The Golden Compass, His Dark Materials, and Philip Pullman's Legacy of Wonder

[@NewMessage]

The books are actually a step by step guide to growing up as a useful, independent, and above all worthwhile adult... sneakily hidden in an amazing adventure story. It is massively underrated, as lauded as it is.

[@melaniemuller6199]

I wrote 2 term papers about the philosophy in the books, they are so good and the series did better than the movies even when not perfect

[@IshtarNike]

It's deep shit. I think I read it when I was 10 and probably a bit too young to really GET it. But later I re-read and it really hits.

[@fonztorres]

There are heavy allegories, albeit, perversions, of Judeo-Christianic theology that would be considered extremely blasphemous.

[@MemoirsofaBasketcase]

I wonder if I would get any benefit now as a useless, blasé-about-life mid-30s that never read them.

[@frikkin_hell2827]

​@@melaniemuller6199 I think this is a stretch but by any chance do you have a TikTok account named mell and Mischa? I just saw a comment along those lines on a video

[@RayManiac90]

Golden compass movie had so many potentials, the problem is the production and controversy canned everything, but still I think the actors and the settings are amazing

[@nido.del.aguila2667]

What controversy??

[@emilia2411]

@@nido.del.aguila2667 religion

[@user-pm2b47ar8d]

It's the original setting tho. Steampunk, mid-80s to 90s.

[@frenchguitarguy1091]

There good actors but most of the acting is so stilted, and characters don't feel like real people in that film.

[@nineomite]

@@frenchguitarguy1091 - Which is kind of amazing considering the quality of the actors... I'd have to agree with the OP, when they removed the religious aspect of it they removed the driving motivation (on both sides) that made the books so damn compelling. The POV of (spoilers!) Lyra's would-be assassin, for example - without the religious aspect he's just... comically evil. With it he's scary, intense... a fanatic! That tension powered the books. Taking it out of the movie ruined it for me. The TV show, on the other hand, nails it at the cost of appearances - the characters *look* wrong to me but *feel* right. That's why I love it.

[@lydiacodding9308]

I have only seen the HBO version and have loved it from start to finish. Cast extremely well, not “clunky,” the Mrs. Coulter is perfectly wicked and motherly at the same time, extremely engaging. I mourned the loss of characters that I adore (like Lee). I watched both seasons twice, can hardly wait for season three.

[@eglantinepapeau1582]

the HBO show casting was garbage , except for the casting of Mrs Coulter ( at least we both agree on that one)

[@hotbelgianwaffles4439]

@@eglantinepapeau1582 I don't think it deserves the word garbage... the only casting I thought was bad was Lin Manuel Miranda.

[@Wesmin2]

@@eglantinepapeau1582 eh, most of the cast is good to exceptional, I even think Lee was quite good.

[@antmagor]

100% agree and for me I knew they were onto something when they managed to recapture my joy from when I read the book series. When I read the books I felt like I was actually on an adventure, like I was eight years old all over again. I watch the series and I get the exact same sense of nostalgia and I was so concerned I wouldn’t.

[@antmagor]

@@hotbelgianwaffles4439 I thought he was way too young for the role but I don’t care because it worked. I genuinely accepted him as Lee, no not at first I will admit. And I absolutely loved the endorsement Lin-Manuel Miranda received from Philip Pullman.

[@mr.helsing7192]

As far as I know the TV series of His Dark Materials were made by BBC in the UK and HBO is only a US and international market distributor. TV series were not made by HBO, but BBC did them, suffice it to say that most of cast are British.

[@frenchguitarguy1091]

Yeah this is a big thing to leave out. This film is Americans pretending to be British. The film felt like a film, the TV show feels like a genuine alternative universe.

[@williamsu7918]

@@frenchguitarguy1091 the series is a huge step up

[@timaustin2000]

Correct. BBC commissioned the series from BBC Alumni-led company Bad Wolf (basically, the people who made the first 4 seasons of "New" Doctor Who) long before HBO took any interest. HBO didn't buy into distribution until a month before Season 1 wrapped principal photography. BBC One remains the Commissioning Lead Producer.

[@omnipotentfaces1514]

Yes I was going to say this! If you’re British you know the show is in the distinctly BBC style and tone. They deserve the recognition as it’s fantastic and compliments the content.

[@AndySola]

It was actually made by Bad Wolf and New Line Cinema. BBC just helped fund the series.

[@Lord_Procrastinator]

As someone who hasn't read the books yet but has watched the movie, I honestly don't understand what people see in Nicole Kidman's Mrs. Coulter. Ruth Wilson's performance is so passionate, fierce and badass that you can actually see how the character managed to survive in such an oppressive, male-dominated world, while also displaying a vulnerability that shows you the effects this world has had in her psyche. Her performance makes me feel like this is a complex person with a very tumultuous and long history, while Nicole Kidman was just playing herself.

[@Zarsla]

I was a 10-11 ish when I saw the moive, 12-13 when I read the books. Nicole Kidmam imo, got the villainous hidden nature part down. She was like the witch in Hansel & Gretel. Too nice and sweet, and then filled with horrible-Ness. That's my take on it anyway. Knowing the nature of her as I read the books, especially book 1. It was like that scene in Hansel and gretel,, where you met the witch and you're screaming don't! For me, Nicole Kidman gets something of Ms.Coluter in book 1, that we don't get in Ruth Wilson. Ruth Wilson imo fits her in books 2/3 and in that schemy/villainous way, but looses that fairy take like quality that she has in book 1.

[@Panda77dumdumduummmm]

I agree

[@discmeeds]

Her performance is great and there’s no doubt she’s an amazing actress. I just personally wish her portrayal in the TV wasn’t that of the “crazy woman” on screen. To me, what made Mrs Coulter scary but also compelling as a character was her cold hearted, calculative nature. She wasn’t doing anything “out of love” or in order to protect anyone but herself, at least at the beginning of the story. That’s something I really admired abt her character. It’s not inspirational but it’s also not the cliched evil woman with power that is overtly unhinged. All that being said, I’m glad series-only ppl enjoyed her character as is, just personally, I wish she’d gotten the cool exterior/messy interior we had in the books

[@McButtsTheCrimeDog]

Nicole Kidman did an amazing job but the movie's plot was extremely badly adapted from the book. The cast was GREAT but the writing of the script was shit

[@briantrumpower8108]

Nicole Kidman was 50 billion times better than Ruth Wilson. In every way, shape, and form. To me, they can't even be compared. It's like comparing a summer Shakespeare concert in the park series actor with Anthony Hopkins. Wilson really took the production down a few notches. You may suggest this is all hyperbole, and maybe so, but she very nearly ruined this beloved series for me.

[@andrewjoyce6634]

I think the "too close to reality" thing in the TV series owes partially to the 20th century modernist aesthetic they used, probably in part due to budget considerations. The movie filled my head with the most brilliantly majestic Victorian Steampunk imagery, while the show took a relatively minimalist approach to art design. Look in season 3 how the land of the dead looks like some kind of 20th century concentration camp. Asreal's war HQ changes from a mountain in the book to a hill in the show. This modernist aesthetic was accompanied by a lot of the dreariness of 20th century modernism. The show's creators did a lot with what they had, but with content like this budget matters.

