His Dark Materials: Season 1

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 22 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 86 Ratings

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7.3

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7.3	Your Score
7.3	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 86 Ratings

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Season Details & Credits

HBO | Season Premiere Date: November 4, 2019

Summary: The adaptation of Philip Pullman's fantasy trilogy from the BBC and HBO follows Lyra (Dafne Keen) as she searches for her kidnapped friend, makes new friends and discovers secrets people want kept hidden.

Genre(s): Drama, Action & Adventure, Fantasy

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Season 1 Episodes

7.5
S1:E8. Betrayal
Air Date: December 23, 2019
tbd
S1:E7. The Fight to the Death
Air Date: December 16, 2019
6.8
S1:E6. The Daemon-Cages
Air Date: December 9, 2019

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Metascore

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Mixed:

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Critic Reviews

100

The Independent Ed Cumming

Jan 3, 2020

His Dark Materials is worth the trip. This is a beautiful, brooding vision of Pullman’s universe, which retains the mix of childish wonder and darkness that make his books so beguiling to young adults. Read full review

Kaitlin Thomas

Oct 31, 2019

In short, this is the adaptation fans have been waiting two decades to see. Read full review

Laura Miller

Nov 1, 2019

The plot of His Dark Materials is a fusion of ripping adventure yarn and coming-of-age story; neglecting the latter in favor of the former, on the misapprehension that action pleases audiences more than character, is a mistake this production does not make. The expanse of eight episodes makes it possible to do justice to both sweeping quests and intimate conversations. Read full review

Rob Owen

Nov 4, 2019

“His Dark Materials” benefits from a mesmerizing Lorne Balfe-composed theme song and early on introduces an intriguing element of travel between dimensions but then bogs down as it moves forward to bring all the requisite characters from the book together. Read full review

RogerEbert.com Allison Shoemaker

Nov 6, 2019

The complexity has been diluted, the sharp edges sanded down. Thanks to those brilliant flashes, “His Dark Materials” remains a world worth exploring, but whether you’re comparing it to the source material or coming to it fresh, this series is—apologies for bringing in another liquid at this stage—weak tea. Read full review

Dan Fienberg

Nov 1, 2019

This His Dark Materials nails much of what makes the books pop and both the special effects and a star-studded cast led by Dafne Keen and Ruth Wilson are in fine form. What never fully worked for me in the four episodes, out of the eight-episode first season, sent to critics is the necessary feeling of narrative and thematic momentum. It's vastly better than the movie, but neither fun nor smart enough to quite succeed. Read full review

Caroline Framke

Oct 24, 2019

The most jarring part of the series, however, is that it somehow renders the potentially vast, bleak, mysterious world of “His Dark Materials” into something more generic. Despite the rich complexities of the novel’s world of daemons, power-hungry players and warring faiths, HBO’s “His Dark Materials” feels like it could have been plucked from most any other fantasy epic out there. Read full review

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User Score

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7.3

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User Reviews

Quixomatic

Nov 11, 2019

The casting is definitely poor, especially for Mrs. Coulter and Billy Costa's older brother. However, the production quality is extremely impressive and the acting is spot on. Nice to have an entire season for the first book, but the slow pacing may turn some people off to the show. TheThe casting is definitely poor, especially for Mrs. Coulter and Billy Costa's older brother. However, the production quality is extremely impressive and the acting is spot on. Nice to have an entire season for the first book, but the slow pacing may turn some people off to the show. The first two episodes are definitely building to some exciting events. The Magisterium is well portrayed and explained in this series, unlike the movie which didn't spend a single moment on that governing body. Overall the acting, setting, sfx, ost/score are incredible. Hoping they finally do this book series justice, as I've been waiting for a reboot ever since The Golden Compass failed/was squashed.

I will update my score as the season continues, but so far I am very happy with the first two episodes.… Expand

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

nomfull

Nov 5, 2019

Wonderful. While watching, I cried several times at how well done it is. Highly recommended!

0 of 4 users found this helpful04

bucaneiro

Nov 25, 2019

After 4 episodes, I can say that: it's well written, well performed, well directed, nice, so see, well paced. If it sucks, I'll be back and change my vow, but now this is something you need to see.Depois de 4 episódios, posso dizer que: está bem escrito, bem atuado, bem dirigido, agradável,After 4 episodes, I can say that: it's well written, well performed, well directed, nice, so see, well paced. If it sucks, I'll be back and change my vow, but now this is something you need to see.Depois de 4 episódios, posso dizer que: está bem escrito, bem atuado, bem dirigido, agradável, então veja, bem ritmado. Se virar uma merda, voltarei e mudare meu voto, mas agora isto é algo que você precisa ver.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

GuilhermeCursi

Nov 10, 2019

Como ainda a série tem apenas 1 ep exibido não se dar pra falar muito sobre a mesma. Mas alguns pontos que se podem destacar tanto pra bom quanto pra mal são:
Bons visuais
Boas atuações
Roteiro arrastado e bem devagar
Mistério no ar

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

Elthor

Dec 30, 2019

To frame my review properly, you must first understand that I've read Pullman's first book and hated it. As such I didn't read the subsequent books or see the theatrical film. Positive reviews are the ONLY reason I gave the series a chance.

