, he's only respectful to the rules because HE makes them...and he might have just not wanted the Chamberlain to get the scepter. Or he was angry because he was pondering if HE should make a move. And he wasn't GENUINELY loyal...so much as terrified beyond all rational thought.

** They have all been locked into a dwindling group of royal socialites in a decaying castle for the past thousand years. By now, each of them resents all of the other ones.

* Why does The Scientist put up with the other Skeksis? Why haven't the left long ago, with them having a ApeShallNotKillApe norm?
* Why do the Ritual Master resent the Grathim Master / New Emperor when the latter is shown to be loyal to the first emperor and respectful to their rules by not leaping at the scepter?

* Why do the Ritual Master resent the Grathim Master / New Emperor when the latter is shown to be loyal to the first emperor and respectful to their rules by not leaping at the scepter?

** Narrowing it down to three was the time-consuming part in any case. From there he solved it almost instantly.

** In general body shape, they most closely resemble pangolins, or the early (flawed) depictions of hadrosaurs. Some early concept art and test puppets depicted them with beaks rather like a sea turtle's, which made them look more like their Skeksis counterparts, but this was softened to a snout to make them more aesthetically appealing.

** More than likely it's senility. The Skeksis are shadows of their former selves and are dying of old age that they have artificially prolonged. Their species, in the past, was able to destroy whole civilizations whereas now they can barely take down two gelfings. The Chamberlain is arrogant and proud, but his lack of foresight is very, very clear as the movie progresses as is the other Skeksis who are often seen rambling.

*** As the Scientist's own words state that Gelfling essence is more potent than Podling, she may be the only victim of the device who lasted long enough even to make the attempt.

*** As the Scientist's own words state that Gelfling essence is more potent than Podling, she may be the only victim [[spoiler:of the device who lasted long enough even]] to make the attempt.

* The Podlings taught Kira to call the animals, and she uses the ability to [[spoiler:get them to break out of their cages, attack the Scientist, and free her before she gets her essence completely sucked out.]] Couldn't the countless Podling captives before her have done it themselves?

*** As the Scientist's own words state that [[spoiler:Gelfling essence is more potent than Podling]], she may be the only victim [[spoiler:of the device who lasted long enough even]] to make the attempt.
* If the Mystics are supposed to be so supremely benevolent, and they knew about [[spoiler:their link to the Skeksis and about the horrors their counterparts were perpetrating]], why didn't they just [[spoiler:selflessly commit suicide a thousand years ago to spare the Gelflings from genocide and the Podlings from enslavement?]]
** Note that [[spoiler:the split gave the Skeksis the lion's share of the intelligence and]] the urRu have wisdom but not the knowledge of how to apply it -- they may not be capable of this level of forethought.

** Or perhaps the Crystal is an artifact that is necessary for the continued existence of the world. If the [[spoiler:urSkeks were to all]] die, the Crystal may shatter completely, plunging the world into a cataclysm. We've all seen the effects that screwing around with the crystal has had on the rest of the world.
** At the very least, the mystics did represent some balance against the [=Skeksis=]. Even assuming the mystics were willing to commit suicide, they'd essentially just be removing both factions from Thra, but still leaving the after-effects of the [=Skeksis'=] rampage. They'd just be committing the same sin that created them all over again: Inflicting their will upon the world, heedless of the costs.
* So, the Skeksis and the Mystics are very similar anatomically [[spoiler: because as we find out, they are two split parts of a single being.]] Why then, when we finally see [[spoiler: the two made one, the creature we are shown looks ABSOLUTELY NOTHING like either species? If one hadn't seen the movie, you would never peg the two-armed crystalline humanoids becoming long-shouted, four-armed, avian/reptilian creatures with tails.]] Is there some explanation/symbolism, or is this just a design error?

** [[spoiler: The urSkeks do have ''some'' features that are a blend of the two, like their hair being composed of long strands like a Mystic's mane, yet sticking up like Skeksis quills. But their erect stance and flat faces, being so different from both, are probably intended to make them look more "noble" and impressive to a human audience, not to be a perfect compromise between the two fragment-species.]]

** In general body shape, they most closely resemble pangolins, or the early (flawed) depictions of hadrosaurs. Some early concept art and test puppets depicted them with beaks rather like a sea turtle's, which make them look more like their Skeksis counterparts, but this was softened to a snout to make them more aesthetically appealing.

* What animal are the Mystics meant to resemble? The Skeksis are like a combination of bird and reptile but the Mystics are a lot harder to pin down.

** [[spoiler: The urSkeks do have ''some'' features that are a blend of the two, like their hair being composed of long strands like a Mystic's mane, yet sticking up like Skeksis quills. But their erect stance and flat faces, being so different from both, are probably intended to make them look more "noble" and impressive to a human audience, not to be a perfect compromise between the two fragment-species.

** They do have ''some'' features that are a blend of the two, like their hair being something like a Mystic's mane of hair standing upright like Skeksis quills. But their upright stance and flat faces, being different from both, are probably intended to make them look more "noble" and impressive, not to be a perfect compromise between the two.

