His Dark Materials - Season 2 starts 8th November

[BossSaru]

They could have kept costs down by using the Harry Hill method:

 

 

[meatbin]

I've just finished reading book 1,and the first chapter of book 2 that was included at the back of book 1.

 

Now I've tucked into the TV Show, and in episode 3 they are covering bits from chapter 1 book 2!!

 

So, my question is, does the TV show carry many spoilers for book 2? 

[Bazjam]

4 minutes ago, meatbin said:

I've just finished reading book 1,and the first chapter of book 2 that was included at the back of book 1.

 

Now I've tucked into the TV Show, and in episode 3 they are covering bits from chapter 1 book 2!!

 

So, my question is, does the TV show carry many spoilers for book 2? 

So far it’s just setting up the world of book 2, no real spoilers. Who knows what’s ahead though.

[BossSaru]

It has been a while since I read the books, but it was a bit spoilery.

I recall it being a bit of a twist whe Will's father, John Parry, was a notable character in Lyra's world.

[sandman]

This is pretty decent, but TBH I think I prefer the movie so far (sorry)

[gizmo1990]

Episode 3 roared along a little too quickly for me, at least it felt that way direction wise. But it was still thrilling stuff. Ruth Wilson just gets ever better. For me though, her monkey is almost as good! What a superb job they've done with it. Really emotive and nuanced stuff, congrats to the vfx team. You can see they put their A team on the little so and so.

[monkeydog]

4 hours ago, gizmo1990 said:

Episode 3 roared along a little too quickly for me, at least it felt that way direction wise. But it was still thrilling stuff. Ruth Wilson just gets ever better. For me though, her monkey is almost as good! What a superb job they've done with it. Really emotive and nuanced stuff, congrats to the vfx team. You can see they put their A team on the little so and so.

 

They also has puppeteers in the scene, which I'm sure helped VFX team as well as the actors.

 

 

 

(It think I'd enjoy if they'd kept the puppets as well, but guess that doesn't sell to a wide audience)

[PeteJ]

I hadn't followed the trailers so pleasantly surprised by this. If anything its shifting along too quickly, almost game of thrones final seasons pacing, but this is still a good watch. Casting is great and general production values are really strong. 

 

Agree the early reveal was a shame so there's much less of a mystery, but there's still a lot to like. My girlfriend has never read the books and is enjoying it too.

[JohnC]

Spoiler

"Don't tell anyone, ANYONE, about the alethiometer"

 

Flashes alethiometer around everywhere

 

[JoeK]

The bear's beautifully done, I have to say.

[Mawdlin]

Omid Djalili was great in this. I'd like to see him in more stuff.

[Altabani]

On paper, I should love this as it’s usually right up my street. 
 

Missed 45 minutes of that episode as I fell asleep (only had 4hrs sleep but still). Finding it a bit boring if I’m honest, and the acting’s not great from the girl or the leader of the Gyptians. Ruth Wilson was much better in Luther and The Affair too, so she isn’t really holding my interest either. 

 

Will keep with it though, won’t give up yet. 

[Darren]

Yep that was great again. I wasn’t sure about Lee as he’s so different to the film version (which seemed like a perfect take on the book version) but by the end I’d warmed to him. They’ve got Farder Coram as the wise old grandfather figure so it’s good to have Lee as a younger, cheeky Indiana Jones style character instead. In this he’s more like the younger Lee in Once Upon a Time in the North (which is excellent if you haven’t read it).

[jonamok]

Still massively distracted by the absence of daemons. And on that subject, I noticed two daemon related oddities..

 

All/most of the magisterium security seem to have identical black Doberman-like daemons. Aside from it being a little on the nose, it seems odd from a lore perspective, is this covered in the books? Or are they just normal trained dogs the Madge uses?

