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Season 1 – His Dark Materials

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1:35

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

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

Jul 15, 2020

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Boyd Hilton

Empire Magazine

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.

Rated: 4/5

Dec 7, 2019

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Hunter Johnson

Dallas Morning News

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

Dec 6, 2019

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Rick Marshall

Digital Trends

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.

Jul 13, 2021

Full Review

Tony Black

Cultural Conversation

A slick adaptation lacking in magic.

Rated: 3/5

Feb 16, 2021

Full Review

Luke Y. Thompson

SuperHeroHype

...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

Aug 20, 2020

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Mae A

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.

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

07/06/25

Full Review

Zahara P

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

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/28/25

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Jeff o

This show is very true to the books.. what a great show.. love and Daphne keen is a amazing young actress

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

02/05/25

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ian h

engrossing & compelling series based on a vast book of challenging ideas told by charming characters battling strange worlds, beasts, beings & magic.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/19/25

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Felipe M

I enjoyed all 3 seasons. I have never read the books but I started to read the first one. If the show was this good I know the books will be even better. I loved it so much. The last and final episode I needed a lot of tissue, me and my daughters.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/18/25

Full Review

Artin S

Beautiful world building with incredible accuracy. Brought a magical world to the screen. Judged as an adaptation it is perhaps a 5/5. As a show by itself it lacks depth in some areas 3.5/5.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

10/21/24

Full Review

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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.

Details

Episode 2

Aired Nov 10, 2019

The Idea of North

Lyra arrives to 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.

Details

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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