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Fantasy adaptations, whether movies or TV shows, have always faced the impossible challenge of capturing the imagination of their source material. However, this HBO 3-part series proved that fantasy TV shows can be faithful to their literary counterparts without completely changing the story their creators were trying to tell.
Adapted from Philip Pullman’s acclaimed trilogy of the same name,His Dark Materials is a remarkable show that got every part of its source material right. The impeccable series was not only a faithful adaptation of Pullman’s novels, but it proved that HBO’s best fantasy offerings were not limited to Game of Thrones. Surprisingly, His Dark Materials isn’t as popular as the streamer’s fantasy flagship show, even though it is almost on the same level when it comes to its storytelling and worldbuilding.
His Dark Materials is a children’s book, but the TV show didn’t try to make its controversial subject matter more palatable. Everything that worked in Pullman’s novels, from the dæmons to its critique of religion, was intimately explored throughout the show's three-season run.
Perhaps what makes His Dark Materials stand apart from many other fantasy adaptations is that it understood the importance of an ending. While numerous fantasy series don't always deliver satisfying conclusions after building massive worlds, HBO’s adaptation carefully builds toward its final chapter.
His Dark Materials Proves TV Adaptations Can Be Better Than Movies
The first book-to-screen adaptation of Philip Pullman’s trilogy was the 2007 film, The Golden Compass. Despite having a rich world to draw from, the movie was, to put it mildly, a flop and failed to impress audiences and critics alike. As a result, New Line Cinema did not adapt the full trilogy. Given how badly The Golden Compass butchered the source material by diluting some of its essential themes, it didn’t seem like anyone would ever attempt to bring Pullman’s complex world to life.
Thankfully, HBO and the BBC saved the story with a TV adaptation of the beloved trilogy. As a TV show, His Dark Materials benefited from a multi-season structure, which allowed it to carefully build its world and flesh out its characters. The extended runtime gave the story room to explore its intricate themes, such as theology, free will, and parallel universes, without oversimplifying or diluting their impact.
The Golden Compass unfortunately decided to soften the darker parts of Pullman’s trilogy in an effort to appeal to a broader audience, but the TV show fully leans into what made the books a bit uncomfortable. His Dark Materials doesn’t pull any punches when it comes to bringing the author’s critique of religion to life, and it’s all the better for it.
Unlike Some Of Its Rivals, His Dark Materials Nailed The Ending
Several fantasy TV shows struggle to stick the landing, but the adaptation of Philip Pullman’s trilogy remained remarkably faithful to the spirit of its source material, which allowed the series to conclude in a way that satisfied fans. Where some fantasy series fluctuate from season to season, His Dark Materials is perfect from start to finish. Each installment introduced something unique and added to why it was such a great show.
His Dark Materials season 1, for instance, introduces viewers to a fascinating world where human souls exist outside the body as animal companions called dæmons, with its sophomore installment expanding the scale of the narrative by focusing on Will Parry and Lyra’s relationship as well as the concept of multiple universes. The show’s third and final season is arguably the best of them all, as it delves into the full scale of the war against the Authority.
Series finales are some of the hardest to get right, as proven by how audiences still lament Game of Thrones’ conclusion seven years after its last episode aired. Fortunately, His Dark Materials avoided the pitfall of rushing its conclusion. The show’s finale not only tied up loose ends, but it also allowed the series to breathe and didn’t make last-minute changes that would negate every event that was leading to that moment. Lyra, Will, and Mrs. Coulter are given appropriate endings without the show losing what made Pullman's literary work such a masterpiece.
