His Dark Materials S02E02 continues Lyra’s sojourn away from her home world as she continues to seek the truth behind ‘dust’ – the substance that facilitates traveling between alternate realities. Entitled “The Cave”, His Dark Materials S02E02 now takes place on multiple planes of existence as part of its narrative.
The main plot advancement finds Lyra and Will on our world – as Lyra (Dafne Keen) makes contact with an Oxford physicist Mary Malone (Simone Kirby) and discovers that ‘dust’ is known as ‘dark matter’ in our world. Not only that but Lyra finds out that she can communicate with ‘dark matter’ which of course fascinates Malone no end.
Back in Lyra’s home world, things are coming to a head in respect to the Magisterium’s dispute with the Witches. Mrs. Coulter (Ruth Wilson) is in the thick of things as she manipulates people and events to her own advantage. The political machinations are relatively weak compared to say, Game of Thrones, superficial and lacklustre, to be honest. There is not enough drama here to warrant much of an emotional response.
The story of Will (Amir Wilson) continues apace though as usual very very slowly. Still not quite sure what to make of him at all. There is something in his father’s disappearance – likely to another world – but what his connection is to that Magisterium and to Lord Boreal (Ariyon Bakare) is unclear. The latter continues his clandestine activities in our world and in fact encounters Lyra but takes no action whatsoever. Curiouser and curiouser.
The difference between the initial success of Game of Thrones and the relative failure of His Dark Materials (thus far) is that the latter is hard to follow without presumably knowing more about the source material. This was totally not the case with the former and that is the entire problem. The source material has been lauded and acclaimed and even in this adaptations is clearly distinctive for its unique ideas and concepts but the delivery has been pedestrian. Hopefully, things pick up and soon!
… still there’s more …