Review: His Dark Materials Season 3
In the third season of His Dark Materials, Lyra Belacqua is held captive on an island by Mrs. Coulter-- who desperately wants to protect Lyra from the Magisterium. Will Parry is joined by unsuspected allies in his search for her. Meanwhile, Lord Asriel and his allies he gathers from across the worlds wage their war against the Kingdom of Heaven. Mary Malone meanwhile must learn how to play the Serpent, and her newfound friends and their knowledge may hold the answers.
Based on The Amber Spyglass, this last installment of the epic story of Lyra Belacqua and Will Parry leads them (and the audience) through worlds they can hardly imagine. While Lyra and Will are still aloof to just how pinnacle their role is in the epic prophecy, their allies and their enemies are more than aware. The Magisterium and the allies of the Kingdom of Heaven fear Lyra and will stop at nothing to see her vanquished. Their efforts not only lead to the political stifling and persecution...but also going to extraordinary efforts that violate everything that they ever stood on. In the war for power and control, the Magisterium will stop at nothing to assure its complete and total control. Nor will it stop at implementing that over the new worlds that Lord Asriel's doorway have led them.
Various thematic elements are explored throughout the course of this season including love, sexuality, and ethics. The road ahead will require no small amount of sacrifice on the behalf of the protagonists. New allies-- including Angels and four-legged aliens with trunks-- are quintessential to the plot of this story. So too are Lyra's and Will's journey to the Land of the Dead. Ruth Wilson also delivers a thoughtful, in-depth performance of Marissa Coulter, whose desire to protect Lyra drives her to do what was once thought impossible. Both her and Lyra go through major developments in their plots and characters over the course of this season. It is also a time where Will Parry must learn to overcome his doubts in himself and his abilities. Further thoughtful reflections could even be written about the characters and the meta that goes into Pullman's work.
While Lyra has her alethiometer, there is a divination tool that actually has its roots in our world called the I Ching, which Mary Malone uses to divine her next courses of action as she wanders through worlds in her quest to understand Dust. While the TV adaptation of this novel has some striking differences from source..many of the changes serve to either help the flow of the show go smoothly or to add more profound depth. While I would have taken a different route in adapting this piece, I was happy with the results and was definitely moved once more by it. As it was in the original book, the ending is also heartfelt
Overall, I was pleased with this adaptation of this monumental trilogy. You can watch the trailer here.
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