#iorek remembering roger

[doloresabernathysworld]

Asriel: King Iorek!

Iorek:

[clonerightsagenda]

HDM episode 5:

Will and his mom have a pretty nice home considering they only receive a "subsistence" payment from John Parry's trust.

As stated before, I wasn't expecting this much Will content in season 1, but I suppose it makes sense because a lot of the harassment and bullying is described as things that were happening to him prior to the events of the book, and obviously we can't do narrative exposition dumps on screen. Although they sure are trying with the Prophecy Voiceover in this episode. Don't care for that.

More added-in tension between Lyra and the gyptians for some reason.

Additional Farder Coram/Serafina drama, although I suppose Lyra could've just not been privy to it in the book. His story that she wanted to tear the universe apart over the death of their son while he wanted to peacefully mourn and that's what split them up is weird, though, given that in the books Serafina mentions that witches accept that the men and sons in their lives are brief, fleeting things.

I always imagined the witches riding cloud pine branches like broomsticks but Serafina Just Does That, I guess

The true most important foreshadowing of this episode... Will's omelette.

So much stress for his mother who struggles with mental illness (OCD? depression? schizophrenia?) but also there are actually people out to get her. And even her loving son assumes she's delusional. (Liked the detail of her realizing someone had been in the house because the cat was stuck outside. Amateurs. Chekhov's Moxie... she will fire again.)

Pan is embracing their Arctic vacation and being an Arctic fox. Warm

The sewing machine is a great hiding place, honestly, because I bet no hired goon would ever think to look there.

I don't object to switching Tony out for Billy as the severed child Lyra finds - it lets us see the impact of the child's death - but I *am* annoyed that they cut out the villagers' and rescue party's revulsion. Everyone (including the people who came to rescue them) instinctively retreating from a severed child because they're so horrified by their mutilation was really memorable, as is Lyra furiously telling them to stop. Most of all, I'm mad that they took out the dried fish and we lost the moments of the villagers trying to ask her to pay for the fish (are you fucking kidding me) and Lyra's reaction to the rescue party taking the fish away. That's the part of the book that makes me tear up, and I'm disappointed that it wasn't there. It was all he had to hold on to!!!

Iorek: This shit is getting dark. I'm out.

Had to look this up because I was confused (again, just reread the book! Almost like chowing down on an entire novel in an afternoon doesn't always give you perfect recall) but as I thought I remembered, before Asriel tears a hole between the worlds, all man-made doorways passed through Citigazze, including the ones Boreal used. However, they've got him walking directly between his world and ours. To simplify things, I guess?

I mentioned "oh this is going to be a dark episode. well, this is kind of a dark series" which made me think, the first book involves Lyra looking for Roger, and she loses him. The second book is Will looking for his father, and he loses him. At least TGC has the wins of destroying Bolvangar and defeating Iofur. TSK really does not have any wins at all.

[alwaysahiccupandastrid]

His Dark Materials Season 3 - Full Season Thoughts

When I say that I’ve been waiting for this not just for two years since S2 but also for 15-ish years since I read the book, I truly am not exaggerated, I just know that I’m going to be a MESS and bawling at the end of it.

Warning: not only for spoilers under the cut but also because I’m fangirling AND screaming a lot about this series so… yep! Be prepared!

Episode 1: The Enchanted Sleeper

I HAVE MISSED THIS SHOW SO FUCKING MUCH

AMBER SPYGLASS ADAPTATION HERE WE GO 10 YEAR OLD ME IS CRYING SCREAMING SHAKING THROWING UP

Will looking for Lyra 😭❤️

The fact that in her dream-state, the first thing Lyra asked for was Pan, and me knowing what’s coming??? Oh, this season will truly break my damn heart-

ROGER ROGER ROGER 😭😭😭😭

THE TITLE CREDITS CHANGED AND I SAW THE LAND OF THE DEAD AND HARPIES AND ALSO THE MULEFA ASDFGHJKL

DADDY ASRIEL BELACQUA IS BACK ASDFGHJKL

Stelmaria is so bloody beautiful, oh my god, Asriel truly has such a beautiful dæmon

THE GALLIVESPIANS ASDFGHJKL HOLY FUCK EVERYONE ITS ALL COMING TOGETHER

Am admittedly a little disappointed they’re not riding dragonflies or anything

ASRIEL IS WAGING HIS WAR IT’S HAPPENING

I’m so ridiculous, I fangirled seeing Ama because I was like “I REMEMBER HER FROM THE BOOK”

The BSL between Mrs Coulter and Ama omg I was not expecting that but I was literally captivated the entire time they were on-screen, 11/10 choice

Pan weakly asking Mrs Coulter to let them go 😭 also hi Kit Connor, I keep forgetting you’re the voice of Pan in this series

Why is Father Gomez… hot tho 💀

THE GAY ANGELS KISSED THIS IS GOD TIER FUCKING CONTENT GOD FUCKING BLEEEESSSSS

Baruch and Balthamos, yet another reason my heart is going to fucking shatter tonight

Ogunwe’s eldest daughter being “soulless” and Asriel explaining it by explaining his and Stelmaria’s bond and saying what happened to the girl is the same as cutting his dæmon/soul away 😭

Lyra managing to escape but she’s so weak that she didn’t get far and Marisa caught her 😔

The mother-daughter dynamic is so interesting in such a messed up way, like Marisa truly thinks what she’s doing is right and will protect Lyra but also her method of keeping her daughter safe is to drug her and keep her asleep in a cave/hideaway somewhere, truly unstable and unhealthy parenting techniques here

Ama saw her chloroforming Lyra oh my god 😦

IOREK LOOKING FOR LYRA OH MY GOD 😭 HE LOVES HER SO MUCH I LOVE ONE BEAR DAD AND HIS HUMAN DAUGHTER

Will really sliced Iorek’s helmet like it was butter, no wonder Iorek was like “nope I’m not fighting I can’t fight a knife that does that to my armour”

Not Father Gomez sniffing Mrs Coulter’s (?) dress 💀

Oh no no no not the spy fly things being sent after Mrs Coulter, Jesus H-

Marisa telling the monkey to leave her alone and he just doesn’t??? Like he wants to try and comfort her but doesn’t know how, and he doesn’t say anything but she knows what he’s thinking??? Their dynamic is so messed up, I love it

“Welcome to the Republic of Heaven, Commander” CHILLS LITERAL CHILLS

They ended the episode with an “in memory of” for Helen McCrory (the voice of Stelmaria in S1&2) and I nearly started bawling oh my god

Episode 2: The Break

“Nearly 400 years with Baruch must have mellowed me” - OH MY GOD T H E M

“We feel as one, though we are two” - THEY ARE SO…?!? THIS IS BEAUTIFUL ASDFGHJKL

“And you’ll find a way to protect the one you love” - 😭😭😭

SPYFLY?!

I know it’s been three years since the end of S1 aired and obviously the young actors grow fast, but damn is Roger’s voice deeper than when he died

“They’re hurting me” - NOOOOOOOOOO

“Just tell me where you are and I’ll find you!” “... The Land of the Dead” - FUCK ME

Lyra screaming for Roger like that, I feel so sick

Pan’s little ermine noises are so cute omg

“Where did you go? I... I couldn’t follow you there.” (Pan to Lyra) - NOT THE FORESHADOWING, JUST RUN ME THROUGH WITH A KNIFE AT THIS POINT, IT WOULD FUCKING HURT LESS JESUS FUCKING CHRIST

QUEEN RUTA SKADI AAAAAAHHHHH

“It would take more than a little crash to put an end to the pair of us” - I swear to fucking god, if this is more foreshadowing-

(it’s been a few years since I read TAS, okay, give me a break if I’ve forgotten anything)

AAAHHHH MARY MALONE I MISSED YOU

Wait did she just walk into Ogunwe’s camp???

“Something happened here a few days ago and now they’re everywhere” - WHAT ARE??? IS IT THE BUZZING???

The way I tensed up seeing Marisa approach Ama jesus christ i do NOT trust that woman

Also Ama’s outfit reminded me of Lyra’s Jordan College outfit from the film, like the red pinafore and blue dress underneath I mean

ROKE??? AND HE MENTIONED LADY SALMAKIA AAAAHHHHHHH

“When is Lyra not in danger?” - LMFAO true though

“You dismiss Lyra too easily” - Exactly, thank you Stelmaria! Was not expecting her to come through for Lyra but I’m pleased!

“Eve was the Mother of Creation, Lyra is simply the creation of Marisa and I. She is not Eve, she’s a little girl” - OOF

“She must have some information they need or some skill we’ve overlooked.” “Other than being able to read the Alethiometer, she has very little, I’m afraid... other than a nose for trouble” - DAMN ALRIGHT CHILL ASRIEL

The way that Stelmaria snarled so angrily at him talking about Lyra like that oh my GOD

“What??? What would you like me to say?” “The truth.” - FUCK YEAH, Stelmaria, call out your human like that!

“There are angels above the camp” - OOH SHIT

“What are they doing?” “They’re fighting” - OH FUCK WAIT I THINK I REMEMBER THIS NO-

I AM NOT READY TO LOSE BARUCH YET NO NO NO NO FU-

“He’s leaving us” — NO FUCK OFF FUCK OFF I FUCKING CANT DO THIS TODAY-

“My Balthamos” - IM NEVER GOING TO RECOVER FROM THIS, NEVER, THIS IS TOO PAINFUL

HIS LAST WORD WAS “BALTHAMOS” I AM GOING TO SCREAM

Yes we got gay angels kissing but at what cOST 😭😭😭😭😭😭

BALTHAMOS FEELING IT WHEN BARUCH DIES ASDFGHJKL NO I CANNOT COPE, IM GONNA BE SICK, THIS IS SICK, PHILIP PULLMAN IM HIDING UNDER YOUR BED

“This is your fault… you forced me to come here! I wanted us to stay together, I wanted to go with him! They’ve killed him!” - literally STAB ME, it would hurt FAR less 😭

Father Gomez is so hot but he has a spider dæmon so it’s a hard no from me 🙈

“I once killed an innocent young boy in order to harness it (Dust)” - yeah, and we still haven’t FUCKIN forgiven you 

Not Asriel straight up torturing Alarbus in his Dust experimenting chamber :l though he DID kill Baruch so...

“You think you’re significant - He does not even know your name” - DAMN, what a sick burn

“We have a life in the resistance; we can read, write, learn... all those things are forbidden by the temple, especially for-” “Girls.” - oh damn. It’s obvious that this is a commentary on teachings by the church or whatever, especially how it used to be in the past. (My brain is tired so I can’t do full analysis, but I’m sure other people out there will do it better than me)

The girls wanting Mary to stay “to rest” and then asking her about why she’s looking for the girl while pouring her a drink... feels very ominous to me and I hope I’m wrong

(Spoiler alert: I was wrong)

The Magisterium straight up sending out a death squad to kill Lyra, Jesus Christ it’s almost hilarious how far gone they are that they can’t see why killing a teenage girl is wrong, like mother of sin or not, that is still a teenage girl

Will to Iorek: You attract too much attention - YOU DON’T SAY LMAO HE’S LITERALLY AN ARMOURED BEAR

Of course Balthamos knows sign language, that literally makes so much sense because he’s an angel so of course he’d know literally every language in history - and so of course he appears and translates because she can’t hear Will and he doesn’t sign. I love it

I know only a small amount of BSL but I felt so happy when I was able to read Balthamos signing “W-I-L-L” and Ama finger-signing her own name

“But no mother could possibly be this cruel.” “This mother would.” - DAAAAAAAMN

She’s growing sunroot, which is a waking medicine oh my gOD I love Ama, she is truly an icon in her own right even though she’s only in two episodes

Will smiling a little when he sees Lyra sleeping :’)

THE WAY I JUMPED AT MARISA’S VOICE OMG

“I always suspected that you were coming, but I didn’t think you’d be the first” - oh my god, she KNEW Will would come sooner or later, she knows how much he cares for Lyra

Her offering him tea and my first thought being “do NOT drink anything she gives you, do NOT do it”

“I’m keeping her here because I’m her mother, and I love her” - BITCH, you’re straight up drugging her, mother or not you are NOT showing your love in a healthy way

See, I get that she says she’s trying to keep Lyra safe because she knows the Magisterium want her dead, but like... drugging her? Keeping her there against her will? Ma’am, please-

“Because she hates me, Will, and if I woke her she’d run” - damn I’m not surprised, you’ve not exactly been the most loving of mothers at this point

“Wouldn’t your mother do the same for you? A child needs their mother. You understand that, Will. You need your mother” - oh NO, no, no, do NOT bring up Mrs Perry!!!

“And here’s the trick they never tell you: your mother needs you” - oh she’s a goddamn SNAKE

“You promise that you’re keeping her safe? That you’ll carry on keeping her safe?” - Will, nOOO do NOT leave her there

Oh, she nearly CRAPPED herself when he mentioned going to Asriel

“I have seen them together; where one goes, the other follows” - literally everyone else notices it, they’re really not subtle

“You would use your own daughter as a trap?” - yeah, no, that really doesn’t shock me at this point, the man has no fuckin morals anymore

Oh okay PHEW, Will actually has a plan and isn’t just blindly trusting Marisa, I’m resting a little easier now

“I’m counting my steps - we’ll return by them in another world” - OH SHIT HERE WE GO

Nah, that monkey is STILL giving me the chills, fucking hate that monkey so bad

“Your mind is muddled” - this episode has featured so much Stelmaria calling Asriel out, and that’s content I’m honestly living for

Marisa giving the monkey a massive rock and going “do your worst”... AND THEN SHE LOWERED HER HEAD AND HE SMACKED HER OVER THE HEAD WITH IT WHAT IN THE FUCK IS GOING ON I LITERALLY GASPED, like she clearly was telling him to do it but WHYYYYY???

Ama was so ready to go with Will and help him, we have to stan

So now Marisa looks battered and bruised...? I’m guessing she’s got some kind of plan here???

Ohhhh okay, I get her plan now: she looks all beaten up, she tells Gomez that Will has come and taken Lyra, it looks like Will has hurt her when he stole Lyra, Gomez will then hopefully leave thinking that she doesn’t still have Lyra... got it. Bit extreme to have your dæmon beat the shit out of you though

“You know, he had several hundred miles and the boundaries between worlds to cross, and yet... he still managed to get here before you. Bravo.” - LMFAO the shade

“... I am going to take Lyra now, Mrs Coulter” - Oh he didn’t fall for it in the slightest lmao he was like “well, at least you tried”

“you gave her the terrible punishment of her existence” is such a cruel line, jesus christ my dude

He’s not even trying to hide the fact that they want to murder her daughter omg

THE WINDOW IS FORMING ASDFGHJKL WILL IS COMING

Is she trying to distract Gomez so he doesn’t see Will and the knife?!? Is she actually doing something good???

Pan hopping into Will’s coat pocket omg that’s so cute I love it

THAT MONKEY IS FERAL

SHE WHACKED HIM OVER THE HEAD OH MY GOD

“Oh dear… perhaps you were right about that strength” - LMAO she’s so iconic

Not Marisa thinking she’s coming with him and Lyra 💀 I don’t know whether I feel sorry for her or not at this point

“Do you think it’s that easy to dispose of me? Is that what you do, Will? Was your mother as easily disposed of? Where did you leave her?” - ACTUALLY NAH YOU KNOW WHAT, I don’t feel sorry for her at all

His mind isn’t empty enough, she’s distracting him, he’s gonna break the knife 😭😭😭

THE KNIFE BROKE I KNEW IT WAS COMING BUT DAMN

NOT HER THREATENING WILL WITH A GUN AND LYRA STANDING IN FRONT OF HIM TO PROTECT HIM

AH THE GALLIVESPIAN STINGING HER YESSSSS

The airships shooting at them and Iorek immediately jumping to defend them I’m-

“Iorek’s here?” - YES, HE LOVES YOU SO MUCH 😭

Ama jumping on that soldier and Will killing him before he can kill her I’m-

Asriel really arrived super late to the party, literally all the fighting is over and done with 💀

Ohhhh he’s seen Marisa 👀

Lyra taking Will’s hand as they lie together under the stars 😭❤️

Episode 3: The Intention Craft

I’m gonna try to keep my notes a little bit briefer because it took me two hours to watch a 57 minute episode on episode 2 :’( this is 8 hours worth of tv, it’s currently 00:20 am and we’ve only done two episodes so... yeah

NOT THE SHOT OF THE DÆMON (presumably Pan) ALONE ON A DOCK ASDFGHJKL; YALL THIS IS SICK

“Whatever happens... we’ll be together” - having read the book is both a blessing and a curse because on the one hand I’m somewhat able to prepare myself beforehand but on the other I KNOW how painful this is about to be and I can’t stand it

Oooh Marisa is Asriel’s prisoner :O

I think Asriel is enjoying having her as his prisoner a bit TOO much

The way he was right behind her, so close he was literally breathing on her neck as he tied her up... asdfghjkl;

“You could be standing here beside me, you know” - NOT THE MARISA/ASRIEL FEELS asdfghjkl

*taking her necklace in hand* “still wear this?” - ASDFGHJKL did he give that to her?? Or is it just one of those “oh you still wear this?” things???

