CW: self-harm

I’ve always appreciated the symbolism of Mrs Coulter’s cruelty to her own dæmon as evidence of her self-hatred/keeping her baser, more sinful instincts on a tight leash.

On my rewatch, though, it finally occurred to me that her violence to her dæmon is a form of self-harm. We see from other people that when their dæmon is hurt, it causes them pain, so every time Mrs Coulter pulls his fur or hits him, she is also hurting herself. Hurting someone’s dæmon also seems to hurt them a lot more than just hurting them directly, so it’s even more painful that she’s doing it to herself and her daemon. Maybe this was obvious to others but I just didn’t fully clock it until now.

also doing a reread of the book and I just picked up on the fact that Mrs Coulter acquires a hot, metallic, blood-like smell - as described by Lyra - when her dæmon is further from her than other people can tolerate.

Edit 3/11: >!spoiler just started my S2 rewatch and this is further compounded by the conversation between Mrs Coulter and Lee in S2E3. CW: abuse, child abuse - the idea of pain that is a relief because you feel you deserve it is so interesting in the context of Mrs Coulter. See also: McPhail atoning by holding his hand over the candle in S2E1, and the religious (particularly catholic) concept of pain as purifying &, sometimes, ecstatic. The way she and her daemon face the wall after the confrontation with Lee really seems like something she would do/was forced to do as punishment as a child - just a hunch but it seems like something a traumatised child would do to feel safe !<

Also listen I find Lin Manuel Miranda … conflicting as a figure… super talented but a bit cringe, an innovator but he has the success blinders on, etc but goddamn he’s amazing in this role

Preface, I am a Christian, but I am not really offended by the story. So this isn't meant to be a dig or a rant about the story, just an observation from my perspective.

I don't know if irony is the right word, but it's what I'll use.

The overarching premise is that the worlds of the multiverse are controlled by catholic like religious organizations who control the populations through fear of judgement and damnation if they don't submit to "the authority". It is clearly a story that is anti-religion (particularly anti-Christian).

The irony comes through the stories interpretation of who the religious people call Creator. He is an "angel" who chose to rise above the rest and declare himself god, and create organizations of faithful people across the multiverse who would uphold his tyrannical ways.

In the Christian faith, that is the devil. That's literally who he is described as being, an angel who decided to rise above the rest, and declare himself as being the highest. And ever since, he has manipulated and influenced people of all walks of life and religions to do his bidding, knowingly or not.

I am a Christian, but I wouldn't say I'm really "offended" by the story. The author was against organized religion. Obviously he would produce materials in line with his beliefs. But I found the irony a bit funny. The Catholic Church is often conflated with Christianity and organized religion as a whole, but for anyone who actually studies the Bible, it is clear that (from a biblical perspective) the Catholic Church is nothing but false doctrine and men who consider themselves equal to god!

So His Dark Materials was actually a very good fictional version of the Catholic Church and the god they really serve, the angel who desired to be god, but turned out to be the devil!

Will never forgive him for cutting Roger idc if he did it for the greater good, he doesn’t have a single redeemable trait and Roger deserved better, so did Lyra and can’t believe I’m saying this but even MARISA deserved better💀 Asriel is the only character I hate more than her

Perhaps this is me digging too far in and there’s no real answer for this, but I got thinking: did the Magisterium not know that separating a daemon from a human can be…well, deadly in many ways??

It seems as though they did a lot of research on it, like a LOT, and I’m aware that they believe dust is a sin and therefore should be removed before a child’s daemon settles. But what I don’t get is, how do they not understand the consequences? Not only can it actually cause death (which they clearly don’t care about at this stage), but obviously the people who don’t die in the process come out changed for the worse. They literally act as if they have no soul.

So, one would assume that any intelligent person from the Magisterium would be like, “oh, it seems that daemons are actually a part of the soul and we are literally cutting out the souls of these children!”

Basically my whole point is, how do they not understand that? Or do they understand and just not care for some reason? One would think they would care if they’re ripping people’s souls out cause that’s kind of the most important thing about a person but, idk. I guess they’re so tangled up in this ‘dust is sin’ idea to the point of not caring? But that almost seems too extreme.

Just started watching the show and I’ve had a thought,

So I actually watched The Golden Compass all the time when I was young and as soon as I heard about this show I jumped on the chance to watch it. Idk how I didn’t hear about it sooner. I’m currently on episode 5 of season 1.

