Lyra finds herself at the mercy of yet another group of people who tell her they have her best interests at heart, but can she trust them, and will they finally tell her the truth about who she is and why she is so important?

Three episodes in, and there are still a lot of things about His Dark Materials that make little or no sense to me at all. I am sure that for fans, it’s marvellous to see the worlds they have read about brought to life with such beautiful visuals and a stellar cast, but for someone like me, hoping this would be my way into this world, it’s just disappointing.

This week, Lyra finds herself running with the Gyptians, who assure her that they have her very best interests at heart but then so has everyone else so far and look how that’s turned out for her. Frustratingly, the show gives us what it evidently supposes are some grand revelations with regards to Lyra and her origins, none of which answer the important questions she’s asked – Why is she so important? Why do the Gyptians themselves hold her in such high regard? What does any of it actually mean?

On the subject of meaning, as someone who lacks the insight of the books, I find myself at a loss as to what the actual point of the Magisterium is. Yes, they seem to have power and authority. Evidently they exercise control over what people are allowed to know/believe. But again, three episodes in I am not sure what the organisation itself stands for? Why do they have such authority? What, if anything, do they themselves believe in? Why is one of their number occasionally crossing over into ‘our’ world? Whose side is he (and Mrs Coulter) actually on?

Doesn’t matter, says the show, look at how pretty everything is. Spy Flies, action sequences, scary men in dark uniforms ransacking places. It’s all very peculiar to me – for so much money and effort to have evidently been poured into something that is so very obtuse for anyone who isn’t a fan seems quirky at best.

Still, I’ll give it its dues – the acting is top notch even if I often don’t understand what’s happening. Dafne Keen continues to tug all the right heartstrings as perpetually confused/angry Lyra. Ruth Wilson plays the nastier side of Mrs Coulter with as much relish as she did Alice Morgan in Luther, but also finds the perfect pitch for her more conflicted, emotional side. Everyone is turning in excellent performances. I just wish the writers would include those of us who didn’t do the reading first.

Verdict: As before, stunning to look at, with an excellent cast but still making very little sense to those of us who are uninitiated. 5/10

Greg D. Smith