Forget Westeros. While Game of Thrones dominated the cultural conversation, HBO quietly had another fantasy gem hiding in plain sight. His Dark Materials, based on Philip Pullman's beloved trilogy, ran for three seasons and pulled off something truly special—a complete, satisfying adaptation that its predecessor never managed.
Premiering on Monday nights instead of HBO's traditional Sunday slot, the series never chased the Game of Thrones comparison. And that turned out to be its greatest strength. Unlike the ill-fated 2007 film The Golden Compass, which never got sequels, this adaptation successfully brought all three books to life. It remains the only screen version of the second and third books—and it's genuinely excellent.
The story follows young Lyra Belacqua (Dafne Keen, known to Marvel fans as Laura/X-23 in Logan and Deadpool & Wolverine) as she leaves home to find a missing friend and becomes entangled in an inter-dimensional conflict. She's joined by Amir Wilson as Will Parry, the secondary protagonist. The cast is stacked: James McAvoy, Ruth Wilson, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Andrew Scott (with Phoebe Waller-Bridge voicing his daemon), Bella Ramsey, Harry Melling, Sophie Okonedo, and Heartstopper's Kit Connor as the voice of Pantalaimon, Lyra's animal soul companion or 'daemon.'
Smart Adaptation Choices That Paid Off
Book fans were wary, but His Dark Materials made bold adaptation decisions that worked beautifully. For instance, they introduced Will Parry in Season 1, even though his character doesn't appear until the second book, The Subtle Knife. This gave audiences extra time with him and improved the pacing for television. Since the trilogy was completed decades before the show, the creators could adapt the first two books with the third—and the ending—in mind. That's a luxury Game of Thrones never had.
The series also expands on adult characters and relationships beyond Lyra and Will's perspectives. It delves into the evil Magisterium, the opposing witches, and gives more screen time to characters like Lee Scoresby (Miranda), John Parry/Jopari (Scott), and Lord Asriel (McAvoy), showing them apart from the children they protect. Minor antagonist Lord Boreal (Ariyon Bakare) gets an expanded role, while Ruth Wilson's Mrs. Coulter delivers a deliciously complex villain's journey, flipping between terrifying and sympathetic on a dime.
Mary Malone (Simone Kirby), a character who appears later, has a pivotal moment describing falling in love to Lyra and Will. The series changed her love interest from a man to a woman, adding depth to its themes of freedom from religious tyranny. While the show lacks the 'sexposition' that made Game of Thrones famous, it remains a sex-positive series.
Understated Visuals That Fit the Theme
The special effects in His Dark Materials are more low-key than expected. In a world where human souls live outside bodies as animal daemons, many daemons are hidden in crowd scenes. This subtle world-building takes getting used to but ultimately works. The series leans into darker themes—after all, the government actively tries to sever children from their souls to prevent sin. It makes sense that such a world isn't whimsical.
While both Game of Thrones and His Dark Materials feature morally gray characters, His Dark Materials sees them as beautiful rather than dirty and inescapable. Lyra and Will aren't seeking power or even reluctant leaders; their story ends in a way that's triumphant and tragic, inconceivable for Westeros characters. And unlike many shows trying to fill Game of Thrones' shoes, His Dark Materials never tries to one-up or shock with unexpected twists. It's a different dish for fantasy fans—not a reheated meal.
For more underrated fantasy gems, check out our list of 5 Underrated Shows You Probably Missed. And if you're looking for another fantasy streaming powerhouse, see why Prime Video's 'The Wheel of Time' is still a fantasy streaming powerhouse.
