His Dark Materials Season 2

[SimonJT]

(I didn’t see another thread)

Is anyone else watching?

Her monkey randomly hurt the snake of the guard after Mrs C had walked away.

Yes I love the titles too and saw more in them after last night as well, the dust and the other worlds etc.

I thought Mrs Coulter's daemon killed the snake so the guard would die, and Lee could escape. I'm not totally sure of her motivations in doing that, but assume she was trying to save Lyra in some way by letting him go to find her, as she asks him to keep her safe (though I don't know if that's sort of a double bluff - 'keep her safe so that I can get at her')

I havaen't read any of the books and quite honestly struggled with the first series. Have enjoyed this more (although not really sure what is going on) and I think it is that I like it more when it is just the young people.

Afraid a lot of the adult characters seem (via this tv representation) a bit cliched. Maybe you need to have read the books for them to seem more rounded.

But yes costumes and architecture are really good.

I think the monkey, out of malice, hurt that hare. The snake was already dead.

I only started watching the first series last month so didn't have to wait long for this series.
The titles are so beautifully done, infact its all beautifully done.
Reminds me of when the BBC used to do family series in the lead up to Christmas back in the 80s.

The snake wasn’t dead, just knocked out - Deamons disappear into vapour when their human dies.

More things about analysing the titles.

It starts with the Big Bang, and straight away dust emerges. There’s vague angel forms in the dust.

Then you see dust leaking out, presumably into other worlds, and then forming the alethiometer.

The main section is quite obvious- Lyra, Will, subtle knife, amber spyglass. Religious architecture and music.

As it pulls out to the layered worlds, Citagazze is now central. It was visible in season 1 credits too.

There’s maybe also the mulefa world visible at this point - a mountainous, natural world.

Pulls out further into a representation of string theory. And then title.

@stumbledin I agree about the adult characters seeming clichéd. The "baddies" are totally two-dimensional moustache-twirler, with horrid-looking daemons (honestly, what hope have you in Lyra's world if your daemon is a small slithering creature? Doesn't it just signal to everyone that you're horrible? Makes me think of the Mitchell and Webb sketch "wait... Are we the baddies?!").

All except Mrs Coulter - I'm really enjoying her complex character (and her outfits). Apparently there's more exploration and development here than in the books (which I haven't read).

I think there are just too many adults generally, considering it's a children's book. This might partly explain why I could never get into it as a child. Lyra is awkwardly tearing about in an adult world trying to solve adult problems, with adult enemies.

I do like the production values though. Lovely to watch of a dark winter's evening.

@CountFosco Are you hinting at the author who Pan meets in The Secret commonwealth? Very interesting theory. Thank you.

Yes.

It struck me when watching the TV series that we never see Mrs Coulter talk to her dæmon and we never see her dæmon talk to her or other dæmons either. But we see all the other major character's dæmons interacting.

Oh goodness - they're not going to be serialising The Secret Commonwealth are they? I could live very happily without it. Miserable, depressing book ...

I loved The Secret Commonwealth...

@30not13

Is that the kitchen from Outnumbered??

I thought that too!

Very good catch. I wonder why that would be necessary, but it is not for this thread to discuss.
DS said that Mrs Coulter's daemon never talked on TV (I did not notice). They definitely talked to each other in the book.

I loved some of The Secret Commonwealth and hope to read book 2 when it comes out.

Oooh countfosco, ive read the secret commonwealth (which I loved) and that is a very interesting theory re Mrs Coulter and her daemon.

DH and I were saying that we liked we see more pan changes in this, not just the white polecat thing. We thought it must be because they haven't blown the budget on the bear CGI this time around!

Enjoying it. Esp Ruth Wilson and Lin Manuel Miranda (didn’t like Lee Scoresby much in the books but he’s a more heartfelt Indiana Jones). VERY excited about Hot Priest/Fleabag as John Parry and his deamon!

although her performance is good, don’t think Lyra was well cast. Looks/sounds wrong.

The opening titles (design and music) are just a copy of Game of Thrones!

It is isn't it. Can't claim credit for it, was discussed on this thread and was first mentioned by UrsulaPandress at about 19:29 on 20/11/2019

I think casting lyra and will is very tricky as you could easily end up with stage school performances. I think they do well, but she does look older (even though I think the actress/or is just 15?)

I have been really enjoying this second series. I think having the daemons in the fore as they are in the books was the right thing to do.
Love love Mary Malone. I loved her in the books too.
I am part wanting to watch each week, but as I know what happens I am dreading it too.
@Dozer I think the music is very GOT Esque, but I don't think the titles are. They are as good though. I just wish the sound was a bit louder for the title music, and that the announcers didn't interrupt the end credits every week.

The opening titles (design and music) are just a copy of Game of Thrones!

Interesting ... Can't comment as not a GOT aficionado. But I've had the impression lately that the opening titles of Star Trek Discovery (which I adore) are a total rip-off, aurally and visually, of WestWorld (which I had to stop watching because the relentless bleakness was just too much).

I'm finding Season 2 of HDM pretty much perfect in every way - but can't help feeling things 'kicked off' more quickly in Cittagazze in the book. But that may just be my own impatience ...

but can't help feeling things 'kicked off' more quickly in Cittagazze in the book. But that may just be my own impatience ...

You're not alone in thinking this. As I was watching episode 3 all I kept thinking was get the knife already.

I LOVE this series. It’s fantastic. Agree 100% that the casting of Mary Malone is completely spot on.

I find the music and opening credits a bit similar to The Crown, I think Lorne Balfe did the score for both?

Hahaha @Merlincat07 - I say this EVERY WEEK. Each episode has to have a scene with Mrs Coulter striding menacingly along a corridor. Makes me laugh.

Loving it here too. DD and I look forward to it every week. Even DH, who isn't really into fantasy stuff usually, seems strangely fascinated...

I agree that this is one of the best things the BBC has done.

How do people remember the level of detail in the books? Have they only just read them? I read them several years ago and loved them, but I can't remember very much.

Ruth Wilson is so elegant and is brilliant as Mrs Coulter isn't she.

Was reading last year's thread and all the discussion about lack of dæmons and was thinking it's less of an issue this time because we are in worlds without dæmons so we only have to see a few dæmons.