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Strongest of all for brute force -after the Emperor- was skekUng the Garthim-Master. Torment was his pleasure, though his urSkeks original had been a healer and continued so in his urRu form. Hidden in that tall, shining urSkeks was one who, ages later, could find pleasure in tearing apart the gentle Gelfling.
~ The World of the Dark Crystal
Now, bow down to me! I am EMPEROOOOOOOORRRRRR!!!!!
~ SkekUng to the other Skeksis.

SkekUng is the main antagonist of The Dark Crystal franchise. He is the Skeksis General and his Mystic counterpart is UrIm the Healer. He commands the Garthim which fight and hunt for the Skeksis, so he is also known as the Garthim-Master. Following SkekSo's death, SkekUng becomes the new Emperor of the Skeksis.

He was performed by Dave Goelz, with Michael Kilgarriff providing his voice.

Appearance[]

SkekUng wears a dark blue robe with a small red-filled collar bearing a jewel on top and black lamellar armour rimmed with gold edges. He also wears a bone necklace with a large thin stone charm. According to the film's novelization, SkekUng was said to have spurs behind his heel; this is apparently evident whenever he is walking in the movie, as sounds of clanking metal can be heard.

Personality[]

SkekUng is a natural leader who values anger and brute strength, and sadistic to the point of finding pleasure in tearing apart Gelfling. He is far more straightforward than his rival SkekSil, and also shown to be loud whenever he's angry or annoyed, especially with SkekSil's constant whimpering. However, SkekUng does show some honor, such as hiding his ambition to become SkekSo's successor until after the latter's death and even demanding his fellow Skeksis to bow before the dying Emperor, as well as showing disdain for SkekSil for trying to grab the latter's scepter while SkekSo was still alive. He also prefers banishing his rivals rather than executing them, and even allows SkekSil to return to the latter's position when he captures Kira.

Additionally, despite being a bloodthirsty brute, SkekUng is in fact very intelligent and cunning, unlike the previous General, SkekVar. He knows to use those who are looked down like SkekTek and SkekNa for their abilities rather than their strengths, and doesn't allow SkekSil to get an opportunity to backstab him, knowing that the Chamberlain is by no means a trustworthy person. He is also an effective commander that he managed to wipe out most of the Gelfling during the Garthim War, and able to manipulate others, even SkekSil, to further his own goals. Lastly, SkekUng is one of the bravest Skeksis and the most level-headed among them, as he doesn't panic at all upon learning that there are Gelfling survivors and is one of the only Skeksis who don't beg Jen to not heal the Crystal.

Biography[]

The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance[]

SkekUng was mentioned by SkekZok on the idea of bringing the other Skeksis who were absent for help in battling against the Gelfling. The Ritual Master opinionated that SkekUng was a "strong warrior", which was true to the nature of the latter. SkekUng was later made the new General after the death of SkekVar, created and led the Garthim as they massacred the majority of the Gelfling.

The Dark Crystal[]

When the Emperor takes ill days before the Great Conjunction, the General plots to usurp the throne. His one and only challenger is the Chamberlain. The Chamberlain challenges him to Trial by Stone, a contest the General wins using his tremendous strength. As his first official act as emperor, he banishes the Chamberlain.

The General-Emperor's reign would last mere days. He grows increasingly impatient with the Scientist's inability to extract viable life essence from captured Podlings, and, when the former Chamberlain captures Kira, an act for which the General rewards him with his old position back, the Scientist lists to SkekUng that they should drain Kira's essence. The Ritual Master insists they kill her instead. The General compromises: they will drain Kira's essence, and then kill her.

After sending the Scientist away with Kira, the General convenes the Skeksis in their temple to await the Great Conjunction. In the meantime, Kira escapes and the Scientist is killed. The Skeksis are never able to successfully attain immortality from the Conjunction, both because Jen restores the shard to the Dark Crystal, restoring it, and also because the Mystics appear.

When the light from Thra's three suns shines through the Crystal of Truth, the Skeksis and the Mystics combine once more into their original, natural states. The General is combined with his Mystic counterpart to form the UrSkek UngIm.