[@leamubiu]

Exactly. When I first saw the trailers announcing the first season, this (by then already) very over-churned dystopian aesthetic turned me off completely. And… I cannot judge of the actors’ performances, however from the trailers I didn’t get from Mrs Coulter any of the infinite loveliness that is supposed to characterize her demeanor. The actress’ features are rather harsher than Kidman’s, and the stiff clothing and dark hair-though faithful to the book (until Pullman switched it over to blonde in BoD, if I’ correct)-isn’t helping to add glamour…

[@acidvlad9492]

yh for some reason the series setting,lighting and lack of vibrancy reminds me of a cbbc show which isn't great. the movie really felt magical to me and the series didn't

[@anti-ethniccleansing465]

Don’t be so sure that it was a matter of budget instead of an intentional aesthetic change. I was an art major in university, so I had to take an arseload of art history classes. Going from the utter genius and awe-inspiring European paintings and architecture that were produced in the past to the abstract and modern art/architecture movement in the late 1800s-1900s makes one want to weep. This has been a product of communism - throwing away traditionalism, culture, beauty, and works of wonder, and replacing it with non-inspiring, ugly, soulless garbage. We are very much in a cultural war right now, fighting the same element that produced modern art/minimalism etc.. Hollywood is at the forefront of destroying culture, traditionalism, rewriting history, pushing leftism, etc.. So they don’t deserve to be given the benefit of the doubt. They have consistently, _INTENTIONALLY_ been destroying valuable works of art that have been beloved to their original audiences, having a laugh at gaslighting the public. Whether it’s Rings of Power, Walt Disney cartoons they’ve redone as horrendous live action films, doing movies/show versions of video games that are terrible like the Witcher, etc etc - they are dedicated to destroying everything that we hold dear, and making the promotion of their messaging/belief system the ultimate priority in their shameless, talentless works.

[@andrewjoyce6634]

@@anti-ethniccleansing465 As someone who is probably on a different side of the culture war from you, this is largely why I love His Dark Materials so much. The whole trilogy is basically a giant middle finger to conservatism and organized religion. It's even more explicit in the books. You don't have to analyze the aesthetics for hidden messages, just look at what happens in the show.

[@anti-ethniccleansing465]

@@andrewjoyce6634 I haven’t read the books or watched the show or movie. I’m merely commenting on the fact that you said the aesthetics were because the budget wouldn’t allow them to be faithful to the Victorian steampunk imagery you said was the setting in the books. I am an atheist myself, but I am firmly against the destruction of my culture/way of life, government/constitution, peoples, healthy societal norms, statues, language, sovereignty, and rewriting our history/norms/etc.. I’m nearly a half a century old now, and the heinous changes I’ve seen in just my lifetime make my stomach turn and anger me deeply. My state and country aren’t even recognizable anymore compared to what they were like when I was a young child. And when I was a young child, the state of things was already unrecognizable compared to just a few decades earlier. That’s how fast our overlords have been working - the group of people who we can’t even name because of their immense power. This is exactly what happens in communist revolutions/communist rule/genocide, so bravo for being in support of that. 🙄 A USSR KGB defector named Yuri Bezmenov described the plan that was implemented on us perfectly. You should listen to him, to understand the intense extremely calculated manipulation that we’ve been under throughout the West. There used to be tons of his 1980s interviews/lectures available here on YT, but most were yanked, because of obvious reasons, so it may be harder to find the content (easy to find elsewhere though). There’s also a wonderful vid Helen of Destroy did “How the Banker Run Foundations are Shaping up the World - Norman Dodd Reece” that is *EXTREMELY* eye opening. I would love to expand on that, but again, we aren’t allowed to be open and forthright about this kind of thing on YT.

[@ladyfibonaccii]

My daughter's name is Lyra...I was in high-school when I read the books and I fell so much in love with that whimsical wonder that I told my 16 year old self my daughter's name will be Lyra.... and a decade later she came. She came at the same time that the Lyra constellation shot meteorites across our night sky. She is the Harp constellation. She loves finding Lyra in the stars. I believe that is why Philip chose that name...it's one of the most beautiful names in the stars. Now my baby will forever be a part of His Dark Materials.

[@cloudsurfer73]

It's funny because as soon as I heard that name and read the book, I decided I'd love to name my future daughter that too. I didn't know it was a star.

[@ladyfibonaccii]

@@cloudsurfer73 it's not. It's a cluster of stars making a constellation.

[@cloudsurfer73]

@@ladyfibonaccii Even better

[@CatBarefield]

Lyra is an amazing name. Short, spellable, yet unique and aesthetically pleasing. I wont have children but Lyra would be a top contender baby name for me as well

[@musosiimo3199]

The protagonists's name actually was the result of Philip Pullman mistaking the title of a hymn tune for its composer - 'Lyra Davidica' which means 'harp of David'. But it's a lovely name nonetheless - I immediately nicknamed my rather elegant cargo bike, which carries musical instruments, Lyra.

[@KD-wb4fj]

Ruth Wilson's performance was absolutely perfect - she managed to capture what made Coulter's character so deeply sinister and seductive, without playing her like the "Villan". Anyone who has a toxic family memeber (particularly a parent) understands that fear and frustration of facing someone who believes themselves to be good and doing things from a place of love, when in fact they are awful and endlessly selfish. I think Nicole Kidman was more literal in playing her as a baddie

[@actually_curious4773]

I don't know, from what I've seen of her she comes off as too matronly and on the verge of crying all the time, right off the bat. The book Mrs Coulter was glamorous and dazzling and charismatic, and that's what helped her advance in the church ranks and charm the hell out of Lyra so fast, but it also what makes the contrast between her dazzling exterior and her actual deeds so horrific. Nicole Kidman captures that even though she doesn't look like the book version, the original one at least. The show Mrs Coulter looks and acts like a Soviet schoolmaster to me, like a woman of a hard fate who hasn't slept in a week and is barely holding it together. That's not Mrs Coulter at all.

[@asterismos5451]

I freaking adore Ruth Wilson as Mrs Coulter, she's just so perfect for the role. I do think though that the movie's Lee Scorsby was better.

[@emmieryder8434]

Ruth Wilson is, hands down, the BEST Mrs. Coulter!

[@unstrung65]

You are 100% right --- so far , I have been mesmerized by Ruth Wilson's performance .

[@mcnaugha]

So, true! When you rebinge the whole series, you see even more of what she did. She wipes the floor with Nicole. Maybe Season 3 will change this guy’s view.

[@themassivebrainman4798]

Ruth Wilson as mrs.coulter is my favorite performance ever

[@SophieIGallagher84]

Agreed

[@lolsaXx]

I liked her death scene. It was great.

[@gingit3239]

I respectfully think you are almost completely wrong. As someone who read the books as a child and they genuinely shaped my life (put me right off Catholicism after having wanted to be a nun; I can understand the critics' fears tbh) and are very dear to my heart (my cats are named Pan and Roger, and I'd like to name a daughter Lyra), the HBO series is a childhood dream come true. There are a few tweaks I would make of course, but I find it such a faithful adaptation and I get emotional and tear up just watching the credits. I think you are maybe looking at this through an American lens; as others have mentioned, this is a BBC production and it perfectly captures the BBC and overall "British childrens' story" vibe - our media tends to be more somber and cynical. I also think the production value is outstanding, but again I'm not expecting Hollywood budgets (the only issue I have on this note is that they couldn't show more daemons everywhere). The whimsy is 10000% there for me and it's like a time portal back to my childhood, but it's a decidedly English type of whimsy.

[@sjavijee]

His Dark Materials was fantastic!!!!! Cried my eyes out final season.

[@Ntwister]

i watched the last episode a few hours ago and i still got puffy eyes xD

[@Electric_Coconut]

I saw the movie and thought it was awful and fell asleep on my wife's shoulder. We power watched season 1 & 2 and I thought it was some of the best TV in a long time. I liked it so much I ordered the book trilogy and completely fell in love with them. Now I'm waiting for the 3rd book of the new trilogy to come out so I can order that as well...

[@ZhadTheRad]

Wait, new trilogy?!

[@Electric_Coconut]

@@ZhadTheRad yeah bud, prequel trilogy

[@lyrax1812]

@@Electric_Coconut no not really! The first one is a prequel, the others are a continuation of lyras story

[@Minptahhathor]

@@ZhadTheRad book of dust ❤️‍🔥

[@Akena347]

Thank you for giving me the words I was looking for in comparing the adaptations. It's almost ironic that they both succeed where the other one doesn't: a mix of the two could give us exactly what we want! The only thing I would disagree with is the portrayal of Mrs. Coulter: Kidman had the appearance and charm, but Wilson brought the complexity of the character. She is a fascinating and twisted person that needed this kind of bottled-up crazy portrayal, even if that meant removing some of the charm. In the end, I think that the biggest issue with the HBO series is its objectivity of view. The books, as well as the film, followed Lyra's perspective so you see the world through her eyes. It's logical that the world seems magical in the first book, not only because it's a different world, but because she's a child. And it's only near the end that the tone shifts to show how she'd matured. The show begins with that tone. Because it follows more characters, individually from Lyra, already shows Will and switches between worlds, while portraying a more somber and strict world with set design, we lose that wonderful subjectivity. The story is Lyra's coming of age story, first and foremost, so they lost all of that beautiful point of view and progression with that structure. I get what they were trying to do, but it was a mistake.

