Heart racing, stomach churning perfection. Beautiful to watch with the right amount of emotion and action.
32 Reviews
Best Episode So Far!
jwk-728628 December 2019
Amazing
kiboz968 December 2019
Warning: Spoilers
The episode was so interesting that I couldn't believe it was over when it was, I thought that it was only 2/3 way through or something like that.
Very suspenseful, exciting and emotional. Seeing Lyra lie so well is really nice, and the Serafina scene is really cool. As another review said, it could've had a bit more connecting tissue, but I don't really see that as a problem, we don't need every episode to be character-driven, this one was more oriented towards the plot itself.
It is sad that we got to see very little Will, the short scene seemed like more of a "yeah we know that this part of the story still exists, we'll develop it in the next episode". Anyways, the episode was great and I can't wait for the next one. So sad that there are only two more to go.
Very suspenseful, exciting and emotional. Seeing Lyra lie so well is really nice, and the Serafina scene is really cool. As another review said, it could've had a bit more connecting tissue, but I don't really see that as a problem, we don't need every episode to be character-driven, this one was more oriented towards the plot itself.
It is sad that we got to see very little Will, the short scene seemed like more of a "yeah we know that this part of the story still exists, we'll develop it in the next episode". Anyways, the episode was great and I can't wait for the next one. So sad that there are only two more to go.
Amazing in every way
LuluAndLeia8 December 2019
Amazing episode. Best so far.
Ritchie078 December 2019
This was an incredible episode. The acting was incredible, as always. Ruth Wilson is such an incredible joy to watch and Dafne Keen is so impressive-more impressive than ever this episode.
This was my favorite episode of the season so far. Kept me on the edge of my seat. The episode seemed to fly by because it was the perfect amount of action/suspense/drama. Just really great.
I hope if the producers/directors/cast read these reviews they know that 90% (if not more) are happy with this adaptation. They're doing a great job of telling this story and yes, I've read the books.
So sick of hearing these petty complaints from people that just live to complain and hate on things (see "nosedive" review-but actually just ignore it because it's a bunch of crap). That guy is just miserable and probably hates everything. A mess? Nope. Haters won't talk about how much more details we are getting (for example: Mrs Coulter) and all the gorgeous cinematography/music/acting. They want to cry about how every shot isn't filled with daemons and whine about how it's not a shot for shot reincarnation of the book. Get over it and stop rating episodes poorly because you'll never be satisfied!!
This was my favorite episode of the season so far. Kept me on the edge of my seat. The episode seemed to fly by because it was the perfect amount of action/suspense/drama. Just really great.
I hope if the producers/directors/cast read these reviews they know that 90% (if not more) are happy with this adaptation. They're doing a great job of telling this story and yes, I've read the books.
So sick of hearing these petty complaints from people that just live to complain and hate on things (see "nosedive" review-but actually just ignore it because it's a bunch of crap). That guy is just miserable and probably hates everything. A mess? Nope. Haters won't talk about how much more details we are getting (for example: Mrs Coulter) and all the gorgeous cinematography/music/acting. They want to cry about how every shot isn't filled with daemons and whine about how it's not a shot for shot reincarnation of the book. Get over it and stop rating episodes poorly because you'll never be satisfied!!
Best Episode Yet
jediofpool9 December 2019
Heartbreaking and thrilling at the same time. As a viewer I've slowly made a connection to Lyra, but this episode cemented that connection. I can't wait to see how the season ends and I'm extremely optimistic about the future of the series.
Well guys .. this is huge
hassan-172039 December 2019
I felt like i am watching harry potter !
The best TV episode i've seen for a while , everything is perfect . The CGI , the soundtrack , the casting and the events
i felt bored in the last 3 episodes but I am glad that I continued this series .
Very excited for the next two episodes
The best TV episode i've seen for a while , everything is perfect . The CGI , the soundtrack , the casting and the events
i felt bored in the last 3 episodes but I am glad that I continued this series .
Very excited for the next two episodes
Incredibly fast paced with seriously dark undertones
connormatthews-3189010 December 2019
Impressive action scenes with gut wrenching scenarios. You will get all the feels through out this episode.....honestly there were a couple scenes I was so uncomfortable, it was hard to watch. But, my favorite part about the show is that the creators/producers/directors are not afraid to push the envelope and GO THERE. And I think this is becoming a Sci-Fi / Fantasy masterpiece, and all I want is more.
