His Dark Materials (2019) | HBO Series Review

His Dark Materials is the new series dropping on our doorsteps from HBO. A history of spectacular production value from HBO is an important element when discussing crafting this notable novel trilogy from author Philip Pullman – a world of dripping of fantasy and rich drama.

Our most delightful, smart, and adventuresome young girl, Lyra (Dafne Keen, Logan) is offered the chance of her lifetime – it seems – when a female scholar from The North, Mrs. Coulter (Ruth Wilson), proposes she come back with her and work as her assistant. This opportunity is particularly exciting for Lyra because as a scholar and explorer herself, there’s much about The North that she wishes to tour.

After Lyra’s Uncle Asriel (James McAvoy) leaves on an expedition to The North to further investigate the phenomenon known as “dust”, Lyra is left with only one choice but to leave with Mrs. Coulter. Dust is a phenomenon being explored by Asriel and, through his research, is revealed as being only attracted to adults. What exactly this means is yet to be determined (for non book-readers).

As Lyra begins to settle in with Mrs. Coulter and her obsession with knowing, exploring, and understanding is further exposed, it becomes imperative to her that if Mrs. Coulter can’t find Lyra’s missing best friend, Roger, than she and her daemon will. A daemon – as described in the first 10 seconds of the pilot – is a human soul that has taken on the form of an animal and has a sacred bond with its human. The intricacies of this dynamic are discussed in later episodes, an unfortunate move, which we’ll come back to later.

Lyra can no longer sit still and uncovers a sinister plot which leads her onto the same path of inquisition as her Uncle Asriel. Through this adventure, Lyra meets other extraordinary individuals who, together, must face the dangerous secrets at play as they endure the egregious escapade in order to maintain the balance of the living and the dead’s fate – which are now in their hands.

Quite the introductory story which feels jam-packed, and I promise that’s not just because I’m wordy. One of the most important things to consider when taking on such a heavy fantasy story is that with the beautiful world in the palm of your hand, it can become messy quite easily. Just the same, it’s equally important to remember that details specific to your story’s world must be divulged and explained in the story, without overwhelming the audience or expecting they have the quick FAQs printed out.

Unfortunately, this is the biggest downfall of His Dark Materials. While there is exposition on the backdrop, it’s almost all at once or it’s too little too late. The investment from the audience is there from the beginning, as the production value is everything we’d expect from HBO and is *chef’s kiss* magnificent. That doesn’t alleviate the responsibility to build this universe as separate from the text regarding participant knowledge.

Thankfully, there’s so much to His Dark Materials to love and enjoy – and a little googling will get you caught up in no time. It’s certainly worth the reward to understand this well-crafted universe, as the plot thickens and you’re immediately immersed in what will happen next. Certainly, a compliment to the wildly talented cast – Dafne Keen lends her incredibly underrated performance abilities to the screen, while James McAvoy does his best James McAvoy. But Ruth Wilson’s Mrs. Coulter will send shivers up and down your spine and, quite quickly, will have you wondering just exactly what her motivation is.

So much to behold in a deliciously ripe and venturesome world, His Dark Materials delivers on spectacular performances and production. Once you get past the initial lack of clarity regarding the ins and outs of this constructed world, you’re in for a sinister treat.

His Dark Materials premieres November 4, 2019 on HBO
Starring Dafne Keen, James McAvoy, Ruth Wilson, and Lin-Manuel Miranda
Based on the original trilogy novels by Philip Pullman
Adapted for Television by Jack Thorne
*Review based on the screened episodes 1-4