[@hagermanhooligan0871]

These were the words you I needed

[@cloudsurfer73]

A big mistake. She doesn't even feel like a main character anymore. I preferred Kidman's portrayal because Mrs. Coulter was always a mysterious figure who only briefly shows glimpses of vulnerability and love towards Lyra. I liked her being mysterious, it's kind of like Count Olaf in A Series of Unfortunate Events, it makes them more scary and complicated. They've shown all her hands in the show so she's no longer intriguing.

[@christine713]

@@cloudsurfer73I find her more intriguing tbh. I don’t think I ever wondered as much about her backstory and how she got to be the way she is.

[@Mednay]

I never read the books, I watched the golden compass but it didn't really stays with besides that I really like the concept of daemons. I didn't remember anything about it besides Eva Green being Serafina but His Dark Materials really got me, primarily because of Ruth performance and I've never heard of her before. I think she really great captured her monkey side.

[@melaniemuller6199]

Read the books, I promise you won't regret

[@Akali15]

Nice analysis! I remember I was in high school when the movie came out, the Catholic Church was up in arms about it being anti-God and written by an atheist and everything; they had sermons about how parents shouldn't let their children see the movie or read the books. So my mother went and bought all the books gave them to me and told me if I wanted to read them then read them. She said, "I'll be damned if they tell me what you can and can't read, you know the difference between fact and fiction and if you have any questions about it you come and talk to me." I read all the books and loved them.

[@paganidude2149]

I can see the controversy from a religious perspective. I didn't see that strong of a message like that from the movie, which is the first I heard of this story. I never knew of the books, and have not read the since either. I loved the show, but I am unsure after the first episode. I can't say I agree with the message of waging war against a figure that may be a representation of God. Which is an easy correlation to make after watching the first episode of season 3.

[@astrowiz3544]

@@paganidude2149 if you were to read/watch further though, you’d quickly find out that the “god” they’re trying to kill isn’t really god at all but rather an old decrepit angel posing as god whose regent is obsessed with domination of all the worlds and suppression of free will. It’s a clever commentary on how organized Christianity has been distorted and twisted into a repressive dogma no longer reflective of its origin of purpose.

[@thepiratepeter4630]

@@paganidude2149 In the books the relationship is even more explicit. As an atheist, I find the concept interesting: if the entity that calls itself god in the bible actually existed, why would we trust him? Think about it, even if Jesus literally did everything the bible says he did, he wouldn't have needed omnipotence to do it; also, he criticised one of his disciples when he wanted proof about his resurrection: why would Jesus be unhappy about people being skeptical/using critical thought 🤔? It seems a good thing to me.

[@PAWfessionalTennis]

You have a great mom

[@zauberholz8357]

Your mum is awesome! That's the right attitude for a parent to have; "there's a difference between fact and fiction, let's talk about the interesting topics this work brings up"

[@unstrung65]

Could not disagree with you more on Ruth Wilson's performance ! --- Absolutely loved it .The strongest acting and portrayal of the entire cast, in my opinion . Also liked Nicole Kidman's performance in The Golden Compass . I knew nothing about the books when I saw 'The Golden Compass' - and was quite sad that no more films followed . The TV series lacked some of the more colorful aspects of the film . But , as you said , it took awhile to adapt . Maybe you should have waited until the third installment has aired to give your full impressions of the BBC series 'and' Ms Wilson . But you were honest in your own opinions , so I really appreciate that .

[@cloudsurfer73]

I think Ruth Wilson is an amazing actor, I just don't like this portrayal of Ms. Coulter, it's less about her acting and more about the writing for me.

[@Grethrey123]

Agree. Totally see where he’s coming from about Nicole Kidman being great, but she seems to waif-like. I never believed her “edge” which the character needs to have. Ruth Wilson NAILS this - constantly flip flopping between alluring and all-out insane and intimidating. I genuinely was unnerved when the monkey first attacked Pan, simply by how unnervingly calm Mrs Coulter was the whole time. But she also makes the character sympathetic - that outburst about how Asriel was a bad father…amazing piece of exposition at the same time as character development!

[@roro-mm7cc]

​@@Grethrey123 Kidman's coulter is far *too* sympathetic, which makes Lyra's disdain for her in the film feel jarringly unrealistic.

[@Grethrey123]

@@roro-mm7cc Exactly! I don't think I've ever seen a Kidman performance where she is an out-and-out villain. Some actors just don't have that side to them.

[@roro-mm7cc]

@@Grethrey123Yh she’s much better in something like “The Others”. Another morally.. questionable mother figure in a film which also subtly criticises religious authoritarianism.

[@skarletcharity]

I bought The Golden Compass when I was around 12-13 years old. It was a particular favorite of mine, even though I didn't at all understand what I was reading. I remember reading The Subtle Knife as a fever dream when I was around 15, and then skim-reading The Amber Spyglass over several visits to Borders, while my parents met with other couples for Bible study. I remember having vague awareness that my parents would not appreciate the "dæmons", nor the mention of angels and The Authority. But I didn't fully *understand* what I was reading until my mid-20's. His Dark Materials was released on HBO in my mid 30's, and after watching the first few episodes, I re-read the entire series and finally fully understood it. Now, at 38, I've actually accepted the multi-verse of realities as Canon, it makes more sense when I consider dreams and death and the afterlife.

[@ColieBear18]

Truly I'm one of those people whos life was changed after reading this series as a preteen. It's still my favorite series of books. Its the perfect mix of magic and theory with a touch of tragedy which is just catnip for me. The depth of feeling in the book is really hard to explain sometimes but GOD does it make me feel.

[@gemueseandrea]

I completely agree!!!

[@juliahembruff8698]

This was a really interesting video, thanks for sharing your perspective! I personally think ruth wilson was a much better mrs coulter and she’s my favourite part of the show. I’m a huge fan of Nicole Kidman, but there’s a reason she doesn’t often play villains. She doesn’t have that quality that makes you fear the character. I watched the movie before I read the book, and found the character completely unmemorable in the movie, a pale imitation of the terrifying villain of the book. To be fair, it could have been the writings fault. The book and show made it clear that she is a sociopath that delights in her scientific pursuits. The scenes in the show when she interacts with the kids she’s about to mutilate are chilling and fascinating. Mrs Coulter is more than a femme fatale and I think the show understood that whereas the movie didn’t. I completely agree with you that the show couldn’t decide what audience they wanted. It’s too adult for kids and too childish for adults. I can’t see teenagers being too interested either.

[@scelonferdi]

I think that's part of the problem Alex Cortright might have with her. In what he enjoyed I read a certain desire for Escapism. This version of Ms. Coulter most certainly does not deliver that. She sadly feels very real (at least the sociopatic, detached, manipulative domestic abuse part).

[@lalo9079]

That's interesting because for me, Ruth Wilson just never felt right, she has better lines or scenes that Nicole Kidman had in the movie to show how compelling is the character, but never make me feel that kid me would be scared of her, something that Kidman did when I see the film, she's so gorgeous and ridiculously beautiful, but in a way that it feels calculated to disguise the most dangerous part of herself, and no matter how charming she was, me as an audience I knew it doesn't feel right. For me Ruth just doesn't have that impression and all the scenes of season 1 felt more like the writers saying "THIS CHARACTER IS COMPLEX I SWEAR" but making dumb adaptations like Lyra knowing Roger is gone even before leaving Oxford, what make Ms Coulter the stupidest decision of tell the child she want to live with that she would find her kidnapped best friend but don't doing it hoping that Lyra "forget about him 😜"

[@briantrumpower8108]

To each their own, but I don't get it. She was terrible. Ruth just played her 'Luther' character.