Great episode
icycleragon9 December 2019
Warning: Spoilers
They really went by the book for this one, so it was great. Only reason I'm not giving it a 10 is because they cut the fight short by making Serafina too op. She should've came in with backup and not end the fight in 3 seconds. Iorek should've had more time to shine too, but he will in the next.
The Daemon Cages
Prismark1015 December 2019
This is the episode that carries Philip Pullman's anti religious subtext.
When Mrs Coulter explains to Lyra how purity can be preserved if children are separated from their Daemons. It sounds a lot like why some cultures carry out FGM.
The children are being snatched as the Magisterium have authorised experimental surgery to remove the Daemons from these kids.
You see a nurse without a Daemon who acts like a zombie, her soul has been ripped apart. You can see the links to fascism as you see children who have has their Daemons removed, with shaved heads, living in the conditions of a concentration camp.
What does let the episode down and introduce confusion. You have had scenes where Daemons have been missing. So you are not quite sure that characters are behaving oddly as their Daemons have been removed. Then in the next scene you have children with Daemons but they are nowhere to be seen.
When Mrs Coulter explains to Lyra how purity can be preserved if children are separated from their Daemons. It sounds a lot like why some cultures carry out FGM.
The children are being snatched as the Magisterium have authorised experimental surgery to remove the Daemons from these kids.
You see a nurse without a Daemon who acts like a zombie, her soul has been ripped apart. You can see the links to fascism as you see children who have has their Daemons removed, with shaved heads, living in the conditions of a concentration camp.
What does let the episode down and introduce confusion. You have had scenes where Daemons have been missing. So you are not quite sure that characters are behaving oddly as their Daemons have been removed. Then in the next scene you have children with Daemons but they are nowhere to be seen.
Highly anticipated episode delivers!
tracybass3710 December 2019
This was probably the episode I anticipated the most coming into this series (well, this and the finale!), and it was everything I hoped for and more. The slow burn of this show is really paying off in a magnificent way. It's the best episode yet, which says something as each episode is a bit better than the last, and it started strong. Enjoy!
Expecting More
boudybob9 December 2019
The episode was great but i was expecting more fight more to the story the tragedy the suffering and capturing all the feelings during the Battle and even more battle scenes.
They prepared us for nearly 4 episodes for this Battle and it kinda came out abruptly and rushed. I didn't even feel that this was a Battle. The elements in the story nearly had enough time to be presented.
They prepared us for nearly 4 episodes for this Battle and it kinda came out abruptly and rushed. I didn't even feel that this was a Battle. The elements in the story nearly had enough time to be presented.
A zero budget battle
andrewroake19 November 2021
Warning: Spoilers
This is the episode that convinced me, when I first watched it on TV, that the show was not worth watching. After a derth of snooze inducing nothing episodes, this, a battle on, was the one that finally drove me off. The is a battle that has been hyped up for 5 episodes now. And when when it comes its so anti climatic and dissapointing it hurts. The supposed battle of a lifetime, something we are repeatedly told will be a bloodbath from which the Gyptians may not survive, is literally over is less than 5 minutes. There is not a single casualty among the good guys, there us not a single ounch of blood shown. It remains a wholly empty spectacle. Some abjectly generic "battle type music" that sounds as if it was ripped off from a stock music library, and some dull clank-clank battle scenes (most barely seen, only in flashes) then the deux ex machina witch comes along and kills all the bad guys in seconds. Wow. How rubbish is that? The show is a sucession of dull and lifeless scenes, small and narrow in scope, with the limits of the budget straining at the seames to try and make this epic, world spanning fantasy seem as grand as possible, with bombastic and tedious grand speeches hyping something up to absurdity, only for it to be crushingly dissapointed in the result (see the rubbish bear battle in the next episode, which cannot even remotely match the scope of the movie, in both content and looks).
This series sucks.
This series sucks.
Amazingly Adapted
LordAsrielGr13 December 2019
First let me start by saying that I' ve read the books and although they are considered children literature, I find nothing "Childish" on the message they want to pass.
Now as for this episode, I loved it. I don't mind any change from the books, on the contrary, I understand how television needs to adapt in some of the cases (It would be strange to the non readers, to see Will just appear on second season. He is set up PERFECTLY).
