Martin Carr reviews the penultimate episode of His Dark Materials…
There is a sense that forces are gathering as we head into the penultimate episode of season one. Scoresby and Lyra are separated, Serafina and the aeronaut are joined in a common cause while Iorek has some unfinished business with King Iofur. As the BBC prepare to unleash a finale which will fully exploit that staggering production design, we are spoilt with a monumental face off, some solid drama and one more final reveal that many have waited for.
Arctic snow drifts, bleak stone obelisks and a multitude of carnivorous animals wait in the shadows to greet unwary travellers. Dafne Keen and Joi Johannsson share centre stage as there begins a battle of wits before that fight begins. Through a combination of engaging CGI and nuanced voice work Lyra and King Iofur cross verbal swords as she battles to survive. Apart from minor digressions which include Mrs Coulter, Lee Scoresby and Serafina we spend the majority of our time with these two.
Fans have already raised issues with that fight but in truth this does little to negatively impact on events. If anything things seem to be moving along a tad fast as this season of Pullman’s work draws to a close. Characters have been cut, drama has been truncated but in an adaptation of this size sacrifices need making. As an executive producer you imagine Pullman had some say in what was excised and what remained so that Northern Lights remained recognisable.
What we get here then are key character team ups, reunions on the run and rightful rulers returned to their subjects. There are a few scenes with Will Parry, his mother and father but these are dropped in for reference later. Dust is touched on, daemons mentioned briefly while Magisterium devotees muster ranks. In those final moments when Iorek, Lyra and Roger spy that laboratory atop a snowy crag everything comes together. In it for a matter of minutes but making his presence felt Lyra is finally safe from those who would see her harmed.
There is talk of dimensional rifts, mention made of dust and yet more premonitions of things to come. In its haste His Dark Materials might have done away with deeper themes in favour of high adventure, but ultimately this children’s tale is just that and Jack Thorne remains us of that here.
Martin Carr
Originally published December 16, 2019. Updated December 17, 2019.
