BBC World Service 26-31 December 2022, BBC Radio 4 28/29 December 2022 and on BBC Sounds

 

“Use the gift well, Old One.”

The magical world that Will Stanton has been thrown into starts to bleed into the human world as a dreadful storm rolls in and the villagers are forced to take shelter in manor a house – there is real-world peril and consequences for his loved ones as Will battles to hold the dark back.

There are very tense and climactic episodes, especially going in to the final three instalments (the final omnibus), as the timeframe speeds up, necessitating Will’s wielding of powers he does not feel strong enough for – but he isn’t alone.

The worst aspects of human emotion are depicted in the rising of the dark – the evil that we can let into the world if unchecked by love and light. Hawkins, the Walker, summons the dark, the Rider, and pays a heavy price – but was this price one that he’d been longing for, despite himself?

Occasionally conveniently lucky, once again, Will’s nascent strength of character and calmness under pressure ultimately prevails. His quest to collect the Six Signs finds success, but that’s not the end. He must join them – in other words, it’s not just about gaining knowledge, but how to apply it, and apply it for the good of the world.

This classic fantasy contains allegories for so many new and complex ideas that a pre-teen may be starting to grapple with: greed, bitterness, revenge, pride, the consequences of one’s own choices, integrity, resilience, guilt, courage, trust, responsibility… all wrapped up in an exciting narrative that shows without telling – as does this adaptation.

It’s strange that such a fantastical tale should have so many parallels with our society today – but perhaps that’s why stories such as this endure. The light will always battle the dark, and as we’re taken through time once again via news headlines from the last 5 decades, our real-world consequences are all too apparent.

Verdict: The freedom to choose is still ours… if we can resist the promises of the dark. 8/10

Claire Smith