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Kathryn VanArendonk:Hello, Philip Pullmanhive!
First of all, do you think thats a fair assessment?
The show had an unpromising beginning, but its getting more compelling?
Jackson McHenry:I think thats pretty fair.
Armored bears cant not be fun!
So, Id say I agree.
Am I looking at this all with rose (amber?)
tinted glasses, or is there some promise here?
(I didnt even hate the movie as much as everybody else did.)
Like you said, Jackson, Pullmans greatest magic trick is the way that he doesnt hand you anything.
You have to reach for it.
And that sort of storytelling requires a lot of subtlety, time, patience, and trust.
I couldnt believe that by episode two, the existence of multiple worlds was already confirmed.
The dramatic tension of the entire first novel is entirely centered around this question!
We learned about Lyras parentage so quickly, too.
But I did breathe a small sigh of relief watching the fourth episode.
I dont want to give up hope yet!
Kathryn:I know what you mean.
But in the fourth episode, the story gains a bit more momentum.
The armored bear sequences are tense and effective.
The landscape of the north is lovely without feeling distractingly full of information.
I will say that the shows impulse toward clunky dialogue is still present.
And theres a lot of explaining thats still to come.
(Few people love describing a deep, restful sleep like Philip Pullman does.)
I wish the show would embrace and expand upon that impulse.
The party scenes in London really frustrated me on that front, because they felt so bare and economical.
But I surprised myself in how much I likedLin-Manuel Mirandas version of Scoresby.
that made me want to watch them banter.
But he brings a nice, bizarre jolt of energy to the show, which it really needs.
I dont like that we know things before she does, or know things shell never find out.
I feel like Im betraying her!
I suppose I can understand why they made this choice, for visual and narrative variety.
At this point, Im much more intrigued by Mrs. Coulter.
The relative lack of focus on Lyra has made her feel flatter than Id like.
I miss MY Lyra.
But maybe thats unfair.
How do you guys feel about her?
Kathryn:Thats part of why I am concerned about the future of this show.
But will that fundamentally change what genre this story is?
HBOsHis Dark Materialsis trying to be Big, World-Building Fantasy.
Its really meant to be a bildungsroman, the story of Lyra coming to know herself.
I think the flatness youre feeling comes from that.
Events on the show feel as though theyre moving Lyra, rather than the other way around.
Rachel:YES, EXACTLY, THANK YOU.
Kathryn:Howarethey going to do the Mulefa?
Jackson:Tom Hooper brought usCatsand Tom Hooper will also have to figure out pseudo-elephantine trunk language.
Rachel:LetPhoebe Waller-Bridge play Mary Maloneand you have my fealty for life.
Even the title sequence feels far tooGame of Thrones-y for my liking.
Do I have to live and eventually die in a world where everything isGame of Thrones?
Kathryn:The teens will never get so bored of TikTok that they start watching HBO dramas.
I, for one, welcome our new Poorly Plotted Overlords.
Right now, the Magisterium feels like a knockoff version of the Ministry of Magic in lateHarry Pottermovies.
Theres so much to be done about their obsessive oppression and fearfulness of sin-slash-Dust.
Remember how terrifying the super-zealot Father Gomez was in the books?
Kathryn:In that vein, what are your biggest hopes for the immediate future ofHis Dark Materials?
Here are mine: (1) More Lee Scoresby!
(3) Pan and Lyra both need more of a sense of humor.
(4) Give us at least a few over-the-top scenes as Mrs Coulter loses her grip on reality.
Rachel:I hope the show listens to us and changes its entire narrative structure.
Failing that, my only hope, on behalf of my 13-year-old self, is that Will is hot.
Kathryn:Wow, yes.
(But also no?
Im a mid-30s mom now and I need to start adjusting my relationship to these novels.)
Rachel:I meant, ummm, adult Will.
If and when we meet him.
But these books are horny and its important that this is reflected on the television.
Finally, I need Ruth Wilson to wear more giant fur hats.
