His Dark Materials Review: The Lost Boy (Season 1 Episode 5)
The harshness of the north is beaten only by the harshness of the enemy on His Dark Materials Season 1 Episode 5, “The Lost Boy,” as a boy is found, but his soul is not.
A sense of adventure beats through the episode’s run, where Lyra gets to explore and starts to find some enjoyment not only in her new friends, but also in her curious, clever mind. It’s rare when Lyra gets to have fun since His Dark Materials Season 1 Episode 1, “Lyra’s Jordan,” where she races Roger through the catacombs, and so this episode allows for some happiness before the pain comes.
photo: Courtesy of HBO
The motive, or function, of the alethiometer continues to be a tricky thing to nail down. This isn’t a negative, as its search for the truth may have a separate meaning. While the alethiometer has not been ready to provide much help in finding Roger and the other captured children, its sudden detection and help in finding Billy Costa may lead to a somewhat vague revelation.
The alethiometer’s disinterest in helping Lyra changes once Billy loses his daemon, pointing her directly to his resting place. Perhaps the tool is tied to Dust in some way, and the loss of one’s Dust, and daemon, may allow for more definitive answers. The alethiometer’s sudden shift from enemies the Gyptians to revealing Billy’s location could mean that that moment is when he loses his daemon.
After His Dark Materials Season 1 Episode 2, “The Idea of North,” and His Dark Materials Season 1 Episode 3, “The Spies,” the loss of one’s daemon means the loss of human life, and so it’s curious how Billy is able to survive for so long without his own. It’s possible the Magisterium have figured out a way to separate the bond, but it drains the life when the bond of the soul is taken.
Could this be tied to those documents in Mrs. Coulter’s desk? Those images are of a machine, and could be the source of the separation.
Billy’s death back at the Gyptian camp comes as one of the more heart-wrenching moments of His Dark Materials so far. He means so much to his people, and with all of the time spent with the Gyptians, his loss is felt significantly. Anne-Marie Duff, as Ma, plays on the grief with exceptional heartbreak, leaving a burning hole for vengeance in the people’s hearts.
The introduction of Will Parry, and the potential importance of his father John Parry, starts to realize what Boreal is after this whole time. The initial thought is that perhaps there are notable figures on every plane, and that the Magisterium wishes to find them and control them in some way. Lyra may be the one we’ve seen the most of, and perhaps Will is that plane’s person of import.
Though it could also be that Will may be the key to tracking down and finding his father, who has been missing for years. Either way, Boreal sees the importance of Will, and does not seem keen to let him out of his sight.
Will’s life is one of kindness and trying to do right by his ailing mother; though, at times, his mother looks to be the most perceptive, taking note of moved items in the house and Boreal’s cohort in the car. Another curious sight, the multiple shots of their cat, opens up the possibility that perhaps Will is not of this world and belongs in the other side, and that the cat may be his daemon.
photo: Alex Bailey/HBO
But the episode isn’t entirely gloomy. The sense of fun mentioned earlier comes in short, effective bursts, where Lyra starts to find excitement in adventure. It’s mostly during her scenes with Iorek, where his burly disposition leaves her opportunity to be clever and to feed her curiosity. Her closeness to Iorek and Lee is a great addition, as their goodness, with the kindness of the Gyptians, balances and centers Lyra.
The episode continues the track record of gorgeous artistry on display. Lyra and Iorek traveling across the tundra, the deserted town where they find Billy, and the creepy military operation where Lyra is captured, all have a fantastic visual quality that makes His Dark Materials large and beautiful to watch.
But His Dark Materials Season 1 Episode 5, “The Lost Boy,” ends with Lyra captured by those who ended Billy’s life. It’s not clear yet if this is a Magisterium installation, or if Mrs. Coulter is near, but it’s a dark ending to leave Lyra in the clutches of such a hardened enemy, if they can do that to Billy.
The episode is riddled with danger just around the corner, and now that it’s here, right at Lyra’s feet, it makes those little moments of fun on the episode stand out all the more. Hopefully they will not be her last, as events grow more serious.
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.