![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
Bringing Skeksi Back
Aug. 18th, 2021 02:01 pmNaively thought there could not be the usual wank in the Dark Crystal fandom over villain stans, because none of the characters are human. But no, apparently you can be racist for liking the villains even when the villains are four armed non-binary lizard-birds which contain only half a soul, because their original forms were split in two and they and their other halves were turned into two entirely different species.
I mean… in itself, that’s a pretty fascinating concept that it doesn’t surprise me that multiple people want to explore. And then the Skeksis are ridiculously over-dramatic and petty and sneaky among themselves - which makes them a lot of fun.
Plus, their not being even vaguely human-shaped means you don’t get the slightly uncanny-valley effect that you get with the Gelfling. It’s much more apparent that the Gelfling characters are played by puppets than it is with the Skeksis (and Mystics), precisely because the Gelfling are more human-like and it’s easy to see where the shape of them is not moving naturally.
IDK, this is actually one franchise where I don’t like the villains best, (although I do have a soft spot for SkekSil the Chancellor.) My favourite character is still a Skesis, though–SkekGra the Heretic.
Who I like because they’re nonbinary, and over-dramatic in that bird-puffing-itself-up-against-a-threat way, and so very not human, and has learned to love the other side of themself, and is creative and funny and ott and has learned to do good, despite being a carnivorous raptor for whom good doesn’t come naturally, and is in a loving relationship (albeit with itself) and is still trying - even though they got a nail through their head for it - to do what’s best for the world.
They are the cantankerous, old, reclusive, enthusiastic Zuko of Thra, and I don’t see why it’s worse to like them than it is to like, say, Deet (who is my favourite Gelfling.)
I mean… in itself, that’s a pretty fascinating concept that it doesn’t surprise me that multiple people want to explore. And then the Skeksis are ridiculously over-dramatic and petty and sneaky among themselves - which makes them a lot of fun.
Plus, their not being even vaguely human-shaped means you don’t get the slightly uncanny-valley effect that you get with the Gelfling. It’s much more apparent that the Gelfling characters are played by puppets than it is with the Skeksis (and Mystics), precisely because the Gelfling are more human-like and it’s easy to see where the shape of them is not moving naturally.
IDK, this is actually one franchise where I don’t like the villains best, (although I do have a soft spot for SkekSil the Chancellor.) My favourite character is still a Skesis, though–SkekGra the Heretic.
Who I like because they’re nonbinary, and over-dramatic in that bird-puffing-itself-up-against-a-threat way, and so very not human, and has learned to love the other side of themself, and is creative and funny and ott and has learned to do good, despite being a carnivorous raptor for whom good doesn’t come naturally, and is in a loving relationship (albeit with itself) and is still trying - even though they got a nail through their head for it - to do what’s best for the world.
They are the cantankerous, old, reclusive, enthusiastic Zuko of Thra, and I don’t see why it’s worse to like them than it is to like, say, Deet (who is my favourite Gelfling.)