So how is it? Generally good. In my opinionTo frame my review properly, you must first understand that I've read Pullman's first book and hated it. As such I didn't read the subsequent books or see the theatrical film. Positive reviews are the ONLY reason I gave the series a chance.

So how is it? Generally good. In my opinion better than the book, but the source material is still awful. Religion is evil, parents are bad people, the chosen one girl will save everyone by stumbling around blindly getting people killed, all while children are being murdered or seriously messed up. Ick.

The whole cast is solid. Of note: Dafne Keen, who is expected to carry the series, handles her role extraordinarily well for her age. Who doesn't love Ruth Wilson when she is being deliciously evil? And James McAvoy handles a complicated character expertly.

My first serious complaint with the series itself is that it is occasionally painfully painfully slow. Additionally, what I assume is material from books two and three is interspersed in the first season. While that may improve later seasons by getting it out of the way early, it is a dead weight on this season's already problematic pacing.

My other problem is that for a special effects heavy series, the budget short cuts are even more obvious when they happen.
A girl riding a polar bear? There are frequent shots of a girl bobbing up and down on screen without showing what is under her. Daemons may disappear from the screen for extended periods even though you expect them to always be present. Armored bears have 'fire hurlers'. Which sounds really cool, but although they are supposedly being used at one point, you never get to see one or fire being hurled.
It's hard to believe HBO would skimp on the budget for a show like this, so I can only assume the director/showrunners are to blame.

I give this a solid 2 'meh' rating. Not an important series to watch, probably more for hardcore Pullman fans.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

YoungerReviewer

Nov 16, 2019

So far the first two episodes have ben intriguing about I can see that not lasting for the full season. The main story isn't that interesting but the whole world and premise of the series is what makes it good. Once the magic wears off that could change unless they through a big plot change.So far the first two episodes have ben intriguing about I can see that not lasting for the full season. The main story isn't that interesting but the whole world and premise of the series is what makes it good. Once the magic wears off that could change unless they through a big plot change. I would watch it for now and see if it interests you.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Yourmumsbills

Nov 4, 2019

I have mixed feelings about this one..not too keen on some of the casting. James McAvoys' Lord Asriel doesn't really have the presence or character described by the book, he seems small and not in any way imposing. Ruth Wilson as Mrs Coulter is even worse. Acting wise She plays the part veryI have mixed feelings about this one..not too keen on some of the casting. James McAvoys' Lord Asriel doesn't really have the presence or character described by the book, he seems small and not in any way imposing. Ruth Wilson as Mrs Coulter is even worse. Acting wise She plays the part very well, but Mrs Coulter is supposed to have an almost ethereal beauty that people are powerless against, which is a major part of her character (her external beauty in contrast to her
ugly evil side displayed by her unsightly daemon) sadly Ruth Wilson does not pull this off at all. (Whether you liked the film or not, no one could deny Nicole Kidman played this part perfectly) On the bright side Dafne Keen as Lyra is brilliant as is most of the rest of the cast (with the exception of the kid playing Tony Costa, who i kept expecting to say bruv
at the end of every sentence) apart from some dubious casting the story is being well told so far, and as Philip Pullman himself is executive producer this
series should hopefully do the books justice.… Expand

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

SEE ALL 20 REVIEWS

Seasons & Episodes

69

Series Overview
Season 1

69
- Season 1 Overview
  Air Date: November 4, 2019
- 7.5
  S1:E8. Betrayal
  Air Date: December 23, 2019
- tbd
  S1:E7. The Fight to the Death
  Air Date: December 16, 2019
- 6.8
  S1:E6. The Daemon-Cages
  Air Date: December 9, 2019
- 8.0
  S1:E5. The Lost Boy
  Air Date: December 2, 2019
- 8.0
  S1:E4. Armour
  Air Date: November 25, 2019
- 7.8
  S1:E3. The Spies
  Air Date: November 18, 2019
- 7.6
  S1:E2. The Idea of North
  Air Date: November 11, 2019
- 8.1
  S1:E1. Lyra's Jordan
  Air Date: November 4, 2019