After more than three decades, Jim Henson's "Fraggle Rock" received a full-series revival Friday on Apple TV+, fashioned as a 13-part serial, with episodic elements, that plays adroitly to the original's themes of interdependence and self-acceptance. Apple had earlier streamed "Fraggle Rock: Rock On!," a modestly produced series of shorts from Year One of the pandemic, modeled on Zoom calls and remote musical collaborations and clearly meant to impart to younger viewers a sense that even if things were no longer normal, they could still be good. As with all things Fraggle, some of it may have rubbed off on their parents as well.
"Back to the Rock" is anything but a modest production. There have been substantial advances in puppetry and digital effects since the first series, which ran from 1983 to 1987; the 21st century high-resolution widescreen television allows for bigger sets, bigger crowds, bigger production numbers — a water ballet, a "Soul Train" dance line — and more details in the characters and clothing. The Grand Hall of the Fraggles is really grand (with a waterfall, and a Doozer monorail running through it). The photography and lighting are first-rate. It is all quite beautiful.
Most importantly, "Back to the Rock," developed by Alex Cuthbertson and Matt Fusfeld (whose credits include "New Girl" and "Community" but nothing with puppets or for children), has been made with a believer's fealty to the original, in terms of character, humor — it's very funny — and its main message: We are all connected and must learn to listen.
