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 99 Ratings

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7.2	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 99 Ratings

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Season Details & Credits

HBO | Season Premiere Date: November 3, 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, Science Fiction

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Season 1 Episodes

6.6
S1:E8. Betrayal
Air Date: December 23, 2019
tbd
S1:E8. Betrayal
Air Date: December 22, 2019
5.5
S1:E7. The Fight to the Death
Air Date: December 16, 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

Daniel 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 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 5 users found this helpful14

raskolnikov41

Nov 12, 2019

Acting, CGI and directing in this tv show is amazing. The perfection of Dafne Keen and James Mcavoy is keeping me excited throughout episodes. The storytelling is also the best. It gives me Harry Potter vibes. If you are looking for a fantasy world to escape from the real world problems,Acting, CGI and directing in this tv show is amazing. The perfection of Dafne Keen and James Mcavoy is keeping me excited throughout episodes. The storytelling is also the best. It gives me Harry Potter vibes. If you are looking for a fantasy world to escape from the real world problems, this is what you need.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

rsf5797

Jan 26, 2020

Grande serie TV. Non vedo l'ora che arrivi la seconda stagione. Finora d'applausi.

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

LouAnnD

Dec 2, 2019

Really enjoying Ruth Wilson in this series. Otherwise a lot of bad acting, even by my secret husband, James McAvoy. Lin Manuel Miranda is the worst offender. Why is he the only character with an American accent?(besides the visits to the other "America" dimension). It screams its YA origins.

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

UncleWillard

Nov 4, 2019

Seems to be making the same mistakes the movie made, but with less style and talent. I have not read the books, but I imagine they enthrall with a steam punk and swashbuckling adventure set in a fully imagined and densely packed world. Unfortunately, that rarely translates to the screen forSeems to be making the same mistakes the movie made, but with less style and talent. I have not read the books, but I imagine they enthrall with a steam punk and swashbuckling adventure set in a fully imagined and densely packed world. Unfortunately, that rarely translates to the screen for with either newcomers or book veterans. I get an unwelcome Potter/Narnia vibe too.… Expand

2 of 3 users found this helpful21

Skeletor71

Nov 12, 2019

Maybe the source material just isn't as good as people remember it to be, because this is like Potter, but somehow for a younger audience?!

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

71

Series Overview
Season 3

77
- Season 3 Overview
  Air Date: December 5, 2022
Season 2

71
- Season 2 Overview
  Air Date: November 8, 2020
Season 1

69
- Season 1 Overview
  Air Date: November 3, 2019
- 6.6
  S1:E8. Betrayal
  Air Date: December 23, 2019
- tbd
  S1:E8. Betrayal
  Air Date: December 22, 2019
- 5.5
  S1:E7. The Fight to the Death
  Air Date: December 16, 2019
- tbd
  S1:E7. The Fight to the Death
  Air Date: December 15, 2019
- 6.3
  S1:E6. The Daemon-Cages
  Air Date: December 9, 2019
- tbd
  S1:E6. The Daemon-Cages
  Air Date: December 8, 2019
- 7.0
  S1:E5. The Lost Boy
  Air Date: December 2, 2019
- tbd
  S1:E5. The Lost Boy
  Air Date: December 1, 2019
- 6.9
  S1:E4. Armour
  Air Date: November 25, 2019
- tbd
  S1:E4. Armour
  Air Date: November 24, 2019
- 6.9
  S1:E3. The Spies
  Air Date: November 18, 2019
- tbd
  S1:E3. The Spies
  Air Date: November 17, 2019
- 7.1
  S1:E2. The Idea of North
  Air Date: November 11, 2019
- tbd
  S1:E2. The Idea of North
  Air Date: November 10, 2019
- 7.5
  S1:E1. Lyra's Jordan
  Air Date: November 4, 2019
- tbd
  S1:E1. Lyra's Jordan
  Air Date: November 3, 2019