The only problem I find atmosphere wise although from other reviewers it seems to not be the case, is the understanding of how strong is the relationship between a person and his daemon. I think that if it was set up in a stronger way in the previous episodes, the impact of this episode would be even higher.
Directing the episode to be available in all ages, takes out of the atmosphere of the combat, which makes sense, but I m curious how the next episode will be directed since, in theory it is gory.
Now as for this episode, I loved it. I don't mind any change from the books, on the contrary, I understand how television needs to adapt in some of the cases (It would be strange to the non readers, to see Will just appear on second season. He is set up PERFECTLY).
The only problem I find atmosphere wise although from other reviewers it seems to not be the case, is the understanding of how strong is the relationship between a person and his daemon. I think that if it was set up in a stronger way in the previous episodes, the impact of this episode would be even higher.
Directing the episode to be available in all ages, takes out of the atmosphere of the combat, which makes sense, but I m curious how the next episode will be directed since, in theory it is gory.
Best episode of the series yet
jay-ros10 December 2019
Euros Lyn impresses with his focused directing style, quite different from the kinetic and messy style of Tom Hooper. Betting on tension and suspense, he gets the most of the scenes and the budget never feels too thin, as he manages to find the little details in each scene to "sell" the moment (like Lee's gauges agitating in the final scene). Quite a feat, supported by an ace screenplay mostly focused on Bolvangar, which doesn't dilute the tension during the episode with other stories on the side.
My only regret would be that it's apprently the only episode directed by Lyn, really !
My favorite episode so far.
brlngul-464618 November 2020
Amazing.
cruise0110 December 2019
4.5 out of 5 stars.
Great episode. Never read the books. But i am loving this series more than how the movie was adapted. Some things were changed around but the series made it better. Lyra is captured and they attempt to separate her from her daemon. The episode is exciting. Action packed. The direction, script, and tone is sharp and great.
Great episode. Never read the books. But i am loving this series more than how the movie was adapted. Some things were changed around but the series made it better. Lyra is captured and they attempt to separate her from her daemon. The episode is exciting. Action packed. The direction, script, and tone is sharp and great.
Amazing!
jigolofufo10 December 2019
At last a full entertaining chapter
julillo2310 December 2019
Not getting that feeling
felix-bergman10 December 2019
Warning: Spoilers
For this episode I actually don't have a lot of negative feelings about the changes made from the book. There weren't a ton of them and nothing was to serious (that hadn't been violated before), still I cannot really like this episode. Does people actually think this is good? 10 and 9 stars? I thought this episode was utterly boring to watch. Of course the design direction of a movie or a TV show will very rarely be exactly what any one reader imagined, so I won't say anything was really wrong, but Bolvangar did look very different from what I expected it too. The design they went with just felt a bit boring to me. Not threatening, but not really "Horrible place that still looks inviting" vibe either, just bleak and boring. Beside that it just feels like this episode has very little heart and emotion. It centers totally around daemons, yet most people aren't seen having daemons anyway, and daemons are still so poorly explained in the show that, if I would have only seen the show, I wouldn't know why to care about any of this. In the book we get small portions of information about the daemon/human connection throughout the whole story, making this part of the books that much more horrible. In the books we learn that there is a special bond between them, that it hurts your very soul if they travel more than a few yards away from them, that the daemons disappear when we die, that there is a taboo agains humans touching other peoples daemons, which is seen as such a heinous crime that even in large battles people avoid touching other's daemons. We also learn how unnatural a person without a daemon is. That witches can send their daemons far away isn't super common knowledge, at least not for the brattish, where not a lot witches live, and when Farder Coram talks about first meeting Serafina he says he was horrified to see that she had no daemon (cause he was far away), and it said that he might as well has said "She had no head" based on the reaction the other men has upon this information.
