Review: His Dark Materials Season 2
The second season of His Dark Materials continues shortly after Lord Asriel blows a hole through the veil between the worlds and sacrifices Roger to do it. Lyra Belacqua and Pantalaimon embark on the journey to find Asriel. Back in our world, Will Parry manages to find a portal that brings him to the same world that Lyra and Pan pursue Asriel in. It is in this new world that the two of them meet. Little do either one of them realize that the other holds the key to the other's success or that their destinies and the fates of all worlds are riding on the outcome of their journey. Meanwhile, back in her world...the Magisterium organizes and prepares for war. As the persecution of the Witches and their allies intensify...Lee Scoresby and Mrs. Coulter race against each other to find the location of Lyra. It is a pursuit that neither can afford to lose.
Based off The Subtle Knife, I was once again pleasantly surprised by the performances and the breadth of the cast in the HBO/BBC adaptation of this novel. Dafne Keene, Amir Wilson, Ruth Wilson, Lin Manuel Miranda, and others reprise their roles and do so in such a way that further develop scope in their characters. This season also introduces us to a new cast of characters including Andrew Scott as Jopari (aka Stanisslaus Grumman or John Parry), Simone Kirby as Dr. Mary Malone, and Ariyon Bakare as Lord Boreal. Those of us who read the books may also be pleasantly surprised at how the nature of the books have been preserved. This of course is a feat that is particularly challenging for many in the film industry. As someone who grew up with many average adaptations of some of his favorite books, I can honestly say that I am pleased. Not only are the characters thoughtfully cast with performers that can reach into the depths of their characters...but the integrity of the story is well preserved. The stakes for the characters are not mitigated nor are they sugar-coated to make them more palatable.
As the Magisterium cracks down on those who historically have defied its position...both Lyra's allies and Mrs. Coulter fear for her safety. As I was watching, I couldn't help but feel attuned to the challenges of the characters. Audiences should be aware that there are some intense situations depicted on the screens, as there were in the previous...including those involving children. There are also intense fantastical moments in the series that one should be aware of. Just like the book it was adapted from, this season introduces elements including the presence of beings known as Specters. Not all too dissimilar from the Dementors in the Harry Potter franchise, the Specters are spiritual beings that live between the fabrics of the multiverse and that prey on the dæmons of adults.
I don't necessarily have a favorite quote from this season because there are many thoughtful exchanges. The words themselves are powerful and while this is a fantasy series-- the characters are once more grappling with issues that are all too real in our own world. The fact that they are grappling with the spiritual as well as the political is also moving. It is evident of how the struggle for meaning in one's life is often at stake when the personal and the political collide.
You can check out a trailer for the second season of His Dark Materials here.
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