The Power of the Dark Crystal[]

A hundred trine later, SkekUng returns along with the other Skeksis after Thurma shattered the Crystal. The Emperor holds SkekSil responsible for their imprisonment and then has him banished again, with the Ritual Master summoning the Crystal Bats to make the Chamberlain leave. The Skeksis and the Gelfling guards quarrel, resulting in the formers being imprisoned. SkekUng then manipulates the Crystalline Eminence to gaze directly into the Crystal and release the Skeksis under his orders.

After escaping, SkekUng attempts to seize Jen and Kira, but the two secure themselves in the castle's upper towers. He demands the Crystalline Eminence to tell him of a secret passage, but imprisons the latter once realizing that the exposure to the Crystal has made him insane. SkekUng then summons the Crystal Bats to attack Jen when the latter returns to the castle, but Kira rescues Jen. Frustrated, SkekUng drains the Crystalline Eminence of his essence to grow stronger and breaks down the barricades with his bare hands, eventually managing to catch up to Jen and Kira, only to be separated from them when a premature Great Conjunction summoned by the UrRu shatters the castle.

In the end, SkekUng fails to stop Thurma from restoring the Crystal and is once again merged with his counterpart.

Quotes[]

The Dark Crystal[]

I hate your whimper!
~ SkekUng to SkekSil.
Not him. I must rule.
~ SkekUng insisting he will be the emperor.
SkekUng: Chamberlain!! Lay down that scepter! I challenge!
SkekSil: Hmmm... Trial by stone?
SkekUng: Trial by STOOONE!
~ SkekUng declaring the challenge.
Find that Gelfling NOW!!
~ SkekUng
SkekTek: But sire, you could drink the essence.
SkekZok: Because of the prophecy, we must kill the Gelfling!
SkekUng: No! First we take her essence, then kill!
~ SkekUng agreeing first to SkekTek's proposition and then to SkekZok's.
As for the whimpering Chamberlain, return his robes to him.
~ SkekUng reinstating SkekSil to the latter's position as Chamberlain.
The shard! The shard is mine!
~ SkekUng as he attempts to take the crystal shard, shortly before Fizzgig bites his hand.

The Power of the Dark Crystal[]

Kill! Kill Gelfling! Let Fire-Brat escape!
~ SkekUng ordering the Skeksis.
Will of the Crystal that the next Age of Thra is Age of Skeksis!
~ SkekUng

Trivia[]

  • As the Skeksis were meant to be based on the Seven Deadly Sins, SkekUng represents Wrath.
  • In the pre-production notes for the film, SkekUng is "identified by the sound of his spurs striking on the castle floors and his complete lack of subtlety. The Garthim-Master enjoys tearing apart soft Gelflings for sport".
  • In the novelization, after having Kira drained of her essence, SkekUng becomes increasingly paranoid and attempts to kill SkekTek (unaware that the latter is already dead) and wipe out all life on Thra to secure his power.
  • Unused concept art for SkekUng implies that he was originally intended to appear in The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance, but was scrapped for unknown reasons and instead only mentioned, as his predecessor SkekVar took his place as the first General. In addition, old and new fans initially mistook the latter for SkekUng due to the two Skeksis sharing the mantle of General and nearly having similar appearances.

External Links[]

Navigation[]

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Skeksis
SkekSo | SkekUng | SkekSil | SkekZok | SkekTek | SkekAyuk | SkekNa | SkekShod | SkekOk | SkekEkt | SkekMal | SkekVar | SkekLach | SkekLi | SkekHak

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Creature Shop
Skeksis (SkekSo, SkekZok, SkekUng, SkekSil, SkekTek, SkekAyuk, SkekNa, SkekShod, SkekOk, SkekEkt, SkekMal, SkekVar, & SkekLach) | Tolyn | Seladon | Gruenaks | Darkened Creatures | Crystalline Eminence | Jareth | Goblin Army | Witches (Grand High Witch, Susan Irvine, Nicola Cuttle, Pamela, Lois Leffour, Mildred, Elizabeth, Henrietta, Jacqueline & Beatrice) | WESAYSO Corporation (B.P. Richfield, Mr. Ashland, Winston & Elliot)

Commercials
Wilkins | Mr. Wilkins | Wheel-Stealer | Flute-Snatcher | Crown-Grabber

The Happytime Murders
Jenny Peterson | Sandra Jakoby

Miscellaneous
Smoke | Bjornson the Cheesemonger

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