** More than likely it's senility. The Skeksis are shadows of their former selves and are dying of old age that they have artificially prolonged. Their species, in the past, was able to destroy whole civilizations whereas now they can barely take down two gelfings. The Chamberlain is arrogant and proud, but his lack of foresight is very, very clear as the movie progresses as is the other Skeksis who are often seen rambling.

* So to determine the Emperor's successor the General and Chamberlain have a duel to see who can cut through a stone pillar. That's by the Chamberlain's choice. The Chamberlain shows no signs of combat prowess or skill with weapons, so why did he choose ''that'' kind of contest against a ''general'' whose very job would require some kind of military experience?

** Would you ever peg a caterpillar to become a butterfly? Besides, these are aliens. With magic. One can chalk it up to RuleOfSymbolism or BizarreAlienBiology.

* So, the Skeksis and the Mystics are very similar anatomically [[spoiler: because as we find out, they are two split parts of a single being.]] Why then, when we finally see [[spoiler: the two made one, the creature we are shown looks ABSOLUTELY NOTHING like either species? If I hadn't seen the movie, I would never peg the two-armed crystalline humanoids becoming long-shouted, four-armed, avian/reptilian creatures with tails.]] Is there some explanation/symbolism that I missed, or is this just a design error?

* So, the Skeksis and the Mystics are very similar anatomically [[spoiler: because as we find out, they are two split parts of a single being.]] Why then, when we finally see [[spoiler: the two made one, the creature we are shown looks ABSOLUTELY NOTHING like either species? If I hadn't seen the movie, I would never peg the two-armed crystalline humanoids becoming long-shouted, four-armed, avian/reptilian creatures with tails.]] Is there some explanation/symbolism that I missed, or is this just a design error?

** At the very least, the mystics did represent some balance against the [=Skeksis=]. Even assuming the mystics were willing to commit suicide, they'd essentially just be removing both factions from Thra, but still leaving the after-effects of the [=Skeksis'=] rampage. They'd just be committing the same sin that created them all over again: Inflicting their will upon the world, heedless of the costs.

* The Podlings taught Kira to call the animals, and she uses the ability to [[spoiler: get them to break out of their cages, attack the Scientist, and free her before she gets her essence completely sucked out.]] Couldn't the countless Podling captives before her have done it themselves?

*** As the Scientist's own words state that [[spoiler: gelfling essence is more potent than podling]], she may be the only victim [[spoiler: of the device who lasted long enough even]] to make the attempt.
* If the Mystics are supposed to be so supremely benevolent, and they knew about [[spoiler: their link to the Skeksis and about the horrors their counterparts were perpetrating,]] why didn't they just [[spoiler: selflessly commit suicide a thousand years ago to spare the gelflings from genocide and the podlings from enslavement?]]
** Note that [[spoiler: the split gave the Skeskis the lion's share of the intelligence and]] the urRu have wisdom but not the knowledge of how to apply it - they may not be capable of this level of forethought.
** WordOfGod says that the Mystics ''lacked'' the will to act, above all else. The Skekses represent the power of will and the desire to act; the mystics represent the wisdom and understanding of right action, but have no will to accomplish it.
** Or perhaps the Crystal is an artifact that is necessary for the continued existence of the world. If the [[spoiler: urSkeks were to all]] die, the Crystal may shatter completely, plunging the world into a cataclysm. We've all seen the effects that screwing around with the crystal has had on the rest of the world.
** At the very least, the mystics did represent some balance against the [=Skeksis=]. Even assuming the mystics were willing to commit suicide, they'd essentially just be removing both factions from Thra, but still leaving the after-effects of the [=Skeksis'=] rampage. They'd just be committing the same sin that created them all over again: inflicting their will upon the world, heedless of the costs.

*** Note that [[spoiler: the split gave the Skeskis the lion's share of the intelligence and]] the urRu have wisdom but not the knowledge of how to apply it - they may not be capable of this level of forethought.
*** WordOfGod says that the Mystics ''lacked'' the will to act, above all else. The Skekses represent the power of will and the desire to act; the mystics represent the wisdom and understanding of right action, but have no will to accomplish it.
*** Or perhaps the Crystal is an artifact that is necessary for the continued existence of the world. If the [[spoiler: urSkeks were to all]] die, the Crystal may shatter completely, plunging the world into a cataclysm. We've all seen the effects that screwing around with the crystal has had on the rest of the world.
*** At the very least, the mystics did represent some balance against the [=Skeksis=]. Even assuming the mystics were willing to commit suicide, they'd essentially just be removing both factions from Thra, but still leaving the after-effects of the [=Skeksis'=] rampage. They'd just be committing the same sin that created them all over again: inflicting their will upon the world, heedless of the costs.

** If the Mystics are supposed to be so supremely benevolent, and they knew about [[spoiler: their link to the Skeksis and about the horrors their counterparts were perpetrating,]] why didn't they just [[spoiler: selflessly commit suicide a thousand years ago to spare the gelflings from genocide and the podlings from enslavement?]]

*** At the very least, the mystics did represent some balance against the SkekSis. Even assuming the mystics were willing to commit suicide, they'd essentially just be removing both factions from Thra, but still leaving the after-effects of the SkekSis' rampage. They'd just be committing the same sin that created them all over again: inflicting their will upon the world, heedless of the costs.