Hadn't seen a thread on this yet so thought I'd start one, new big budget HBO series based on the book series of the same name (and the source of the Golden Compass film from a while back).

Episode 1 was last night and this series is freakin' beautiful as is the title sequence. Here's the trailer and title sequence.

damn, that's a good preview trailer

I want to be excited for this but the lack of hand wringing by AFA and other drama queens has me worried that it might be too milquetoast

So I really liked this unlike some, the production values for this are off the charts and the cast is really solid with Dafne Keen (X-23 from Logan), James McAvoy, Lin Manuel Miranda, and Ruth Wilson (if you haven't seen her on Luther you're missing out, she's phenomenal).

I haven't read the books so I only know the story from the Golden Compass film, but straight away they leaned pretty heavy on the heresy of the ideas being presented so I'm intrigued to see how that moves forward. Overall I was really happy with the first ep and looking forward to more.

Would an adult who liked the Harry Potter books and mostly liked the Hunger Games books like this trilogy?

LOVED A Song of Ice & Fire also.

IMO the source material is not nearly as compelling/enjoyable on the surface as any of those. The style is more "classic" British fantasy (Like say CS Lewis) with more of a substance over style feeling from the author.

First book is great, but gets significantly worse after that. The atheist undertones are waaaay too on the nose. The author is a militant atheist and it really shows in this series, and not for the good. This is coming from an atheist, myself. *Book spoiler* They literally kill God in the 3rd book.

Well since it was written to be an atheist Chronicles of Narnia it would makes sense that I would be too on the nose.

Watched the first episode last night.

I enjoyed it. Thought the production value was great. It was pretty impressive how efficiently the movie covered the same amount of material.

Ruth Wilson doesn't seem glamorous enough for the role.

I am not reading this thread until I get through the first book, which I bought today. All I can say is the book is very well written and I'm burning through it. Gotta put it down for the night though dammit. I could definitely plow through it all in one night.

Very high hopes for this show!

Shife said:

---

I am not reading this thread until I get through the first book, which I bought today. All I can say is the book is very well written and I'm burning through it. Gotta put it down for the night though dammit. I could definitely plow through it all in one night.

Very high hopes for this show!

---

Keep me updated on the trilogy, if you decide to read them all!

I started listening to the book on my commute

I didnt realize that the Magisterium in the story was actually the Catholic Magisterium.

I just thought the entire religion was completely different not that this was the Catholic church.

I'm watching episode 2 and I'm really frustrated how they are not sticking to the books very much other than the basic things.

Interested to follow this thread. I'm jumping in to the series and had never heard of the books before but my first thought after episode one was "Hmmm this seems like a cool show but I bet the books are a thousand times better."

I read the series a few years ago. I think I liked the first book, but the next two were not great. By the end I had lost interest and I was just reading to see where the story went but it ended up going nowhere.

Loved the original trilogy, and the Book of Dust series is just as enjoyable so far. Love everything about how Pullman details the human/daemon relationship, especially with Pan/Lyra.

Not to derail the thread, but how are people claiming these books are atheistic when in the story of the books, they clearly establish god's existence, along with angels, spirits, etc. I get that the books are very anti-organized religion, but any discerning person of faith should have a lot of the same issues with organized religion, and the general portrayal of God or the authority.

I was actually doing some reading about this (haven't read the books) and there seem to be people on both sides of the fence.

The author is an outspoken atheist and some religious groups have condemned the books, but others seem to see the books as much more anti-religious bigotry and strict fundamentalism than actually anti-Christian (which from what I've seen in the camp I tend to fall into).

Know nothing about the books. Is the show any good if you haven't read the books? Or is this one to pass on?

I haven't read them and I'm enjoying it.

We saw our first polar bear last night and...wow. The level of VFX on a television show these days is unreal, the bear and all the other CG work on this show is as good or better than most feature film work you see.

Just finished the book. I am enjoying the show but thought Sam Elliott was a much better lee scoresby.

I only vaguely remember the movie, planning to watch it after this season. But Sam Elliot is pretty much the best whoever he plays

Have made it through books 1 and 2 and only through episode 1 so far. The material (no pun intended) is touchy, but it's still fantasy. It's kinda like Clive Barker's Imajica but for a younger audience.

Lord Boreal (Ariyon Bakare) is killing it in every episode. I find his storyline to be more intriguing than the main storyline up this point.

Great episode this week.

It's interesting to try and consider how you would react if you came upon a human who had no soul (which the daemon is).

I read where season 2 is already being filmed because the creators don't want to let the child actors grow up too much. I hope hbo stays committed to the full story.

Quick derail - Maybe its just me, but Lin Manuel is a terrible actor. Might be a good writer/producer but cant stand him as an actor and seems hes getting shoehorned into more and more...

Other than that, really enjoying this show despite knowing nothing about the source. I remember hearing the hoopla around The Golden Compass but never saw it. May have to watch it when this season is over.

Shife said:

---

Lord Boreal (Ariyon Bakare) is killing it in every episode. I find his storyline to be more intriguing than the main storyline up this point.

---

He is really great, and it's looking like his storyline will be tying into the main one sooner than later from what we learned this episode.

Really liked this ep, definitely enjoying the show overall and curious to see how the season wraps up.

IronRed13 said:

---

Quick derail - Maybe its just me, but Lin Manuel is a terrible actor. Might be a good writer/producer but cant stand him as an actor and seems hes getting shoehorned into more and more...

Other than that, really enjoying this show despite knowing nothing about the source. I remember hearing the hoopla around The Golden Compass but never saw it. May have to watch it when this season is over.

---

I don't think he's a bad actor, he's just better suited to stage type roles (i.e. Mary Poppins). Even his intro in this show (the bar fight) felt a bit more stage-y.

I thought he was solid in his quieter scenes with Lyra though.

IronRed13 said:

---

Quick derail - Maybe its just me, but Lin Manuel is a terrible actor. Might be a good writer/producer but cant stand him as an actor and seems hes getting shoehorned into more and more...

---

I agree with this as well I am currently reading the books and feel like he isn't who I would have envisioned for the part. He seems to try to be "Too Texan" and agree with someone stated above that I liked Sam Elliott from the movie as well.

Just started this show, up to episode 6.

Never saw golden compass or read the books.

Wife and I are really enjoying the show. They have done a good job getting one connected with all the main characters. Also, there hasn't really been a slow/throwaway type episode except for maybe the first.

I enjoyed the watchman but oddly I am leaning to liking this one a bit more. Maybe more adventurous? Can't really put my finger on it. Also needs to be said I've been watching it on demand so no 1 week wait period.

Very ready for the last episode.

I haven't started watching this, but Dafne Keen as Lyra is one of those castings that sounds so good it's enough reason to make the series.

LMM as Lee Scoresby, on the other hand, sounds terrible.