The Scene Is Set For A War Between Worlds In Its Dark Materials S3 Teaser

Those (like me) who were eagerly awaiting the third and final episode of HBO Its dark materials will appreciate the release of a Season 3 teaser giving us a first look at what’s to come. Based on Philip Pullman’s hit trilogy, S3 will see our heroine, Lyra (Dafne Keen), finally come to terms with her fate, even as her father, Lord Asriel (James McAvoy), declares war on the Authority.

(Spoilers for the first two seasons below.)

As we wrote earlier, the three books in the Pullman series are The Golden Compass (published under the title Aurora borealis United Kingdom), The subtle knifeand Amber Spy Glass. They follow the adventures of a 12-year-old girl named Lyra, who lives in a fictionalized version of Oxford, England, circa Victorian times. Everyone has a companion demon in the form of an animal – a part of their spirit that resides outside of the body – and Lyra’s is called Pantalaimon. Lyra uncovers a sinister plot that sends her on a journey to find her father in hopes of foiling said plot. This journey takes him to different dimensions (the fictional world is a multiverse) and eventually to his own coming of age.

The first season mainly covered the events of The Golden Compassalthough it also includes characters and events from The subtle knife. Most notably, S1 introduced the character of Will Parry (Amir Wilson), who doesn’t appear until the second book in the series. He befriends a runaway Lyra and has possession of the Subtle Knife, which can cut the curtain between universes.

Early reviews were mixed, but the second season amply rewarded those who stuck with the show. “Freed from the creative burden of establishing an elaborate fictional world for viewers unfamiliar with the books, S2 was a fast-paced, yet still emotionally resonant experience,” I wrote in my opinion S2. “Ruth Wilson’s fiercely savage portrayal of the complicated Mrs. Coulter remains a highlight, and the heartbreaking season finale set the stage perfectly for the final showdown. »

In the S1 finale, Lyra followed Lord Asriel across the Multiverse Bridge to another world, just as Will found his own way into that same world through another doorway. S2 picked up from therecovering the other events of The subtle knifewhich establish Lyra’s central quest and set up the climactic showdown depicted in Amber Spy Glass. Both strangers in a strange new world, Lyra and Will teamed up to reunite him with his own father, a quest they believed tied to all the destinies they were meant to fulfill. They also discovered the Subtle Knife (formerly known as Æsahættr), which can cut through the fabric between worlds.

In S2’s heartbreaking finale, Lin-Manuel Miranda’s Lee Scoresby sacrificed himself so Will’s father could briefly find his son and ask him to bring the Subtle Knife to Lord Asriel. Mrs. Coulter has kidnapped Lyra, believing her daughter to be the prophesied Second Eve who will bring about the downfall of man. We saw Lyra drugged for the last time and lying in a chest aboard a ship, heading to an unknown destination.

McAvoy’s Lord Asriel was conspicuously absent in S2 due to the pandemic, with a planned standalone episode scrapped. But a final scene essentially showed him declaring war on the Authority by calling on angels to join him in rebellion. This war – and probably some recriminating father/daughter fireworks after the events of the first two seasons – will feature prominently in S3. According to the official premises:

Based on Amber Spy Glass, the final novel in Philip Pullman’s award-winning trilogy, in the final chapter of this epic fantasy series, Lyra (Dafne Keen), the prophesied child, and Will (Amir Wilson), the wielder of the Subtle Knife, must travel in a dark place from which no one has ever returned. As his father’s great war against the Authority draws closer, they will learn that saving worlds comes at a terrible price.

The trailer opens with a voiceover from Ms. Coulter: “There are forces out there, Lyra, that you can’t begin to understand. She swears she’s doing all of this for Lyra, but realizes there’s no good reason for Lyra to believe her, even though her protective actions have cost her everything. “What could be more dangerous than you? Will asks at one point. She replies, “The truth. »

Meanwhile, Asriel “brings together the greatest of all worlds” for his war against the Authority – which seems to include a host of witches and angels. Fierce bear warrior Iorek Byrnison is featured prominently in the teaser. We also get a final glimpse of Lee Scoresby when Lyra visits the underworld, and some tender moments between Lyra and Will.

The eight-episode third season of Its dark materials will premiere on HBO on December 5, 2022, with two episodes airing weekly. The series finale will air on December 26, 2022.

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