“How could you and I have produced another Eve?” - no but same, I’m still wondering that lmfao

Not him calling Lyra a “wretched girl” and acting like it’s her fault Marisa turned up to whisk her away?!

Did they collar and chain up her monkey dæmon too??? Damn, he knows her well lmao

“You seem different.” “So do you.” “...you’re staring.” - oh my gOD

Not Salmakia spying on them :’) “I haven’t been hiding, you just haven’t been looking” LMAO

“How do I know you won’t cut into another world?” - umm because the knife’s broken??? It ain’t cutting shit right now

Ahhh she’s got her Alethiometer back! All is right with the world :3

“Since he’s died, I’ve done none of the things he’s asked me to do” - awww Will :(

Are we gonna meet the Mulefa this episode? The next one? :O

“Because Roger’s dead body was in a cage! In a cage that he made, he killed him!” - when she puts it like that, I’m not shocked she wants nothing to do with Asriel anymore, damn

“to work alongside a murderer?!” - 1) Will is a murderer? 2) The reason she trusted Will was because the Alethiometer told her he was a murderer?? But I get what she means

I don’t like when Will and Lyra argue :( 

“Lyra is pushing him to do things he doesn’t want to do.” “Oh, she is her mother’s daughter!” “You don’t trust her?” “She’s also mine.” - LMFAO TRUE ENOUGH

The device Asriel is using to communicate with Salmakia with is so cool omg

Father MacPhail really just sitting there in the dark all like “where have you gone??” I think he’s losing it a little

RED PANDA PAN AAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH

“You’re not always right, you know that?” - LMAO I love Lyra and Pan so much

“Your father was right about you - you are insufferable” - OOF DAMN

NOT THEM LEADING THE MONKEY ON A CHAIN LIKE A DOG 

At least they gave her new clothes I guess?

“I have been the worst mother in the world” - NO SHIT

“I didn’t think of her for years - and if I did, it was only to regret the embarrassment of her birth, the humiliation-” “Ridiculous! I have never understood why a child born of our love should be a humiliation!” “An illegitimate child and a murdered husband! That is quite something to carry on my back” -- Damn, this trial literally just became a couple’s counselling session for Marisa and Asriel??? And Asriel straight up admitting he loved her??? That they loved each other??? 

I will not ship them, I will NOT ship them, I WILL NOT-

“What if Iorek’s not there?” “He wouldn’t leave without me” - AND WE ALL KNOW IT ASDFGHJKL

“I know it wasn’t real, but once or twice I woke up and she was holding me... never been held before” - I’M NOT CRYING YOU ARE-

IOREK AND LYRA REUNITING, HER HUGGING HIM IM SOBBING ACTUALLY I LOVE ONE GIRL AND ONE BEAR-

There’s something very special to me about Lyra sitting against Iorek’s flank, I can’t explain how soft it is

“Huh, still a Silvertongue” - asdfghjkl; he’s the one who gave her that name, it’s literally a title he bestowed on her, I love it :’)

Oh no, is Dr Cooper the one from Bolvanger??? Am I remembering correctly???

“Ah yes... you always were easily impressed by what he made” - DAMN I should NOT have cackled like I did

I can’t get over how charged the scenes between Asriel and Marisa are, my goodness-

“The inventor of hideous machines, capable of tearing children apart” - you’re one to talk, remember what you did to Roger????

“But along comes some foul mouthed arrogant little brat with dirt under her fingernails, and ohhh you can love her! You cluck and you settle your feathers over her like a mother hen-” - JESUS I’M-...?!?

The way he slammed her up against the intention craft after she spat at him, his hand on her face... I thought they were gonna kiss, holy SHIT

“Every hideous thing that you’ve done in his name... and it was all a lie” - DAMN, this episode is cutting so deep in all the best ways

It’s the way I know what’s going to happen, I know the knife is fixed, and yet I’m still nervous

“Find what matters!” *glances to Lyra* - oh they are NOT slick, they’re so obvious about this and I’m all for it

Imagine being Will and waking up to see a massive looming bear standing over you, omfg

YAY, the knife is fixed! (I knew it would be but still) I love that it looks more twisted, at least in my opinion

“You will always be a welcome visitor to Svalbard, and the same is true to you, Will. You are worthy of each other. Goodbye, Lyra Silvertongue - I hope we do meet again one day.” - NOT ME CRYING OVER AN ARMOURED BEAR’S RELATIONSHIP WITH A GIRL

Now why is Asriel showing the prisoner angel to Marisa, no good will come of this-?

“He’s beautiful.” “Everyone’s beautiful.” - this plus the way he keeps leaning and shit around her... at this point, everything Asriel has done this episode just straight up seems like him flirting with Marisa lmao

Eyyyy Balthamos is back!!!

Balthamos: so, you ready to go to Asriel yet? // Will: LOL sorry nope 

And just as soon as he was back, he went away again :O

“my mum’s always said if a friend needs help, you should give it” - Will Parry is his mother’s son through and through :’)

“That no doubt depends.” “On what?” “What Asriel does to him.” - oh god he’s gonna fucking kill that angel and cause more chaos, I can feel it

NOT ASRIEL AND MARISA TEAMING UP TO TORTURE THE ANGEL AND DESTROY HIM

Damn even Marisa looks kinda freaked out by Asriel torturing the fucking angel oh my god

LMAO SHE RAN SO FAST TO THE INTENTION CRAFT 

“Goodbye Asriel” should NOT have hit me so hard, oh my goodness

Yeah, no, I don’t think the knife can cut through to the land of the dead? Which makes sense all things considered

OH, the last world he could cut to before the land of the dead is the desert wasteland one from Lyra’s dreams! :O

Pan like “wait, this doesn’t feel safe” and backing away whimpering :’(

IS THE SAD THING GONNA HAPPEN NEXT EPISODE NO NO NO I CANT HANDLE IT

I thought we’d have until like episode 6 or something :’(

Episode 4: Lyra and Her Death

Judging from the title of this episode... FUCK I AM NOT READY WHAT DO YOU MEAN WE’RE AT THIS POINT ALREADY

(If it’s not this episode then it’ll probably be the next one, either way I’m not READY)

Pan: *whimpering* // Lyra: Pan, stop that - :’(

“Then where are everyone’s dæmons?” “We’ve been in plenty of worlds without dæmons before, just get in my pocket and we’ll be fine.” “There are people here who should have dæmons but don’t.” - PAN IS GONNA MAKE ME SOB THIS EPISODE ASDFGHJKL

Not Marisa running straight back to the Magisterium jesus christ girl why

“Good. This is good.” - NO IT FUCKING ISN’T LYRA

“How long do we wait?” “Until you die, of course!” - well, I mean, it IS the land of the dead so...

I genuinely cannot tell what is going on in Gomez’s head at this point O_o he’s so creepy

“Somewhere out there is a tempter, a serpent, and I had to keep them from meeting” - but here’s the thing: the angel told Mary that she was to play the role of serpent, and she and Lyra have already met. But also, Marisa maybe thinks the serpent is Will, which adds a whole new layer to this whole situation???

“And the way he (Asriel) is fighting, Hugh... it’s is terrifying” - oh look, me and Marisa agree on something for once!

“Sometimes your devotion is hard to read” - lmao true

“You have my mind, my body, and my soul (...) He could never resist temptation, whereas you... your abstinence is magnificent” - exCUSE ME WHAT MARISA????

I deadass thought he was about to try and force himself on her then

“Remember what we did together... our lives are entwined” - UMMMM??? I’m not the only one reading into that in a slightly sexual way, right??

Who knew that the waiting area in the land of the dead was like your everyday doctor’s waiting room, complete with grating elevator music??

I both want to know what’s in the chest Gomez gave Marisa and I also do not want to know O_o “it’s how we found you, a kind gift”?

Is there some generational mother-daughter trauma theme going on here or...? Because she said “mother” and he said “she was only too happy to help”, and her response was “of course she was”?

Is Mary in the Mulefa world right now???

“Feels like we’re in a horror film.” “... Why would you want to watch a film that makes you feel horrible?” “...You make a good point.” “I like the film with the bear.” - ASDFGHJKL, THIS WHOLE CONVERSATION XD Also the reference back to S2 where they were watching Paddington omg

“Everyone has a Death. Goes everywhere with them, all their life long.” (Lyra: Isn’t that scary?) (Larissa(?): Not at all, dear. It’s natural) “From the moment you’re born... your Death comes into the world with you. And it’s your Death that takes you out. There’s love in that.” - Pan’s little face :’(

“When you’re ready, they say it’s beautiful. Your Death says, ‘easy now, easy child, you come along with me’. And you go with them, to the boat and the boatman.” - not me getting emotional over the talk of death, fuck me-

Pan retreating back into Lyra’s pocket sadly, like he KNOWS he won’t be allowed to go with them, I hate it here-

DAMN, Marisa slaying in that purple dress with heels, holy shit-

“If you won’t stop...” “You’ll do what, exactly?” *dramatic music stops* “... I’ll fetch support.” “Good. We all need support.” - BAHAHAHAAHAHA This show is a fucking comedy at times oh my god

The fact that any part of the dæmon guillotine design is being reused is horrendous, let alone as a fuckin BOMB

“*casually* Oh. They’re here for me.” - LMAO

“Wait: can we talk about this?” - Will asking the REAL questions here omg let’s not do this please

Lyra: You were on my side. // Pan:... I thought I was by your side.” - STOP RIGHT NOW FUCK YOU

Lyra’s Death is there?!?! And she’s just leaving Will?!

Pan running after Lyra as she walks with her Death, I’m about to sob

Not them taking a lock of Lyra’s hair from Marisa while she sleeps??? And her sending Roke after Gomez, she was pretending to be asleep asdfghjkl

They’re using the lock of Lyra’s hair that Marisa has kept to aim the bomb at Lyra?!? Jesus fucking Christ, and they still think they’re the good guys here???

“I’m always here. I’ve followed you your entire life. I am a special devoted friend who’s been beside you every moment of your life. Who knows you better than anyone. Who knows you better than even you know yourself.” - oh shit

Also Pan being like “that’s not true!”, like he’s so offended by her Death saying that when he’s right there

If I remember correctly, wasn’t Lyra’s Death male in the book? Or...?

“I don’t want to be exceptional. Maybe once I did. My parents... that’s all they care about. I just want to be good. I just want to help someone, and Roger needs me... and I wasn’t there the last time he needed me.” - oh my heart is hurting so bad right now because in S1E02 I’m pretty sure she said to Pan that no one ever thought they’d be exceptional etc, and also the fact she still feels guilt for Roger’s death :’(

I’ve spent 15 years trying to imagine what a mulefa looks like... and now finally I know! Oh my goodness?!?! And it brought Mary food?!?

“You take me into the BEST places, you know that?” - LMAO Will’s so funny when he wants to be

“What else is there left to do?” Oh, I don’t know, Doctor Cooper, maybe NOT make a fricking bomb??? Also eyyyy Roke stung her!

“Arrogance. Sheer arrogance. I underestimated them” - yeah, no kidding, Marisa

Oof Marisa’s on a damn warpath, she’s gonna destroy the Magisterium and I’m so here for it

“What if we don’t come back?” “Then we’ll have died doing something important” - I’m way too emotional for this episode, I’m already losing my mind and emotions and I know it’s just going to get worse and worse :’(

Marisa calling out MacPhail as a sinner oh this is delicious the tea is so delicious today

“You have no right here; you are a wanton woman who has always wanted what she didn’t have. Your husband was killed by your lover, the heretic Asriel, and your illegitimate child was abandoned until she became sin itself.” - OH DAMN

“You will address me as Father President or Your Grace” - damn, man is on a freaking power trip?!?!

“I’m sorry? This is where your loyalty lies? Not with that above? Not with truth but with power?” - Marisa is spilling ALL the truth today oh my lord she did not come to play around

“This is all you really are: an incoherent, emotional woman. Why should anyone trust you? You can barely string a sentence together” - OH YOU LIL BITCH I’M ABOUT TO THROW THESE HANDS

He took her locket?!? 

“And when we sever your dæmon, you will be the bullet to kill Lyra Belacqua and to save us all from sin” - on the one hand, isn’t it ironic that her own dæmon severing technology is about to be used on her? But on the other, this man is one cruel motherfucker and I’m raging right now, FUCK this dude

“Take her to the cells... and bring her dæmon to me” - nah man, I’m about to be sick, fuck these motherfuckers. Fucking MEN, AM I RIGHT

Oh no. Oh no no no we’re at the docks and Pan is whimpering already I’m not strong enough today for this-

“I’m sorry, one of your party is unsuitable for travel at this time” - NO NO NO NO NO NO NO-

“We have to follow the rules. A pain, but necessary. No passage. Not for him.” “But he is me.” “If you come, he must stay.” “I don’t think you understand, if we separate we die.” “But isn’t that what you want?” - I’m really about to be crying at 2:30am over Lyra and Pan again aren’t I????

Pan running away because he knows Lyra will follow and he thinks it will stop it from happening, my HEART

“No, that’s not right, I don’t leave part of myself behind, why should she?” “Yes, you do, absolutely, you do. It’s her misfortune - or luck - to be able to see and talk to the part she must leave. You will not know until you are in the water, and by that time fortunately - or unfortunately - it will be too late for you to do anything about it. But you must all leave that part of yourselves here.” - NO NO NO NO NO I’m just going to keep chanting it until it stops fUCK

“We’re gonna get on the boat. Don’t worry.” “Lyra, you’re not listening to him, he won’t let us.” - AND LYRA BRINGING PAN ON THE BOAT TRYING TO CONVINCE HIM :’(((( she even tries to pull the thing herself but she can’t, I’m siCK-

“We can’t separate... we can’t...” :( :( 

“I’ve taken millions across... none have come back.” “We will. You don’t know Lyra and you don’t know me, but we’ll find a way. Another way. So since we’re doing that, be kind, boatman. Let her take her dæmon.” - Will trying so hard to get them to take Pan, even brandishing the knife, but it’s not happening asdfghjkl

“How many ages do you think I’ve been ferrying people? Do you think if anything could hurt me, it wouldn’t have happened already? You think the people I carry come with me gladly?! No, they struggle, they cry, they bribe, they threaten, they fight! Nothing works!” - :(

The entirety of the Lyra and Pan exchange had me outloud sobbing, clutching my chest in pain, I’ve got to share it all with you...

Lyra: I don’t want you leave you here.

Pan: We can still turn around.

Lyra: But I can’t not do this.

Pan: You can, Lyra.

Lyra: What about Roger? And Sal? They never got a chance to grow up.

Pan: But it’s not Roger and Sal, is it? Roger’s dead, and Sal is gone! And it won’t be Lyra and Pan, you’re leave me here, alone! What will I do?

Lyra: But our dreams…

Pan: I didn’t have those dreams! They were your dreams, I didn’t even want to come here! This is your choice!

Lyra: But we’re together…

Pan: Not if you do this.

Lyra: Please… I can’t betray Roger. It’s my fault he’s dead and now he needs me.

Pan: I need you too! Why can’t you see that? … Where will I go?

Lyra: I’ll find you… okay? I will go to the Land of the Dead and I’ll come back, and I’ll find you. I’m not leaving you… ‘Kay? I’m not leaving you, not forever. Will and me will find a way out of here, and we’ll go to Asriel’s, somehow you’ve got to get there too, but I have to do this.

Pan:… Then you’ve made up your mind. You’ve chosen Roger over me.

Lyra: No, Pan… please don’t, don’t… please… there’s no other way. I’ve got to… I love you.

Pan:… Just… go.

The way Lyra turned her head to watch him, the way Pan came up to the very edge of the dock and started crying, the two of them watching each other as they drifted further and further apart, the soundtrack... I am a fucking MESS

“My heart...” 😭💔

Lyra’s pained screams oh my GOD and Will holding her I’m not OKAY

Episode 5: No Way Out

My heart is already broken from last episode, I don’t know how much worse I can feel at this point 😭

Oh good, we’re starting with mulefa hijinks! (Sort of)

Mary stopping and having a moment of “what am I doing?… following a talking elephant” 🤣

IT SKATING AROUND ON PODS ASDFGHJKL

Lyra and Will: *having literally the worst times of their lives* // Mary: *playing with the Mulefa and living her best life*

The Mulefa having their own language oh my god and the orange subtitles fading to the white English ones omg because she’s learning their language

Baby Mulefa 😭❤️

Oof we’re right back to pain 🤡

“What does it feel like, being this far away from him? From Pan?” “It’s like an iron hand is gripped around my heart and is yanking it out between my ribs.” “And it’s mental too, right? As if some private secret thing’s been dragged out into the open?” “…yeah.” — 😭

“You know, you always said I must have a dæmon and I never believed you… and now it feels like I’ve known her my whole life. Maybe she’s with Pan now.” - ASDFGHJKL KIRJAVA IS COMING IM-

“Wait. If my dæmon’s still at the jetty, can you give him a message?” “I can tell you now, he won’t be.” 😭😭😭😭

Oooh Land of the Dead here we go!

