His Dark Materials Review: Lyra’s Jordan (Season 1 Episode 1)
Lyra’s great adventure starts small on His Dark Materials Season 1 Episode 1, “Lyra’s Jordan,” as Lyra must grapple with her place in the story.
It becomes clear early on that the episode is a lot of worldbuilding and set-up. But it’s a much-needed piece to understanding the larger game at play, so while it may come across as expository, it’s setting up the world in an interesting and necessary way.
But the major pieces, at least so far, appears to be the Dust that Asriel is studying shows a potential hidden city on a different world, that a group called the Gobblers are rounding up Gyptian (the nomadic people seen celebrating) children, and that Lyra is more important than perhaps her humble beginnings may portray.
The Magisterium is only mentioned in passing, but it will be intriguing if the show takes on the book’s larger criticism on religion. Asriel’s work being considered heresy under the eye of the Magisterium is noteworthy, the scholastic freedom of the college perhaps not enough protection during his search for the truth. It’s small hints, but could be a potential place of rich exploration into religion on the show.
The Gyptians heading for London at the same time as Lyra likely means the disappearing children story will line up with her search for Roger. The alethiometer and its truth-telling ability is still a mystery, and why The Master would entrust it to Lyra now is still unknown. Will it be used as a moral compass of sorts, or will it serve a larger purpose? His adamant reminder to keep it secret leaves it as an important token.
These are more secondary matters on the episode, as all of the attention is placed on the characters and the world they inhabit. This is for good reason, as it’s not only a great way to settle the audience into this slightly complicated landscape, but also because so far, the characters and the world are by far the most fascinating part.
Lyra makes an excellent main character, as her inquisitive nature and fascination with learning more makes the exposition exciting for her, rather than a slog. Framing things through her point of view, like listening into Asriel’s Dust presentation, gives those moments extra meaning, as they come as learning experiences for her.
Dafne Keen is great throughout. She is able to pull off the physical task of traversing the rooftops of Jordan College with ease, while her performance during the more dramatic moments allows for a fierce cunning and vulnerability to show through. Her chemistry with James McAvoy and Ruth Wilson bring different energies to each sequence, leaving her as a dynamic presence on the show.
James McAvoy brings an intensity that suits Asriel and his work perfectly. There’s an anger behind his every move that could be great to explore further. Ruth Wilson is wonderfully malleable as Mrs. Coulter, able to tie friendliness and hiding something together to make her every word and movement something to be studied. Clarke Peters’ The Master needs a little more, but Peters is always reliable.
The scale on display is impressive, starting with Jordan College as an extravagant setting. It’s a beautiful place to spend the episode, the history almost palpable in every nook and cranny as Lyra and Roger run about and explore. There’s also the immense airships, whose size and grandeur make travel an exciting affair and a great visual that hopefully appears more.
But what’s most intriguing is the use of daemons. The manifestations of each character’s soul, one that is constantly changing to find its final form, is such a fascinating idea. Watching Lyra’s daemon Pan continuously change from weasel, moth, and mouse makes the special effects constantly shifting, and making it exciting to see what could possibly appear next while tying it to Lyra as a character.
His Dark Materials Season 1 Episode 1, “Lyra’s Jordan,” may have an issue with spending too much time on worldbuilding and explaining itself, but it’s in the moments of discovering its characters and the beginnings of a massive adventure ahead that sells the episode as a solid step forward. The exposition is important, even if there’s a lot of it and it may be a little too much up front.
Lyra’s journey to London under Mrs. Coulter’s care will likely push the story into high gear, while starting to show how the larger world works beyond the college walls. His Dark Materials makes its case as a fascinating look at finding one’s destiny in a world that is expanding.
What did you think of this episode of His Dark Materials? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
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His Dark Materials airs Mondays at 9/8c on HBO.
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Kevin Lever
Kevin Lever has been following television closely for most of his life, but in starting to cover it, he has grown a further appreciation. He strives to give the blockbusters their due, and give the lesser known shows a spotlight to find more fans.