His Dark Materials (TV Series) The Spies (2019) User Reviews

Escalating for more Adventure and Mysteries

[boudybob · 9/10 · 17 November 2019]

So far, this episode revealed a lot to the story and is preparing us for more mysteries to uncover and also other mysteries to get even more complicated.

Makes me eager to see more of this adventure and daemon world.

So damn cool.

[kiboz96 · 9/10 · 17 November 2019]

This episode finally got us the Gyptian vote (which could've been explored a bit more), Lyra understanding who she is, THE ALETHIOMETER, as well as one of the coolest scenes of dying ever. It is kind of a transitional episode, but I liked it, it can't all be fast and flashy all the time, but I think the story is going in a great direction. Can't wait for Yorek and Bill to join the gang!

Looking forward to the next episode!

Another great episode

[aarongnr · 9/10 · 18 November 2019]

As someone who didn't read the books I still don't quite get what that dude who's traveling the worlds is doing, but I'm sure we'll get to that.

Acting by Dafne Keen is great again and the story just keeps getting more awesome. Really interested in what the alethiometer is gonna do in the future and how it all ties together in this end.

Floored by the accuracy.

[saenabyte · 10/10 · 18 November 2019]

I will admit, it has been a few since I read the books but I loved them immensely and they stayed with me because the imagery in my head was so vivid. Regarding that, this episode in particular had me seeing those images in my head all over again while seeing them on the screen. This show is holding really tightly so far to the way I remember it and I couldn't be more pleased.

Here we go!

[samuel_bns · 10/10 · 18 November 2019]

After seeing the 2nd episode, I was a tiny bit disappointed with its strange pacing, which got me worried about whether the series will be able to fulfil my expectations based on the books.

This episode completely dismisses all my doubts, and I believe it will do the books justice. The writing was great - lots of action, paced very well, which finally gave the actors an opportunity to shine. Ruth Wilson's Mrs Coulter is starting to really grow on me, and we are starting to see how twisted she really is. One of several bright moments for Dafne Keen in this episode was when Lyra was told of her mother by Ma Costa. The Gyptian families' meeting scene gave me goosebumps. What I like about the writing of this episode is, that even though I read the books, I was still on the edge of my seat during the suspenseful moments not knowing what to expect. I must also appreciate the soundtrack, which wonderfully complemented the storyline and beautiful cinematography. It is also interesting to finally see how does our world's early inclusion in the series play into the story - I didn't like it at first, but now I understand the background it provides for the 2nd season. I am curious to see whether they will continue to expand that storyline, or whether they will save it for later from now on.

All in all, an absolute 10/10; loved the episode and cannot wait for next week.

This keeps getting better and better

[sloane-sean · 9/10 · 18 November 2019]

Episode 1 was pretty slow but I suppose that was just to set up the world. From then onwards though we've got a lot of fast paced action, great developments in the story and some change from the books which are done very tastefully. Some of the dialogue was a bit clunky but the acting has been superb, especially Mrs Coulter (Ruth Wilson). I can't wait for the next expose

9/10

[guilhermelopes-86916 · 9/10 · 18 November 2019]

Another great episode. Gave it a 10 to push to rating. The production value is still outstanding, GoT level i would say. There are 3 scenes scenes on this ep that are just incredible. The plot is moving faster and for those who do not know, once they get to the north things get reaalllly awesome.

The Spies

[Prismark10 · 6/10 · 18 November 2019]

In this world, your daemon can you vulnerable. Coulter's monkey really has a taste for maiming and death. Although I did like its reaction when the other daemon disappeared.

I still miss James McAvoy as Lord Asriel makes no appearance again in this episode.

Lyra encounters the Gypsums and we learn more of their world. We also learn more about Lyra's backstory and the danger she is in as Mrs Coulter goes hell for leather trying to find her.

There is a sense of wonderment in parts of this episode. However now realise that it is too long as an eight part series and this affects the pacing.

GREAT episode!!

[Ritchie07 · 10/10 · 17 November 2019]

This episode was great. I personally have loved each episode more than the last.

That scene at the end in Mrs Coulter's place was epic. Her just walking down the hallway with that revolver. YES YES YES.

But, for the love of god, can somebody give that monkey some pets! He's so cute!!!

Finding a steady pace, lets stay for a couple more episodes

[felix-bergman · 7/10 · 18 November 2019]

This episode combined with the last one has convinced me that the first one was a dud and that I can hope for better in the future. Everything that concerns Lyra stays true enough to the book, and I quite like a few of the changes they made, like how Ma Costa tells Lyra about her mother. I also like Ma Costa teaching Lyra her "gyptian tricks". Not in the book, but a nice foreshadowing for those who have read the book. However I think they would have benefitted from showing Lyra having connections to the gyptians from earlier. Also I feel that they could have done a better job of the gyptian meeting, which felt very rushed, and the spy fly incident, which was laughebly short and forced. I think the paceing of Lyra's story gets harmed by showing Boreal all the time. I still don't see where that is going, and they are just trowing all the spoilers out there from the second book. What made me love the second book so much was the intital mystery of all the new characters, that you bit by bit untangled untill you had the whole puzzle, but the characters only had half the pieces, trying to find eachother without knowing that the other person had the rest of the pieces. At this rate they might as well just skip the second book all together, or cram it all into one episode, and then move on to the thrid book. Previous annoyances with questionable casting, particualrly concerning James Cosmo as Farder Coram, and Daemons being absent or way to far away still stands from earlier episodes.

