Titles likeThe Lord of the RingsandGame of Throneshave been dominating the genre of high-fantasy for a long time, and once those movies and shows came to a close, fans searched for something similar and as immersive to sink their teeth into. Luckily, Prime Video came out withThe Wheel of Time, another high-fantasy book adaptation byRobert Jordanthat swept us away into a world with light and dark magic, a small-town Chosen One and stunning, perilous settings.
Unfortunately, the relief would be short-lived asthe series was shockingly canceledafter three seasons, leaving the rest of the Dragon Reborn’s tale to be told on the pages of Jordan’s novels rather than on the small screen. Now, to alleviate that gaping hole, there is an often overlooked series sitting on HBO that absolutely needs more traffic.His Dark Materialsis exactly what every fantasy fan needs to dig into in the wake ofThe Wheel of Time’s cancellation, as it offers a host of new favorite characters, a lived-in world, and a good old complex battle between good and evil.
What Is HBO’s ‘His Dark Materials’ About?
LikeThe Wheel of Time,His Dark Materialsis based on a successful fantasy book series of the same name byPhillip Pullman, though in the U.S., the first book was better known asThe Golden Compass. This wasn’t the first time someone tried to adapt the novels, asNicole KidmanandDaniel Craigheadlined a 2007 filmthat had an abysmal reception. As such, the BBC and HBO co-produced TV series isthe first time anyone has managed to adapt more than just the first bookin the trilogy, and it is exactly what we were hoping for.
The story follows a young girl called Lyra (Dafne Keen), who lives in a magical version of Oxford where human souls live outside the body and take the form of animals called daemons. Her journey begins with trying to save a friend in a frozen tundra, but she is soon embroiled in a larger-than-life mystery involving a substance called “Dust” that is linked to daemons. The next thing she knows,Lyra is traveling between dimensions and is involved in a major conflict against the reigning religious power called the Magisterium.
Throughout the series, we also meet her uncle, Lord Asriel (James McAvoy), the enchanting Mrs. Coulter (Ruth Wilson), the strong-willed Will Parry (Amir Wilson), and many others. Between talking polar bears called panserbjørne donned with armor and a knife that can literally slice through the fabric of reality to hop into a different dimension,His Dark Materialshas enough fantastical elements to be awed by while following a saga-worthy battle.
The World-Building in ‘His Dark Materials’ Is As Immersive as ‘The Wheel of Time’s
Good world-building is the quintessential foundation for any high-fantasy endeavor, andThe Wheel of Timegave us so many distinct terrains to get lost in, from the magical intrigue of the Tower tothe arid perils of the Aiel Wastes. Meanwhile,His Dark Materialsquite literally has multiple worlds, each having its own flair and style. This is also likely a reason why the books were better suited to a TV show rather than condensed into films, asthe episodes take their time to flesh out these worlds, making them just as immersive as more famous fantasy shows.From the winding cobbled streets of the mercantile, seaside town of Cittàgazze to the king of the panserbjørne’s, Iofur’s, stone, snowy palace, each location drops jaws just like they are supposed to. But, of course, world-building doesn’t just end at locations.
His Dark Materialshas a fascinating political and social climate, mainly due to its associations with religion. AuthorPullman described his novels as “anti-Narnia,“a tale that holds many parallels withHis Dark Materialsincluding being in the fantasy genre and having talking animals. However, it becomesNarnia’s antithesis when looking into themes of religion, morality, and childhood.Narniaevidently has strongties with Christian symbolism and allegory, whereas inHis Dark Materials, Pullman directly challenges these ideas; the crux of the series is to fight against a tyrannical religious force. However, the series is less about attacking faith and moreabout organizations who control people through censorship and misinformation, and this can be clearly felt in the show’s intrepid and then rebellious atmosphere. It is also another reason why the show works better than the 2007 film, which omitted these significant themes.
More than this, the series deals with the realities of childhood and coming-of-age in a refreshing way. Rather than idolizing virtuousness or purity,it allows its characters to tackle the changes that come with growing up, including ones that are sexual in nature. Having a female lead makes this thematic concern even more resounding and intriguing, as she is truly allowed to grow into herself mentally, emotionally, and physically.The Wheel of Timedidan incredible job with its female characters, with many of them exploring their own identities outside their romances or obligations, so fans will be delighted by even more nuanced female characters inHis Dark Materials.
The Battle Between Good and Evil Is Complex in ‘His Dark Materials’
His Dark MaterialsandThe Wheel of Timehave many things in common, but their most satisfying similarity is their indulgence in the morally gray area.The Wheel of Timehas a more definitive battle between good vs. evil, with the major antagonist quite literally being called the Dark One, but many of the characters within the series lie somewhere in between. WhileHis Dark Materialseventually does have a distinct antagonist of the Magisterium, it is not as obvious in the beginning, especially when we meet Mrs. Coulter, who is part of the ruling organization.Fans of Moiraine (Rosamund Pike) will absolutely adore Mrs. Coulter, as she is just as alluring, elusive, and blinding as the Aes Sedai initially is. But Mrs. Coulter is dignified, unruffled, and socially influential —unlike Moiraine for a lot of the series— eventually turning into an instrumental part of the show.
Looking Back, ‘The Wheel of Time’ Was Right to Introduce This Character Earlier Than the Books Did
The show may have ended prematurely, but her story was just beginning.
Wilson plays Mrs. Coulter beautifully, managing to convey all the gritty, manipulative, and sympathetic sides to her. She is almost reminiscent of Cersei Lannister (Lena Headey) inGame of Thrones, a character who became more complex when she was adapted from the page to the screen.Mrs. Coulter, Cersei, and Moiraine are the type of characters that keep us on our toes, as we are always second-guessing their motives and can’t help but be drawn to them, even when they make less than savory decisions. And surrounding Mrs. Coulter is a compelling ensemble cast that contributes tothe immersive nature ofHis Dark Materials, making sure we are enraptured from the very first episode.
His Dark Materials
