‘His Dark Materials’ Season 1, Episode 3 ‘The Spies’ Review: To The North

Unlike the past episodes, the third episode of His Dark Materials titled ‘The Spies’ has slowed down the pace. However, that doesn’t mean the surprises have. One thing I love about the series is how each episode peels of a layer from each character giving us more intriguing facets of each one each time. In this week’s episode, we’re seeing more of Boreal (Ariyon Bakare) and again, Mrs. Coulter (Ruth Wilson). Although, I must admit that it’s hard to tire from getting to know this woman. As I said last week, this woman is spectacularly fascinating.

What’s also notable in this week’s episode of His Dark Materials is finally having the Gyptians in the limelight. Director Dawn Shadford made a great moment with The Roping and a few other key moments I can’t reveal just yet. It’s also worth mentioning that Lorne Balfe’s music score is just golden. His music simply captures the essence of the show. Together with Suzie Lavelle’s slick cinematography, these make His Dark Materials feel like a spectacular fantasy epic. And that’s not even with the armored bears yet. But, that’s for next week. For now, we’ll have to settle in and see how Lyra’s (Dafne Keen) been picking up on her life with the Gyptians.

Tony Costa and the Gyptians Save Lyra

Picking up on last week’s cliffhanger, Tony Costa (Daniel Frogson) and his little band of Gyptians intercept the car carrying Lyra. After the attack, they take one of the Gobblers as a prisoner as the other one escapes. And Tony takes Lyra to the Gyptians.

Even though the Gyptians have agreed to take her in and protect her, however, it doesn’t mean that Lyra’s keen to warm up to them. But, as John Faa (Lucian Msamati) and Farder Coram (James Cosmo) explain to her, she’s always been important to them. Without an explanation to back that up, Lyra assumes that it’s because of her father, Lord Asriel. After all, John Faa did say that he was always good to the Gyptians and he respected them.

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Later on, Lyra slips out of her constricting glossy dress and into a comfy shirt and overalls. Then, she joins Ma Costa for some lessons on cooking and tricks. As Ma Costa tells her that she’ll be a Gyptian woman in no time, Lyra questions her own path and identity. But, as Ma Costa tells her “You’ll be whatever you want to be. Your path is your choice and yours alone.”

In a continuing theme of identity, Lyra and Farder Coram later discuss their daemons. Lyra admits that she doesn’t want Pantalaimon so settle. But, as Farder Coram explains, his settling reveals what kind of person Lyra is. Interestingly, no one can dictate what forms their daemons settle into. Wishing it was something else would only mean discontent.

The Mystery of Stanislaus Grumman

Meanwhile, in her growing desperation to find Lyra, Mrs. Coulter has decided to tear apart Jordan College. Despite this, however, both The Master (Clarke Peters) and Mrs. Coulter knows who’s really at fault. Even with Mrs. Coulter menacingly staring him down, The Master tells her “I gave her to you to look after and you lost her.” As the search goes on, Mrs. Coulter slowly starts to lose her grip and composure and goes as far as throwing a tantrum as she destroys Lyra’s old bedroom. And later on, she finally sets lose a pair of spy flies to hunt down Lyra.

On the other hand, it seems that we’re jumping way far ahead for Stanislaus Grumman’s reveal in His Dark Materials. And it seems that his secrets are already set to play a bigger part in the story. While handling Mrs. Coulter and the Oblation Board’s business in their world, Boreal’s also handling his own personal search in the daemon-less board.

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The only weird thing about this crossover stuff is seeing advanced technology intermingling with His Dark Materials’ fantasy aspect. And honestly, it’s not even half bad. As Thomas’ (Robert Emms) facial recognition scan revealed, Stanislaus Grumman is more than who he claims to be. In Thomas’ world, he is known as Colonel John Parry. And he’s been presumed dead for 13 years after going missing on an expedition in Alaska. He did leave a wife and kid behind though. And later on, Boreal hires a man to watch Grumman’s remaining family.

The biggest question mark here though is how Grumman got a daemon. If he came from Thomas’ world, how is it possible for him to get one? Do humans like Thomas have daemons too that they can’t see or do they get one when they crossover like Grumman? Unfortunately, even Boreal doesn’t know.

Another Bucket of Cold Hard Truth

Back at the Gyptians, the Magisterium’s police forces have descended upon the small Gyptian fleet looking for Lyra. Fortunately, Ma Costa has some pretty good hiding places in her boat. Once the danger passes, Lyra runs, upset of finding out that she’s really not safe anywhere from Mrs. Coulter. Ma Costa runs after her and tries to talk her down. But, sadly for everyone receiving the truth on His Dark Materials, no one’s taking it as hard as Lyra is.

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In Lyra’s desperation and anger of being kept in the dark, Ma Costa finally drops the second bomb. Mrs. Coulter is Lyra’s mother. As the story goes, Asriel and Mrs. Coulter immediately fell in love the first time they met. But then, Mrs. Coulter was already married. They tried to get away with her pregnancy. But, when Lyra came out, there was no denying she was Asriel’s child. So, Asriel took him to one of his cottages and put him under the care of a Gyptian nurse.