In the show daemons are rarely present, not even Pantalimon seems to be there 100% of the time, and they have not been explained much further than "a talking personal pet" except for a few lines of writing in the very first episode. I can't think of any instance explaining to me why I should care about all this severing, which is probably why they keep all the kids at Bolvangar in the show, cause if you don't have the zombie kids to show up and show how cruel the scientists were by keeping them locked up, no-one would understand what the big deal was. And no-one seems to have told the actors either about any of this, seeing how little emotion they show. In the book it was the most heart wrenching moment when Lyra finds the daemon cages and Kaisa (Serafina Pekkalas daemon) shows up and does some magic to open the cages and they all try to touch her cause they miss their own kids so much, but they can't cause of the taboo, and Kaisa helping them all escape to go looking for the kids (which are not held at Bolvangar in the book, they were all just released into the wild to make do as best they could), but even if they find the kids again, they will never be whole. And in the book there is a line that really cements how horrible Mrs Coulter is, when one of the doctors say that she was super exited about watching the old severing process, where the people was literally pulled apart from their daemon. And it was while spying on this conversation that Lyra was captured, and they decide not to tell Mrs. Coulter about it cause they don't want it to seem like they have security problems, but she shows up anyway and just in the last second to pull Lyra from the cage, much more emotional than she being invited to a scheduled severing and just pushing the stop button when she sees Lyra.
Was there a scene in the show where Lyra takes the spy fly? I just know that it wasn't like in the books where she has Iroek make her a tin to keep the tin in (which happens to come out about the same size and shape as the aletheometer) and one decoy tin to put in Farder Corams packs he won't realize it's missing. I was thinking as this scene came along "How are they going to sole this now, she don't have the spy fly", but then she did, but maybe I just forgot an earlier scene from an earlier episode.
But I have to ask, what was the point of having Ma Costa teaching Lyra to make sparks with the four in episode 3 or whatever it was? In the books Lyra decides she might as well start a real fire as she's escaping, and she passes the kitchens, turn on all the gas flames and then smashes a bag of flour on the edge of the counter, cause she's heard from somewhere that flour will explode if treated thusly close to an open flame. I was so sure that having Lyra learn this on screen from Ma Costa was setup for this, as that is the only time in the books she does that, but then they when with exploding the machine instead. Total letdown.
The fightscene could have been better, and I'm not the biggest fan about them having a break after the fight, then deciding to go to Svalbard, then Lee still bringing up the question of an extended contract and more money. If you didn't want to do it without a contract, why did you take off before discussing it. The money bit is a concern of his in the books, but he is more warranted to wonder about it there, as they drift off during the battle, with no time for thought about it. Also in the book there was this whole tactical scheme about filling Lee's balloon with the gas from Mrs. Coulters zeppelin, so that she wouldn't be able to follow them right away. Not gonna fault the show for excluding that, but I am sad to see it gone.
In the show daemons are rarely present, not even Pantalimon seems to be there 100% of the time, and they have not been explained much further than "a talking personal pet" except for a few lines of writing in the very first episode. I can't think of any instance explaining to me why I should care about all this severing, which is probably why they keep all the kids at Bolvangar in the show, cause if you don't have the zombie kids to show up and show how cruel the scientists were by keeping them locked up, no-one would understand what the big deal was. And no-one seems to have told the actors either about any of this, seeing how little emotion they show. In the book it was the most heart wrenching moment when Lyra finds the daemon cages and Kaisa (Serafina Pekkalas daemon) shows up and does some magic to open the cages and they all try to touch her cause they miss their own kids so much, but they can't cause of the taboo, and Kaisa helping them all escape to go looking for the kids (which are not held at Bolvangar in the book, they were all just released into the wild to make do as best they could), but even if they find the kids again, they will never be whole. And in the book there is a line that really cements how horrible Mrs Coulter is, when one of the doctors say that she was super exited about watching the old severing process, where the people was literally pulled apart from their daemon. And it was while spying on this conversation that Lyra was captured, and they decide not to tell Mrs. Coulter about it cause they don't want it to seem like they have security problems, but she shows up anyway and just in the last second to pull Lyra from the cage, much more emotional than she being invited to a scheduled severing and just pushing the stop button when she sees Lyra.
Was there a scene in the show where Lyra takes the spy fly? I just know that it wasn't like in the books where she has Iroek make her a tin to keep the tin in (which happens to come out about the same size and shape as the aletheometer) and one decoy tin to put in Farder Corams packs he won't realize it's missing. I was thinking as this scene came along "How are they going to sole this now, she don't have the spy fly", but then she did, but maybe I just forgot an earlier scene from an earlier episode.
But I have to ask, what was the point of having Ma Costa teaching Lyra to make sparks with the four in episode 3 or whatever it was? In the books Lyra decides she might as well start a real fire as she's escaping, and she passes the kitchens, turn on all the gas flames and then smashes a bag of flour on the edge of the counter, cause she's heard from somewhere that flour will explode if treated thusly close to an open flame. I was so sure that having Lyra learn this on screen from Ma Costa was setup for this, as that is the only time in the books she does that, but then they when with exploding the machine instead. Total letdown.