I’m still curious as to why exactly Marisa and the monkey can separate so far? Have they already been intercised or something? Like they can REALLY go far from each other 🤔

“They intend to sever you from your dæmon!” “… Good.” — EXCUSE ME MARISA???? She really hates the little thing doesn’t she, damn

“It’s not made of rock… it’s made of people’s things” - oh damn

Oh my gosh the dead 😭

“They don’t like it if we talk to each other.” “Who don’t?” - OH SHIT THE HARPIES

The little dead children talking about their dæmons 😭 “Mine was called Sandling. He used to think he’d be a bird, but I hoped he wouldn’t because I liked him all furry.” “My Kasta used to curl up in my hand and go to sleep.” “Mine was called Matapan” 😭😭

Not MacPhail going to touch the monkey but being interrupted by Father Gomez schooling him on how it’s forbidden 💀

HE JUST SLAPPED GOMEZ OMG

Nooo not her losing Will

NOT HER THINKING SHE SEES PAN NOOO ITS NOT REAL

“You left me on the jetty to die (…) I’ve always known deep down how selfish you are. You really believe you’re here for Roger - you already killed him. You came here for you, to assuage your guilt, to play the hero” - 😭😭😭😭 I know it’s not really Pan but still my heART

ROGER 😭💔

“I missed you. I’m so sorry, about everything. I should have let you go with the Gyptians and the kids… I shouldn’t have taken you to Asriel. If I’d have let you go, you wouldn’t be here, would you? You’d be…” “It wasn’t your fault. I wanted to go with you.” — 😭 my heart is a literal mess I’m blubbering

“Stop it! You think I want to go back to the real world? Like this?” - oh Roger…

Will not being able to cut a window out and it sounding like the knife is being grated over rock 😳

NOT THE HARPIES THIS IS NIGHTMARE FUEL IM-

“What kind of son abandons his own mother?” - SHUT UP SHUT UP SHUT UP-

“You have destroyed the lives of everyone you’ve ever cared for… you’ve come here for you, to feel special… if only Will had never met you” - I would very much like to go back to Jordan College and rooftop adventures now thanks-

“I thought about us, and everything we’ve been through… I didn’t let them get into my head” 😭❤️💔

Not Fra Pavel deducing that Mary is the serpent and she’s in another world, and now Gomez is going to go after her 💀

Oh damn, the imagery of the snake and Eve painting(?) in the background as Gomez prepares himself

I SAW A GLIMPSE OF AMBER IS IT- IS IT TIME FOR THE SPYGLASS

MARY IS MAKING THE SPYGLASS THIS IS MY CHILDHOOD COMING TOGETHER

Oh. My. God. The view through the lens of Dust… ‘Sraf’ is Dust… oh my god. This is beautiful. The colours are beautiful.

“The trees are dying.” “And so are we.” 😭

“What do you remember about Jordan? You remember it, don’t you?” “… Jordan’s gone.” - stop that right nOW

Not the flashback to the very first episode of them in the cellar drinking Tokay 😭

The light appearing as they remember Jordan College together, talking about the roof and the rook with the broken leg 😭❤️ and all the dead people coming to listen, I’m gonna start bawling all over again

Lyra and Will speaking to the crowd and promising to try to get them out of this horrible world, rallying them 😭

“What will happen to us if we leave?” “I don’t know.” “You don’t know? If I will or won’t be able to see my son again?” “We can’t know until it happens - I’m not gonna lie or pretend. But in here, it’s just thoughts; out there, real things matter.”

“When we were alive, they told us that when we died, we’d go to Heaven. That’s why so many of us gave our lives, and spent years in prayer and silence, and all the joy of life went to waste around us. I don’t care what happens to us when we leave - anything is better than this.” - damn, this series really said fuck religion and fuck the church making people spend their lives in servitude/repenting for sins they haven’t even done

Damn, the harpies are NOT happy

“Will you tell us some stories? So we can remember too? Real things.” Ohh no, no, I will not cry over this, I will not cry over Lyra and Roger talking about Jordan College-

“I won every time.” “No she didn’t, she cheated every time” - yep, sounds like Lyra to me

Lyra recounting how she made the omelette with the shells in for Will 🤣

Lyra talking about Iorek 😭❤️

I have absolutely no love for that blasted monkey but seeing him all sad in the cage as they’re about to be severed… definitely made me feel sad, can’t believe I feel sorry for him

It looks like Marisa’s been strapped to an electric chair, like she’s about to be executed, and the imagery of that is 👌🏻

“When we created this technology together, you believed you were doing the right thing - we all did. But we were wrong. It has to stop.” - Damn, you don’t say! Of course it was wrong to sever children, glad you see that finally-

“Do not explain my own technology to me.” - OOF

“You still have time to repent - let me give you your final blessing” - MAN DO NOT FUCKIN TOUCH HER YOU FREAK

“Keep your hands off me… there’s too much blood on them for that.” - DAMN, MARISA

Everyone listening to Lyra’s stories 😭❤️

“… But you felt safe with Mr Scoresby. He was the first grown up I ever trusted.” - STOP THAT RIGHT NOW IM ALREADY CRYING I DONT NEED TO CRY AGAIN

“I will come with you. We… We will come with you.” - YESSSS

HOLY FUCK THE HARPY DESIGN IS SICKENINGLY HORRIFYING DEAR GOD AND THE WAY IT WENT RIGHT UP TO LYRA’S FACE

“What’s your name? You must have one.” “… No-Name.” - Oh gosh I think I remember more of the book now hang on

LEE SCORESBY AHHHHHHHH

LEE AND LYRA HUGGING 😭❤️ MY HEART I CANNOT BEAR THIS

LYRA DIDNT KNOW LEE DIED 😭 and he thought she was dead but he was so relieved she wasn’t 😭

“You found the Knife Bearer - you beat the shaman to it. Lyra Silvertongue, just when I thought you couldn’t blow my little mind enough times” - 😭❤️ I missed Lee so much ASDFGHJKL

IS THAT METATRON??? ENOCH??? OH MY GODDDDD

“If she had only stayed with us, and given her life to the Authority as she once intended, she would now be on the path to the kingdom” - oh my god MacPhail shut the fuck UP

Come on rOKE HURRY UP AND SAVE HER

NOT THE INTERCISION MACHINE V2 AND THE MONKEY LOOKING SCARED

Dr Cooper having second thoughts omg

SHE STOPPED IT LAST MINUTE OH GOD THE GASP I LET OUT

“… I will not be a part of this (…) I will not hurt her.” - YES DOCTOR DO SOMETHING GOOD FOR ONCE IN YOUR MISERABLE LIFE

FATHER MACPHAIL STRAIGHT UP MURDERED DR COOPER HOLY SHIT-

The Church REALLY are not coming across well here

NO NOT ROKE LEAVE HIM ALONE

KILL HIM MARISA KILL THAT BASTARD RELIGIOUS MAN

OKAY BUT YES ALSO TURN OFF THE MACHINE PLEASE DESTROY IT IF YOU CAN I CANT BREATHE THIS IS TOO TENSE

FATHER MACPHAIL COMMITTING SUICIDE AND SACRIFICING HIMSELF HES FUCKING INSANE IM SORRY THE HATRED HE HAS FOR LYRA IS THAT STRONG???

Thank FUCK she stopped the machine last minute although I kinda wish MacPhail had died lmao

THE LIGHT HOLY CRAP-

“You think Dust can make you Gods… let use see how you fare without it.” - OH SHIT OH SHIT

THE MACHINE SEVERED MACPHAIL AND HIS DAEMON AND SHE DISAPPEARED

NOOOOO NOT THE BOMB NOT THE BOMB TELL ME THAT AINT THE BOMB-

I know she’s not dead, I’ve read the book, plus there’s still 3 episodes left, I’m still freaking out though

Episode 6: The Abyss

Three more episodes and then it’s all over 😭 I don’t know if I’m ready for it to be honest

“In the beginning, Man was given the gift of Dust. It ignited his mind and freed his will. But that free will has corrupted mankind. Dust shall be drawn into eternal darkness once more… That which was given shall be taken away.” - oh my gOD what a narration to start an episode Jesus Christ (pardon the pun)

Marisa dragging herself across the floor to get to Lyra’s hair???

Please tell me Roke isn’t dead 😭 (spoiler: he is)

Marisa going to Fra Pavel with the hair and asking him to consult the Alethiometer on whether or not Lyra survived 😭

I still get chills at the opening theme, ngl, like we’re three whole series in and I’m STILL feeling chills seeing the opening credits

Eyyyy Serafina Pekkala!!!

The earth is literally crumbling apart and Asriel’s laughing 🫢

MARISA AND THE MONKEY ARE BACK AT ASRIEL’S

Stelmaria just being like “… It’s her”, as if there’s only one “her”

“She’s dead, Asriel. Lyra is dead.” - NOOOOOO OH NO NO NO

Nahh Asriel is so unbothered about Lyra being dead???

“Would you like me to tell you how your daughter died, or would you prefer to keep tinkering with your toys?” “If what you’re saying is true, I’m very sorry. But what I’m doing here is of the utmost importance - it’s going to change everything.” - DUDE YOUR DAUGHTER IS DEAD (or so it’s thought at the moment) HOW ARE YOU SO UNBOTHERED

Like we knew he was a shit father but YIKES

Marisa straight up telling Asriel it’s his fault their daughter is dead because he pissed off Metatron with his war crime, she disabled the bomb but the light triggered it… DAMN. Just… damn.

“You’ve taken my daughter from me… and I will never forgive you.” - ☹️😔

Roger trying to wake Lyra up 😭 thankfully she does wake but still-

Stelmaria telling Asriel he shouldn’t go down there, it’s reckless… Mate, listen to your fucking dæmon once in a while please, she got all the sense the two of you possess and you’ve got none I fear-

WHAT’S HAPPENING TO RUTA’S DÆMON HE DROPPED LIKE A STONE INTO THE ABYSS (the one where Asriel is)

“He can’t hear me…” “Stay with him” “I can’t stop him, the darkness is drawing him in…” - NO NO NO NO

Noooo SERGEI (her dæmon) DIED AND SO DID RUTA FUCK SAKE MAN

Lyra and Lee hugging again because they’re so happy to see each other okay 😭❤️ truly a better father to her than her own one ever was

Is there an abyss in each of the worlds? 🤔 because there’s one in the land of the dead too as well as where Asriel is

Will panicking because he’s scared he won’t be able to get these people out, and Lyra taking his face in her hands, “Look at me, look at me, look at me… it’s fine. We’re going to get out of here. It’s just… this chasm. I can feel it too. Look at me.” 😭

Lee whooping when Lyra jumped that chasm, we love a proud father!

Roger and Will disagreeing over who should go next and Lee just doing it instead 😂

“I am Serafina Pekkala, Queen of the Lake Enara clan, and I demand to know what happened to my sister” - YES WITCH QUEEN 👑

“It pains me to tell you both that what happened to Ruta was not death, but worse again. That abyss out there is a rupture in the multiverse, sucking all Dust deep down inside the void between the worlds. I bore witness to her dæmon Sergei falling inside… and it is my belief, that no being, flesh or Dust, will ever emerge from its darkness.” “… so there will be no peace for her? Part of her soul, forever falling… forever in limbo…” — NOPE, NO, NOOO 😭💔 poor Ruta I hate it here

(Turning to Asriel) “… You did this.” “No.” “Your arrogance, PLAYING WITH FORCES YOU HAVE NO CONCEPT OF!” - SHIT SHES RIGHT THOUGH

Sorry, what the FUCK are those things beneath them with the glowing eyes???

“We’ve seen worse. Do you remember when we freed the kids from Bolvanger? And then the three of us and Iorek squashed into Lee’s balloon and just flew away?” - lmao bless

“Iorek’s this armoured bear-.” “I know who he is, I’ve met him.” - damn, there’s some tension here between Roger and Will? Or is it just me?

“Can’t imagine him (Iorek) in a balloon though” - LMFAO

“It wasn’t just any balloon… it was a real beauty” - DAMN RIGHT IT WAS LEE

Is Will a little jealous of Lyra and Roger walking together and reminiscing or…???

“Hey, did I ever tell you about the crazy shaman who made me a bacon sandwich?” - OH MY GOD LEE 😂 (also it’s been a while since S2, but I think he’s talking about John Parry???)

Marisa really thinks she’s allowed to just leave 💀

Marisa telling Ogunwe that Lyra is dead, and him saying “Asriel didn’t tell me”, it hits hard because he has daughters of his own and I just know he’s probably confused because surely Asriel would have mentioned his own child dying but nOPE

Marisa yelling at the monkey to come and he just… doesn’t? He just walks away? Their dynamic is so interesting but in a messed up way

Will is looking for his father and he wants to be sure that his father will find his way out 😭

Lee realising that Will is the shaman’s son oh my GOD?!? And he thinks he has a way to summon him??? Oh I love Lee so much

“Are you sure about this?” - Stelmaria asking the only real questions

IOREK!!! 🐻‍❄️

IOREK STRAIGHT UP SMACKING ASRIEL DOWN WHEN HE APPROACHED LMFAO I LOVE HIM

Wait this is SVALBARD??? All the ice and snow has disappeared?!? And it’s all Asriel’s fault?!?

“My bears starve because you blew a hole in the sky!” - oh shit!

“Give me one reason why I shouldn’t KILL YOU!” “LYRA SILVERTONGUE!” “Why do you speak to me of her?” “You renamed her. You loved her. Tell me of her.” “She is everything you are not.” “Perhaps I should have known her better. But she is gone, and if you kill me now she will never be avenged.” — this whole exchange 😭 Iorek loves Lyra so much, Asriel saying he should have known her better (no shit, sir)…

“You do not understand. Lyra went to the Land of the Dead.” “The Land of the…?” “Yes. But she walked in the line.” “How did she enter that place?” “With the knife.” “The knife is broken.” “I fixed it. She went after her friend, Roger.” “… the kitchen boy.” “Another reason why I should kill you!” - IOREK GETS IT ASDFGHJKL HE’S A BETTER FATHER THAN ASRIEL EVER WAS FUCK ASRIEL WE ONLY LOVE IOREK AND LEE AS FATHER FIGURES NOW

Asriel laughing because “my daughter is staging a prison break” 💀

NOOO NOT LYRA FALLING INTO THE ENDLESS ABYSS

THE HARPY SAVING LYRA FROM FALLING INTO THE ABYSS HOLY SHIT

Marisa telling Serafina about torturing that witch in detail, Jesus CHRIST, she literally wants Serafina to kill her at this point :( but Serafina sees right through it of course

“If you won’t do it out of anger… then please just do it out of mercy.” - 😭 now why am I sympathising with Marisa

“Love… makes us fragile in ways we cannot fathom.” “I didn’t love Lyra. I wasn’t able to” - SURE you didn’t love her, Marisa 🙄

“Even my own dæmon rejects me” - yeah no can’t say I blame him honestly

Serafina talking about how she lost her son that she had with Farder Coram 😭 and how Lyra gave her hope

“When I first heard that prophecy, it terrified me. (…) Because I was always taught to believe that Eve was guilty of something shameful.” - yep, religion will do that to you!

“All Eve did was dare to experience - it’s an act of bravery. Of great beauty. You were a monster, but look what experience did to you… what love did. It changed you.” - oh my god the religion criticism is on point today holy crap

Will hugging Lyra and asking if she’s okay 😭❤️

Lyra wanting to give the harpy a name to thank it 😭

“Names can’t just be given!” “Mine was… by a friend.” - exactly, Lyra!

“Gracious-Wings.” — … Interesting name, Lyra but okay

“You can’t take it back now!” - I have NO intention to and neither does Lyra 😳

The harpies kinda do make me sad because like… they don’t have names. They’re frightening to look at. They live in the land of the dead. They’re trapped just as much as the ghosts are, and feared for how they look which probably contributes to their behaviour. So Lyra showing some kindness must be a brand new experience for them.

“You cannot tell the story of my name if you do not get out.” “… You like stories, don’t you? True ones.” - ohhhhhhhhh I get it! Awww, so Gracious-Wings wants Lyra to escape, not only because she’s been listening to her stories but also because Lyra can then tell the living about Gracious-Wings and the truth that she’s not so scary/completely evil, so maybe people when they die will be less afraid to meet her? Idk

“True stories are nourishing. They feed us, we had no idea there was anything but lies and wickedness.” “If those who follow behind tell you everything they saw in the world, everything true… could you guide them here so they could be set free?” - god I forgot how deep and clever this whole section was in the book

“Do not lie to me.” “I won’t.” - for once, I actually do believe she’s telling the truth

“Do we have a deal? The prisoners’ safe passage in exchange for their stories?” - YESSS OMG

“It’s alright, they’re going to help us! Just tell them your stories - stories from your lives, and they’ll guide you up. Tell them stories.” - nahhh I’m not crying you are 😭

Asriel telling Marisa Lyra is still alive but she doesn’t believe him at first 😭

“It makes sense: the Authority cows us with the threat of heaven or hell but even that was a lie, it’s all purgatory.”

