So at the expense of sounding like the typical “books were better” banterer. I want to know everyone’s opinions.

MILD SPOILERS AHEAD.

I’m actually so disappointed on this execution I believe it to be the directors fault. He’s made all these trash products and somehow he keeps getting work. My problem is not the world, or the replacement of Victorian art, or character descriptions, and how I imagined daemons. None of that it’s of a simple: characters on hbo are so flat, full of clichés. Connections between them are forced and ephemeral.

For example, Iorek should be proud and imposing, instead they make him sound slow and naive. There should be such a connection between him and Lyra that he even breaks his own axioms to aid her and leave his kingdom once he learns the truth.

Mrs Coulter should be the most complex of characters caught between her sense of duty, her exalted place in society, her religious convictions and the societal impositions on her gender versus her actual feelings as a mother, human being and woman. It drives her to follow Lyra and it helps her navigate a world we’re everyone fears her even in private. Instead she comes out weak and whimsical and insecure. She looks just as crazy as wills mom.

Lee the uncompromising free soul should have that bond feeling with Lyra rather than just a directive by a witch. You should be able to feel that it’s Lyra out of everything and everyone he’s met in life that has changed him. That has given him a sense of purpose.

And Lyra and pan. Man the worst scene in the whole series -such a missed opportunity, was wasted by a cliche or staring and walking slowly towards a door and a hand on a glass window. She almost had her guts pulled, her soul, her morality, everything! pulled from her. That was the first time I shed a tear in the books. That moment the guillotine was stopped. And Lyra looses it hugging pan. And such a waste....

The whole show feels gimmicky and full of special effects. But how are they going to prove such a difficult subject as death and religion when all they have going for it is pretty images.

It’s so hard for me to see such wasted connections. Lyra sounds nagging and condescending towards pan most of the time. Pan should be the moral compass and source of Lyras emotions. If they can’t get Lyra and pan right how will they ever pull off the inexplicable perennial time and space twisting connection will and Lyra share? That connection that transcends words and worlds and time and flesh? They were never clumsily emotional towards each other yet you knew they would see through and through.

I think the only character they nailed was will. His sense of duty does show consistently. And asriel which, let’s face it, is not a complex character to play at all. Again, I don’t think it’s the actors/actresses’ fault, I think they’re delivering exactly what they’re being asked, since sometimes they seem very convincing in their actions but just not real or consistent with their core values.

Anybody tell me I’m wrong or they agree with me please let me know. Even if you just want to tell me you think I’m an idiot. Anyway, sorry for the testament.