[@quickflash2studios232]

I remember when the BBC series came out, my family watched it when it was broadcast but after a few weeks, my family didn’t want to watch any more because they didn’t know what was going on. I was the only person who liked it because I’d read the books. (This isn’t a criticism of it, my family don’t pay enough attention to films and tv and want everything to be explained to them)

[@drogadepc]

To be fair the BBC series is pretty confusing at first. It took me a long while before I could finally understand what it is about. I had watched The Golden Compass when it was released years ago but I could barely remember anything. Then, I decided to watch the movie again, after the series finale, and all I can say is that the movie is horrible. It's rushed, no character development, poor editing and the actors seem like they don't know what they're doing. The setting is pretty average and the soundtrack is forgettable

[@alexschlotterstein118]

I have the impression that Nicole Kidman embodied Mrs. Coulter in her play as the author Philipp Pullman imagined her: Untouchable, self-possessed, inquisitive and almost magically beautiful. It is the portrait of an almost mythical figure, who in the first two parts is the most cruel representative of the Magisterum, and whose character change in the third book seems almost strange, precisely because it is the first time that she gets something like a character. Don't get me wrong, I love Mrs Coulter from the book, that's just my analysis of her. Ruth Wilson, on the other hand, drew a character who reveals to us how cruel women must be to themselves and to others when they seek academic recognition in a world that systematically oppresses women. This Mrs. Coulter is psychologically torn to the core, becomes visibly angry and has clear traits of borderline personality disorder which is also evident in her extreme treatment of her own daemon, the manifestation of her soul. We immediately believe that Mrs. Coulter has her own motives, her actions and her character are comprehensible from the beginning to the end. That is the reason why I find her better in the role, even though I also find Pullman's version of Mrs. Coulter and Nicole Kidman's interpetation of her great.

[@snowyy.5275]

Nicole Kidman's Mrs. Coulter is a force of nature. She's charismatic and brilliant at times and magnanimous and empathetic at others, but only when it benefits her to be. Most of all, she's always in control. There are hints of her inner workings, but it's still like walking into a candy store, looking at all the colorful wrappers, and wondering what flavor is inside. That mystery is what makes her so captivating. I believe we're witnessing Lyra's childlike idolization of her and exactly what Mrs. Coulter wants others to see. Her portrayal is no less menacing to me, because of the mystery of her motivations, cold ruthlessness, and empty kindness. Ruth Wilson's Mrs. Coulter is menacing, but it comes from a different place. It's like being around a wild animal that's out of control. Her version is a touch too vulnerable, messy, and human. Like so messy. It's depression, rage, and loss of control wrapped together. It's hard to see her as a woman capable of playing powerful men like her chess pieces. We see too much of her off the bat. I believe if the movies became a trilogy, Kidman would have had an opportunity to slowly develop her more vulnerable sides. On the other hand, Wilson's S1 performance could have taken more cues from the movie

[@cathiemarvellous]

Perfectly put

[@saul_goodman00]

Just some constructive criticism, around 50% of this video was largely about your experience of beginning to read the novels rather than a constructive breakdown of what the novels, film and show have to offer. There were times where you started a new point/idea only to drop it midway and introduce another point/idea.

[@AlexCortright]

Yes sir. You’ve nailed the very point! :)

[@cathiemarvellous]

Yeah I stopped watching because of this. The delivery was also slightly melodramatic. I've enjoyed the comments though. People are so passionately in favour of Ruth Wilson's interpretation that I have decided to go back and try to continue with the series.

[@bettermetal1]

Oh my god that stock footage of a guy shrugging at 13:06 is the best thing I’ve seen all week

[@sunflowers_sarah]

17:16 funny, I've been watching Dark Materials videos in the background at work today, and yours is one of the last--but every single video I was reminded of this part. Lyra being separate from Pan was such a devastating moment. I was in my early teens reading these books and that really resonated with me, even at the time. I was also pretty young when I saw the movie, and remember loving it. The HBO series doesn't seem to appeal to me for some reason (for the reasons you outlined, actually). I think I'll just re-read the books, honestly. Thank you for this wonderful video.

[@sorscha1308]

As others have mentioned this is a BBC production TV show. It is darker than the film, probably because it's a big ask to sustain whimsy throughout a longform TV run, rather than just a film length production, especially when your source material IS SOOO dark. I understand your issues with the difference between the two but they are not the same medium and i'm happy with them both, as i think they both meet their individual briefs and work in their own mediums. I loved the film when it came out. I was an adult and had already read the entire series (as an adult) but i didn't mind the changes and understood that this was a film made to appeal to children and adults, as a family friendly version of the source material and one that you wouldn't necessarily have had to have read the books to fully enjoy. The TV version is aimed at the same audience as the books - young teens but it's also VERY aware that there's a huge audience of adults who've read the books over a perio of almost 20 years at this point. There are a LOT of us and we want all of the nitty gritty in there. UK kids are also pretty used to dark stuff too and they've hit a good balance for their expected audience i think. Yes, you're right, the whimsy's pretty much gone but i don't know how you'd sustain that with a darker, grittier version (than what was basically meant as a kids film) - they never managed 'whimsy' with the TV version of Neverwhere either but Stardust (the film) is full of it.

[@timaustin2000]

Think you're right about UK kids: British audiences are much more into dark and macabre tones that American audiences, by en large.

[@edit_google_docs1955]

I don't really know why the fact that the BBC series isn't catered towards children is an issue because the books weren't either. As you've said, it's more for young adults and adults, and as someone who's read the books I really think the BBC series did them justice

Dude, you've said it all. This trilogy sat on my shelf for 20 years and recently, at 35, I read it. The feeling of wonder... as an adult, I really appreciated that!

[@miaeager6821]

I'm so surprised that people don't like Ruth's portrayal of Mrs. Culter...

[@evgenkhersonets880]

At least it's not Wheel of Time or the Witcher. Also Ruth Wilson is great and terrifying

[@Minipsil]

Mrs Coulter is my favourite character from anything and is so relatable and enjoyable to watch!

[@pipersage9188]

The first time I read his dark materials, I was in 5th grade, I’m in 11th now, and have lost track of the amount of times I’ve read it. What captivated me as a child by being a fantastical, whimsy, and passionate story, now carries so much meaning to me as I now see its relation to the real world. I now understand what Phillip Pullman was getting at, peeling back the layers every time I read it is so astonishing. My aunt asked me the other day what age range the book I never stop taking about was targeted at, and I was dumbfounded, I couldn’t possibly place it in an age restricted box, no matter how hard I tried.every character represents something different for me, the movie growing up was amazing, I never questioned any of the choices the producers made, but now I see the flaws, that, despite not being entirely accurate, or making sense, do not take away from the films value. The excitement I felt when I found out about the show was rivaled only by the idea that this trilogy would gain some more recognition. However after watching it, I was left dissatisfied, it was all wrong, you could tell that it was produced by people who never experienced the books as a child, never felt that wonder, since I can remember I’ve wanted to become a movie producer, and the movies I want to make the most are his dark materials, I want to everything Phillip Pullman wrote about justice, I want other people to read the books and give me their opinion, I want to see different peoples visions, but I want to do them the justice they so dearly deserve. His dark materials has such an immense meaning to me, that I don’t think it will ever not be my favorite series, I am the person I am today because of those books, and they continue to inspire and guide me through becoming an adult, Lyras adventure was there for me when I was alone and a my worst, I could talk about the trilogy for a lifetime and never be bored.

