What’s on TV – 24 August 2019

14

A

s a huge fan of 1980s

fantasy puppet movie The

Dark Crystal, Hollywood

star Taron Egerton jumped at

the chance to be involved in a

new Netflix prequel about the

world of Thra and the Gelfling,

a race of elf-like creatures.

Taron voices Gelfling Rian.

Other big-name stars involved

include Mark Strong, Helena

Bonham Carter, Natalie Dormer,

Toby Jones and Eddie Izzard.

This 10-part series uses

puppets just like the 1982 film,

which was directed by the

Muppets creator Jim Henson.

‘I love all Jim Henson’s work,

but especially The Dark Crystal

and Labyrinth, which were

huge parts of my childhood,’

says Taron, who recently starred

as Elton John in Rocketman.

The series follows three

Gelfling who embark on an

epic quest. ‘Rian discovers the

true nature of the Skeksis – a

bird-like race that rule the

kingdom of Thra,’ says

Taron, 29. ‘So he goes on

a mission to set things right.

Fans of the original movie

will love it. About 95 per

cent of this production

has been created

in exactly the

same way as Jim

Henson’s film.

‘People want

an odyssey and

saga that enriches

the original. That’s

exactly what this

series does.’ ■

new

The Dark Crystal returns!

Taron Egerton lends his voice to a prequel of the classic movie

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THE DARK

CRYSTAL: AGE

OF RESISTANCE

10 episodes available

from Friday 30 August

Netflix Drama

Taron

Egerton is

Rian (top)

Evil rulers...

The Skeksis

T

here’s the threat of a French invasion,

explosions and fights to the bitter end

as the Cornish costume saga reaches

a nail-biting conclusion for the drama’s

final-ever two episodes showing this week.

Having been thrown down a mineshaft

by corrupt magistrate Joseph Merceron

last week, Ross rushes to London seeking

justice. But he soon discovers Merceron

has allies all the way up to the Crown.

It also turns out that Merceron is the

half-brother of slave trader Ralph Hanson

(Peter Sullivan), who’ll stop at nothing to

prevent Ross meddling with his nefarious

business dealings – even if it means death!

Double bluff

‘Hanson’s got a real sense of evil about him,’

says Aidan Turner, who plays Ross. ‘He’s

basically a human trafficker. He’s really

menacing and I’ve never felt that with

anyone on Poldark before – it’s horrible!’

But just as Ross begins to close in on

Merceron and Hanson, he’s forced to

change tack when star-crossed lovers

Geoffrey Charles and Hanson’s daughter,

Cecily, beg him to help them escape her

evil father for good. Ross tries to organise

a ship to take them to America but will they

get away before Hanson reaches them?

Later, Ross is captured by French

soldiers intent on invading Britain!

Offering his allegiance to the

French king in return for his life,

Ross begins secretly helping them

stash arms ready for their invasion.

But it’s all part of a double bluff

that comes unstuck when Hanson

and Merceron find out and plot

to have him hanged! So will it

come down to Ross’ old nemesis

George Warleggan to save him?

‘There’s a really nice moment

between Ross and George,’ hints

Aidan. ‘The ending definitely

feels right – it’s poignant!’ Q

POLDARK

Sunday, 8pm, Monday, 8.30pm

BBC1 Drama

Last-ever

TWO^ EPISODES

Head to head...

From left: George,

Ross and Ralph

Hopeful... Cecily and

Geoffrey Charles

In the show’s final two episodes, Ross risks his

reputation and his life to bring down his enemies