“Please… my heart won’t take it.” - this woman has gone through so much, she’s not a good person but damn she’s gone through a lot

“You said yourself, she’s extraordinary… to free a soul from the Land of the Dead” - well you’ve changed your fucking tune

“The witches prophecy… they believe two things about Lyra: that she is Eve, and she will defeat Death. (Smiling/Laughing) That’s what she’s doing. The prophecy is right. We must help her, Asriel.” - ASRIEL AND MARISA ACTUALLY WORKING TOGETHER FOR REAL THIS TIME?!? Like actual parents?!? Who’d have thought 😭

“There’s someone here to see you.” - LEE BROUGHT JOHN PARRY TO WILL IM CRYING ALL OVER AGAIN ARE YOU SERIOUS

“I hate fighting. I’m not who you want me to be.” “No… no, you’re so much more.” - AND THEN THE HUG 🥹😭

“All this time, I thought that when we eventually found each other… we could go back to Oxford together.” “I did too.” - 😭😭😭 they deserve so much better, I can’t-

“If we get out of this awful place…” “We won’t be going the same way.” 😭

I’m sorry, okay, this whole episode is just one big CRYFEST AT THIS POINT

Lyra saying she thought Roger was braver than her 😭

“I don’t even know if I can do anything. I’m just so tired, and my chest…” “Because you’re away from your dæmon. Separation across worlds weakens your bond, Will. She’s pining for you.” “How do you know?” “I guided her to Asriel’s republic. As soon as you release these ghosts, you must cut through and find her, Will.” - KIRJAVA IS COMING WE’RE GOING TO MEET KIRJAVA ASDFGHJKL

“Don’t try to live in a world that’s not your own. No matter how tempting it may seem. You and your dæmon… you won’t survive it.” “But you did.” “No. I felt it, like an ache, every day. Don’t make the same mistake that I did. You deserve a full life with your mother.” 😭❤️ but also foreshadowing what will happen at the end of the series I feel unwell-

“What will happen to you?” “The same that will happen to every soul trapped down here: I’ll be free. I’ll be connected again to every living thing, thanks to you.” - Damn, right in the feels 😭

John telling Will he’s so proud of him and them hugging 😭❤️💔

Serafina saying she’s gonna send Kaisa to search for Pan because she knows that Pan can’t enter the Land of the Dead and so he’ll still be there, I’m so ready!!

“If it is true, and Lyra is going to free the dead, she and Will will have achieved something remarkable… far beyond your rebellion. Lyra is your focus now. Do not fail her.” — YESSSSSSS come on Asriel and Marisa, be good parents for once

WILL DID IT HE CUT A WINDOW OUT OF THE LAND OF THE DEAD AHHHH, and it’s opened out onto a beautiful paradise ❤️

“My dad said you’ll be free. You’ll drift apart, but you’ll be out in the open - connected with everything to love.” - 😭❤️

ROGER SAYING HE’LL GO FIRST ASDFGHJKL AND LYRA SAYING SHE’LL MISS HIM SO MUCH

“You’ll be okay. I know you will. You’ve saved your best friend. When you go back to Jordan, go to the roof for me.” - AND THE FOREHEAD TOUCH 😭❤️

“I’m ready” 😭😭😭 GOODBYE ROGER

AND THEN LEE SCORESBY HUGGING HER, “No need for that, it’s okay” because she’s crying, “thank you”, tipping his hat to Will

“I’m gonna be with my Hester” - SHUT THE FUCK UP RIGHT NOW 😭❤️

I’m literally just full on sobbing at this point like my heart can’t take anymore at this point and there’s still TWO episodes left 😭

Marisa asking her monkey if she can sit with him?!? They’re so disconnected despite being the same person, I can’t-

“It hurts when we’re apart. I pretend that it doesn’t. That first time I sent you away… it was awful. I don’t know why I do it. At first I think it was curiosity… But now it’s become something else. A way to not feel what I can’t bear. I used to think that I was the strong one… but I was wrong. It was you. All along. I am so very sorry. Please… come back to me.” - NOOO WHY AM I HAVING EMOTIONS OVER MARISA AND THE DAMN DEMON GOLDEN MONKEY?!? AND THEM HOLDING HANDS?!?

Asriel and Marisa standing with their dæmons together… damn. Shit must be serious if the two of them are together on something

“The final rebellion has begun.” - OH SHIT HERE WE GOOOO

Episode 7: The Clouded Mountain

Two episodes left… 😬

Before we get into the episode, quick prediction: I feel like this episode is going to largely focus more on Asriel/Marisa and maybe bring that story to a close, and then the last one will be more Lyra/Will centric? Idk, we’ll see!

“We just have to keep Metatron’s forces away from the girl and the boy long enough for them to be reunited with their dæmons, to get to a safe world and… fall.” - oooooohhh

“How can you possibly know the nature of Metatron’s attack?” - LMFAO arguing like a married couple I see-

Okay, I was wrong, we are seeing Lyra and Will in this episode!

Will planning to get their dæmons himself and Lyra can wait in the nice world and he’ll meet her there 💀

“We’ve come this far and you still don’t understand: we’re in this together.” - 👏🏻

Every scene with Marisa and Asriel just seems like they’re flirting lmao

“I’ve given the girl nothing but at the very least I can buy her time” - 😭

“You’d do that for her?” “Not just her.” - THE WAY HE MOVED EVEN CLOSER TO HER ASDFGHJKL THEY ABOUT TO KISS OR SOMETHING

“Even if you get him to the abyss, you do understand it’s not just death down there? It’s eternal oblivia.” - DAMN, he’s committed I’ll give him that

“Your love for Lyra is your salvation and your downfall. When you think of her, I can read you as easily as a reflection in still water.” 😮

“Right, so we are doomed.” - Basically, yeah.

“Some of us will die today” - NOT A GREAT WAY TO OPEN AN INSPIRATIONAL SPEECH, ASRIEL 💀

Asriel is really on a mission to kill God in this series, that’s it summed up

“But thanks to my daughter, thanks to Lyra, we need no longer fear that fate! From today death is no longer an ending but a journey back into life!” - okay I take it back, his speech is pretty good

“Our children shall experience paradise but they will know it down here on the earth… today, we are free!” - YESSSSS 🙌🏻

OH SHIT is that Metatron’s soldiers/forces?!?

“I’m glad I said we didn’t have to win this fight” - LMAO

THE ANGEL KNEW LYRA AND WILL WERE CUTTING THROUGH AHHHH AND NOW ASRIEL’S ATTACKING LET’S GOOOO

It’s the way Lyra knew Pan and Will’s dæmon will be looking after each other 😭

“Metatron is releasing the dæmon eaters - he is turning all creatures against us” - AH HELL FUCKING NO

Are they the same as Spectres?!?

OH MY GOD OH MY GOD NO THIS IS MORE NIGHTMARE FUEL

YES MARISA DOING HER PART AND TRYING TO GET RID OF THEM BECAUSE SHE HAS CONTROL OVER THEM

“I’ve found Pantalaimon” - Oh my god YES give Pan back to me please

To be fair I don’t blame Will and Lyra for not immediately blindly trusting Ogunwe at this point, barely anyone is trustworthy in this series at this point

RED PANDA PAN

“They left us.” “I know. But they’ve come back for you.” - 😭❤️

AHHH KIRJAVA AND SHES A BEAUTIFUL CAT WHEN WE FIRST SEE HER AHHHHH

They can both still change but still AHHHHH SOON

“All I know is Asriel’s proud of you” - yeah, he just has a shit way of showing it

These noises are straight out a horror movie oh my GOD THE FUCK ARE THOSE THINGS THOSE GHAST-Y THINGS

Not Metatron (?) whispering into all of their heads asdfghjkl

Metatron telling Marisa she should join him and her and the monkey having this moment, “you know what to do” 😭 and he looks like he’s gonna follow her because he puts his paw on the bridge but he doesn’t 😭 can’t believe I’m having emotions have that goddamn demon monkey

ASRIEL CALLING FOR STELMARIA AND THEN MARISA INSIDE METATRON’S PALACE(?)/FORTRESS 😭

Can I just say that the visuals are STUNNING, oh my goodness I’m literally in awe of this imagery and the visuals it’s far better than 10 year old me imagined

Marisa saying that she loves Lyra and hates that she does 😭

Metatron taking on Asriel’s form so now we’ve got James McAvoy vs James McAvoy, truly Multiverse of Madness 💀

“No one cares for you.” “Marisa does.” - the way my jaw dropped, oh my

Not Asriel calling for Marisa 😭 no I will NOT ship them, I refuse-

“You care for her still? If only you knew the disdain in which she holds you. She’s giving you up.” “No… never… I love her.” - oh my god?!?!?

“She would never betray me…” “I can give you Asriel. He’s trying to protect her.” - NOOO DO NOT DO IT

HE KNEW SHE WAS CLOSE BY HE KNEW IT IM-

“Marisa, no…” - GIRL DO NOT DO IT I SWEAR

“Your dæmons are in the tower - cut them through to a safe world. I’ll find you wherever you are.” - I’m starting to remember how the book ends and my heart is hurting, it’s coming so soon…

“So… you did come.” - YES SHE DID PAN 😭 please forgive her

WILL SEEING KIRJAVA FOR THE FIRST TIME 😭❤️ and her going “… Will.” 🥹

“How could you bear it? Leaving me behind?” 😭

“We should be together. Please.” But the damage is done… if you’ve read TSC, you know 😭

What is that monkey doing? Is he helping them escape? HE PULLED THE LEVER ASDFGHJKL

“For Lyra.” 😭❤️

MARISA HELPING ASRIEL UP, ASRIEL AND MARISA GRAPPLING WITH METATRON TOGETHER, and then STELMARIA RUNNING AND JUMPING AND THEM ALL TUMBLING INTO THE ABYSS 😭😭😭💔💔💔 IT HAPPENED IT HAPPENED IVE BEEN WAITING YEARS-

The monkey and Lyra looking at each other 😭 and she knows, she knows her mother has helped them-

NOT STELMARIA FADING TO DUST 😭

LYRA AND THE MONKEY REACHING OUT FOR EACH OTHER AND HE STARTS FADING AWAY NO NO NO

NOT ME GETTING UPSET AND CRYING OVER THAT DAMN BASTARD GOBLIN POS MONKEY 😭😭😭

Lyra having to wipe her eyes 😭 same, me too-

I knew this episode would end the Asriel/Marisa/Metatron storyline, I just knew it

“Cloud’s gone. It’s all gone. The war’s over.” 🥺😭

I know we’ve still got an episode left but I’m already weeping because I’ve waited 15 years for this adaptation to come, to see this whole trilogy adapted right, and now it’s happened

Ogunwe seeing his daughters 🥹

“Can we go now? I wanna see Pan.” - YES 😭👏🏻

DAMN ONE EPISODE LEFT

Episode 8: The Botanic Garden

Just from the title alone I know this is going to cause me pain but let’s DO IT

Damn, they didn’t even do a recap on this episode (or at least my iPlayer didn’t?)

LAST TIME LETS GO WE DIE LIKE (WO)MEN

Lyra waking up and the first thing she asks for is Pan 🥺

Also Lyra going for a swim because she’s all dirty, don’t blame her quite frankly

“After everything we’ve been through and now we’re here… doesn’t seem real” - same

Lyra knows her mother is dead :(

“I should be relieved… there’s so many things I don’t understand about my parents (…) like why they weren’t honest with me. Why they did such horrible things. Why wasn’t she interested in me for 13 years and then suddenly she was… why did they abandon me?” 😭😭😭

Lyra saying she doesn’t hate Asriel but can’t forgive him, and “I have the strangest feeling he’s gone… which means I’m alone” 😭 and Will saying no she’s not ❤️

Will splashing her and then jumping in 😂

“What?” “Nothing… I’m just glad you washed” LMFAO

“She doesn’t look like she misses me. She seems fine.” - oh Pan :(

“Think how good it will be to be with them again. To be close.” - Kirjava ❤️

“What if it doesn’t feel the same? What if it never does?” “Lyra loves you. We’re finally in the same world, we’re safe here.” - 1) I’m sad because of TSC all over again and 2) I’m sad because I know how this ends

NOT FATHER GOMEZ I FORGOT ABOUT HIM ASDFGHJKL

No but where did the clean clothes come from???

“But there’s someone else we need to meet.” - IS IT MARY??

“I don’t feel torn apart, and I know he’s safe.” - 😭🥹

AHHH LYRA AND WILL SEEING THE MULEFA HERD AND BEING LIKE “they’re riding on wheels!”

I like that Will’s reaction to this new creature speaking a different language is just “… Hello :D”, I love him

MARY AND LYRA REUNION 😭❤️

Mary going “oh god look at you” because Lyra is so grown up 😭

Oh my gOD FATHER GOMEZ FUCK OFF ALREADY

I wanna squash his dæmon, I don’t care, I wanna squish it and murder it

Not him shooting and killing the local wildlife, fuck you dude

“They have less Sraf than you” - ahhh because they’re still teenagers and Mary is an adult, and Dust is what causes dæmons to settle/kids to become adults, I get it

“No pods, poor things” - XD

“I’ve been all over the place but I think this is my favourite world” - same, Lyra, same, it’s so peaceful

“How do you treat a tree with respect?” - quite easily I think, Will???

“We have the stupid idea as humans that we’re the pinnacle of evolution, but we’ve got so much wrong” — 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

“It’s the answer to the question to the question you asked me in Oxford - whether Dust is sin (…) it’s the spark that means we’re alive, it’s consciousness.” “So Dust isn’t sin… it’s just as good or bad as we are.” 👏🏻🥹

The trees dying is truly heartbreaking omg 😭💔

“It’s the Dust disappearing. It’s just flooding out of the world: thought, imagination, feeling all blowing away” 😭💔

There’s got to be a way of saving it, surely…? Like this world can’t just disappear??

“… So when Pan’s a wolverine, you know you’ve pissed her off” OMFG 💀🤣

“Like a nun-nun from our world?” Will omg 😅

“Mary, tell them stories” - YES PLEASE DO

Mary’s story oh my god

“And then I met someone… she wasn’t like the other academics” - LESBIAN MARY MALONE I REPEAT LESBIAN MARY MALONE

“Years ago when I was at school, those butterflies in the pit of my stomach, that ache to be close to someone… I think I had just been too afraid to recognise it before, but I didn’t want to forget it this time.” - AND THE SHOTS OF WILL AND LYRA AHHHHH

“I knew I couldn’t go back to the convent after that, I just couldn’t bear the idea of living without ever feeling that alive. And I thought… will anyone be better off if I just go back to the hotel and say my prayers, and promise to never fall into temptation again? And the answer came back… no. No one will. And I realised, there was no one there to reward me for being a good girl or no one there to punish me for being wicked. There was no one. And it was… it was liberating.” — the fact that Mary is Irish adds a whole other layer to it because of the whole “Irish Catholic guilt” thing, but also just in general… wow. Just wow.

“I wanted to experience love. (L: And did you?)… yeah. (W: Were you scared?) Oh my god, I was terrified. I was risking everything and I was sure I’d be rejected, but… it was worth it. It’s rare when it happens, when you feel that way you have to grab it. It’s funny, isn’t it? One little moment… all she did was offer me a sweet and it changed my life forever. For the first time I was doing something with all of my nature, not just a part of it.” — I CANNOT TAKE IT, THIS IS SO BEAUTIFUL

I can’t get over the looks between Lyra and Will, I knew it was happening obviously because of the books but stILL to actually see it onscreen???

“Where are you, Pan? There’s so many things I want to talk to you about.” 😭

Dear GOD DUDE FATHER GOMEZ GO AWAY IM SO DONE WITH YOU

Oh Mary totally knows something is going on between them even if they don’t yet

“What if she settles as something really bad, like… a mosquito or a slug or a fish?” “I heard of a man whose dæmon was a dolphin, but he’s a sailor so it’s fine” - I REMEMBER THAT STORY ABOUT THAT MAN FJDKDKDKD

Nooo not Gomez seeing them together I wanna punch him so bad-

“I don’t think anyone can understand… apart from you.” - oh my god Will 😭

“I think she’s… right… about a lot of things” - oh Will is NOT subtle in the slightest is he-

Lyra stepping closer, “yeah? What things?” ASDFGHJKL

“Dust… trees!” - smooth, Will, real fuckin smooth 🤣

Gomez was about to shoot Lyra while she was frolicking in the water but an Angel stopped him oh my god

ITS BALTHAMOS

“Desire is not sin. Love takes a million forms, each of them beautiful, each of them worthy. You who judge, just afraid.” 👏🏻

BALTHAMOS SQUASHED GOMEZ’S DÆMON, KILLED GOMEZ, AND THEN HE DIED TOO AND HIS LAST WORD WAS “BARUCH” 😭❤️

There’s something very innocent about these two teenagers clearly falling in love and sitting by the water in their underclothes and not realising why that would be seen as wrong because it’s so innocent and sweet and new 😭

WILL AND LYRA KISS I REPEAT WILL AND LYRA KISS I SCREAMED SO LOUD OH MY GOD

AND THE DUST SETTLING OVER THEM AND THE DUST RETURNING TO THE WORLD ASDFGHJKL THIS IS BEAUTIFUL

“The prophecy has been fulfilled. The love of Eve shall heal the earth and all the world shall feel it. Nature will be restored, hope will spark in darkness as innocence turns to experience, all will be in harmony once more.” - OH MY GOD AND THE SHOTS OF THE DIFFERENT WORLDS AND PLACES ASDFGHJKL

Those shy little smiles after they finished kissing omg

“Do you think Pan knows? I think he guessed” - he probably did let’s be real here lmfao

“I want to show you Jordan… proper Oxford. We can go to yours too… go to the cinema again.” - oh these kids are so hopeful 😭🥺

Pan and Kirjava!!!

