Martin Carr reviews the series 1 finale of His Dark Materials…
To eradicate temptation, purge ourselves of impure thoughts and forge a world of harmony, productivity and progress is noble. In reality such things are challenging when the foibles of human behaviour stand between us and this ideal. Philip Pullman and Jack Thorne are more than well aware of such things, which is why they have weaved multiple motivations into this HBO BBC joint. Demonstrating the essential sacrifice which is required when pushing the boundaries of possibility or challenging conventional thought.
Set pieces which are both explosive, engaging and ultimately tragic showcase the production design, FX teams and vocal performances without digressing from any drama. Scenes between Keen and her contemporaries are dark, edgy and riveting as she continues stealing scenes out from under them. McAvoy is restrained yet does a great deal with minimal screen time, while Wilson reveals new elements to Mrs.Coulter in the closing minutes. James McAvoy dominates alongside Ruth Wilson and Dafne Keen in this season finale where ulterior motives are revealed whilst world spanning possibilities are revealed. For those concerned with sub-text this is the most blatant attack on organised religion thus far, as suppression of information remains at the forefront of any Magisterium motives.
If as is suggested when we become adults our innocence becomes sullied, disappears or morphs into cynicism what solution does religion offer? To begin with people need very little to start religious movements and even less if Jedi knights are anything to go by. All you need are some impressionable people, a reasonable bankroll and an isolated yet commutable commune. Combine those elements with a transparent mantra one mildly charismatic leader and history has shown that little else matters. Some might consider these as stereotypical broad strokes and argue that religions are inherently more complex, but that being the case I suggest they watch The Life of Brian and get back to me.
Any structured means of organised worship provides a means to understand the world without thinking. Individual thought combined with the imagination of others made glass, discovered electricity and stumbled on Penicillin. If the good book had been our only means of understanding this world then those questions would never have been asked, those answers never explored and our society never enriched. As the second season of His Dark Materials beckons and a new year is only days away, there is comfort to be had from knowing people still strive to educate, enlighten and inform.
Martin Carr