[@mymblemeep9383]

Philip Pullmans and Neil Gaimans books were never whimsy to me (Terry Pratchett and Walter Moers books are whimsy and I love them for it), they've always felt more like a dark and grimy magic twist on reality. And I love that about them as a kid, just as much as I do now. As a kid I loved the books of His Dark Materials and honestly was very upset and angry when the movie came out because I thought it was too light and fluffy. It felt to me like the producers had tried to make yet another sellable kids movie without understanding that this series could not be that. It needed to be so much more. I cried floods reading the books. The thought of kidnapping, separating souls from the body and people willingly doing it to children, angels not having humans best in mind but wanting control over "their creation" in a very humanlike and greedy fashion, death, and children walking into the land of the dead to rescue a friend.. it was all very heavy to read but that made it feel impactful and I felt like I wasn't being talked down to the way I felt with many other books intended for a younger audience. The movie once again felt like it had misunderstood that darkness and invitation to talk about dark and painful things. To let it be dark and grimy so that the real light in the characters and small moments can be seen. I loved the series because it brought the books to life the way I saw them. The child in me was happy. And adult me, well I loved the portrayal of a lot of characters but especially mrs Coulter because she was complex and I could see her pain. Her actions made me hate her, her brokenness and flux in emotions made me pity and feel for her, and at times I could even relate to her. The meeting she had with Lee Scoresby, a character that gets to shine so brightly as a contrast to her, becomes so empowering because you get to see the result of choice. A choice to treat yourself and others better even when you were mistreated, leading to health and kindness. I loved Lyras character but I was truly happy to get to see so much complexity and depth added to the characters around her. That made the series surpass my expectations. I do agree that Lyra in the series did not make me feel as much as I wanted in the bit leading up to leaving Pan, because she appeared cold and disregarding for what might happen to her deamon, Will and his deamon were they to part. If more hesitance leading up to it could've been shown I think it would've created more empathy. Also the romance between her and Will feels forced in the end.

[@nehemiah_illustrates]

I’m gonna have to disagree: 1. Ruth Wilson was PHENOMENAL as Mrs. Coulter. Jesus Christ. She was clearly much better. Nicole Kidman was trying SO hard and still was just average at best. I’ll take Ruth Wilson ANY day over Nicole Kidman as Marissa. 2. I love Sir Ian McKellan across the board, but the voice actor for Jorvik in HDM was a nice change and Sir Ian would have just been too cinematic all the time. It brought Jorvik down to Earth.

[@stiletteleray1326]

When someone tells me an adaptation is “too real” and “doesn’t give them a whimsical feel” it just reads like you’ve grown up and are a bit bitter about it. All art reflects reality, no matter how grandiose the fictional world may be.

[@eldaddio1010]

A good analysis. I recall that Philip Pullman said he he didn't regard the books as children's books, it was just that they featured children. My biggest problem with the HBO series (I am currently in season 2) is the amount of travel between Lyra's Earth and ours. It sort of ruins the mystery of it. Also agree that Dafne Keen if fantastic and that while Ruth Wilson is good, Nicole Kidman was better. I also think that the voicing of Pan is much better in the HBO series.

[@anula4675]

I like the HBO show because it was more real and less an adventure/fairytale. This is why I too love Neil Gaiman’s work so much, his stories are full of magic but at the same time brutally close to reality, hence I get the feeling the world I am reading about is more alive. I grew up daydreaming about all of the worlds and my favourite protagonists. For example I loved first seasons of Doctor Who, because of the low budget and normal London streets, with bad weather and trash on pavements. It was easier to imagine the Tardis could land in my post soviet neighbourhood this way. Later seasons were all so colourful and Disney-like it got less and less enjoyable. HBOs Lyra does not have a perfect hairstyle and makeup, she is not overly brave making speeches but natural and honest. I believe her story.

[@-LillianAngel-]

I don’t care what anyone thinks but Ruth Pullman’s Mrs Coulter is amazing. -She’s well played -very greatly portrayed - I don’t know why but she’s really mesmerising -Nicole Kidman’s Mrs coulter was an absolute flop for me -she’s also a badass which I love -she’s sadistic, she’s power hungry and for some reason so easy to like -and I also love the loving desperation that she has for Lyra as her mother, it’s so enticing -also there’s so many times when she’s gone a bit out of whack which I find interesting, cause there’s this scene from I think episode 2 or 3(I forgot) where after Lyra ran away from her she got really upset about it and got suuuuuuupppppeeeerr drunk, and for some reason is just walking along the very edge of her fancy apartment terrace trying to see if she’ll fall or not, and there’s this moment where she nearly falls of and the her daemon is just looking through the window scared as f##k. And I don’t know why but it’s just so enticing to watch cause you get to see I deep dive into her character

[@sheilajune9677]

I fell in love with the Golden Compass movie when it 1st came out back in 2007. I was 13 years old when I watched the film and read the books. After I saw the movie, I read all three of the books. I love how he explained everything in this video. He nailed it 👏 good job. 👍 these books were made for children . Honestly. I have not watched the HBO TV show of his dark materials I just now discovered that and even though I have not watched the shows I have a feeling that what he says in this video is all true. I would totally want to go with Lyra in her adventures in the old film and from what I'm seeing now. I don't think I would even be interested in watching the HBO TV series.. Thank you for making this video 👏

[@ahseilapo]

To me the series were saved by Ruth Wilson; any scene with her would be a delight. She fits so well with the book character and added nuance that only made this complex character even richer.

[@JezLerman]

Just watched your video for the second time. It's still brilliant. You held me with your whimsy and wonder, mate, for which I thank you.

[@lucastorresruiz7641]

I think what Philip and Neil have as writers and why their stories have the impact they have is because they’re immensely inspired by the world we live in itself, not just creating a fantasy universe but getting inspiration from myths, history, science, etc

[@sketchtheparadigmyork1217]

I side with you- Kidman was quite electric and would have been amazing in the show. Wilson had more to work with and hence more of a chance to enchant fans.

[@lyrimetacurl0]

McPhail: "My actor is your actor's father." Lyra: "NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!"

[@luanalano7827]

About the cast, specifically bout ms Coutler, i think the series actress NAILED IT, she literally was the heart of the series, in acting matters, she was the BEST ONE, she brought every layer of the character to the screen and i loved so much hating her

[@jackalackb17]

My dream for dark materials would be for an anime studio to be given the chance to make it. Studio Ghibli (specifically spirited away) is the closest thing for me to capturing the childlike wonder and the darkness I would expect from the books.

[@XentorAntarix]

That ha been brilliant.

[@Wurmze]

For me the show and movie stand on equal footing. Where the movie fails the show succeeds, and where the show fails the movie succeeds. Happy to enjoy all three mediums

[@tonyyoung3985]

That was a great intro and I totally get it. And on the opposite end of that. Imagine being obsessed with something that you love so much but found no support or fandom, so you actually misinterpret it. And it takes years to meet your fandom to show you how wrong you were. Or at least have an interesting conversation about it.

[@AelitaUndomiel]

i get you, i also discovered his dark materials when i was at a low point in my life. although i already watched the movie when it came out, i was a kid and i couldn’t understand the plot quite much, until i stumbled across the tv series and fell in love. i read the books and enjoyed the movie too! (which is pretty magical and had so much wasted potential, sadly). this trilogy became such a comfort for me, made me bond even more with my new pet/dæmon after the one i used to have passed away. lyra is a role model and very relatable for me. philip pullman created an incredible, beautiful and complex fantasy world.

[@cjayconrod]

I think you just explained why people are disappointed by every Disney "live-action" movie of the last decade. Seeking realism creates something too close to reality

[@hannahwicks7197]

I don't know if it's just the nostalgia of loving something so fully and sharing that love with my friends (my two best friends and i made our group chat initially to talk about the his dark materials tv show) but for me the show had exactly that sense of wonder and whimsy that you described and it appealed to me as a young teenager in 2019, someone reaching adolescence in 2020 and now, as someone considering their place in the world in 2022, I'm really excited for the final season

[@harrysolas2802]

Thanks for opening up. You shared the heart of readers who enjoy fiction. When I enjoy a book, I feel exactly the same way. There's magic here no matter the genre. Good job. As for Pullman's road, change it to river. A powerful river pulls the reader in. If the river stalls, the story stalls. That's why you need to keep your eye on the river as a writer. Thanks again for your thoughtful analysis.