“One who has given the world such a gift deserves a name… Kirjava.” — AHHHHH

Pan: Kirjava… suits you — 😭👏🏻❤️

“Why aren’t you with Will and Lyra? Are you still punishing them for their betrayal? But you love them still, don’t you? And you are not severed.” “No… we’re still one. But it was so painful.” - 🥺🥺🥺

“They will need you for what is to come” - OH BOY HERE WE GO

Pan and Kirjava coming back to their humans 😭❤️

“Pan…” “You left me. I’ve had to travel so far to find you again.” “I’m so sorry. I’m so grateful. I didn’t want to. I’m sorry. Please, I’m sorry. I missed you. I love you.” “Lyra…” AND THEN HE RUNS AND HUGS HER 😭

“I hoped you’d settle as a pine marten… suits you.” “I like it too.” 😭���️

ALSO PAN SETTLED?!?!

“I’m… Kirjava.” WILL MEETING KIRJAVA PROPERLY

WILL AND LYRA TOUCHING EACH OTHER’S DÆMONS, THE MOST INTIMATE OF ACTS WHEN DONE CONSENSUALLY, I CANNOT COPE WITH THIS-

“Thanks to you, the multiverse is healing.” “I barely did anything.” “You showed two innocents what it was to dare, and by discovering their love, they have drawn Dust back into our worlds.” “Is that really all it took? Something so small and ordinary?” “Love is never small to those who discover it for the first time.” — brb, crying yet AGAIN over this series

“For centuries, Dust has been flowing out of the universe… what Lyra and Will have done has turned that tide. But their love alone is not enough to sustain it forever.” - oh no, no no no, it’s about to happen

“Every window that exists must be closed” - 😭😭😭 I know what’s coming and I hate it

“Each time the knife makes a cut, the flow of Dust increases and from the tear in the space between worlds some darkness is released, bring destruction across all of the worlds. It can take the form of many things: a plague, a spectre…” - 😭

But also does this mean that Covid was a result of the subtle knife??? 💀😳👀

“But if Will can’t use the knife, and if we can’t leave the windows open, then how will we…? We have to choose worlds, Will’s or mine?” “You can’t live in someone else’s world for long. Our dæmons wouldn’t survive. It means we can’t stay in the same world together.” - THERE IT IS 😭💔

“No! You can’t come here and just say that! After everything we’ve been through, it’s not fair! … it’s not fair…” 😭😭😭 they’ve literally just fallen in love and they have to separate already

Them walking away holding hands 😭

Oh nooo she’s already lost the ability to read the Alethiometer 😭😭😭

“It’s not broken, Lyra… you’ve changed. You’ve grown up.” “So… that’s it? I will never be able to read it again?” “The knowledge still exists but you’ll have to learn it, like those before you. You read it by Grace, and you can regain it by work.” “What’s the point? Why did we get here? Why did we go through everything we went through just to be forced apart?” — 😭

“I didn’t know it was possible to feel this bad.” “It won’t always feel like this.” “I don’t want to not feel like this about Lyra… I only want her.” - NOT WILL AND MARY’S COVERSATION IM TRYING TO HOLD IT TOGETHER SO BAD

“You know all those stories that say the greatest love is the one you can’t live without? The one that you’re prepared to die for? That’s not right. That’s not what love is. I know it seems romantic to die for love but it’s much more romantic to live for it.” — 😭💔

“You will never lose what you have with Will, you have shaped each other forever. And I know it doesn’t seem like it now, but you will have a future, Lyra” - and Lyra is just sitting there crying 😢 I hate it here-

“If humanity set their minds to discovery and their hearts to compassion, they may create enough Dust for a single opening to remain. But you already know where that window must be.” “The Land of the Dead.” “We can’t close that window, it’s the most important one.” — 😭💔

Will has to break the knife once they’re back in their own worlds 😭😭😭 and the angels will help close the windows

“There are fates even the most powerful have to submit to.” - 💔

“I love you. I’m not gonna stop loving you until the day I die.” “I love you.” - KILL ME. It would hurt FAR LESS

“We will come back here, when we’ve lived our lives, we’ll go through the Land of the Dead and we’ll tell Gracious-Wings everything we’ve done. We’ll find each other here. I’ll be drifting about until I find you.” “And I’ll be searching for you every moment. Every single moment.” “When we do find each other again… no one will be able to tear us apart. We’ll be joined so tightly… Every atom of me and every atom of you. When they use our atoms to make new lives, they’ll have to take two; one for you and one for me. We’ll be in the flowers and in the sunbeams… we’ll be joined so tight.” — okay no I’m full on sobbing and crying and shaking, I can’t cope with this, I can’t do anything but cry now

Lyra and Will embracing and holding each other, just clinging to each other on the floor as they cry 😭💔

“Don’t forget us, Mary. Keep telling stories.” - 😭💔 this whole episode is just a massive HEARTBREAK I CANNOT-

We’re back to Lyra’s Oxford 😭

NOT THE BENCH, NOT THE FUCKING BENCH NO I ALMOST FORGOT ABOUT THE BENCH FUCK YOU PHILIP PULLMAN

“You know you could see your dæmon too, if you wanted” - oh my god yes?!?! I KNEW she met her dæmon at some point, I knew I didn’t imagine it!

“There you are.” - AHHH HER DÆMON IS A BIRD

“We can come back here every year. You in your world and me in mine. Midsummer’s Day. Midday.” “And I’ll be there. I’ll be there every year, my whole life.” “And if we do meet someone we like, we must be kind to them - we won’t compare them. We’ll come here, just for an hour… we can be together.” “Every year. I promise.” - ASDFGHJKL THIS HURTS MY HEART IT HURTS

“Just do it!” 😭😭😭 she wants him to just do it because she knows it’s going to happen and hanging around prolonging it is just so much more painful

Lyra and Mary hugging goodbye 😭 “I’ll never forget you” - STOP

“I’ll break the knife as soon as I’m through because I’ll know I’ll just want to come back to you.” - THIS POST IS JUST ME SOBBING NOW EXCUSE ME-

“What is it?” “I’m just trying to imagine what you’ll look like when you’re older.” “Handsome of course.” “Very.” - EXCUSE ME

Will stepping through the window and going to close it, stopping and them then kissing 😭 “Lyra.” “Will.” AND THEN THEY KISS AND HE CLOSES THE WINDOW FUUUUUCK-

Lyra: *crying* // Me: BITCH ME TOO

“Just think of her” (to break the knife) - and it’s a series of flashbacks of her and him throughout the whole series I feel SICK-

The snow falling on Svalbard and Iorek 😭

Lyra’s back at Jordan College 😭❤️ but so much has changed

Will going back to his mum 😭💔 and then them hugging as Kirjava watches with a little smile I’m-

ONE YEAR LATER?!?! ONE YEAR LATER I’M-

She’s dressed like a student I’m-

ARE THEY GOING TO THE GARDEN?!?

“We can come back here every year. You in your world, me in mine. We can be together. I’ll be there every year. My whole life. I promise.”

THE FADES AS THEY GET OLDER AND WITH EACH YEAR, THE SPLIT SCREEN OF THEM AT OPPOSITE ENDS OF THE BENCH, THEM REACHING OUT TO HOLD EACH OTHER’S HANDS, WILL’S MISSING FINGERS

“Lyra.” Being the last line of this show, oh my GOD.

THE ENDING TITLE CARDS

“Will and Lyra continued to return to their bench at the same time, every year. They kept their promise to each other, going on to live full lives in their own worlds. Will became a medical student and later, a successful surgeon. Lyra went on to be educated at St Sophia’s College in Oxford, where she was taught how to once again read the Alethiometer… Which would come in useful one day, when Lyra and Pan would go on to have a further great adventure. But that’s another story…”

THE BOOK OF DUST/THE SECRET COMMONWEALTH ADAPTATION CONFIRMED?!? IS THAT WHATS GOING ON?!?

Okay… wow… okay.

I’ll admit that in S1, I had issues with the show as a longtime fan of the books; perhaps I was too busy comparing it to the movie or whatever else, but also I had complaints about the lack of dæmons on-screen and how that really hurt the first series as a result (eg. The Billy Costa scene). Thankfully in S2 and S3, that issue was resolved and not a problem in the slightest, which I’m so glad for. I feel like for me personally, Subtle Knife (S2) and Amber Spyglass (S3) had the benefit of not having been adapted for the screen before (unlike Northern Lights/S1), so it was able to stand up as it’s own adaptation easier and not necessarily have the movie looming over it (if that makes sense). Because while I agree the movie was not great and didn’t do justice to the books, it was still an expensive blockbuster with hype and big names attached.

Right now I really want to reread TAS - I reread TSK when S2 was airing so it feels right to reread TAS now, but I’m reading Outlander still so I’ll have to put it off a few days 😭 - and also I want to take the trip to the Botanical Garden in Oxford where Lyra and Will meet every year. I don’t know if other fans do that but it’s something I’ve wanted to do a while, and now I want to do it more than ever. I’ll have to remind myself closer to the Midsummer’s Day to do it!

Honestly, I’m so emotional over this whole series. Was it a perfect adaptation? No, no adaptation is 100% accurate or perfect, things get changed or cut for whatever reason. But it was beautifully done, and I’m so unbelievably happy that it was finally done justice. I truly don’t think I could have asked for a better adaptation of a series that has meant so much to me for fifteen whole years. I’m so grateful that I live in a time where this series has been given the love and attention it deserves, and I can only hope that people viewing the show first have gone on to read Philip Pullman’s books, that it’s inspired them to read those too.

The cast have been spectacular throughout, especially the main cast members: Dafne Keen, Ruth Wilson, James McAvoy, Amir Wilson… gosh, all of them. And then of course the voice cast have been amazing too, especially Kit Connor as Pantalaimon since that’s literally the main voice role throughout this whole series. I’m just so blown away at this point, I can barely type it.

[ryttu3k]

Some thoughts on His Dark Materials 3.05 and 3.06 - No Way Out and The Abyss! Spoilers for the rest of the series below.

I absolutely goddamn adore how they did everything with the Mulefa. Mary’s development from “...I’m following a talking elephant” to “these talking elephants are my besties, actually”, to how they handled the wheelpods, to the babies - but my absolute favourite thing was how they did the subtitles! Things like the Mulefa speech melting into English, but into a much more limited English to show Mary’s grasp on it, to how it just becomes more and more fluent, until she and Atal are just... chatting. Talking. It was so cool.

Completely understand why they redesigned them, too. The diamond-shaped thing would have been, hm, complicated, and this way they felt much more real. And the wheelpods really did look fun. Like rollerblading!

Land of the Dead was proper eerie. Really glad they kept in Will’s reaction to being separated from his daemon, because like. They have to build up Kirjava somehow, even if he didn’t feel it immediately like Lyra and Pan did. The set felt deeply claustrophobic (even if it did vaguely remind me of a Doctor Who stage set) and oppressive, and seeing poor li’l Roger so... lifeless was genuinely upsetting. Got a bit emotional at them talking about their adventures, Roger remembering more and more, seeing the flashbacks of them as little bitty kids (I guess they filmed those when they were doing season one?), and him just... coming back to life. Storytelling as identity!

I don’t know. “Tell them stories” is one of my favourite fictional aesops.

Adored the reunion with Lee. Look I know Lin Manuel-Miranda has been a... controversial choice, but I think he’s fantastic, and I’m so glad Lyra got to see one of her two dads again (the other is Iorek, obviously. Asriel whomst? He’s lost parental rights forever tyvm). And Will’s reunion with John just felt... so much more loaded. Like Lyra seeing Lee again just felt warm and cozy like a hug, but there was so much weight between Will and John, many more things to say. Apparently it was filmed months after principle filming due to John’s actor’s availability, which was why it felt much more self-contained, but honestly I feel it was pretty important for them to have that time. Also built up the concept that you can’t stay in a world that’s not your own for too long, which gives the viewer the thought, “Oh, okay, so Lyra and Will will have to visit each other via windows, they can’t actually stay together.” When the reveal about closing all but one window comes, it’s gonna hit like a truck.

The Abyss was horrifying. Metaphysical l’appel du vide and all. They played up how it’ll be a major part later on well, I think. Seeing Sergi being pulled in, Ruta’s complete helplessness... yikes, genuinely unsettling. I do like that Serafina explained exactly what was going to happen to Ruta, her soul falling forever. Keep that in mind, viewers! It’ll be important later!

Loved Gracious Wings’ rescue, too - I’m not even sure she knew why she did it. The whole thing plays on this big... trusting your intuition to do the right thing, even if you don’t know why you did. Which works very well with Lyra and the prophecy, actually.

Harpy-related note - it did disappoint me that they cut the Lyra/liar part, especially since it felt foreshadowed with the bureaucrat in the holding area. I just wanted to see Lyra come to that realisation that they wanted the truth. Ah well.

Going through the door... emotions. Bye, Roger ;_; Bye, Lee ;_; (I know he originally joined the fight, but I’m guessing they just wanted to streamline the story?)

My desire to slap Asriel continues to grow. Holy shit, dude. His war is going ‘successfully’ but he’s also kinda. Breaking a hell of a lot of eggs to make that particular omelette. Lowkey wish Mrs Coulter had punched him tbh.

On that note, her character has taken such a fascinating turn! Genuinely much more sympathetic - trying to talk for her life in the chamber, her terror and determination trying to stop the bomb (and her success! She pulled out the targeting mechanism so it could only use Lyra’s last known location, and Lyra kept moving, so it missed!), her despair when she believes Lyra is dead... standout scenes, I think, are after she returns to the camp. There’s the wonderful talk with Serafina, where Serafina talks about how Lyra being Eve is a good thing, a transformative thing, because look at how much she’s transformed, and that beautiful scene talking to her daemon. She’s making peace with her own soul again!

Anyway, Mrs Coulter/Serafina.

The contrast between her and Asriel is really interesting. They start out with like, Asriel is the cool uncle/dad who’s doing cool things, and Mrs Coulter is Evil Incarnate, and they’re both... just changing to be significantly more morally grey (or, well, outright terrible). Mrs Coulter is realising she does care about something/someone, she has a daughter she’s realising she actually does love, someone else to care for other than herself. She’s reconnecting with her soul. Asriel, on the other hand, is going into a downward spiral, becoming obsessive and callous, and any love he actually did have for Lyra is just... not a priority any more. Even Stelmaria is more absent. I really wanted to see her reaction to learning that Lyra was dead :-\

Just two episodes left!

[bal-kote]

To be fair, he bearly fit

wonder of Iorek

[missbrunettebarbie]

His Dark Materials sorting

This sorting refers to the book chracters not the ones from the BBC series. While I don't think there are a world of differences between them, but just in case.

Also, SPOILERS!!!

Lyra Belacqua has one of the most delightful Snake secondaries I have ever seen. Lyra adores using it and Pullman loves writing it. She tells stories, acts the part of the dumb little girl and lies, lies, lies till she gets what she wants. Textbook Snake secondary. Her primary is harder to sort but I think it is clear she is an internal primary: the world around her rarely influences her beliefs, and she has one of the most iron-willed personalities in the series, which is usually the sign of either a Lion or Snake primary.

My personal take is that she has a very chill Lion primary, like Toph Beifong. It is most glaring at the end of book 1 when she decides Dust must be good if Marisa and Asriel, two very bad people, want to destroy it. So she makes it her mission to protect the Dust and leaves her world without once looking back, a very Lion quest for doing what's right. She is also way too comfortable alone for a Snake. Before the events of the book she wasn't deeply attached to anyone aside Pan, but this is a standard daemon-human relationship, so it doesn't count. She had friends and she was leader (another Lion trait), she liked the Master, but leaves with Marisa without a hint of regret. She also feels bad for not feeling too bad when Roger is kidnapped. Which is not a very Snake reaction, imo.

