HIS DARK MATERIALS (S1E3) “The Spies”: Lyra The Leader

His Dark Materials has returned for another Monday to continue the story of Lyra and her dæmon Pantalaimon as they try to uncover the secrets of her mysterious past, and her even more mysterious future. Last week, I lost my mind (in a good way) watching episode two as it became clear that the show would pull from each book in the trilogy, introducing some characters and plots early. This week, it seems like the show is doubling down on this decision while advancing the plot of the first book along at a comfortable pace.

There’s a lot to unpack, and a lot to like in this episode, so let’s discuss.

Previously On His Dark Materials 

In this episode, Lyra is rescued from the gobblers by the Gyptians, and is given to the care of Ma Costa, the mother of Billy Costa, who was taken by the gobblers. Lord Boreal continues his search for the mysterious northern traveller in the parallel world, and finds that his name is John Parry. But that’s not all. John Parry is from the parallel world. Our world, not Lyra’s. Boreal decides it’s time to pay a visit to John Parry’s son and wife.

Back in her world, Lyra continues to make progress with the alethiometer, and successfully reads it when it tells her that a Gyptian boy, Benjamin, has died while trying to steal plans from Mrs. Coulter. Lyra also learns a shocking truth from Ma Costa about Ms. Coulter. Lyra and the Gyptians decide to head North to rescue the kidnapped children and fight the General Oblation Board once and for all. It’s another jam-packed episode with all the tension and high caliber acting that I’ve come to associate with this show.

The Call To Action And The Fall From Grace

One of my favorite traits of Lyra in the books is her bravery. I know, I know, that’s kind of the main trait for every character in fantasy, but Lyra’s bravery is different. She talks back, proudly ambivalent to the status or age of those she speaks to. If someone says something she doesn’t like, she lets them know. It’s a quality that gets her into trouble, but more than that, it’s a quality that the reader can fall in love with. She also learns her bravery through contemplation. She converses with Pan, wondering what the right thing to do is. They talk until they reach a decision. She isn’t brave for the sake of being brave, she’s brave because she thinks about it.

So when, in this episode, I saw Lyra amongst the Gyptians, listening to them discuss what they should do, I felt a sense of relief. Like the show finally captured her essence. Dafne Keen looks at the people around her with wide eyes, taking in the entire scene, and then she delivers her empowering speech. It’s a small portion of the episode, but one that was unapologetically and quintessentially Lyra.

Ms. Coulter had a bit less composure during this episode. Is this going to be a weekly thing? Ruth Wilson just walking on screen and commanding the scene, hypnotizing us all with her acting? It is? Alright, fine by me. What didn’t this woman do in this episode? She interrogates Dr. Carne about the alethiometer, and drags out her question in an almost Alan Rickmanesque diction, saying “al-e-thio-meter” in a tone that makes you want to scream “RUN!” to Carne. She walks on the edge of a building with a glass of scotch in hand, laughing to herself when she almost slips. She crouches over the Gypytian boy Benjamin, after having shot him and whispers hauntingly in his ear.

All of this culminates in an unforgettable performance and reveals that this villain has more to her than we thought. Evil and ruthless yes, but still a human being. She’s passionate, worried, unstable, scarred, and alone. Mrs. Coulter, one of my favorite characters from the books, is being realized on screen as a character with immense depth that I can’t wait to see more of. Ruth Wilson is gunning for an Emmy with this performance, and she has my vote.

Wherever The Show Takes Us

The episode ends with Lyra sailing off with the Gyptians into the far North, ready to take on whatever lies ahead. I said before in one of my reviews that this is an adventure story at its core, and we’re finally starting to get into the adventuring. I love how much the show has been setting us up for the great unknown. They’ve been speaking of frozen tundras, armored bears and witches so much that we can hardly contain our excitement. There’s no telling where each episode will take us, especially now that we’re able to travel between worlds with Boreal. If I were a betting man, I’d say next week’s episode is going to be a departure from form, with a heavy emphasis on action.

What did you think of this episode? Were you shocked to find Coulter was really Lyra’s mother? Let me know in the comments below and I’ll see you next time!

Watch His Dark Materials