Mrs. Coulter’s husband, however, was furious. So, he followed with the intent to kill Lyra. Lord Asriel fought him then and there and killed Mrs. Coulter’s husband. At that point, the law didn’t know how to respond. Asriel killed defending his home but the law also allows a man to avenge the violation of his wife. So, Asriel was stripped of all his lands and titled and Mrs. Coulter became a pariah. Lyra was placed in a nunnery but, at the great flood, Lord Asriel stole her away and took her to Jordan.

The Roping

Later that day, the Gyptians from far and wide gather for The Roping where Lord Faa attempts to rally the Gyptians to fight the Gobblers. However, one of them, Raymond Van Gerrit (Mat Fraser) disagrees. He points the blame of the police raid to Lyra and suggests they give her up to attract less scorn from the police. And he points out that attacking the Gobblers would only get them in trouble with the Magisterium. Van Gerrit also doesn’t think that risking more lives is worth all the trouble.

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As the argument grows to a head, Lyra rushes up to the front and declares they can do what they want with her as long as they find the children. She admits that she’s frightened. But, she points out how much more frightened and in need the abducted children are. With the shift in the atmosphere after Lyra’s speech, Farder Coram takes the chance to explain their plan to head to Trollesund to get help from the witches. Then, Lord Faa quiets any other inquiry and leads his people with a rallying cry to save their children. Together, the Gyptians release a battle cry and gear up to stand against the Gobblers.

The Spy’s Death

That night, despite Farder Coram’s prohibition, Benjamin (Simon Manyonda) and Tony head out for Mrs. Coulter’s apartment to gather more information. On his way out, Tony meets Lyra. Realizing the importance of his mission, Lyra doesn’t tattle. Instead, she gives him the exact location of Mrs. Coulter’s documents.

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Benjamin and Tony successfully manage to infiltrate Mrs. Coulter’s apartment. And they find the documents just as where Lyra told them to. What they didn’t count on was Mrs. Coulter’s daemon catching them in the act. As soon as the monkey starts viciously screaming, Tony runs out of the study and into Lyra’s old bedroom. From there, he climbs out the window. Unfortunately for Benjamin, Mrs. Coulter has caught up to him in the hallway. Firing her handgun, Mrs. Coulter manages to wound Benjamin.

As Benjamin lays on the ground, his bird daemon attacks Mrs. Coulter momentarily distracting her. But, soon enough, her golden monkey pins Benjamin’s daemon down while Mrs. Coulter beats Benjamin down herself. As the golden monkey strangles Benjamin’s daemon, Benjamin manages to get out of Mrs. Coulter’s grasp. Fiercely refusing to betray his family,  he backs towards the elevator doors they wrenched open to get in. And without a second doubt, he throws himself down. As soon as Benjamin hits the ground, he dies and his demon dissipates into a cloud of dust.

The First Reading of Death

Back at the camp, Ma Costa has found her son missing. And with her worry starting to get the best of her, she starts to blame Farder Coram for whatever happens to Tony. Tired of the blame game going around the adults, Lyra tells them to blame Mrs. Coulter or her even.

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After this, Farder Coram comforts Lyra and it seems that the child has finally started to warm up to them. Acknowledging her trust, Lyra tells Farder Coram about the alethiometer. As Lyra brings it out, Farder Coram looks at it in surprise. He thought the Magisterium confiscated them all. As he explains, each symbol contains infinite meanings. And for you to frame a question to it, you point the three needles to the symbols representing your question. Then, the fourth one will point to the answer. But, as Farder Coram says, it’s impossible to use it without the corresponding book of symbols. Not for Lyra though.

After Farder Coram leaves, Lyra tries again and sets the needles in place to ask where Benjamin is. And as she empties her mind, the fourth needle starts swinging. Sadly, her momentary joy and victory come crashing when it finally settles on the symbol of an hourglass with a skull on top. Realizing it meant death, Lyra rushes outside to tell Farder Coram.

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As she’s delivering the news, however, something small and hard hits her. Then, another one hits Pan. Soon enough, Lyra and Farder Coram realize its the spy flies. Lyra catches one and Farder Coram stores it in a small metal box while the other one gets away to tell Mrs. Coulter where Lyra is. As the commotion settles down, they hear a cry of joy and relief from Ma Costa as she embraces Tony who has returned alone. Lyra’s reading was indeed true. And in the documents he found are all the names of the children the Gobblers took.

With new resolve, the Gyptians sail to Trollesund. Aboard the ship, Lyra almost chucks the metal container with the spy fly into the sea. But, Ma Costa advises her to keep it. After all, whether its a sign of love or hate, it’s a sign of Mrs. Coulter’s desperation to get Lyra back. Soon the two settles in an embrace as they look out over the passing sea. From an idea of the North, Lyra is now sailing towards its very tips.

His Dark Materials continue Monday, November 25th, with “Armour” at 9/8c on HBO.