Will Parry is the actual Snake primary out of the two of them. Before the events of the books he only has his mother in his inner circle and he does suffer from the loneliness that comes with protecting her secret. Yet, he always comes back to her. Even when he has to leave his world behind, unlike Lyra, he does it to protect someone he loves and himself. The Subtle Knife is actually a perfect representation of Will's Snake primary. The Knife can cut through anything except Will's love for his mother and Lyra. In fact, his love for those two is so great that it shatters the Knife. Twice! By the end of the books, I think Mary and Kirjava are also slowly but surely entering Snake Will's Inner Circle. Being separated from Lyra would have been a lot worse if Will didn't have the rest of His People in his world or if Lyra didn't have her quest to learn to read the alethiometer. It is a painful separation, of course, but these things keep their primaries from burning.

His secondary was much harder to pinpoint, but I say Badger. Will is a caretaker first and foremost. Yes, he was forced into this role, but he is genuinely good at it. The first time he meets Lyra he cooks for her and makes sure she is clean and properly dressed. He also calls in favours when he is in trouble, a classic Badger response. When he needs a safe place for his mother he goes to his piano teacher who told him that would help him. When he needs to find Lyra, he does it by first befriending Iorek and then Ama.

Marisa Coulter shares her daughter's dazzling Snake secondary. The word "charming" is used so many times to describe her, it is basically her superpower. And at the climax of the third book, Marisa has to finally use this superpower for good and "lies with her entire being". Just like Lyra, Marisa takes great delight in her secondary and tripping everyone over with it.

Her primary is pretty hard to name at first, as Marisa lies to everyone, and even more to herself. I think she built herself a Bird primary model to make her years working with the Magisterium more pleasent. She truly wants to believe she is devoted to the Church and its ideals, that she could kill Lyra when it is found out she is Eve reborn, all in the name of humanity's salvation. But she can't. Because Marisa is not a Bird, she is actually a Snake primary. A very unhealthy one, who tried to burn after her affair with Asriel is revealed. As an unhealthy Snake she only cares about power and what power means for her and as such has no problem being in charge of the Magisterium's most vile project.But no matter how much Marisa tries to burn, Lyra and Asriel are still very much hers. We see it in Book 3, she betrays the Church and all it stands for, all Marisa stood for, to help save Lyra, to be with Asriel again, to live once more as the carefree young Snake she was when she first met Asriel.

Asriel Belacqua rages against God and makes it his Cause to destroy him, no matter the cost. He is pretty much the poster picture of an exploaded Lion primary. There are a lot of scenes in the books that show Asriel's Lion nature, but most of all we have to remember his willigness to sacrifice even Lyra for the Cause at the end of book one. The ultimate cold-blooded Lion choice that Snake Marisa could not make earlier in the same book.

His secondary is much less clear, but I would say Lion again. He has the inspirational leadership chip, just like Lyra, and he does make rather impulsive decisions. His manservant says that when "Lord Asriel wants something, the world bends backwards to make it happen" which is pretty much what an improvisional secondary looks from the outside. Also, Asriel's daemon is a freaking snow leopard and if this doesn't scream Lion secondary, I don't know what does.

Mary Malone is the first External Primary we see. Unlike the four other characters from above, Mary takes her morality from the world outside. Her morality changes rather fast and abrupt from a devote Catholic nun to an atheist scientist, without Mary herself to suffer a brutal transformation in the process, which makes me think she is a Bird primary. Secondary-wise it would be easy to say that she is also a Bird, but I don't think so. The most emotionally rewarding think Mary does in her journey is to befriend the mulefas. When working to make nets, Mary decides to sacrifice productivity for community by using only one hand so a mulefa can work with her. This is, imo, a Badger secondary call.

Lee Scoresby dies a heroic Lion death and considering his chosen profession involves flying around in an air balloon, I think he is a Lion secondary. But he dies like a hero not because of a higher calling, but because he wants to help Lyra. For Lee, Hester, Lyra and Iorek seem to be the priority. He is another Snake primary.

Iorek Byrnison is also pretty hard to sort as well, bears do seem different than humans. I would say Badger secondary, judging by his work as a smith which requires patience and hard work and just the entire badger culture. Maybe Lion primary? He does seem like an internal primary and the bears look more like idealists for me, not loyalists.

Tl;dr:

Lyra Belacqua - Lion/Snake

Will Parry - Snake/Badger

Marisa Coulter - Snake/Snake, Bird primary model she drops by the third book

Asriel Belacqua - Lion/Lion

Mary Malone - Bird/Badger

Lee Scoresby - Snake/Lion

Iorek Byrnison - Lion/Badger

[dragonsareawesome123]

for the fandom meme: his dark materials :)

Thanks for asking! I’m going to be only using the original trilogy and the TV show (probably more so the TV show since I haven’t read the books since middle school) since I haven’t read any of the spinoff books.

the first character i ever fell in love with: I don’t really remember much about my initial thoughts reading the books but I think it must’ve been Lyra. She’s so headstrong and stubborn and feral. I love my feral daughter.

a character that i used to love/like, but now do not: I don’t think I have a character who i used to like but now don’t.

a ship that i used to love/like, but now do not: I don’t think I have a ship that I liked before but don’t now.

my ultimate favorite character™: Lyra, Will and Lee. I love them all so much!

prettiest character: Marisa Coulter! She wears such beautiful outfits and she’s played by Ruth Wilson who is GORGEOUS! 

my most hated character: I guess Cardinal MacPhail since he’s basically become a dictator at this point.

my OTP: Lyra/Will! I love them so much! I also really love Marisa/Asriel.

my NOTP: Idk, maybe Marisa/MacPhail? Is that even a ship? Either way, I don’t support it.

favorite episode: I think either S01E04 or S02E05. “Armour” was just such a fun episode and a great introduction to Lee, Hester, and Iorek. “The Scholar” was such an interesting deep dive into Marisa’s character, not to mention just a great exploration of being a woman in a male dominated space. 

saddest death: Lee and Hester’s deaths FOR SURE. Their death scene was heartbreaking to read and it was heartbreaking to watch. Just seeing Lee and Hester so hurt and upset was just...it broke my heart :( 

favorite season: Season 2.

least favorite season: I guess by process of elimination since there’s only been two seasons so far, Season 1? I don’t know, I still really love Season 1.

character that everyone else in the fandom loves, but i hate: I don’t think I have a character that everyone else loves but I don’t.

my ‘you’re piece of trash, but you’re still a fave’ fave: Marisa Coulter. She’s a terrible human being but she’s also just such an interesting character who I am intrigued with.

my ‘beautiful cinnamon roll who deserves better than this’ fave: Roger definitely deserved better. He was just a child who wanted to hang out with his best friend! He didn’t deserve to die like that! Billy Costa too! He was just a kid and didn’t deserve to have his soul ripped from him!

my ‘this ship is wrong, nasty, and makes me want to cleanse my soul, but i still love it’ ship: Boreal/Marisa but only in the TV show. I know, their relationship is incredibly toxic and terrible but they have great chemistry on screen that I can’t help but ship it a little bit.

my ‘they’re kind of cute, and i lowkey ship them, but i’m not too invested’ ship: I don’t know, maybe Farder Coram/Serafina? That’s the only ship that comes close to this description since the rest of the ships are ships that I really like and am quite invested in.

Send me a fandom and I’ll answer these questions about it

[callioope]

Thoughts on His Dark Materials “Æsahættr” (S2, episode 7)

Also just a warning, despite the fact that I have forgotten much of what actually happens in the books, I have read them (at least three times) so there’s a chance I could spoil things for someone who has only read the show, even if you’re caught up on the show

Okay, so, first of all, going into this episode. I do distinctly remember that The Amber Spyglass starts with Mrs. Coulter hiding away with Lyra, so, presumably they’re going to show us how she got ahold of her. (Vaguely recall that they didn’t necessarily show that in the books? But hey, I remember very ittle so who knows.)

Also been wondering if they’re going to divide the last book into two seasons. I do think that would be reasonable because it’s pretty long and so much happens! So much! And it gets really -- it really dives into fantasy. Angels and Lilliputians and Metatron and a war with the Authority...! Just to start with. I mean the things that happen in the next book -- they are going to need time to breathe. Time for the audience to digest and think about it. That’s really the point, you know? to *think* about it all. free will. consciousness. 

okay WELL on that note! We just got some sentient, human-size bat-like creatures [edit; CLIFF GHASTS, right, that’s what they were called], so yeah, guess we’re getting Into that sort of thing. I know people who found it difficult to suspect disbelief about the mulefa so it should be interesting to see how they do it. 

um Will and Pan hanging out and talking??? YESSS

“she thinks you’re the bravest fighter she’s ever seen. as brave as Iorek Byrnison, king of the armored bears.” 

“Iorek Byrnison. That’s a compliment. But I think Lyra’s even braver than me.” 

“She can be, but sometimes she’s not.” 

“She’s the best friend I ever had.” 

“You’re her best friend too”

AHHHH. lol omg lyra awake and evasdroping. i was wondering if pan was awake walking around if that meant lyra was awake.

yeah, I think I do remember this shoot out with will’s dad. well, specifically what i think i remember is will’s dad taking shelter behind forest matter at the top of a mountain.

wut she can SUMMON the spectres? smh. nope nope don’t like.

wait a minute does lee die

does he die

i thought will’s dad died

“think about anything think abotu bacon just keep shooting” HESTER........

“this is my fault isn’t it” HESTER!!! </3 

no no no no no i didn’t remember this noooo lee..... </3 </3 </3 T_T

um sorta seems like mrs coulter made ridiculous time??? they had a very long lead on her how did she already catch up??? what????

OH!!! TIME FOR FATHER AND SON REUNION!!!! this is too many emotions at once. i definitely thought will’s father was severely wounded if they talked to each other at all.

I mean, I knew Mrs. Coulter HAD to catch up with them in order to kidnap Lyra but I just sorta feel like they should have made the timeline make a little more sense bc she caught up way too quickly.

oh, also, interesting, the mother and daughter reunion paralleling the father and son reunion.

also i didn’t think they were supposed to tell them how much the universes were counting on them why is his dad telling him all this

“you must do this will” 

nah fuck that shit will and lyra are gonna do their own thing so. there.

“and your duty was to be my father” you tell him will you tell him

oh we do get a little glimpse of what asriel is up to. interesting. TBH ... i was expecting to see him in his fortress next... but again maybe that’s something from The Amber Spyglass. And we got a glimpse of angels! sorta seemed like they were implying all the angels were pledging their support but i’m pretty sure the angels were split. i mean technically metatron is an angel and he’s literally the leader (bc we don’t count the authority) of the other side, so...

OH THAT LITTLE PREVIEW -- does lyra meet roger in the land of the dead? i forgot about that!!! oh boy. 

So apparently Baruch and Balthamos were cast for series 2 but obvs they didn’t show up in it. Sorta disappointing, but I don’t remember *when* they show up. I thought it was.... around the time of will’s reunion with his dad.

okay so i think i’m gonna at least reread The Golden Compass and The Subtle Knife, and see how I feel about The Amber Spyglass, and maybe wait and maybe read it.

anyways, overall pretty good. very intense. i thought it was well done. will and lyra’s actors are amazing. and ruth wilson. very interested to see what they do in the next season!

[kibibarel]

more bbc his dark materials thoughts pls

thank you for asking ok FIRST OF ALL...i have mixed feelings on how the show takes so much focus away from Lyra to give extra scenes to the adult characters. i guess it’s a big-budget HBO show and they’re trying to appeal to a different demographic and you don’t want the adaptation to be exactly like the original books...but so many of the extra scenes are either unnecessary or confusing. also says to me that the showrunners think that viewers can’t relate to or sympathize with child characters so they have to be constantly cutting away from her perspective to show adult characters brooding over nothing in a way that does nothing to improve the story? ok..........

i think the only example of a character getting extra scenes that i actually liked was Ma Costa because she’s actually like a fully fleshed out (and likable) character in the show, while i don’t remember her having much depth in the books...the rest was hit-or-miss and often actively frustrating to watch. i’m not very far in the show yet so maybe this will actually pay off in a satisfying way later, but the fact that they introduce Will and have Boreal fucking around in our world so often so early is extremely disorienting in my opinion (i’m also watching it with my mom, who doesn’t really remember the books, and she is constantly asking me for clarification on things or just complaining that she doesn’t understand what’s going on...so it’s disorienting for viewers unfamiliar with the books as well)

as i mentioned before, i think most of the actors are embarrassingly miscast. Lin-Manuel Miranda as Lee Scorseby is probably the worst offender...he gives Lee this cocky annoying bad boy vibe that i don’t remember Lee having at all??? ugh it’s so bad...

on that note—hot take: Ruth Wilson may be very sexy but she is a TERRIBLE Marisa. on top of just plain not looking the part (Marisa is supposed to be this sweet-faced, youthful-looking, ethereal beauty...again, Ruth Wilson is sexy, but she just doesn’t have the right vibe in her look imo), there is no subtlety to her performance at all. not surprising however after she said in that one interview that the role was “not deep” because the series is “just for kids” lmao...ok Ruth but it could be that deep if you like. cared...she’s only like the most complex and intriguing character in the series and also an icon but go off i suppose...it continues to baffle me that i see people say they think she makes a good Marisa (even superior to Nicole Kidman’s portrayal in the movie??!?!) because i find her to be SO poorly casted in basically every regard. BOOOOOOO

the only casting choice i think is any improvement from the movie is Serafina. she looks great. i also think Roger, Will, the gyptians, and Magisterium and Jordan College characters are fine...but that’s about it. so far everyone else has been unrecognizable to me as the characters they are supposed to be playing. i don’t even like Iorek’s voice because they also gave him this habit of making wisecracks during moments that are supposed to be tense like he’s a character in a Dreamworks cartoon and oh my god why is it like this............

[caitlinsnicket]

Surprise!

Request:  Lee Scoresby imagine! (His Dark Materials is bloody amazing! ❤️) Fem!reader please! You are in a relationship with Lee, and go with Lee and the Gyptians north to Bolvanger. Whilst on the journey you realise you're pregnant, but that doesn't stop you being reckless during the battle and Lee gets super protective when you get hurt (but still fight on) till it comes out that you're pregnant. Reactions of Lee (+uber protective increase)!

Characters: Lee Scoresby, Y/N, Ma Costa, Lyra Belaqua, daemons.

Warnings: Descriptions of violence, a harmed leg, pain, pregnancy, and the real romance shows up close to the end.

Pairing: Lee Scoresby xY/N.

A/N: Finished it! I actually didn’t really like the result of this fic, but i loved writing it. Feel free to like, reblog or comment. Also, requests are open!

It happened again. It was the third time that week. I tried hiding the puke throwing dirt on top of it, but the smell was still strong. Cleaning my mouth, I looked around to see if anyone was watching, but the closest crowd was preparing the camp, and none of them were paying attention in me. I walked back slowly, fixing my hair behind my ear.

A lot of possibilities crossed my mind: food poisoning, uneasiness from stress, anxiety or… no. It couldn’t be *that*. I and Lee had been careful: kids weren’t in the picture. Never. 

“But it could be,” said D/N, moving back to the camp by my side, his expression is a concerned one. He felt bad as much as I did. He wanted to search for an answer with a doctor or a nurse, but I was reluctant. It still could be anything else.

But the constant puking (that I was hiding from Lee), the mood swings and the lack of my period in the past two weeks indicated otherwise. But, even if I wanted to check with a doctor, there was no in sight. We passed in the middle of the tents, but I couldn’t go forward because of the sudden chest pain.

“We could talk to her. She’s had two kids. She must know when someone is pregnant” D/N was looking at Ma Costa. She fixed a bonfire alone, and her kid was nowhere to be seen. D/N still walked towards her beside my protests, and I decided to follow h. In the end, asking wasn’t so bad. We approached her, and she looked at us with a kind smile.

“Hi, sorry to bother you. Can I ask you a question? I know we don’t know each other too well, but I feel like I can trust you” I asked, playing with my fingers.

“Sure, what can I help you with?”.

“How did you know you were pregnant?”.

She looked surprised, but then she proceeded to describe all the symptoms. The same symptoms that I was having. 

“Also, I felt a small lump in my uterus area. I kept touching until I felt it, and then when I asked a friend of mine, she said that I was with child” she said, finishing the bonfire and looking me in the eyes “but why do you ask? You and the aeronaut are expecting?”.

I blushed at her words.

“I don’t know. I have the same things you had, and my period is been missing. I have no idea”.

She approached me, silently asking if she could touch me. When I nodded, she put her hand under my coat and pressed until she found what she was looking for. The same second she pressed the small lump, I felt it too. She smiled at me as to confirm, but before I could make any other questions, someone called me.

“Y/N! Sweetheart! Where are- oh there you are! I gotta show you something” Maggie quickly took her hand out of me and winked, going inside her tent to give us some privacy “did I interrupt something?”.

“No, we were just talking. Trivial stuff you know?” I distracted him by holding his face and kissing his lips sweetly. He melts, and his hands fly to my waist. I open my eyes in panic and get away from him “so, you wanted to show me something?”.

Hester seems to know that something is wrong, but Lee was easily distracted by the awesome thing he found. And I had a life inside of me. We walked, hand in hand towards another place, our daemons beside us. The words were dancing in my tongue, but the courage to tell him was completely lost.

