All 3 Seasons Of His Dark Materials, Ranked Worst To Best

HBO’s His Dark Materials was a breath of fresh air after 2007’s The Golden Compass failed to turn Philip Pullman’s best-selling children’s series into a movie franchise, but some parts of the show were more compelling than others. His Dark Materials only ran for three seasons, but the series was able to masterfully tell Lyra Belacqua’s (Dafnee Keen) story in that time. It adapted each novel of Pullman’s trilogy over the course of one outing, following Lyra as she uncovered and fulfilled her prophesied destiny.

His Dark Materials made a few changes to the books it was based on, but it offered a mostly faithful adaptation of Pullman’s work. As such, the series maintained a strong narrative all the way through. None of the outings were massively better than the others, which isn’t something every show can say. With that in mind, His Dark Materials still had its highs and lows — and some chapters had more lows than the others.

3 His Dark Materials Season 2 (2020)

Suffered From A Sophomore Slump

His Dark Materials season 2 was an important chapter in the show’s run, bringing Amir Wilson’s Will Parry into the story and featuring developments that massively impacted the final outing. While Wilson’s entrance was a highlight of season 2, his early adventures with Lyra simply didn’t compare to their dynamic throughout His Dark Materials season 3. And despite the lead actors’ impressive performances, His Dark Materials season 2 suffered from a sophomore slump, dragging in places as it built to the climax of season 3. The show squeezed too many storylines into its early episodes, and it lacked the cohesion of season 1.

His Dark Materials season 2’s ending proved more engaging than the first half, and Lee Scoresby’s (Lin-Manuel Miranda) emotional death became one of the more memorable moments of the show. However, even this and Mrs. Coulter’s Specter twist couldn’t make up for the earlier episodes’ disconnected storylines, pacing problems, and exposition dumps. Plus, His Dark Materials season 3 gave Lee his true send-off, saving the emotional impact of his departure for the final episodes.

2 His Dark Materials Season 1 (2019)

Offered A Compelling Start To Lyra’s Story

His Dark Materials season 1 got off to a great start, and it maintained a compelling narrative from beginning to end. Keen quickly proved she had what it took to bring Lyra to life, and the show’s accurate portrayal of daemons came as a relief. Keen’s performance wasn’t the only standout of the season either; Ruth Wilson’s take on Mrs. Coulter stole the show, and James McAvoy’s brief scenes as Lord Asriel teased great things to come. His Dark Materials’ cast made it easy to get invested in the story, and the main plot of season 1 — finding and rescuing Roger (Lewin Lloyd) — was straightforward and engaging.

His Dark Materials season 1’s ending was just as tragic as the books demanded, and anyone unfamiliar with the source material would have been shocked by Roger’s demise. Although the show set the initial outing up to be a rescue mission, it turned the whole thing on its head in the final episode. Lyra and Asriel walking into other worlds also made for a thrilling ending, ensuring viewers would be eager to dive into a second season. Overall, His Dark Materials season 1 was masterfully crafted. It comes close to His Dark Materials season 3’s greatness, though the final outing was more emotionally satisfying.

1 His Dark Materials Season 3 (2022)

The Most Emotionally Satisfying Season

Not every show sticks the landing with its ending — as some of the most-hated TV finales prove — but His Dark Materials managed to deliver an action-packed and satisfying send-off for its large cast of characters. Keen and Wilson gave harrowing performances as Lyra and Will journeyed to the Land of the Dead, a quest full of emotional punches. Lyra breaking her bond with Pan was among the show’s most heart-wrenching scenes, and the commentary on death was poignant. Roger and Lee’s final farewells also gave the sacrifices of the previous seasons meaning, offering closure to both Lyra and the viewers.

While Lyra and Will rightfully took center stage throughout His Dark Materials season 3, Mrs. Coulter and Asriel also got time to redeem themselves. Their story arcs proved surprisingly emotional, even after all the terrible things they did in previous outings. Even Mary Malone’s (Simone Kirby) meandering season 2 plot came together nicely, with the third season successfully bringing everything together. Of course, the highlight of His Dark Materials season 3 was the heartbreaking conclusion to Lyra and Will’s love story — an ending that will leave even the most hardened viewers in tears.