His Dark Materials

[AllGoodDogs]

New BBC adaptation, looks so good, can't wait trailer here -

m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=10162256439035553&id=683285552&sfnsn=mo

[Unihorn]

colouringinpro I've loved the new books but they do feel a bit odd next to the original trilogy. La Belle Sauvage was even more fantastical than the original books whereas Secret Commonwealth was the completed opposite.

[DiseasesOfTheSheep]

I did always wonder whether there were some shapes that were just not sensible enough.

Dolphin daemons are canonical, and they're about as impractical as they come!

I thought it was terrific, although after the film, my standards were set pretty low, and I always try to appreciate these things as partially separate entities from their counterparts in print.

[DiseasesOfTheSheep]

I also think the Book of Dust is an excellent continuation of the themes of HDM - I don't think they're incongruous at all.

[HesMyLobster]

One of my favourite book series, and one I loved sharing with DD (who adored Lyra's Oxford so much she decided aged 10 that she wanted to go to university there. She's currently in her second year, and at Philip Pullman's "Jordan college" too! Truly living the dream! )
So a special series to us. We FaceTimed while watching and loved lots of it, especially compared to the film.

It looks and feels right, I like nearly all the casting (although agree Lyra is too well spoken and well mannered - roger is better) but agree with pps that there aren't enough dæmons, and they haven't properly shown how incredibly important they are - they just look like furry, talking pets at the moment.
Hopefully that will come in later episodes.
The gobblers, and the history between Lyra and the gyptians was skimmed over.
I agree although the episode generally felt quite slow paced, some of the most important elements - dæmons, gyptians, the alethiometre, felt rushed and not properly explained.
I did enjoy it and look forward to the rest.
The trailer at the end was fabulous.

[magimedi]

I was entranced - it was just as I had pictured it when reading the books. I re-read them a few weeks ago with the TV in mind.

My only moan was that Ma Costa was too young & too thin for my picture of her.

I've recorded it & will watch it again tomorrow.

[colouringinpro]

thanks unihorn

[Cooroo]

It's been a while since I read the books to my DD (10 years or more) so my memory is hazy enough that I thoroughly enjoyed that! I love Ruth Wilson (Alice in Luther!!) and she was a perfect Mrs Coulter.

Lyra looked a bit too old but that's inevitable if the actress has to portray her growing.

Really looking forward to the next episode.

[noblegiraffe]

The opening scene with the librarian about the Garden of Eden is key to understanding Dust - ‘your eyes will be opened, your daemons will take their true form and you will be as gods, knowing the difference between Good and Evil’.

Original sin - settling daemons - consciousness - attracting Dust.

It’s why the Church sees Dust as bad - it’s a consequence of Original Sin.

[PickAChew]

It felt very BBC. Some of the scenes with the Gyptians had me adding eastenders style dum dum dum dudum drumbeats.

I was hoping for something as delightful as Good Omens but clearly a bit much to ask.

The use of talcum powder on the grey hair is a bit inconsistent, too.

[boatyardblues]

As a parent who used to read aloud at bedtime, the Potter books are effing awful - boring to read and overlong. DH and I eventually cracked and told the kids they’d have to up their game and read the last couple for themselves. By contrast, the Dark Materials books are a joy - well paced, cracking dialogue and exciting for adults too.

[IamPickleRick]

I liked it. You can’t get any worse than the film, (although I did really like Eva Green in that) so for me it was lovely to watch an adaptation I didn’t hate!

James McAvoy is too nice and there aren’t nearly enough daemons. The monkey wasn’t evil enough. I was happy with Lyra, although she could have been scruffier.

[noblegiraffe]

I kept wanting to brush Lycra’s hair so I suppose that was accurate!

[VanyaHargreeves]

General placemark

Enjoyed it so far

[boatyardblues]

Jury’s out for me at the mo. It looks amazing but I found it a bit rushed. I have no idea how viewers who have not read the books would make sense of it.

[SleepingStandingUp]

We enjoyed it. DH is a huge PP fan and has read the books, found it faithful enough. I haven't read them, but could follow what was going on, assume I'll understand Dust more as it moves in etc but I read and watch lots of fantasy stuff so taking soul animals etc makes prefect sense to me

[ShinyGiratina]

Lyra should give an awkward feel, with her feral/ privilaged background and cobbled together upbringing between various staff of different levels. She was never supposed to be an endearing, wholesome character in the traditional sense. The book sets out quite quickly that she's a liar and self-serving.

I've really enjoyed it. I agree on Ma Costa not being matronly enough. I always visioned a good bussom to be hugged into I'm not sure on Lord Boreal either, as watching from our world (or Will's ) he needs to be from that classic upper-class privilaged background, and always imagined him as at that prime of male, middle-aged privilage with an oily manner with his charming facade.

Looking forwards to the next ones. My oldest is 8 and I think he's borderline on appreciating it. He's not ready for the books as he still struggles with that volume of prose, and it would be a big mission to read aloud to him.

[boilingkettle]

I love the original trilogy and have read the books multiple times. I wasn’t as impressed with The Belle Sauvage at the time but now that I’ve finished The Secret Commonwealth I appreciate it a lot more - Pullman must have had the timeline and characters plotted out from the start, as my mind was continually blown when I realised who the characters were and how they fitted into Lyra’s story.
So far so good with the adaptation - my only critique is the lack of daemons in the.busier scenes, but presuming it was a cost issue due to the CGI

[Windbeneathmybingowings]

I don’t think she is totally self serving, she feels massive guilt about Roger and is desperate to make up for it through the rest of the trilogy. She helps Iorek get his armour back.

I read her as a brave young girl who doesn’t know who or what she is yet, but able to charm anyone and who can’t be held back. She’s a good female character for girls.

[Wavyheaded]

Just caught up with it on Iplayer. I thought it was great, lush and I'm hoping it will get even better. I didn't like Lyra though, not sure why but she didn't seem very likeable to me.

I think Dust is supposed to be "dark matter" IRL. It represents 'knowledge', that is, the real hidden truth of the universe that the magisterium (which looked brilliant by the way), wants to keep hidden from the people. It was written basically as a critique of the Catholic church.. The M want it hidden, because once the people have the knowledge of the other worlds they would have 'free will'. Or something like that.

And it's all based on real quantum physics.

I could be wrong, I haven't read the books in over 10 years so can only vaguely remember what it was all about.

[lotusbell]

I enjoyed it and just about followed, having not read the books for some odd reason. Bought all 3 of the trilogy a few years ago in the hope that DS12 would read them but he never has but I want to now so will be digging them out of the attic tonight!

[Trewser]

The daemon thing was badly handled. Dd assumed only a few people had them. If all the gyptians have them how come they can afford all the rings, there must be ceremonies like that every 5 mins.

[UrsulaPandress]

The alethiometer was too small for me.

[Soubriquet]

One thing I always wondered about the daemons, can only their owner understand them?

Or could anyone hear them and understand?

It was interesting that they chose the blue faced snub nosed monkey for Mrs Coulters daemon. They are incredibly rare creatures

[UrsulaPandress]

They can certainly talk to other people.

I think a lot of the communication is through feelings/esp. and a lot if whispering. (I’m reading the Secret Commonwealth at the moment).

[lazylinguist]

Anyone can understand the daemons - they talk to other humans in the books. Yes it was a bit silly that there weren't daemons everywhere, since everyone is meant to have one!