His Dark Materials

:

Season 2
  • Network: HBO
  • Series Premiere Date: Nov 3, 2019
Season #: 3, 2, 1
Metascore
71

Generally favorable reviews - based on 4 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 2 out of 4
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 4
  3. Negative: 0 out of 4
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Critic Reviews

  1. Paste Magazine
    Reviewed by: Lacy Baugher
    Nov 11, 2020
    84
    His Dark Materials finally feels as though it has found its groove in its second season. The series feels more lush, propulsive, and epic than it ever has before, with a tightly paced plot and characters we can actually care about.
  2. The Guardian
    Reviewed by: Stuart Jeffries
    Nov 9, 2020
    80
    Jack Thorne, one of my favourite TV writers (The Fades, currently on BBC iPlayer, is worth your time), revels in punching up Coulter as a combination of Iago and Lady Macbeth with a hint, at her most pantomimic, of Cruella de Vil. In Thorne’s hands, you never know what she might do next.
  3. The Independent
    Reviewed by: Ed Cumming
    Nov 9, 2020
    60
    His Dark Materials looks great, it’s robustly made, and there are great actors everywhere, occupying well-built universes. But it doesn’t doesn’t inspire as much wonder as it ought to.
  5. The Times
    Reviewed by: Carol Midgley
    Nov 9, 2020
    60
    Amir Wilson is good as Will Parry, who comes from Earth's Oxford, and Dafne Keen has barely put a foot wrong as Lyra, who comes from the "alternative" Oxford, but I'm less engaged when minors carry the bulk of the episode. It doesn't help that Lyra's daemon, Pan, sounds like the schoolboy from the Milkybar advert. ... Give it time to blossom.

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
6.9

Generally favorable reviews- based on 24 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 16 out of 24
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 24
  3. Negative: 4 out of 24
  1. SimboTheKing
    Dec 21, 2020
    6
    For such a competently made show I can't quite place my finger on why it doesn't grab me as much as I feel it should. I've read (and adore)For such a competently made show I can't quite place my finger on why it doesn't grab me as much as I feel it should. I've read (and adore) the books and this adaptation follows them extremely faithfully. The acting is good, the visuals fantastic and yet... I don't really enjoy it. I just find it average. It feels like it's not really a labour of love and I think this vibe reflects in its quality. It's well made but lacking a certain spark that the best shows do have.

    I'm gonna continue watching as it's good enough that it doesn't feel like wasted time but it's not close to the quality of the books. I'd recommend it to fans of His Dark Materials interested in what a faithful adaptation looks like (**** The Golden Compass) but I'd definitely say there's better things on TV.    … Full Review »
  2. ggdales
    Nov 22, 2020
    9
    A definite improvement from the first season. The series is beginning to hit its stride as it moves into more interesting and fantasticalA definite improvement from the first season. The series is beginning to hit its stride as it moves into more interesting and fantastical source material.… Full Review »
  3. Woundwort
    Nov 17, 2020
    10
    Lyra is brilliant. The sets are interesting Highly recommended for those who loved the books.
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