Gaining some momentum now

[isaacglover_05 · 8/10 · 19 November 2019]

We're getting somewhere! The scenes were being portrayed more accurately, the tension is starting to rise and the sense if adventure is starting to escalate. Looking forward to the future episodes

[7.4] Aiming and flying

[cjonesas · 7/10 · 31 August 2022]

Episode 3: Good acting (Dafne Keen's acting is convincing and she's already a good actress), filming, cinematography, mini-actions, show of emotions, some colorful scenes and spy-flies.

As far as the flow and vibe are concerned, there's some elements of brilliancy and the story just develops further with some twists.

Good acting (Dafne Keen's acting is convincing and she's already a good actress), filming, cinematography, mini-actions, show of emotions, some colorful scenes and spy-flies.

As far as the flow and vibe are concerned, there's some elements of brilliancy and the story just develops further with some twists.

Damn amazing

[ateeg-62898 · 10/10 · 19 November 2019]

I wish that eposide like that i wish that the tv evry eposide like that amazing amazing

The spies another great continuation

[jamieaster · 10/10 · 18 November 2019]

This series keeps on getting better and better as we slowly get through the series more and more secrets get revealed about Laiyra Belaqua finding out that her mother is Mrs Coulter after all was a great surprise to see and how we got an episode focus more on the gyptians which was a really great touch to add to the episode

Finally some good storytelling

[aca-86232 · 8/10 · 19 November 2019]

My reaction the reveal about Lyra's parents was mixed. I was happy that they finally started to give us some motivation for the characters besides Lyra and the gyptians but wondered why they waited so long in the first place. Scenes with Asriel and Coulter would have been FAR more interesting if we (the audience, not Lyra) had known that backstory from the very beginning. Leaving it as "surprise" was a dumb move and a big reason why episodes 1 and 2 felt slow and hard to invest in for non-book readers. Regardless I finally felt like I understood and cared for the characters this episode. The scenes with Farder Coram and Lyra were the best parts of the episode. They had great on screen chemistry and interesting dialogue. Instead of having a character teach another/us about the world, they started to finally reveal clues of the mythology in casual conversation. GoT was amazing at this, and hopefully this show follows suit. Looking forward to the next episode.

The Reader of Alethiometer.

[deepakdst · 10/10 · 19 November 2019]

At first I thought that there is nothing better than a movie to understand a new different world easily but now I realized that a series is a perfect way to explore a whole different world and it's characters deeply. I mean the movie "The Golden Compass" was not enough to explore this world of His Dark Materials. The cast is doing really well specially Lucian is giving his best for John "the leader". The episode explored more about the past if Lyra and some more facts about this world like Spy-fly and Alethiometer. I am very excited to see what Witches will bring in this series.

Loving it.

[cruise01 · 8/10 · 19 November 2019]

4 out of 5 stars.

Great storytelling. The little mystery with one guy traveling through a different world and his motive of searching for a soldier. While Lyra is traveling with tue gypians. Which they learn they have to go north to search for the children.

Good episode. The script and direction is sharp. The cinematography and score is good. It was interesting to see how a person dies. There daemon just disappears into dust.

So Far, So Good!

[emgeezee · 10/10 · 24 October 2020]

I'm only in the 3rd episode and I'm officially hooked.Dafne Keen is amazing as Lyra and the supporting cast (especially Ruth Wilson as Mrs. Coulter and Anne-Marie Duff as Ma Costa.). The performances are great but the one thing I believe that doesn't get enough credit is the score. The music is so cinematic and rich that it makes every scene feel like it's own movie. Can't wait to finish the rest of season.

The Evil Mrs. Couller

[claudio_carvalho · 8/10 · 26 February 2023]

Lyra is rescued from the Gobblers by the gyptians that bring her to their boats. Meanwhile, Mrs. Coulter travels to the Jordan College with the Magisterium guards to press The Master of the Oxford College, Dr. Carne, to know where Lyra is and whether he has an alethiometer. When he refuses to answer the questions, she orders the guards to destroy the college. Her attitude is discussed at the Magisterium by Carlo Boreal and Pavel Rasek, since it has disrespected the Jordan College's scholastic sanctuary. Tony and Benjamin decide to go to Mrs. Coulter's apartment to rob her information about the missing kids. But something happens and Benjamin is captured by her.

"The Spies" is another great episode of "His Dark Materials". Now the journey to the North of Lyra and the gyptians begins. The character Mrs. Coulter is finally disclosed, showing that she is and evil woman. The natural ability of Lyra to read the alethiometer is another attraction. My vote is eight.

Title (Brazil): "The Spies"

We seem to be getting started

[mattman_spurs · 8/10 · 18 May 2020]

Enjoyed this episode a lot more than the slow promise if the first 2, renewed hope for the rest of the series.

Astonishing

[brlngul-4646 · 10/10 · 18 November 2020]

So much better than the 2007 movie adaptation. I always thought that the book series is unfilmable but it looks like i was wrong.