His Dark Materials - Episode 1: Lyra's Jordan + Episode 2: The Idea of the North
HIS DARK MATERIALS - HBO + BBC
His Dark Materials, in its first few hours, is a slow and adequate start to an ambitious new series for those who adore the fantasy genre. Co-produced by HBO and BBC, this new adaptation — after the disastrous attempt of a new franchise in 2007s The Golden Compass — of Phillip Pullman's bestselling trilogy of the same name promises to be faithful to the spirit of its source material.
Never rushing in its plot progression and always demanding full attention, writer Jack Thorne utilises workman-like storytelling, preferring to take the audiences into the world and its lore first through substantial yet digestible amounts of exposition before moving its plot forward. The story is reasonably intriguing, establishing engaging mysteries and questions to maintain engrossment for future episodes while providing thought-provoking allusions to the oppressive divisions of religion in the real world with its fictional universe.
It is still flawed, however, with certain world-building elements introduced too early in the first two episodes, already oversaturated with the construction of its mythology. Plot contrivances are occasionally shoehorned in order to speed everything up a bit. One such example is a one-note character near the final moments of The Idea of the North, whose presence is sudden and without build-up and her only purpose is to share crucial information about one of its significant characters that result to an important decision for the protagonist.
There is always a sense of wonder when characters arrive in a different setting as Lorne Balfe's majestic score blasts with awe. Production designer Joel Collins does a great job, blending actual sets with digital effects — specifically the Daemons who are almost naturally animated into its larger-than-life universe — the latter serving as a cherry-on-top visual aesthetic. The editing from Niven Howie and Sam Williams can be off-putting, stitching scenes in one location without exploring the entire set thoroughly. However, it does give off an urgency that's beneficial to the audience’s continued involvement.
The cast is consistently impressive, with the child actors all delivering the best they can with the material they are given. Ruth Wilson as Mrs Coulter is capable of being both mysterious and sinister yet caring and sophisticated, like the complex villain her character is. Nevertheless, Dafne Keen stands out the most among her talented co-stars, boasting a considerable amount of range to play Lyra Belacqua, the series' heart and soul. Keen displays bewilderment, curiosity, courage and vulnerability terrifically — quickly noting her as a compelling protagonist to root for.
His Dark Materials is released on HBO and BBC every Sunday and Monday, respectively.