I was thinking about daemons in general and how some people have much larger or predatorial ones than others. Then I was like, wow, imagine living in that world and getting in an altercation with a person who has a significantly more predatory daemon than you do; I’d bet people try their best to avoid conflict with people like that!

I mean, imagine a weird hypothetical scenario where your partner cheats on you, you discover exactly who the homewrecker is, and it turns out you can’t do anything to them otherwise their large daemon will tear you to shreds. Crazy stuff!

I read the first book before starting the series and wtf? Why did they kill Billy instead of Tony in the show? Didn't even get to the funeral scene bc it's just so dumb to me. Ok, maybe they wanted to change it up a bit and make the series darker then the books, but did they really have to kill poor Billy and traumatize Ma Costa this way? In the books, Billy gets rescued and so at least one thing turns out fine.

It's just so weird and at thins moment it seems just like they changed it just so they could say they didn't copy the book entirely...

Either way, at the time i'm posting this i don't really know what's gonna happen to Billy, i'm just assuming he'll die, though.

!Why did it have to end this way? It was such a wonderful TV show, but it left me feeling saddened and depressed. I just wanted to add that Mrs. Coulter is the best character in the show, and seeing her die like that was both amazing and very sad. I’m just wondering, is there better explanation in the book about what actually happens to those who fall into darkness? Is there any hope for Lyra’s parents?!<

Only on s1e6, but why do Daemons not run when their human runs? Seems like they don't react quick enough. Are they not psychically linked?

So I just finished season 2 and I gotta say that these have to be the most beautiful representation of angels I have ever seen. Please tell me we see more in season 3. Perhaps even some close up shots? I am just in awe by their design.

However, I also know that the show faces challenges with the budget given so I’m also expecting them to not dive deep into that side of the CGI. But please, do let me know if we are shown more of them for extended periods of time.

EDIT: watching season 3. I am in complete all every single time we see an angel, both in human form and not. 1000000/10 for whoever came up with the idea to represent them like that.

So when she goes to the land of the dead in season 3 in episode 4 or 5 I think it is, is she in constant pain? We see her screaming on the boat but is she still in pain at the land of the dead?

I recently finished both the original trilogy and the show, and I am so satisfied with the adaptation. One of my favorite enhancements is Mrs. Coulter and her dæmon. Their onscreen relationship is fascinating to me and adds an amazing depth to their characters.

I've always wondered why her dæmon never talked and we never find out his name. Do you think it's because she has long shut him up, and refuses to allow his name to be known as some sort of protection or punishment? In the books, I envied her for her admittedly psycho monkey, but in the show, I pitied him.

!It warmed my heart to see her make amends with her dæmon, and that he helped save the universe. (I sobbed so hard when Asriel and Mrs. Coulter took out the regent with Stelmaria, and Monkey flipping the switch!)!< I think her character arc is one of the best I have ever seen on film, and Ruth Wilson did a wonderful job portraying her.

Edit for spoiler tag

I THOUGHT LYRA WOULD HAVE SAVED ROGER. WHAT THE HECK. AND HIS DAEMON CRYING “ROGER I DON’T WANT TO LEAVE YOU” WHAT THE HECK I HATE LORD ASRIEL.

Almost finished with the series (I’m at 3x07) and I hate him even more.

So I picked up His Dark Materials a few days ago and am so far really liking it, however, I feel like there are plenty of shots where we should be seeing Lyra’s daemon but we don’t.

This might just be me nitpicking because I love Pal, but considering how interwoven a person is with their daemon, should Pan not be included in every (or almost every) shot with Lyra, especially when there is a high stakes situation aka when she’s running away from someone?

This might be due to budget constraints but a scene that really broke my immersion was the >!episode 6 finale where she falls out of the aircraft but you don’t see Pan falling with her.!< I WANT MORE PAN. GIVE ME MORE PAN. PAN SUPREMACY!!!

EDIT: In 1x08 Pan goes into Lyra’s coat sleeve so now I can rest easier thinking that every time we don’t see him, he’s in her clothing EDIT EDIT: Pan is much more present in episodes 1 of season 2 so yay. I hope it stays that way

I knew about it way back when they first announced it. Was gonna pick it up back when the first season came out but decided that I’d wait until it finished so that I didn’t have to wait a year between seasons.

