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His Dark Materials TV Series |OT| UK - BBC One, Sundays; RoW - HBO, Mondays [See spoiler guide in OP]
- Thread starter CeeCee
- Start date
Yes, but it should be mentioned that there are also elements from book 2 and from the prequel.
Just watched the third episode, and I'm really enjoying this. Wilson and Keene are both brilliantly cast, and I really like that they've got a lot of diversity in there too, with many black actors in key roles and even the dude with the small arms (sorry if that seems insensitive but I don't know the proper medical term) whose disability was prominent but not focused on. It's also a gorgeous programme. Like, the colours and landscapes and cinematography are all beautiful. The scene where Lyra figured out the alethiometer was brilliant.
So yeah, I'm loving this so far. I also can't wait until they meet Iorek!
So yeah, I'm loving this so far. I also can't wait until they meet Iorek!
I wouldn't call that enhanced, the puppets are there for a detailed reference (rather than the golfball on a stick of yesteryear), they're very much all replaced.
Very good on BBC, not much on HBO. But it's a BBC show anyway.
Episode 1 question.
Why does the Master arrange for Lyra to be adopted by Coulter if he knows she is up to no good?
Why does the Master arrange for Lyra to be adopted by Coulter if he knows she is up to no good?
He has no choice in the matter.
The alethiometer told him she has to leave and do stuff. He can't tell her no if she really wants to take her.
Behind on this but just watched E2, can someone remind me about things from the novels, please, as it's been years since I read them.
Was there even any world hopping in the first novel? I was a bit surprised at the Magisterium guy just hopping a window in the second episode of the series.
Also, was that window really in some abandoned greenhouse in Oxford? Is that new or in the novel?
Finally, for some reason I was remembering that a person's daemon disappeared when someone from Lyra's works came to Earth (or a world where daemons aren't a thing) and became like a "normal" internalized soul? Am I wrong?
Also, was that window really in some abandoned greenhouse in Oxford? Is that new or in the novel?
Finally, for some reason I was remembering that a person's daemon disappeared when someone from Lyra's works came to Earth (or a world where daemons aren't a thing) and became like a "normal" internalized soul? Am I wrong?
There was not, although it presumably was happening offscreen as Boreal had been living in "our" world for quite some time. The downside of showing it is that it diminishes both Asriel's act at the end of the first season/book and the opening of the 2nd one.
No mention of any greenhouse window, but I guess the location is not that important.
As for your last point, I think you're misremembering. Daemons stay visible once they are afaik, no matter the world.
No mention of any greenhouse window, but I guess the location is not that important.
As for your last point, I think you're misremembering. Daemons stay visible once they are afaik, no matter the world.
Big day for Dudley. He also got vaporized by a Martian tripod!
Yes. Especially for fans of the book.
Some of the dialogue is a bit clunky when it comes to exposition, but the casting, acting, production design, effects are all top-notch.
Just heard the voice, it's great.
Also, damn he looked fantastic both at distance and even in that really close up when he went right up next to Lyra.
Lyra tough talking a bear hehe.
Love having all this screentime with James Cosmo's character.
And now feels and comedy.
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This was definitely the strongest episode thus far. Precocious, outspoken, willful Lyra on display. Amazingly realistic depiction of Iorek. A story that adhered much closer to the actual novel (minus side plots and Lee Scoresby).
"That seems fair" :D
LOL that guy's little whimper.
"And who's this?"
LMAO John
I love his sassy rabbit
We've got ourselves a bear!
"And who's this?"
LMAO John
I love his sassy rabbit
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Dafne Keen has an excellent "big smile" for this sort of childish mischief.
Lee Scorsby and Hester, my spirit characters 😭❤️ I've loved them since I was a wee one.
Edit: I LOVE HESTER SO MUCH SHE IS SO PERFECT.
Iorek ❤️❤️❤️
This is all hitting me right in the heart.
Actually really enjoying LMM as Lee, though his accent is going a little in and out right now haha. But I definitely think he's super charming as Lee (even though Lee has always been "old grey grizzled Texan").
Edit: I LOVE HESTER SO MUCH SHE IS SO PERFECT.
Iorek ❤️❤️❤️
This is all hitting me right in the heart.
Actually really enjoying LMM as Lee, though his accent is going a little in and out right now haha. But I definitely think he's super charming as Lee (even though Lee has always been "old grey grizzled Texan").
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Loving the new characters of Iorek, Lee and Hester. The CGI for the bears is incredibly good. I thought they'd cheap out on the bears talking, but they didn't do that at all. This was my favorite episode of the series. So this episode confirmed Mrs. Coulter to be a witch right (since she can seperate from her deamon)? Speaking of Mrs. Coulter I just love how conniving and manipulative she is (and Ruth Wilson has been fantastic).
Best episode so far for me. Iorek is awesome and doesn't feel out of place at all, good work on the cgi team. Lee and Hester are great additions to this, they brighten up the mood and are fun to see, something that felt missing from this show. Lyra is really starting to get into groove, she was great this episode. I haven't read the books, and something about the plot of this show felt off to me, idk, but with more characters joining the fray and the focus narrowing to the north, I'm really starting to get into this.
And I just gotta say, this show looks gorgeous. Something about the way they do colors looks so much better than other tv shows.
