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Season 1 – His Dark Materials

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1:35

Nov 2019

Adventure

Fantasy

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

77%

Tomatometer

114 Reviews

82%

Popcornmeter

1,000+ Ratings

During her search for a kidnapped friend, a seemingly ordinary but brave young woman from another world uncovers a sinister plot involving stolen children and a mysterious phenomenon called Dust.

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Critics Consensus

The daemon is in the details and while His Dark Materials' visual splendor and exceptional performances deftly capture the essence of Philip Pullman's seminal novels, it could use a little more magic.

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Scott Bryan

BBC.com

07/15/2020

It's really good in its accuracy, plotting and acting - but the first episode has so much set up.

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Boyd Hilton

Empire Magazine

12/07/2019

4/5

Pullman's elaborate world of talking spirit animals, arcane gadgets and massive airships is beautifully realised, and half-way through the series, Lin-Manuel Miranda arrives as thrill-seeking adventurer Lee Scorseby, just to ratchet everything up a notch.

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Hunter Johnson

Dallas Morning News

12/06/2019

For every exceptional scene, another is either too familiar or too meh.

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Rick Marshall

Digital Trends

07/13/2021

HBO hasn't lost its knack for world-building on a grand scale, and His Dark Materials is yet another story that sweeps its audience along in all the right ways.

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Tony Black

Cultural Conversation

02/16/2021

3/5

A slick adaptation lacking in magic.

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Luke Y. Thompson

SuperHeroHype

08/20/2020

...the best version of Philip Pullman's Northern Lights (a.k.a. The Golden Compass) to exist in any form...and that includes the book

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ben F

@BenFranz Jun 29

Nope not feeling it. I’m having a hard time focusing on the story and somewhat bored. It just dives into storyline leaving you lost, not knowing who is who. Direction is a miss.

Mark H

@Liminal_Bird Mar 2

I read an article that talked about a fantasy series that stuck the landing after Wheel of Time was canceled. This was fantasy and sci fi, discussed big ideas, and did not disappoint. Truly a great work of art

Freddie T

@FredPABLO2011 Feb 12

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Adam D.

@neph-lon Sep 28

Completely immersive and captivating. The seasons build up to a crescendo that does not disappoint. The characters are all true to the book and multi-faceted. Lyra’s growth from childhood to adulthood is so well done across the 3 seasons. On of the most successful book to film adaptations.

Mae A

@RT17966072 07/06/2025

As a fan of the books I cannot understand this interpretation. Creating a version of the story that changes from the original can be fun but when the changes undermine who the characters are or the meaning of the original work it tends to bother me greatly. The Daemons were underutilized, the casting choices beyond confusing (Will was my favorite casting but the rest were very odd) and the portrayal of Lyra with the Gyptians was downright upsetting. They even made Lord Asriel nicer for some reason and why was everyone but Lyra so young? I could never recommend this as more than a hate watch but I also wanted some consistency with the books beyond character names and the overarching plot.

Zahara P

@Lilacz 03/28/2025

One of the best, if not the BEST adaptation ever. So we'll done.

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Dafne Keen

Lyra Belacqua

Ruth Wilson

Marisa Coulter

Lin-Manuel Miranda

Lee Scoresby

James McAvoy

Lord Asriel

James Cosmo

Farder Coram

Anne-Marie Duff

Ma Costa

Episode 1

Aired Nov 3, 2019

Lyra's Jordan

Orphan Lyra Belacqua's world is upended by her long-absent uncle's return from the North, while the glamorous Mrs. Coulter visits Jordan College with a proposition.

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Episode 2

Aired Nov 10, 2019

The Idea of North

Lyra arrives at her new life in London, determined to find Roger with Mrs. Coulter's help; the Gyptians continue their search for the missing children and the elusive Gobblers.

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Episode 3

Aired Nov 17, 2019

The Spies

Following her kidnapping, Lyra falls in with a new group but struggles to know who to trust.

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Episode 4

Aired Nov 24, 2019

Armour

Arriving North, Lyra seeks allies in the witches, an aeronaut and an armored bear.

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Episode 5

Aired Dec 1, 2019

The Lost Boy

The alethiometer sends Lyra and Iorek on a new path, leading to a shocking but vital clue.

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Episode 6

Aired Dec 8, 2019

The Daemon-Cages

Lyra finds what she is looking for in the far North, but needs to survive.

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Episode 7

Aired Dec 15, 2019

The Fight to the Death

Lyra must use her methods of deception to outwit a formidable foe.

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Episode 8

Aired Dec 22, 2019

Betrayal

As the Magisterium closes in, Lyra learns more about Asriel's rebellion, but her assistance to him comes at great personal cost.

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