[@AlexCortright]

Thanks so much! It means the world to find likeminded people out there who experience art similarly. Truly.

[@celerya8365]

while i disagree with some of your points on casting (i hands down do NOT like dafne keen as lyra), i 100% agree with you on your final point about whimsy. you hit the nail on the head with your description on how his dark materials feels cold and unwelcoming, while the movie feels much more warm and childish like the books. as an avid fan of the books myself, i enjoyed this video a lot :) on a different note: you were right when you said the metaphors and philosophical messages would go over your head if you had read this as a child. i read this series for the first time when i was 11, and back then, i was just enchanted by the magic and fantasy and everything. it wasn’t until i was 13 that i realized dust is growing up and the series is a metaphor for losing childhood. of course this probably seems obvious, but as an 11 year old i wasn’t thinking about this. it’s actually fascinating how much the way i interpreted the series changed as i grew up

[@joshuagoh7552]

I feel you lost the 'whimsy' because you grew up, not because the show was bad. Watching something for the first time as a young child will always leave a bigger impact than if you watch something you have already watched before. It's simply nostalgia. Also I don't see how Ruth wilson was a worse Mrs. Coulter than Nicole Kidman.

[@SalemEverett]

I agree. I read the books as a teenager, watched The Golden Compass and the first two seasons of the HBO show - the show is 1,000 times better than the movie, and Ruth Wilson absolutely nails the role. I knew of her from that Luther show with Idris Elba, and she's a big name in the theatre world too, like Andrew Scott and James McAvoy, and knew she'd be great. Very talented, and terrifying lol.

[@frenchguitarguy1091]

The show is wayyyyyy more whimsy than the film ever was. Like you get to see kids run around have fun in the show, quite a lot of time in the first episodes. Just because the show is also not scared to go to the darkness either

[@frenchguitarguy1091]

Also Nicole Kidman was boring compared to Ruth Wilson. I don't get the feeling that Nicole put as much thought into her role if any at all compared to Ruth

[@inbuttsmeeting]

@@frenchguitarguy1091I agree ruth wilson is an excellent choice for mrs coulter, but I’m not sure what whimsy you’re seeing in the show. seeing kids running around isn’t enough lmao

[@joaobello7179]

Ruth Wilson's performance was the best, she really caught the cunning and the threatning part of Mrs.Coulter, but i always thought that Nicole Kidman's part was a waste since she nailed the seductive/word play part that reminds me the first time you read about Mrs.Coulter, and it's to bad the movie was wasted because i would have loved to have seen Nicole's Coulter in the next 2 movies. But still, Ruth nailed it and made a great impression as Marisa, not only in personality but also the looks.

[@droogydroo8581]

Ruth Wilson is not only phenomenal as Mrs. Coulter, she is, for me, quite possibly the best thing about the show. I find every single one of her scenes scintillating; her performances are next level, and I find she's able to find a depth of nuance, of tenderness and savagery to her character, that I didn't even realise was there. I agree with so much of what is said here, about the strengths and weaknesses of both the film and the show, but man, do I find myself baffled by the take on Ruth Wilson's performance. I know art is supposed to be subjective, but that is a breath-taking performance, no matter what way you look at it.

[@NoctLightCloud]

The Golden Compass (book 1) was the first English book I purchased and read. It was a pain for my 12yrs old self to get through that rather difficult book for an English learner (I'm German speaking), but thanks to it, I managed to improve quite a lot within weeks!

[@ezioartem9193]

"As a kid, I always gravitated towards the stories that presented themselves with accessible language, but didn't talk down to me. They treated me like an individual. They respected little 11yo me" Dude those words are so true. I even wrote it down in my mobile notes lol. Thank you for the video!

[@AlexCortright]

So glad you enjoyed!!!

[@nikikaidoxa]

ruth wilson is the best ❤️ i loved kidman, but wilson stole every piece of my soul

[@troe7878]

I just wanted to say that i loved how you articulated your passion for this awe inspiring immersive book series. I felt the very same when listening to them. Whimsy. It was a truly magical and very real world for me. I went on their journey thru the characters in a way that i have a hard time finding again with other books. When it ended, it was all i could do to find a way back into that land, but was met with much disappointment in the movie. Thank you for your review, it's rekindled a spark inside me. It's been 20yrs now, and i think it's time to re download the audiobooks!

[@AlexCortright]

i’m so happy you feel this way and to evoke even a small amount of emotion through my video. it means the world!

[@TiMoThY211991]

You make some interesting points. I definitely agree with those saying that Ruth Wilson's Mrs Coulter was better than Kidman's. I quite like how they introduced Will early as well, allowing them to flesh out his character a bit before he and Lyra meet. I also liked how the Magisterium was built up to be the big threat it was earlier as well. However I do get what you're saying about the whimsy. Certain things you said brought to mind different passages from the books where I remember feeling the same. I can see what you mean about the HBO show not being intended for children and the world being a less enticing place to want to visit or exist in. For the most part I did quite enjoy the series, and thought it mostly stayed true to the books in the places it mattered, but I do get where you are coming from with this criticism. Edit: I was also confused about you talking about Lyra leaving Pan on the dock as if the show botched it, then realized you put this out before Season 3 released. For what it's worth, I think they did do that scene justice in the show.

[@reniahneal2332]

Not me just noticing why I was having Deja Vu this whole time 🤦🏾‍♀️

[@Minptahhathor]

Lmfao real, I remember watching golden compass in kenya, now in Australia watching the show I was like wait a damn minute 😅.

[@fenneclaura]

The books are a masterpiece, after I read them I was interested to watch the movie and later watch the series. Even though both the movie and the series are great I have to admit I enjoyed the series a lot more than the movie.

[@SHB373]

The BBC audio rendition with Philip Pullman as narrator is hands down the best

[@novrdd]

This video lights up a really interesting conclusion on how I personally experienced the books and both of the adaptations. Since, I'm basically have pretty much the same journey and exposure to the story like you, yet enjoy both the adaptation probably the same amount, i think it's because now as an adult I'm no longer seeking the whimsical aspects from the story anymore. When I watched The Golden Compass for the first time when i was a pre-teen, i was blown away and loved it so much. Heck i even considered it as a better movie than Narnia and Harry Potter (which are big back in the day). It has a special place in my heart. Now that I'm older, filled with somewhat more pragmatic way of thinking and in fact enjoyed the recent HBO's adaptation, after watching a lot of discussion, video essays, etc (including yours). I realized that i think people behind the HBO's adaptation know what they're doing. They want to make the series which appealing to us, the adults who got disappointed because the golden compass didn't get its sequel. Unlike The Golden Compass which was an actual attempt to bring the trilogy to the big screen for the first time. That's why it still has the whimsy elements from it source material and has the appeal to kids/teens. Anyway.. I still think Nicole Kidman's Mrs. Coulter is the best, but! Ruth Wilson still did a great performance (again a great one, not just ok, or acceptable or anything, it's actually GREAT) in the HBO's adaptation. Ok bye

[@lucianomoffatt2672]

Happy to see in the comments that your outcry against Ruth Wilson performance is something that you probably share with your two or three friends and not with the rest of the humanity.

[@mckenan3578]

I’m going to have to STRONGLY disagree with you about HBO’s version of Mrs. Coulter which was Brilliant in my opinion.

[@Priszma]

The beginning almost made me cry inside as I'm obsessed with super cars and I can go on for hours about luxury cars, but it seems like everyone just ignores me honestly to the point I turn myself down thinking some people try to talk about it only bec they feel bad and not that they care.