As the night fell, something different was in the air. Something was coming, something bad, and everybody could feel it. The tension could be cut with a butter knife. Lee walked into our tent with Lyra beside him, both with a concerned expression.

“Lyra read that thing and it told her we are going to be attacked. I need you to stay inside and keep her safe” before I could protest, he continued, handing me a gun “I won’t risk any of you getting hurt or in danger, so you stay inside and protect each other. Please”.

“Lyra sweetie, go inside, please? I need to speak with Mr. Scoresby for a moment” I smiled sweetly at her, and she couldn’t contain her smile of delight- because of the nickname or because I was about to roast Lee, I didn’t know yet. She got into the tent and my voice became a whisper “I’m not some damsel in distress that needs protection all the time. We both know I can protect myself and that I’m a better shooter than you. I would be more useful here than there”. “These orders came from John Faa. I don’t make the rules. Just, please, stay safe” He disappeared when the first gunshot was heard, Hester behind him, with a guilty expression in her face. D/N growled but got inside the tent anyway. I followed him. 

Lyra was using her device to see something, so I decided to sit there hearing the noises. Gunshots, shouts, sounds of punches and bones cracking. Without me noticing, the girl got closer to me, trying to seem tough, but I could see her daemon shaking beside her. She was scared.

“We are going to be alright sweetie. We are going to get out of here, find Billy and Roger and everything will be fine. Okay?” she nodded, and I gave her a side hug. The noises got louder, and I felt the need to go outside. One look from D/N, and I knew he agreed.

“Lyra, I need you to stay here and to keep quiet okay? I’m going outside and I’m coming soon. But you need to keep quiet” she nodded and covered herself with a blanket, trying to stay still.

I got out slowly, and looked around, trying to find the enemy. But as he found me first, the bullet got inside my leg faster than I could’ve seen. As I hit the ground, Lee shows up from nowhere and shoots the guy, his daemon vanishing from existence. It was almost too painful to bear, but the good thing was that the intruders were gone. 

Hester had her ears up, and as she detected no one else, Lee ran to me, holding me close to his chest and picking me up. He seemed disturbed, and hurriedly took me inside the tent.

“I told you to stay inside. I told you. What if he hit you in the head? Lyra, come out, go get Ma Costa, I’ll get you after” The girl seemed to want to stay, but after some words from Pantalaimon, she left, sending me a sympathetic look. Lee took off my pants and inspected the wound, and the bullet was still there “You see? Now you’re hurt. Finally” Maggie arrived with medicine and practically threw that in my face. One second after, I passed out.

D/N nibbled my cheek as I woke up. Still pantless, my hair out of place, Lee and Hester beside me sleeping, his hand over mine squeezing tightly. He was scared, but not for long. My leg hurt, but the weird remedy Iorek always had with me had worked. He seemed so peaceful like that. Then, I remembered. The baby. The goddamn life growing inside of me. I could’ve lost that. That’s when the tears came out, and that’s when he woke up.

“Oh my god, I was so worried,” He said, hugging me tightly, but being careful not to touch my still aching leg. He kissed every inch of my face, wiping away my tears and holding my face between his hands “it’s okay now. You are fine. Why are you crying?” He asked with a chuckle, but his eyebrows were furrowed.

“Did- did Maggie said something? About my state?”.

“Yeah, she said that you would be alright and that you were the same as before. What was she talking about?” he asked, curious and concerned.

I looked into his eyes searching for any anger or disgust, but I only found adoration, concern, and love. Pure love. And then I knew we would be okay, that I would be okay. Because he loved me and I loved him, and he would love that child no matter what happened. 

“I talked to Maggie earlier and... I’ve been puking for some days, my period is late, we’ve been fighting for some time because I’m always stressed and there’s this small thing right here” I take his hand and I guide it to the small lump. He didn’t seem to understand, and Hester rolled her eyes beside him, kicking him in the process “I think I’m pregnant”.

All the color in his face disappeared, and for one second I thought he was going to faint, but the moment after he crushed me into his arms and started giggling. Lee Scoresby giggling. A rare sight, yes, but just as joyful. When I winced in pain for my leg, he let me go and started kissing me everywhere, saying how much he loved me and how much he was happy. 

“Now you really have to be close to Lyra. And when something like this happens again, you have to stay inside. If something happened to you or to the baby I would never-”.

I didn’t let him finish, as I kissed him like it was the first time. He seemed to relax, and I hid my face in the crook of his neck. We would be fine.

[near-dareis-mai]

HDM Episode 1x07 recap

Recap of His Dark Materials Episode 1x07: The Fight to the Death

SO MUCH HAPPENS IN THIS EPISODE YOU GUYS

so we start with marisa standing alone in the ruins of the abadoned Bolvangar

obligatory Ruth Wilson Scream (TM)

marisa finds the handmaiden still hanging around, for some reason

then marisa goes absolutely apeshit on her for no real reason, bc that’s just how she be

the she calms down

then we turn to lyra, who’s miraculously unharmed after falling out of lee’s balloon

she hears growling in the distance, and thinks it might be iorek

but she’s so so wrong

then we get a glimpse of what is presumably the subtle knife in action, carving a gateway to will’s world

it’s B'Oréal of course

after that short scene (I told you a LOT gets covered in this episode), we’re back to Lyra, who’s being taken prisoner into Iofur’s fortress

there's blood on the steps to the fortress, and i have SO MANY QUESTIONS like how is the blood spilled so neatly without the snow being disturbed at all??? because no way could an actual fight or killing have taken place here without disturbing all those aesthetic snowdrifts

Anways Lyra gets locked up in the fortress. In true "child of asriel and marisa" fashion, she attempts to fight her way out of the cell

pan, who has braincells which i can only presume are inherited from stelmaria instead, suggests using the alethiomtere instead

at this point, the other prisoner in lyra's cell suddenly makes himself known

he introduces himself as jotham santelia, regius professor of cosmology at the university of gloucester

lyra finds out from the alethiometer that iorek is coming to save her, but he’ll most certainly be killed by iofur’s guards around the fortress

back in lyra's cell, jotham tells her that what iofur wants more than anything is to have a daemon like humans do

this gives lyra an idea and she wastes no time in putting it into action

back in “our” world, boreal is at it again

just like will in the last episode, he’s listening to one of john parry’s interviews

now, let me just stop here and say that we're 7 episodes in and I have still no fucking clue what Lord Boreal is really up to, but the actor puts so much nuance and thought into every expression that I somehow forget this everytime he's on screen

back to lyra, she's being led to iofur's throne room 

i know these bears are supposed to be scary and awe-inspiring but THEY'RE SO FWUFFY

lyra starts off her plan with such a breathtakingly blatant lie...

... which Iorek fully believes???

lyra convinces iofur that if he fights iorek in single combat, he'll win her as his daemon

to “prove” to iofur that she’s a daemon, lyra answers a question by him that only a daemon would know the answer to, using the help of her alethiometer

she gives the right answer to the question of who iofur’s first kill was, which was his own father

meanwhile, lord boreal is off to find john parry's letters, to see if he can find something about john's real goal in them

he forces his way into the house past will’s mom elaine, and i'm already like 🔪🔪🔪

boreal doesn’t waste time getting down to business

SHOUTOUT TO MRS. ELAINE PARRY WE STAN A QUEEN

ok if he wasn't such a snake i'd almost feel bad for boreal, he just CANNOT get ANYTHING done in our world... first he has to deal with parking tickets, then he gets his car clamped, then the people he's trying to threaten actually know their rights under the law... this man is so tired

then his snake daemon decides to make an appearance

anways he leaves elaine after that, and i really want him 🗡️🗡️🗡️ for trying to gaslight her like that

then boreal goes back to his car and asks his goons to get the letters from the parry house by any means necessary

back in lyra's world, iorek finally reaches her, and lyra lets him know of the single combat she's arranged between him and iofur

off we go to the fight, and it's a sign of how into this world i'm getting that i'm seeing a perfectly normal polar bear on my screen and i'm getting uNCOMFORTABLE

so the bears both take their armour off for the fight, which I do not remember happening in the books

At first, it looks like iofur defeats iorek pretty handily

Lyra mourns her fallen friend

iofur realizes that she was lying to him the whole time

then it turns out iorek was just faking his death, and he does a suprise attack on iofur and kills him, in a scene which mostly takes place off screen for some reason

back in our world, elaine is waiting for will when he gets out of school

back in lyra's world, iorek officially becomes king of the armoured bears

Iorek leads lyra to roger, who’ll be joining her to find and free asriel

lyra checks her alethiometer and finds out that her mother is coming after asriel too...

...and she makes a decision that i truly cannot understand

then we get a seemingly unencessary affirmation from Roger, and a lingering closeup on him, for NO REASON

back to marisa

we get an incredibly uncomfortable standoff between marisa and father macphail over her joining them to capture asriel, with what i'm quite sure are supposed to be sexual undertones to the dialogue

back in will's world, they realize their home has been broken into, so will leaves his mom with his boxing coach, and heads back to their home to investigate

shoutout to the coach for just taking all of this in stride

meanwhile, lin manuel scoresby did in fact make it out the crash alive, and is visited again by serafina pekkala

she gives him back his gun, and he agrees to basically be on call for whenever lyra needs him

then we get a really beautiful scene of lyra and roger riding on iorek towards lord asriel's lab

back to will, who's at home opening his letters from his father,when he's interrupted by boreal's goons

will tries to fight one of them, and the guy trips over moxie the cat, and falls over the stairs

meanwhile, marisa is getting ready to apprehend asriel with the magisterium, and we all know the magisterium are the bad guys, so of course lord asriel is the good guy, right?

...right?

we get a quick scene of will running away from his house without even saying goodbye to his mother. my poor son :(

lyra, roger and iorek finally reach lord asriel's lab

here it comes...

Oh.

then stelmaria alerts asriel to the fact that roger is also here

corporate has asked you to find the difference between these two pictures

(there is no difference. they are the same.)

And that’s what you missed last week on How To Traumatize Your Children In Eight Easy Episodes!

[chevalier-tialys]

Look to the Stars

Rating: Gen

Summary: Lee is offered help by a few witches, and finds himself in an even bigger problem than he was in before.

His Dark Materials Fan Week

Day six: thing you are most looking forward to about season two | Lee attending the witches’ council

[Read on Ao3]

The sky split open, and Lee knew deep in his bones that something had gone wrong.

Unfortunately, his balloon had taken a terrible hit during the storm, so he couldn’t go and scout out exactly what was going on. No doubt Serafina Pekkala was doing as much right now, while Lee got his balloon back to Svalbard with the help of a few bears. He didn’t see Iorek anywhere, but then hadn’t expected to be able to with his new rank as king. King Iorek Byrnison, Lee thought with a wry grin. He’d told Iorek years ago that he had royal blood, exile be damned, but the bear hadn’t really listened.

Lee would do anything to shove that memory into his friend’s face, but right now his priority was to get his balloon fixed somehow and go find Lyra.

A rush of wind at his side alerted him to Serafina’s presence. “Lord Asriel opened a bridge to another world,” she announced without preamble.

“I’m sorry, what?” He had not signed up for this nonsense, and even now he was only helping out for Lyra’s sake, but… other worlds? “How is that even possible?”

She shrugged helplessly. “I think it has to do with Dust, since he was reportedly researching it in incredible detail. I saw an airship docked by his laboratory – I assume his research is now under Magisterium control.”

“The Oblation Board…”

“Perhaps. It doesn’t bode well for us,” she admitted, sounding as close to troubled as Lee had ever heard her.

He sighed. “Did you find Lyra and her friend anywhere? Roger, I mean.”

Serafina’s expression twisted. “I found the boy’s body in the snow,” she said mournfully.

“Not dead?”

“I’m afraid so. And I found this beside him,” she added, handing over a scrap of blue fabric – Bolvangar uniform, Lee supposed. “I believe it’s Lyra’s.”

Lee’s eyes widened. “She was there?”

“Not when I flew there, no. But I assume she was, at some point before. She likely took the bridge into another world,” Serafina mused aloud.

He swore under his breath.

“That’s not the worst,” she added grimly. “I found something else there as well, and the image is… disturbing, at the very least.”

“Worse than Bolvangar?” Lee asked, only halfway sarcastic. When Serafina didn’t respond, his heart sank. “Miss Pekkala…”

“Intercision cages,” she said grimly. “With a manual lever. Mr. Scoresby, I believe Lord Asriel killed Roger Parslow when he – when he cut them, to open the bridge in the Aurora.”

Lee fell silent, horrified by the act. He couldn’t tell if he found it more sickening than the experimentation in Bolvangar, or less so. For one thing, Asriel must have had the guts to commit the act himself, so there was no impersonal automation controlling the guillotine. On the other hand, the kid’s murder had probably been instrumental to Asriel’s success, which meant that it was planned.

“Damn.”

“I did say this was bigger than anything we might have imagined,” Serafina responded, still grave.

“Yeah, but – worlds? None of us could have predicted this, except–”

 “A city in the Northern Lights,” Lyra said, peering up at the Aurora. She’d opted to lay beside him on the sled that carried his balloon and stargaze for a change, instead of trekking beside the rest of the gyptians. Lee hadn’t protested, the kid had to be pretty tired from all the walking and thinner air at this altitude. He might have been used to it by now, but her Oxford upbringing wouldn’t be.

“A mirage?” Lee had never really seen a mirage himself, but he’d heard the ranchers back in Texas talk about the heat-illusions on particularly hot days when they’d been on the road for a while. He much preferred lying to travelling across land, so it hadn’t really become relevant.

Lyra shook her head. “An actual city. My father, Lord Asriel, he took a photogram of it to show the Scholars in Jordan College. So I know I ‘ent imagining things.”

“I didn’t say that you imagined it, kid,” he grunted as he sat upright, craning his neck to look at the shifting lights. No matter how much he saw them, the view never got old. “But if others have recorded the sight, I suppose…”

“What?”

“Could be some celestial phenomenon,” Lee mused aloud. “That sort of thing happens sometimes, the Aurora can look like different shapes from certain angles. Once, it even looked like a freshwater trout.”

Lyra frowned at him. “No, it can’t have. That’s ridiculous.”

“It is ridiculous,” Hester agreed, nipping at Lee’s finger. He hissed and flicked her ear in return, leaning back against the balloon.

“I guess it is,” he said amiably. “But it probably could look like a trout one day. Who knows, you might have seen an actual city there too, like Asriel. Anything’s possible ‘round these parts.”

 Anything’s possible indeed, Lee thought.

“Mr. Scoresby?”

“Lyra knew,” he said sharply. “She said that Asriel recorded an image of the city in the Aurora. You don’t think…?”

“It’s possible,” she said slowly. “But there are hundreds of thousands of worlds to cross into, Mr. Scoresby, we can’t risk following her into a place we don’t know only to get lost ourselves.”

Lee sighed. “You’re right,” he conceded. “‘Sides, we probably need to get my balloon fixed first. Though how that can be done in Svalbard I have no idea.”

“You won’t need to fix it in Svalbard,” Serafina assured him. “I summoned the aid of my clan, so my sisters will take you to Lake Enara and assist you with it themselves.”

Lee’s eyes widened. “Miss Pekkala, this is – you don’t have to–”

“Perhaps not, but it’s always good to help people when they’re in need.” Serafina’s eyes glittered. “And as I told you earlier, the universe has greater plans for you, Mr. Scoresby. Helping you wouldn’t be as altruistic as it sounds if it helps save the world, or, if my suspicions are correct, worlds.”

“Because obviously I was worried about altruism.”

She laughed.

-*-

“Lee, stop pacing,” Hester scolded. “The witches are here to help you, it’ll be fine.”

“We’ll be fine,” Lee corrected pointedly. “We don’t know where Lyra is, or – or what’s happened to her. She could be injured, and she just lost her friend! Does she even know about that? She’s probably in a strange world, and I have no idea if she’s with safe company.” He kicked a tree root and swore when pain shot up his foot.

“Don’t,” he snapped when Hester moved to speak. She sighed, exasperated.

“Lee, you’re trying to help her. If there’s any way we can find her, it’ll be with the help of the witches. They know of these worlds already, remember? Even if they’ve never been in them.”

Lee nodded. “I know, I know, I’m just–”

“Worried,” Hester completed. “I get it. I’m worried about the kid too.”

“Of course you are, we’re the same person.”

“Lee.”

“Yeah, I know what you mean,” he conceded. “Wait a minute – that’s not a witch from the Lake Enara clan.”

From the distance, a light blur whizzed into view, landing a few paces away from Lee. A witch, certainly, from a different clan – light where Lake Enara was dark, and, lucky him, also familiar.

“Miss Virtanen,” he greeted amiably. “It’s been a while.”

“Mr. Scoresby,” she returned enthusiastically. “How are you faring, I didn’t expect to see you at this council meeting.”

“It’s a weird time,” he answered honestly. “Wait – council?”

She nodded. “I’m sure you know the significance of inviting someone who isn’t a witch into these gatherings.”

