His Dark Materials

Post by **peter** » Sun Nov 24, 2019 8:28 pm

I've seen the first three episodes of this HBO/BBC collaboration and am impressed. Anybody else watching?

I read the books ages ago, really enjoyed them - but the final third of the last one lost me. I simply lost the plot with it and became confused as to what was going on. I also enjoyed the film version of The Golden Compass that came out a few years ago, but did so badly that they never made the rest of the films, so I still don't know what the flip it was all about! Maybe this time I'll get some clarity.

Post by **Sorus** » Mon Nov 25, 2019 2:53 am

Am watching. Read the first book when it first came out and wasn't into it enough to continue, but I apparently remember bits and pieces about how various characters are connected.

It's confusing to me that some of the daemons talk and some don't. Why doesn't the monkey talk?

Post by **Skyweir** » Mon Nov 25, 2019 3:13 am

Spoiler

The monkey might not be a daemon. Particularly if whatshername is actually of our world. I could be totally wrong but ... hasnt now Lyras dad is possibly of our world. Or have I missed something here?

highly possible, I havent read the books.

I enjoyed Golden Compass the movie and thought theyd make a sequel but havent read the books. Glad to watch the tv series to hopefully get a better picture.

Its ok ... am enjoying it enough to keep watching it. Seems very kiddy telly ... but will give it the rest of the season.

Post by **Avatar** » Mon Nov 25, 2019 5:44 am

Yeah, couldn't get into the first episode. Talking animals is not ideal for me.

--A

Post by **peter** » Mon Nov 25, 2019 7:38 am

Pullman was always in the shadow of J K Rowling (a bit anyway) but the Dark Materials books were much darker and dealt with more complex themes really (though in fairness I have not read the Harry Potter books so my knowledge is based second hand on the films).

For those who don't know the story I'd advise sticking with it - I think it goes in quite a shocking direction really, and looses it's childhood aspects in the deeper metaphors yet to come.

Post by **Skyweir** » Mon Nov 25, 2019 8:18 am

Well on that recommendation.. I will stick with it.

Post by **peter** » Mon Nov 25, 2019 7:11 pm

I'm four in Sky, and it's holding up ok. Not to damn it with faint praise, it's not going to set the world on fire but it makes for easy viewing that doesn't demand too much of you. Sometimes that's all you need.

Post by **Skyweir** » Mon Nov 25, 2019 8:09 pm

Agree wholeheartedly

Post by **Sorus** » Mon Nov 25, 2019 11:49 pm

Avatar wrote:Yeah, couldn't get into the first episode. Talking animals is not ideal for me.

--A

I'm totally fine with talking animals, but it was confusing for a couple of episodes because I use closed captioning and for some reason it wasn't always obvious who was talking. Well, Pantalaimon is usually obvious, but the leopard and another were confusing.

The leopard is really cool though. Guessing it's full CGI, but very well done.

Skyweir wrote:
Spoiler
The monkey might not be a daemon. Particularly if whatshername is actually of our world. I could be totally wrong but ... hasnt now Lyras dad is possibly of our world. Or have I missed something here? highly possible, I havent read the books.

Spoiler

That's an interesting theory. I don't remember from the book. Definitely more than a pet though - they're connected somehow.

Post by **Skyweir** » Tue Nov 26, 2019 7:23 am

Sorus wrote:
Avatar wrote:Yeah, couldn't get into the first episode. Talking animals is not ideal for me.

--A
I'm totally fine with talking animals, but it was confusing for a couple of episodes because I use closed captioning and for some reason it wasn't always obvious who was talking. Well, Pantalaimon is usually obvious, but the leopard and another were confusing.

The leopard is really cool though. Guessing it's full CGI, but very well done.

Skyweir wrote:
Spoiler
The monkey might not be a daemon. Particularly if whatshername is actually of our world. I could be totally wrong but ... hasnt now Lyras dad is possibly of our world. Or have I missed something here? highly possible, I havent read the books.

Spoiler
That's an interesting theory. I don't remember from the book. Definitely more than a pet though - they're connected somehow.

Ok .. I think they are in some way too but

Spoiler

They can be apart which is unusual .. and wasnt there a scene where the monkey was hurt and she wasnt?

I might have some of it confused as its a new construct for me.

Post by **Sorus** » Wed Nov 27, 2019 2:11 am

Episode 4 spoiler:

Spoiler

Or she's a witch. But I think it's something more sinister. The monkey not only doesn't talk; it seems to be afraid of her.

Post by **Cagliostro** » Thu Dec 05, 2019 4:50 pm

I wanna watch, but am without HBO at the moment. I read the first book and had the same feeling as Sorus, despite how much my sister loved them. I've always meant to continue the story as my sister said it just keeps getting better. The movie was just meh as well. But I'm very interested in this adaptation.

Post by **Rigel** » Tue Dec 10, 2019 5:25 pm

This is one of those series that I always heard good things about but never got around to reading. I also skipped the movie version.

But I saw the first three episodes, and it's one of those things where I just forget to continue later. That is, I'll watch it when I have time, and seem to enjoy it, but on another day it won't even pop in my head to check the next episode.

Every now and then I run into video games like this as well, where I literally don't think to play them even though I'm in the middle of the story.

Post by **Sorus** » Tue Dec 17, 2019 11:45 pm

Yeah, I'm a couple of episodes behind because it's not one of those zomg there's a new episode tonight shows for me. It actually just clicked that the actress who plays Lyra was also the girl from Logan.

Post by **Rigel** » Wed Jan 01, 2020 12:54 am

So Cameraman Jenn was low-key nudging me to finish the series, and I did last night, and WHAT THE WHATTITY WHAT WHAT McWHATERSON WHAT

(Actual words used replaced out of respect for the Watch)

Yeah, now I have to read the books. I ain't waiting another year or two for the next series to come out.

Post by **Cameraman Jenn** » Thu Jan 16, 2020 2:39 am

Rigel kept asking me what was about to happen so I just smiled and kept silent and he literally leapt off the couch and yelled at the end of the final episode of the season. I am loving the series so far.

Post by **peter** » Thu Jan 16, 2020 4:14 am

I'm nearly at the end now and am impressed. They've done a fine job at tackling some of the difficult issues that the books encompass and haven't sugar-coated them to any great degree. The CGI is good and the lass who plays Lara great. All in all a good adaption.

Post by **Cameraman Jenn** » Thu Feb 13, 2020 3:47 am

Rigel and I have our friends Teresa and Monte over on Sundays and we have been watching it over again with them. We watch two episodes and make dinner and it's been tons of fun watching them see it for the first time.

Post by **Skyweir** » Thu Feb 27, 2020 12:14 pm

Oooh very cool

so looking forward to more.

Post by **Cagliostro** » Thu May 14, 2020 9:03 pm

Ok, I got hooked up with HBO GO so I've started watching it. I still haven't shaken the feeling that it just isn't my thing, but if I can make it through, then I'll reserve my judgment until the end of the first season. I do like it more than the movie right now, and I understand Linn Manuel Noriega...sorry, Miranda, is in it later, which I currently have a man crush on.

Kevin's Watch

Kevin's Watch

His Dark Materials

His Dark Materials