[@trishapellis]

I'm on the fence about Miss Coulter. In the book, she's this perfect mix of beautiful and enticing and nice - the kind of person I would've wanted to accompany to the North because I could imagine having fun adventures. She made attention-starved orphan lyra believe she would give her love and attention... but as soon as her true colors show, they show for real. So what I'm on the fence about is, Nicole Kidman does the enticing attentive person you want to spend time with right but she doesn't scare me, and Ruth Wilson is absolutely scary enough but she doesn't do the enticing part as well (also because, in the book, one of the things that initially draws Lyra in is her beauty, grace and elegance... and without any intention to insult, Wilson does not compare to Kidman in that regard. I believe Wilson was chosen because the directors knew that the beautiful, graceful, enticing Coulter was only going to figure in the first few episodes, and they wanted a woman who could credibly manipulate and stand up to the Magisterium in a way we don't really see her do in the movie. There was no person available who could do both enticing and scary, and when forced to choose between the two, they picked the trait they were going to get more use out of. I personally prefer the tv series over the movie by far, but I do understand what you mean. The whimsy isn't there, because the HBO series is a series for adults. The directors have focused on bringing the plotline, expanding it in the same way that was done with American Gods and the Hunger Games before it, and they're bringing it exceptionally well - but the soul is different. The books are about magic; the series is about people.

[@shrimboi8909]

Saw Golden Compass in theatre and it was love at first sight kinda thing. Then I started reading the books. Then it was years and years of hoping someone will pick up where Golden Compass left off. Then discovered by chance His Dark Materials on HBO. I am COMPLETE!!!!

[@laurencreates]

Northern lights/the golden compass is my favourite book of all time. My grandfather passed when I was quite young and he had a star named after him in the constellation Lyra. So I think that name first drew me in. Now my daughter is named Lyra (after the constellation). However she has so far shown much of spirit of lyra silver-tongue

[@christophermartin5744]

I agree and disagree on a handful of things, but I love hearing commentary on the series. This was lovely. With that said.... Ruth Wilson is a masterclass actor.

[@Shtuhtefup]

You are a little bit of a fool. Ruth’s Ms. Coulter is INCREDIBLE.

[@neptune627]

LOVED the books when I was growing up. Felt like I was transported to the best dream world. I was enamored with these books. When I found this series on HBO I couldn't believe it! I remember the movie the Golden Compass being a let down and veering away from the book. This was so true to what I remembered reading, I am so thankful to have been able to experience a little bit of that world again. Just finished season 3, lovely show and I will miss It!!!

[@vincentvenjo]

The season 3's last episode made me cry baby. It was a happy ending but not for Lyra and Will. Can somebody stop cutting onions? 😭😭

[@adriannephillips1395]

My only gripes about the tv show is Lin as Scoresby and that Lyra isn’t a blonde and her hair is pin straight. Her hair is referred several times as being unruly and blonde.

[@xycap8351]

The antiwhite raceswapping is to on the nose and must feel really mean spirited to white people...The whole Magisteiunm is white men and all white men except Asriel are portraid as weaker than girls or women plus having hateful insects rats or reptiles as Will being held down by little Lyra and dominated by him is far from the only example ..

[@nox.youtube]

This series left a lasting impression on me, I found it so magical and thought-provoking. So excited to read the third book of dust installment. Phillip Pullman is the best fiction writer to ever grace this earth

[@mochimitsu7]

I love BBC's His Dark Materials in spite of its flaws.

[@psilz_]

The first 4 minutes. I don't think I've felt this much in a long time. This is awesome.

[@andrewlim9345]

Having read the books and watched both the film and TV show, I think that the film was more colourful and richer than the TV series. While the TV series was more faithful to the books, the effects and world building felt darker and smaller.

[@cosa_oscura]

I adore that feeling of a book series saving you and I’m so so so glad you found happiness in His Dark Materials 💖💖💖💖

[@ericar.7924]

I wanted a part 2 for the golden compass so bad! I’m still waiting 😂

[@traci0133]

It will be OK for a part 2, if they don't become sooooo scared by the pressures from the religious organizations.....otherwise don't bother wasting our time pulling out important pieces just to appease a group of closed minded people

[@lyrimetacurl0]

I always thought the film was badly received because most people hadn't read the books and thought it was just some random fantasy story like Eragon but I had read the books and thought the 2nd one does a sudden change of genre to sci-fi and was looking forward to that being a movie 😂 pity it never came, well until the TV show.

[@nadineschefer6160]

Hey Alex! I liked how you talk about books and how they make you feel. I loved theses books so much. So I just wanted to share another author I absolutly love. You might not know him, because he's a german author, but most of his books where translated. Some are more for adults or more for children. So the authors name is Kai Meyer I started with the "Merle Trilogy", in English: Dark Reflections trilogy (The Water Mirror, The Stone Light, and The Glass World). All the trilogys are set in completly different worlds... so you can choose where you wanna travel: in a venizian-like world (the one I wrote down), on and in the oceans, in the asian clouds, in the desert, ... So maybe you will stumble across this author in some time and give it a chance.

[@AlexCortright]

Thanks so much for this! I will definitely put it on my TBR

[@cloudsurfer73]

I was first introduced the series as a middle schooler so I think it's perfect in that category. I don't read much fantasy as a young adult but I can still reread this story with joy (which I did when the TV series came out - I'm still waiting for season 3 to reread the last book). You're right about the implications going over your head if you had read as a kid, because I didn't even get it until years later when I looked up the book review online when I was much older. I didn't even get the religious subtext when I read it as a kid, I just thought it was talking about the importance of separating church from state (like it was in old Europe). I preferred the actors in the movie

[@ffking89]

Is the first book called the golden compass in America? I have allwyse known it to be called Northan Lights in the UK.

[@patmoniz4177]

Sadly have to disagree. I was a fan of the books when the movie came out, and was excited to see it in the theater with so many big names and a large budget. It managed to piss me off in the first 5 minutes when it revealed major plot points in a narration by Kidman. She was, IMO, completely lackluster in the film. I'll admit that I can't wrap my head around anyone preferring her in the movie. Ruth Wilson acted the hell out of her role and was phenomenal. I absolutely adored the complexity they gave to her character. Mrs. Coulter was not a complex villain in the book, and I honestly feel that the show added so much value to her being aware that she is just as cold as Asriel, but she loved her daughter. It caught her unaware and influenced her actions through the whole story. It was honestly my favorite part of the series. I like complex characters. Character driven stories are my jam. You clearly like different things, and that's fine. Daniel Craig was ok in the movie. He pulled off that cold, detached feeling that the character had in a way that McAvoy didn't. The only actor from the movie that I did miss was Sam Elliot. He was the perfect casting for Lee in the same way that Patrick Stewart is for Professor X. The Golden Compass is the only movie I actually got up and started to walk out of. I paused to see if it would have the gut punch ending, and then it didn't, I just felt like it was the final nail in the coffin for that film in my mind. It wasn't the worst movie, but it's in my top 5 movies that made me angry because they could have been great. What did you think of The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe movie? I was very into the Chronicles of Narnia as a child as well, and I couldn't help but tear up at how well it translated into film. I'd seen the cartoon movie from decades previous, and the BBC specials, but that movie was more than I had hoped for. They also added a scene to the beginning with the bombings. It was the only difference from the actual book that I can recall. And that was absolutely essential, IMO. When I was a child reading the books, I didn't really have context for the whole "sending children out to the country" thing that was happening. I didn't know anything about the war. It wasn't until I saw the movie with that scene, as an adult 20 years after first reading the books, that it all clicked.

[@sillahthandi7237]

You're right, the HBO series is not whimsy. It's more like adventure and low key horror.

[@LSnicket]

Thanks for this video! I was wondering if anyone didn't prefer Nicole Kidman's Coulter as I do. Not to say that Ruth Wilson's acting is bad (it's not, she's amazing and I'm so glad they chose her to be Coulter) but I miss the way they got Kidman to be so motherly and adorable with kids, so then when she's mad it is so much more terrifying. Wilson's version shows more how calculating Marisa Coulter really is, how cold she can be, and she nails it all the damn time!! But I miss the way Nicole Kidman would pretend to be cute and good, so, in the end I think this issue is a director's choice. I believe Kidman didn't have the chance to be more of a villan and Ruth Wilson was asked to show Coulter's inner self more because of screen time on each episode. It's not as if I hate her acting, but I wish they would give her the chance to pretend more, to build this mask Coulter always uses to make people think she's fragile, and I wish they gave Nicole Kidman more of a chance to be colder and derranged as Coulter is so often when she's alone or angry. In the end, the director's choices (and, for the movie, the executives' choices) do really affect the show in the end.