 

Also in one scene we see a Gyptian walking alongside a white husky/wolf-like dog - which was clearly on a lead. I presume that was also meant to be an actual dog in Lyra’s world, otherwise why would you leash your daemon? Unless it was the makers using a real dog to add daemons to the scene on the cheap, but if so why leave the lead so clearly visible? Confusing either way.

 

Also, not (yet) my Scoresby.

[Stanley]

I thought Lee was great, really enjoyed his performance - next episode should be amazing if they get it right.

[Garwoofoo]

I was a bit distracted by trying to work out how the bear managed to get its own armour on. Then I realised that in a world where the same bear was apparently also a blacksmith, it was just something I was going to have to roll with.

[Darren]

1 hour ago, Garwoofoo said:

I was a bit distracted by trying to work out how the bear managed to get its own armour on. Then I realised that in a world where the same bear was apparently also a blacksmith, it was just something I was going to have to roll with.

 

Just used the bear necessities.

 

Edit: It's how a bear can dress with ease.

Edited November 25, 2019 by Darren
I thought of the next line

[Stig]

15 hours ago, jonamok said:

Still massively distracted by the absence of daemons.

 

Me too, there was one shot from above where they had people with their daemons but on all close ups its only characters talking that have them, no background characters do and its distracting. 

[Eric86]

I think the casting is really good overall. Lyra and Mrs Coulter are great, Lee Scorsbey is the only one who's a bit off so far I think. There are a few flaws, like the daemon problem, but they've captured the feel of the world well.

[Popo]

I feel like I’m watching this more out of respect at this point than for enjoyment. 
 

It looks lavish and the tone is very worthy; the source material is so highly regarded too. I like what it’s doing as regards the subtle allusions to the lore and world building. But can I fuck get really excited about it. 

[SharkyOB]

12 hours ago, Popo said:

I feel like I’m watching this more out of respect at this point than for enjoyment. 
 

It looks lavish and the tone is very worthy; the source material is so highly regarded too. I like what it’s doing as regards the subtle allusions to the lore and world building. But can I fuck get really excited about it. 

 

I feel the same, it's lacking something and I can't really articulate it.  The casting is pretty average for me, with the exceptions of Mrs Coulter, Lyra and Farder Coram, but I suppose that's to be expected when you love the source material as much as I do (avatar may be a clue).

[Garwoofoo]

It's often like that though when you're watching an adaptation of something you know really well.

 

It's been years since I read the books, long enough that I've forgotten pretty much everything about them, and I'm absolutely loving this.

[Bazjam]

yeah, I'm really enjoying it too. Took me a couple of episodes to acclimatise but I'm there now. I even like LMM. it's certainly a different take on the character, but one that I'm enjoying so far.

[gizmo1990]

I'll just call out another insanely good Mrs Coulter and her monkey scene. When she comes down the stairs and refuses to take its hand. Heartbreaking stuff! So so good though.

[meatbin]

I read book 1 just around the time this started. 

 

It's good and all, but with the details of the book fresh in my mind it just feels like each episode covers too much and it's racing through. Understandable though, especially with it being a BBC series. 

[sandman]

Episode 4 is by far the best one yet and the first time I was actually enjoying watching the show.  The effects work on Iorek is stunning 

[Altabani]

On 26/11/2019 at 20:42, Popo said:

. But can I fuck get really excited about it. 

 

 

 I think i'm done with it - have no enthusiasm to watch tonights episode as so far i have found it incredibly dull. @meatbin said it's racing through the books, yet i find it incredibly slow for a tv show. Not keen on any of the characters either, haven't warmed to any of them. Shame really, as was looking forward to it.

[NexivRed]

I quite like this Scorsby. I can see how he’s going to become a well liked character. 
 

Could people hear other people’s daemons in the book? I didn’t think they could. 

[Festoon]

This is a bit of a wishy-washy adaptation. Gives the game away on incision way too early. So many gut punches in the book weakened. Where was Tony's dried fish and Lyra's rant at the guard - her most defining moment.

Such a pity.

[Bazjam]

I really like what they've done so far with Will.