The fightscene could have been better, and I'm not the biggest fan about them having a break after the fight, then deciding to go to Svalbard, then Lee still bringing up the question of an extended contract and more money. If you didn't want to do it without a contract, why did you take off before discussing it. The money bit is a concern of his in the books, but he is more warranted to wonder about it there, as they drift off during the battle, with no time for thought about it. Also in the book there was this whole tactical scheme about filling Lee's balloon with the gas from Mrs. Coulters zeppelin, so that she wouldn't be able to follow them right away. Not gonna fault the show for excluding that, but I am sad to see it gone.
Nosedive.
W011y4m58 December 2019
Warning: Spoilers
It's so sad to see a new, confident & such promising show begin so strongly & then falter so badly as it continues with each ensuing episode...
His Dark Materials is becoming increasingly rushed & underdeveloped; clear opportunities for smaller, character-driven, impactful, emotional moments are often overlooked & wasted continually throughout.
Jack Thorne (who now has undoubtedly bitten off far more than he can chew by writing all 8 installments) seems insistent on hurrying from one visually spectacular set piece to another with his scripts, repeatedly forgetting to include any substantial connective tissue between these sequences which ties any of his narrative together in a cohesive manner / satisfyingly. The storytelling is strained & over-simplified, devoid of any complexity the source material possesses & it's a tragedy to see the classic novels adapted with this level of disservice.
Additionally, why make a big deal out of the children not being next to their dæmons if they hardly ever feature on screen? There's no point attempting to emphasise the importance of a dæmon's absence when they're never perceptibly present on screen anyway. By omitting them, you further deprive the viewer of experiencing the story as it was intended to be told... Which begs the question: if creators were unwilling to pay the price of CGI for their inclusion in the production budget, why make it at all if not faithfully?
Not to mention the walking talking deus ex machina Serrafina Pekkala!?
It's a MESS, quite frankly.
A MESS.
His Dark Materials is becoming increasingly rushed & underdeveloped; clear opportunities for smaller, character-driven, impactful, emotional moments are often overlooked & wasted continually throughout.
Jack Thorne (who now has undoubtedly bitten off far more than he can chew by writing all 8 installments) seems insistent on hurrying from one visually spectacular set piece to another with his scripts, repeatedly forgetting to include any substantial connective tissue between these sequences which ties any of his narrative together in a cohesive manner / satisfyingly. The storytelling is strained & over-simplified, devoid of any complexity the source material possesses & it's a tragedy to see the classic novels adapted with this level of disservice.
Additionally, why make a big deal out of the children not being next to their dæmons if they hardly ever feature on screen? There's no point attempting to emphasise the importance of a dæmon's absence when they're never perceptibly present on screen anyway. By omitting them, you further deprive the viewer of experiencing the story as it was intended to be told... Which begs the question: if creators were unwilling to pay the price of CGI for their inclusion in the production budget, why make it at all if not faithfully?
Not to mention the walking talking deus ex machina Serrafina Pekkala!?
It's a MESS, quite frankly.
A MESS.
For kids only.
Near-L11 December 2019
Great!
emgeezee25 October 2020
I fully enjoyed this episode. I found myself rewinding certain scenes because of the incredible acting. Especially from Ruth Wilson and Dafne Keen. Exciting, suspenseful, and stomach-clenching, this has been one of my favorites of the season. As for all these complainers whining about daemons in every scene, it would just take away from the excellent visuals if every scene was crammed with animals. I could care less about what daemons an extra has because they're exactly that: extras. I don't need to see Pan every scene b/c I'm willing to accept that he's somewhere tucked away. The focal point is LYRA not Pan. The show is great and the pacing is awesome.
Greatest episode period
amine-20109 December 2019
My third review for this show first This is High level fantasy and yes it's not just episode it's a length great fantasy movie thanks HBO for always u bring greatest shows to remember and grateful for all the crew and actors and actresses for this epic episode (cinematography /score/epic directing /acting/kids were phenomenal especially character "roger" and scene how he talked to kids last scene ...i will put this episode in my list of my favorite of all the time..
Last I can't hardly wait for last 2 episodes
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