Anyways I’m around 30 minutes into the first episode and why is Pan so stinkin’ cute? His facial expressions are so adorable that I had to screen record them and send it to friends.

Side note, why does he change colours/pattens? Guessing they’ll explain it but I don’t wanna wait

I just finished a marathon binge of the series. Now I have to vent. Who is crying 😢 I'm not crying 😭. There is no " And they lived happily ever after" in this world. They literally go through hell and back . And what do they get for all there troubles two broken hearts💔💔. I know sacrifices must be made to save the many worlds. But why does it have to hurt like a William Shakespeare play. I feel like my demon was ripped from my body after watching the ending. Ok I'm being a little mellow dramatic here. I just had to get that off my chest. I feel better now 🤧.

I decided to reread the books and am just about finished with The Amber Spyglass. I have been watching the show and I think that each season strayed more and more from the books and added or took away things that shouldn't have been. Just watched Season 3 episode 2 and am so pissed at how crucial things were just taken out and replaced with other really lackluster things. Anyone else feel this way about the show?

I asked on this sub about the show and how accurate it is since the movie was dog crap and everyone said it was very good and very accurate but i just finished watching the second episode of season 1 and it is incredibly inconsistent the windows aren't supposed to be in the story until s2 and the same thing about grooman and a lot of other inconsistencies and idk writers taking liberty of rewriting books just drives me insane

So im 14 and I've openly talked to ny family and others that I can't feel deep feelings such as cry from a sad scene or get chills from music (although my dad gets chills from music quite often) yesterday i heard the title sequence for the first time and my god i felt so cold from the amount of chills i got i was surprised and happy to have found a piece that is beautiful and deep enough to flick that switch inside of me.

I've always had a hard time seeing human suffering, but seeing children suffering in captivity, the fear, the terror of having such intimate harm done to them, Lyra's guilt, the manipulation, the betrayal...is really triggering, It's even more painful after I had my first child.

I think that's part of what makes this story so special... Para los lectores es un ejercicio de empatia muy especial

I may have just missed the scene that explains this, but how did she get to the tree world from the crossroads world?. She definitely didnt use will to do it as theyve never met and i dont remember a witch helping her cross either.

Edit: thanks for the replies! I definitely remember the angels guiding her now.

Mine has to be to be close to you because the ending of that is the best call back to the theme any song has ever done

Hi guys, apparently I just discovered this series on Tiktok and wanted to try watching it, but Apple TV has already discontinued it. Any idea where I can watch this without resulting in piracy?

I just finished rewatching the show. I’d seen seasons 1-2 like 4 or 5 times and this was my second time watching Season 3. This show really is amazing. I can’t believe how underrated it is. The world building is amazing and so fascinating. I’ve just come to appreciate the show more each watch. I have such an urge to just really get it out and talk about it this time with people who also appreciate this BEAUTIFUL multiverse that Philip Pullman has created, which is why I’m here lol.

I wanted to start off with Ruth Wilson. I cannot praise this woman enough! Wow I’ve never seen her in anything besides this show and idk why because her performance is so dang captivating! Her presence when she’s on screen is unmatched it’s insane. Mrs. Coulter has always been my favorite on the show because of her complexity and depth. This rewatch however really solidified her status as one of my favorite characters ever. Such a beautifully written character and her characters end really made my eyes water. Her death scene is beautiful and the score really adds so much. The fall and her emotion and the orange monkey reaching out to Lyra. Chefs kiss truly. One of the best character deaths I’ve ever seen. It’s so sad that Ms. Coulter never got to see Lyra again after Will came to rescue her. And it’s also crazy to think Ruth and Dafne only had like 6 episodes where they shared scenes?

The score is incredible. Lorne Balfe does such a beautiful job and because of his work on this he’s one of my favorite composers. Mrs. Coulter’s theme and the main theme are some of my favorites.

I didn’t want to make this too long, I just wanted to say a couple things I really appreciated about the show. I liked the ending better this watch and even though I would’ve liked Will and Lyra to stay together, it was still such a beautiful bittersweet ending. But this world is so beautiful I’m seriously going to have to read the books now. I’m obsessed. Anyways thanks for reading if you made it this far and hopefully everyone can share in the comments their love for this incredible show. :))!