[@shihtzucorgi1368]

Just watched this film because of the series made.. I must say they could make the 2nd and 3rd installment of this film.. And the child Layra be played by Anya Taylor Joy and her friend be played by Nicholas Hoult.. The similarities are uncanny.. other characters will still be played by Nicole Kidman, Daniel Craig, Sam Eliot, Eva Greene..

[@davidwright8432]

Just saw part 3 of the HBO series. I thought it was mostly faithful to the original BUT, for some reason, after a good setup, the great battle involving Azriel, his wife, aka 'Mrs Coiulter', 'The Authority' and that whole story - was simply cut!!! And the focus was on Will and Lyra. Fair enough; but not sufficient! I was waiting to see what CGI could do with battles involving angels, and distinguished others. I''m still waiting. What was there, was (to me) wonderful. I'd love to know what Philip Pullman made of that cut - which really provided the entire motivation for his three books. As an ex-Catholic kid, I couldn't wait to see 'The Authority' (god, to you and me) get his richly deserved comeuppance. The 'Magisterium' was a dead giveaway of the 'Absolute power corrupts absolutely' dictum of Lord Acton. Who was speaking of the Catholic church under Pius ix, who had himself (infallibly?) declared infallible by Vatican Council 1.

[@les4767]

I'd be curious to hear if your opinion of the HBO series improved after you see seasons 2 and 3.

[@Shockwave_MD]

The Path Through the Wood is basically about knowing how to be a good editor of your own work. Not overflowing with exposition. Trying to remain succinct. And keeping the story moving without having to keep stopping and explaining. Do you see how my previous sentences all said the same thing? That's what The Path Through the Wood is about. Editing yourself.

[@lilyavabrooks]

In the HBO's version the ARMORED bears wore their armor lots, but when they fought the put OFF the armor! Made zero sense.

[@mrlee5956]

I love the vid pretty much Alex, I’m a newcomer to your channel and even the series but I’d love to read about it. So which chapter should I start with first, because I’m confused with the Northern Lights and the Golden Compass?

[@s.l.3281]

Skip ahead to 22 minutes to FINALLY hear this guy's opinion about what the HBO series is lacking -_-

[@ruthbennett7563]

I know. I clicked to hear about this book series & its adaptations. However, all this creator does is make reference to himself. Couldn’t stay interested to finish.

[@Tuaron]

While I may find the use of the world "whimsy" a bit inaccurate, the sense of wonder and longing is definitely something I felt lacking in this HBO adaptation. There are a number of issues I've had with it (as you mention, the Will Parry season 1 story is a major problem), though I'm not sure I have the same problem with some of the cast. All that said, the show has a weird pacing issue of feeling rushed and drawn out, overstuffed and yet hollow, particularly for most characters who aren't Lyra or Will (in a way that the books didn't feel to me). It also seems a little unusual which characters (and plot beats) seemed to grow or become more important and which ones seemed to fade away or be diminished. I think one aspect I have an issue with is the way the show's trying to lay groundwork for later seasons with stuff not in those respective books (Will pops up again, as does...that guy who spends a lot of time bothering Ms. Coulter), and the need to really divide focus among this cast, rather than making it Lyra's story and mainly sticking to what she sees and experiences. This may be a problem stemming from the medium, but I think it pulls away parts of the story that focus on a girl in this massive world in which she loses her youthful innocence and becomes a (kind of broken down) adult through sacrifice and tribulation - instead it's an ensemble piece that is about this big fantasy epic plot (set in worlds that...don't really look like I'd imagined)

[@astakrein]

As a kid 12-13 in 2007 when I saw the movie, I hated it. So much I never rewatched it till this day , and Nicole Kidman was the face of that hate. Everything about it felt off , and oh how Im glad the TV series came out. Its just beautiful and totally captivated me , Ruth Wilson is perfect in every aspect.

[@mymblemeep9383]

Same. As a kid who loved the books I hated the movie. I felt like it betrayed the books so much by pretending to be a kids movie and I was missing the darkness and complexity.

[@CelticBotansDigitalArt]

I have pretty similar opinions and experiences with HDM series as you, Ive read the books after watching the movie as a 17yo; I don't think the movie was as bad as people deem it to be, even more now knowing WHY it came out the way it did as you explained (pretty much, a product of its time); really love the casts both in the movie and in the show, for different reasons, and so on. However I disagree with some points, I do love how Will's story was played in s1, I think it gave us the time with him and his mom to know them and care about them, at the same time introducing the concept of "parallel worlds", things happening all at once and etc; Ruth Wilson's performance is much more raw and "animalistic" than Nicole Kidman's, and I really loved that too haha. I thought the show was whimsical, even more on season 2, I loved the way they protrayed the windows too other worlds and witches and Cittagazze, and the portrayal of the angels at the end of s2 as well. Some things also bother me the same way it bothers you, but I think the show's greatest mistake and that the movie did get right was.... the relationship between humans and daes. In the movie, humans and daes interact physically A LOT more. Biggest examples that showcase that are scenes that both medias adapted: the scene of the cabin in the north with the kid without a daemon and the scene where they capture Lyra and Pan to cut them apart in Bolvangar. In the books, those scenes are DEVASTATING, and the ability Pullan has to write this complicated, even contradicting feelings is what sells these moments to me and show how IMPORTANT daes are. The terror of seeing a kid w/o a dae is SO RAW Pan claws Lyra's chest in fear bc a kid w/o a dae is pretty much a Lovecraftian sight in that universe; or when Pan is held by someone else, the implications of that, and afterwards, how they embrace each other, murmuring how no one will ever separate them, ever; while not perfect, the movie was the closest to show this pivotal moments the way they should have been portrayed: as Lyra and Pan experiencing absolute terror and emotional pain beyond words. I loved the show - I really really did. But the cabin scene pissed me off really hard bc it was so emotionless and dull; same goes to the Bolvangar scene, instead of holding Pan to her dear life, Lyra stares at Ms Coulter watching them behind the glass - where are the high stakes? The emotion of the possibility of losing HALF of oneself? While I know its probably due to budget on FX and interaction with the FX animals would skyrocket the cost and I understand that... I still think it was rather weird to cut off what to me is the most basic part of HDM's story and universe: the connection of people and their daes, not only showing them being buddies and poking fun at each other, but also the dramatic, sad moments, too. Pretty important moments, in my opinion. Sorry for the long comment, I had to give my two cents about it!

[@YoungMatt81]

Here's my opinion as someone who has only watched the entire HBO show: I think, by the end, the show is firmly in the YA fantasy genre for me, though maybe my criteria is easily met. That criteria is basically: do adults have agency, or are they subservient to the plot of the children? Although a case could definitely be made that Asriel and Coulter have agency, in the end the plans and decisions they made for themselves didn't matter; the only ones that mattered are those that impacted Lyra. Same goes for many other adult characters like Scoresby, Mary in a way, and Iorik: they're only there to service Lyra's quest, in the end. With that out of the way, I did like the show, although I think the performances of the great cast are what kept me interested. I'm not sure how the source material is, but I kept feeling like some bit of exposition was missing for almost everything. Anyway, I think I'd like to check out more of the material, though I'm kinda kicking myself for not having read it first.

[@raesarchiv3s]

Don’t get it twisted The Golden Compass had big potential, they cut out parts of the movie and the second film was cancelled due to the controversy of the theme of the book/movie

[@blackmanta66]

I feel as though it's worth pointing out that the his dark materials series was made by the BBC in the UK and HBO brought the international streaming rights from the BBC which means most of the season one criticisms should be directed towards the BBC rather than HBO