Well. Yeah.

“I thought men weren’t supposed to be witness to councils?”

“Like you said, Mr. Scoresby,” she replied sadly, “these are strange times. My sisters are meeting with the Lake Enara clan to discuss what we’ve observed so far, and Queen Serafina tells us that you have some important information of your own.”

“I hope so,” he said. “I’m not sure how relevant it is, but I’d hate it to be insignificant in the end.”

“I’m sure it won’t be,” Lisaveta assured him. “I can sense the calling of fate about your daemon.”

“Witches can do that?” he asked dryly. She grinned sheepishly and nodded.

“Some of us pay attention to the energies of the world. Others find it more productive to study people. I can say with utmost confidence that I am gifted in the latter.”

He smiled, and then remembered what he was actually here for. “I’m here about the kid – Lyra,” he clarified. “Apparently, she’s meant to save the world, or something. I want to help her do it, but mostly I just want to find her.”

His old friend cast a scrutinizing look at him. “I’m not entirely sure who you speak of,” she said at last, “but I believe Queen Serafina has something to say about it when we convene at the glen. Though it seems an awful lot like you’ve found yourself a daughter.”

“This conversation lasted for barely a minute,” Lee said exasperatedly. She just looked at him expectantly, and he deflated. “Fine, you’re not wrong. But she hasn’t had much luck by way of parents, so if I find her and escort her through her journey, I won’t push on the subject.”

She nodded and started to move towards the secluded glen, turning around to make sure he followed. “It’s like I said before, Mr. Scoresby. I’m good at reading people, and I generally stick with my first impressions of people I meet, witches or otherwise. They tend to be a lot more accurate than getting to know them before making a judgement of their character.”

“Out of curiosity, could you read an armoured bear that well?”

“Probably not,” she said. “But I will admit that I have never tried. Perhaps when this is all over, I could speak to the Svalbard bears and try.”

“Sounds like a great idea,” Lee said. “To know who they are, and all that. I mean, Iorek’s my best friend, and even I don’t know what’s on his mind half the time. Bears are strange like that.”

“They are,” she agreed softly. “Then again, people are also remarkably capable of being strange, especially mortals – humans, that is.”

“I suppose we are,” Lee chuckled.

“But I stand by what I said about you,” she said, amused. “Lyra would be very lucky to have you on her side.”

He shrugged, feeling heat rush to his face. “Well. I just try to help, and the kid’s hard to dislike.”

“Which is more than most would do. You’re a good man, Mr. Scoresby, and I trust a queen’s judgement. If Serafina Pekkala says that you have an important role to play in the fate of the world, I would be inclined to believe her. And not simply because of her rank.”

“I’m flattered,” he said, baffled, “but I still don’t know why I’m here. I thought I was just supposed to stay till my balloon was fixed, but it seems like everyone has other plans.”

“Mr. Scoresby, I just got here,” Lisaveta said, amused. “But I do think it will be interesting to find out, don’t you agree?”

Lee snorted. “Interesting doesn’t begin to cover it.”

[whoaiminactivenowwepa]

So I recently just got to watch the 2007 Golden Compass in its entirety for the first time today, and I wrote down all my thoughts about it:

- As expected, the whole story being squeezed into a roughly 2 hour-film likely meant that everything had to be rushed... And it is. Which means almost everything had to be explained in exposition, Lyra has very little time to interact and form different relationships with all the new characters, and the pacing would often feel too fast with little time to breathe in between scenes.

- I was hardly even 3 minutes into the movie and I've already been exposition-dumped the entirety of how Lyra's world works. Well, we're off to a great start.

- WHY IS BILLY BEING A BULLY. THIS AIN'T THE BILLY I KNOW AND LOVE (Okay, granted, I don't really remember what Billy was like in the books. But I felt so much for the innocent little 7-year old Billy in the show)

- Dakota Blue Richards is really good through most of the movie, especially for her first feature film (one or two line deliveries are a bit wonky. But I think it may be more of a lack of direction/script problem since everything had to be squeezed into less than 2 hours)

- Daniel Craig performed well as Lord Asriel, but he seems a bit too calm and formal and put-together than the heretical, ambitious, dangerously passionate, mad scientist, would-use-my-daughter's-best-friend-as-a-battery Lord Asriel that I know from the books.

- Nicole Kidman makes a splendid Mrs. Coulter. Beautiful but subtly off-putting. I love it. I also really love her hair. 😂

- The Gyptians look like clans of wealthy pirates and I don't know how I feel about that.

- Lord Faa looks like a viking???

- Sam Elliot is spectacularly charming as Lee Scoresby 😍 He has very few exchanges with Hester, but I already love the relationship they have with one another. And I love Hester's little Texan accent!

- I truly don't like how I found it difficult to trust the Gyptians watching this movie. I'm still not really sure why. I just don't.

- Oof. They handled Billy's intercision reveal terribly. There was little to no emotion from the Gyptians. Even Ma Costa's reaction was underwhelming. Nobody's put off or disgusted or frightened or anything. They act like it's just some minor inconvenience. I mean, it's not like this little child's soul was cut from him!

- There is literally no time for either the audience or the characters to truly take in or express how awful intercision is. They don't even show that Billy dies shortly after. Right as Billy falls into Maggie's arms, they're just attacked outta nowhere.

- I gotta hand it to Sam Elliot tho. In this fast-paced fight scene, he was able to express Lee's distate for killing people with a simple look before pulling the trigger.

- Why do the Samoyeds bring Lyra to the Panserbjørnes??? They're supoosed to be bringing her to Bolvangar, right? I understand that they may have wanted to put rescuing the children as a grander finale, but the least they could've done is explain why they just throw her there?? Like not even Iofur Ragnar knows why she's here 😂

- They apparently changed Iofur's name to Ragnar Lokkison in the film because they thought that Iofur Raknison sounded too similar to Iorek Byrnison. Not against the decision or anything. Honestly, I agree 😂Just thought it was interesting.

- I love that Ragnar's face is modeled differently from Iorek's. It's a little detail that I wished the show did better but probably couldn't.

- The movie's take on Bolvangar by making it look bright and clinic-like to fool the children into feeling safe is an interesting approach. Sadly, I feel like it would have been executed a lot better if the movie didn't have so much time constraints.

- This rescue mission at Bolvangar definitely felt rushed. Lyra and Roger wouldn't have been able to leave the lunch room just like that. They're in a station that kidnaps children to experiment on them. You'd think the nurses would be a bit more strict about all the children staying in the one room they're supposed to be.

- You can tell how they're trying to hide the religious themes of the books by explaining everything about Dust so vaguely. How it works, why the Magesterium thinks it's bad, how it's involved with dæmons, etc.

- It's hilarious how Lyra just figures out that Lord Asriel is her father. Marisa doesn't even give any hints. Hell, they don't even mention him beforehand in the conversation.

- The conversation between Lee and Serafina is disappointing. Serafina doesn't talk with Lee about free will vs fate like she does in the books or the show. Just more exposition dump about Lyra's prophecy.

- Aaaand it just ends there! Wow!

- So I did some research and apparently, the full ending for the movie was supposed to be in the final cut. Like it was filmed and all the cgi for it was already completed. It was Harvey Weinstein who made the decision to cut it all out due to threats from "Stateside religious organizations" and some theaters' refusal to show the film. So it's because of him that the film ended abruptly, AND that the fight in Svalbard happened first and the Bolvangar rescue last. So yes, that's another reason to hate Harvey Weinstein.

So overall, it sucked and I will probably never watch this movie again :')

[peri-helia]

Something that has been niggling away at me in terms of HDM has been the accuracy Lyra’s reunion with the Gyptians and the beginning of her journey North because the way the series tells it just makes no sense. 

Hear me out, because in the book, yes, Lyra is rightly relieved to be back with the Costa’s friendly, familiar faces from Oxford after a close call with the Gobblers. So far so good. And then...it’s just a lot of shouting. 

In the book, Lyra and the Costas spend time travelling to the Fens, heading out of London, because it’s not safe for Lyra to stay in London and the Costas now know that the Gobblers are taking the children to the North although they don’t know why. And they won’t know why until Lyra, Pan and Iorek find little Tony Makarios in that smoking shed without his daemon. Whereas in the tv series, Lyra finds the plans for intercison and that’s how Benjamin dies, so they find out the children are wanted for some machine. This does not happen in the books, Benjamin does die - but it’s on a building raid looking for kids not getting shot by Mrs Coulter and jumping down a lift shaft. Why they included that I’ll never know, it just seems really surplus like confirming she’s an evil bitch just to check we all know as if storming into the college and ripping it apart, setting two evil spy bugs on your own child, pinning your daemons child to the floor and happily stealing other children away isn’t enough?

Now I’m mentioning little Tony because I loved little Tony’s introduction in the books; he was clever and quick and clumsy and it really showed how evil the Gobblers were to little 12 year old me when I read the books for the first time, and his mother ‘poor drunken thing, will think he’s run away, and when she remembers him, she’ll think it was her fault and sob her sorry heart out’. And they have yet again erased Tony from the story WHEN WE ALL KNOW THAT BILLY COSTA SURVIVES BOLVANGAR. It showed how kind and good Lyra really is; to this daemonless boy she’s just met, who has essentially had his soul cut out and she makes sure he has this little bit of dried fish to hang onto and when someone takes it away not realizing the significance and not just leaving the little boy be anyway, she goes into a fury and carves a coin with Ratter’s name on it instead, out of respect for Tony because and I quote for her ‘to provide for him like a Jordan scholar’. Tony is important because he isn’t from Oxford, he isn’t Roger or Billy, he has no tie to Lyra and she was good to him straight away, until the end. And Lyra is the one who finds out about intercision, but not before they get to the fucking North because otherwise it just ruins the dramatic tension okay. I know that making Tony and Billy one character is probably simpler but Honestly...We could have had Tony and Billy and it wouldn’t convolute things

ANYWAY

Lyra doesn’t meet Lord Faa or Farder Coram until the Roping, and they’ve been introduced and she’s been told they want to meet her and Lyra gets taken by Tony Costa to a well lit, spacious room where they’re sitting very civilized and polite to be interviewed. She is treated gently, with respect and kindness. 

NOT RANDOMLY TOLD TWO MEN SHE’S NEVER MET WANT TO TALK TO HER DOWN A BIG BLACK HOLE IN A STRANGE BOAT TO BE INTERROGATED

And yes Lyra learns who her parents are, but its not shouted at her across a field in the wide open [WHERE SHE’S NOT SUPPOSED TO BE IN CASE THE MAGISTERIUM SEE HER] 

And she’s certainly not told she’s important ‘just because she is’.  Yes, they tell her that they’re fond of her and owe a lot to Lord Asriel, but they keep her safe because 

a) they are decent people 

b) She can’t go back to Jordan College 

The Gyptians don’t KNOW that the prophecy is about Lyra. They might know of it, but they definitely do not know it’s about her. NO-ONE BUT THE WITCHES FUCKING KNOW AND THEY’RE NOT GOING ROUND TELLING EVERYONE BECAUSE THEY KNOW HOW DANGEROUS IT IS. 

FARDER CORAM DOESN’T KNOW ABOUT IT UNTIL DR LANSELIUS TELLS HIM IN TROLLESUND and Lanselius makes sure Lyra is out of the room looking at Serafina Pekkala’s cloud pine when he does it.

Because as he tells Farder Coram ‘she must fulfill this destiny in ignorance of what she is doing, because only in her ignorance can we be saved’

NOT GOING ROUND TELLING THE SECOND BORN EVE THAT SHE’S IMPORTANT JUST BECAUSE SHE IS - THAT’S JUST BAD STORY TELLING. 

[kittyprincessofcats]

His Dark Materials - Episode 5

Well... some storytelling choices were made here.

SPOILERS FOR THE BOOKS AHEAD!!!!

- They really jumped right into Will Parry’s story, huh? I know we kind of all expected it at this point, but I didn’t expect them to devote so much screentime to it, especially when barely anything is happening to Will yet. Don’t get me wrong - I love Will and I’m glad we got to see him, but if they keep giving him this much screentime I really wonder how they’ll get all of Lyra’s book 1 story done in only three more episodes. We still have the entire Bolvangar part to go through (including finding Roger, Lyra and Pan almost getting separated, the confrontation with Mrs. Coulter, the battle, freeing the kids and dæmons), then the entire Svalbard part with the bear fight still has to happen, and then the part with Asriel and... well, you know... that thing he does. That’s a lot of plot to cover in only 3 episodes, just saying. I really hope they planned this out well.

- They really came for my shipper heart AGAIN with that Serafina/Farder Coram scene. Listen, I love them and that scene was beautiful, but it was a bit too early for it, imo. I liked how when Lyra met Serafina in the book, she said she hadn’t seen Coram in years, and Lyra was the one being all “But he still loves you!” We won’t get that exchange now, I guess, at least not like that. That said, I’m so glad we got to see Serafina!! I still very much have a thing for witches, as it turns out.

- Let’s get into the elephant in the room and the reason I didn’t want to watch this episode - Billy’s death. And look, we all saw it coming the moment we learned his dæmon’s name was Ratter (except for that one person I spoiled it for last week - sorry about that), but that didn’t make me dislike it any less. I get why they changed it like this - they wanted us to have an emotional connection to the lost boy, see his grieving family and make us hate the Gobblers even more. And it worked, but I still didn’t like those scenes with Ma Costa and Tony. I’m not a mother, but I am an older sister, and any scene where a kid dies and you see their parents’ and/or older siblings’ grief are just scenes I strongly dislike. It really gets to me, and not in the good way.

- That said, even though I don’t like this storytelling choice, I did like how they executed it. They showed how much this experience got to Lyra, they kind of kept the thing about her being the only one who cares (before the others find out who the “ghost” is), they made the atmosphere of her finding him really creepy by making it happen at night, and to my own surprise they managed to keep the shock of him not having a dæmon. I thought they wouldn’t manage that last one since we barely see the dæmons of all the other characters, but the way they made Billy look - barely alive, shaved head, a wound on his head - really got that whole “something’s not right here” feeling across.

- I wish they’d kept that conversation where a man from the village tells Lyra and Iorek that this isn’t the first child that showed up there like this. They also didn’t let Billy talk or ask for Ratter - but tbh I’m glad about that, because I really wouldn’t have been able to handle that.

- I don’t remember if the camp getting attacked at night is a thing that happened in the book. I know that Lyra ends up in Bolvangar somehow, but I don’t remember how. I really need to read them again. My brother’s reading the first book right now (because I kept telling him about it) and now he keeps telling me about all the stuff that I’ve already forgotten. Can’t have that now, can we? I’ll start reading them again, too.

- AND HOLY SHIT DID THEY MANAGE TO MAKE BOLVANGAR CREEPY!! That possibly got to me even more than Billy’s death. Shit, that place is scary!!! If I remember this right, in the book the people in Bolvangar were trying to act all nice to the kids, but here they went full on “no, we kill kids here” right away! When that woman just tried to grab Pan!!! Which is taboo!!! And then said Lyra was “still young enough” when she saw him change... and when they said Lyra had to be treated “soon” - and she knows what that means now... and when they made her undress and she saw the uniform that looks just like the one she found Billy in... and she realizes she’s in Bolvangar... HOLY SHIT. I expected them to end the episode with Lyra in Bolvangar (because that’s an amazing cliffhanger), but I didn’t expect them to make it THAT creepy. Incredible job there. Even though I know she’ll me fine, I feel genuinely scared for her after watching that. And now I don’t want to watch the next episode either.

- Speaking of: I won’t be here next sunday (I’ll be on my way home from watching a certain figure skating competition in Torino), so I’ll record the next episode and catch up with it later (probably around tuesday).

[merlucito-booksandstories]

12 months, 12 books: April

The Golden Compass/Northern Lights by Philip Pullman

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This book. Boy, this book.

Let's see. I watched the movie when it came out in theaters and forgot about it because it was meh. Ten years ago, I read the first half of the book because a roommate brought it to me in my first year at college, but I only read the first half because... I don't remember, then we both move out and never see her again so no chance to finish it. Now, last year I watched the new BBC/HBO series and I got hyped again so I buy it in January.

Now... now I'm regretting the fact that I only bought the first one. With the quarantine stuff all the bookstores are closed and very few do shipping in theirs online shops. AND I CAN'T WAIT OMG.

I knew what was going to happen, not only because of the resent watch of the BBC series but because for some miracle I remember things of that first half that I read 10 years ago, and still I was at the edge of my sit. I couldn't stop reading, I basically make myself read only two chapters per day because I wanted to enjoy the raid (and because I was hoping that bookstores were open when I finished) and I really, really did it. I enjoyed this book so much, I loved it. Lyra was cute, sometimes a little annoying, but cute overall. Iorek is pure love and the witches are just SO cool. I think I didn't cry over Roger just because I knew what was going to happen.

I love parallel universes, and travels between worlds, so I just can't wait for the second one. Can't wait till bookshops are open again so I can buy the other two books.

Also, the daimonions are just the cutest things in the world.

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