His Dark Materials, season two finale, review Part A

 

In a previous post I previewed series two of His Dark Materials. Amongst other things, I commented that ‘I think that Dafne Keen is going to grow into the Lyra role in series two. Initially in series one she was restrained and less charismatic than you might have expected, but she gradually came into her own and I think she is going to be spectacular in this series,as is Amir Wilson as Will’.

I think that was a fairly accurate prediction; both actors have really come alive in this series, both as individuals and in partnership. Dafne conveys Lyra’s ability to be deceitful to get her way without in any way lessening our empathy with her whilst Will gradually shows he is getting her measure. Their increasing closeness is deftly portrayed and they each take the lead when they need to.

The series also makes clearer than the book the extent to which the world containing Cittagazze is a hinge world, a stepping stone between Lyra’s Oxford and Will’s, which is nonetheless extremely dangerous. Talking of extremely dangerous, the undoubtedly star of this series is Ruth Wilson as Mrs Coulter, as complex a character as any we have ever seen in a drama. Marisa is capable of extreme cruelty, subtle manipulation of the men around her and utter ruthlessness, which is redeemed by her bravery, her charisma and her occasional vulnerability where Lyra is concerned.

Although much of the series has dwelt on the partnership she strikes up with Lord Boreal the penultimate episode came back to her and Lyra in stunning fashion. The scene in which Lyra paralyzes Marisa as Pantalaimon savages the monkey demon was electrifying- Lyra and Pan clearly showing their symbiotic connection at this climactic moment when she finally shows herself the equal of her mother.

It is a tribute to Ruth Wilson that when she dispatches Boreal you can only applaud her, she is utterly hypnotic in this role. I have been following the twitter conversations each week and have been struck by how much of a following she has amongst young gay women .Equally, those same fans are equally taken with Mary Malone, an interesting insight into how the opposite extremes of the female spectrum can be equally beguiling. Mary and Marisa are diametric opposites who nonetheless manage to have so much in common, and of course they are linked by love for Lyra.

The finale promises to be spectacular- I will comment on it later…………