And I just gotta say, this show looks gorgeous. Something about the way they do colors looks so much better than other tv shows.
Also. I will say. Just kind of reading through the thread a bit and the criticisms of the show not really caring about the twists of Lyra's parents is very true to the book haha.
Lord Faa and Farder Coram tell Lyra almost immediately when she ends up with the Gyptians by telling the story Ma Costa told in the show. Lyra is like "huh. Okay" and everyone moves on lol. There's a short paragraph dedicated to "Lyra had to reorient her own story" and the paragraph after is like "But Lyra was a child so she didn't give a fuck. There was a cool town to explore" lol.
The one thing they're missing right now with the reveal is that
Not really a spoiler but I'll put it in spoilers because it may lead to some funny scenes later in the show lol.
But Phillip Pullman is generally very understated and doesn't linger on twists. 🤷🏻♀️
Lord Faa and Farder Coram tell Lyra almost immediately when she ends up with the Gyptians by telling the story Ma Costa told in the show. Lyra is like "huh. Okay" and everyone moves on lol. There's a short paragraph dedicated to "Lyra had to reorient her own story" and the paragraph after is like "But Lyra was a child so she didn't give a fuck. There was a cool town to explore" lol.
The one thing they're missing right now with the reveal is that
since Lyra is a storyteller, she starts asking to hear the story over and over and then starts making up more implausible things about Asriel and Coulter together haha.
Not really a spoiler but I'll put it in spoilers because it may lead to some funny scenes later in the show lol.
But Phillip Pullman is generally very understated and doesn't linger on twists. 🤷🏻♀️
Wow, Iorek is amazing. They really nailed the performance and by god, this is some of the best CGI I've seen in years.
And I'm just in love with Ruth Wilson's performance too. She's absolutely pitch-perfect as a conniving and manipulative villain who is intimidated by no-one. It's one of my favourite castings in film or TV ever at this point. She's just deliciously wicked.
And I'm just in love with Ruth Wilson's performance too. She's absolutely pitch-perfect as a conniving and manipulative villain who is intimidated by no-one. It's one of my favourite castings in film or TV ever at this point. She's just deliciously wicked.
Yep! And he was in the Ballad of Buster Scruggs doing a brilliant job as the guy with no arms or legs.
Really enjoyed this episode, the bear was great. I found the book in a charity shop so I'm going to read it and see how it compares.
It has been some time since I've read the books, can someone refresh my memory on the "rules" around human-daemon communication?
I'm aware that someone's daemon will tend not to speak to another human (though can and will do on occasion), but what about overhearing conversations between a human and their daemon?
In the last episode, Lyra overhears Lee's daemon when she enters the bar, but nobody else round there seemed to hear it saying that they stole from everyone?
I'm a bit confused, or should I just take that as artistic liberty?
I'm aware that someone's daemon will tend not to speak to another human (though can and will do on occasion), but what about overhearing conversations between a human and their daemon?
In the last episode, Lyra overhears Lee's daemon when she enters the bar, but nobody else round there seemed to hear it saying that they stole from everyone?
I'm a bit confused, or should I just take that as artistic liberty?
I don't know how much is puppetry and how much is CGI, but the movement of the animals is fantastic. Serafina's daemon, Iofur, Hester all have perfect physicality and mannerisms of real-world birds, bears and hares, while also being convincing sentient beings. It would heave been so easy to get it wrong.
Goddamn, they did my boy Iorek right. This is absolutely going from strength to strength. Is there any info on ratings/general success?
EDIT: Also, curious why they changed Kaisa from a goose to a hawk?
EDIT: Also, curious why they changed Kaisa from a goose to a hawk?
So I didn't comment on episode 3 mostly because it didn't give me any strong feelings either way. Episode 4 on the other hand was great, I loved it, best ep so far. Focusing the early scenes on Lee was a great choice, the show was crying out for his personality amongst all the dour seriousness. I hadn't appreciated just how lacking in life the show might be without Lyra's internal monologue which does a lot of heavy lifting in the early parts of the book. Now there's an ensemble with fun dynamics to work with.
Iorek was awesome. Hester is delightful. And the writing and directing felt like they had finally gotten to the parts that they actually wanted to make. In fact, after the first 3 eps crammed and rushed a lot of content that is kind of montaged in the book, I can now see a clear structure for the rest of the episodes.
Iorek was awesome. Hester is delightful. And the writing and directing felt like they had finally gotten to the parts that they actually wanted to make. In fact, after the first 3 eps crammed and rushed a lot of content that is kind of montaged in the book, I can now see a clear structure for the rest of the episodes.
I took it as artistic liberty combined with people deliberately ignoring him like the previous time.
It's doing really well in the UK, 9.7m viewers for episode 1 then over 7m for 2-4. The only shows with higher ratings are the latest big-budget David Attenborough nature documentary, and the two big celebrity reality shows.
A very different take on Lee than Sam Elliott's wise old cowboy, this one has more Han Solo (and a little Starlord), but it works for this particular version of the books. Having Iorek and Lee in to complete Lyra's party for the journey is an obvious narrative boost, the show feels like it has a lot more momentum at the end of this episode.
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It's all CGI which honestly makes it even more impressive. They have puppets, but they only use those for rehearsals.