His Dark Materialsis one of the mostunderrated fantasy shows of the last 10 years, andthe HBO series deserved so much better after all theGame of Thronesreplacement talk. Based on Philip Pullman’s fantasy series of the same name,His Dark MaterialstookDafne Keen’s Lyra Belacquaon a journey that spanned universes, bringing viewers on that ride alongside her. With actors like Keen, James McAvoy, and Ruth Wilson at the helm,His Dark Materials’cast offered enough reason to watch the three-season HBO series.
Of course, HBO billingHis Dark Materialsas a potentialGame of Thronesreplacement also gave viewers a reason to tune in. After the success ofGame of Thrones,there was a rush to put out more fantasy projects, many of whichtried to copyGame of Thrones.WhileHis Dark Materialsdidn’t lean into this strategy story-wise, HBO’s marketing for the series still pitched it as the perfect follow-up toGame of Thrones.Sadly, it didn’t see the same success, despite being worthy of a greater run.
His Dark Materials Was Billed As A Game Of Thrones Replacement
It Was HBO’s Next Big Fantasy Series
Many new fantasy shows were billed asGame of Thronesreplacements on the heels of the series' 2019 ending. However,His Dark Materialswas one of the first to get this designation— and one of the most promising. After all, it premiered the same year thatGame of Thronesended, making its debut in November 2019. It also aired on HBO in the U.S., making it the network’s next big fantasy project. So, despite having very different premises,Game of ThronesandHis Dark Materialsdemanded comparisons to one another.
It wasn’t a total stretch comparing the two fantasy series, but sadly,His Dark Materialsdidn’t reach the same heights asGame of Thrones.
And although their main plots are quite different,His Dark Materialsfeatured elements of HBO’s prior hit that helped make it great.His Dark Materialsproved that it wasn’t shy about killing off characters from its very first season, and raised conversations about power and corruption. It also boasted the writing quality, acting, and visuals that madeGame of Thronesso popular. It wasn’t a total stretch comparing the two fantasy series, but sadly,His Dark Materialsdidn’t reach the same heights asGame of Thrones.
His Dark Materials Was Massively Underrated
Its Reception & Ratings Weren’t As Impressive As They Should’ve Been
Despite being billed as HBO’sGame of Thronesreplacement,His Dark Materialswas hugely underrated, both critically and ratings-wise. Despite its impressive cast and high-quality storytelling,His Dark Materialswas met with mixed reviews. It was much better received than 2007’sThe Golden Compassmovie, but it still only managed to land a 77%Rotten Tomatoesscore for its first season. That went up to 84% by the show’s end, but it still wasn’t as hyped up or widely known asGame of Thrones.
All 3 Seasons Of His Dark Materials, Ranked Worst To Best
His Dark Materials consistently maintained a high quality over its three seasons, but some chapters of the HBO show had more highs than the others.
Despite debuting to decent ratings,His Dark Materialsalso saw a decline in viewership on the heels of season 1 (viaDeadline). This was somewhat surprising, asthe fantasy series deserved better than the middling response it got. Not only do Pullman’s books have a dedicated fan base, but HBO’s show does an impressive job of bringing them to life.His Dark Materialswas one of the strongest fantasy series to debut sinceGame of Thronesended, but it simply didn’t get the attention it should have. There were a few reasons for this, and most weren’t the show’s fault.
Why Wasn’t His Dark Materials A Bigger Success?
The Game Of Thrones Comparisons Didn’t Help
AlthoughHis Dark Materialswas moderately successful, it could have been bigger than it was. However,a few things prevented it from being a properGame of Thronesreplacement for HBO. For one, the comparisons toGame of Thronesmay actually have worked against it. With the series being so different from the former hit, this marketing tactic set the show up for failure. Those who went intoHis Dark MaterialsexpectingGame of Throneswere likely disappointed, despite the show’s individual strengths.
Dafne Keen’s Underrated Show With 84% On RT Has One Of The Best Fantasy TV Endings Of All Time
His Dark Materials, starring Dafne Keen as Lyra Belacqua, is an underrated show that has one of the best endings in fantasy television history.
TheHis Dark Materialsbooks also weren’t as popular as George R.R. Martin’s, and their world and magic system proved a bit more difficult to convey to an unfamiliar audience. Casual viewers may have associated the series withThe Golden Compassmovie as well, which was a commercial failure. Sadly, all these factors ensured thatHis Dark Materialsnever reached the level of fame thatGame of Thronesdid, even though it was an all-around great addition to the fantasy genre.
His Dark Materials
Cast
Based on author Philip Pullman’s beloved novel trilogy, His Dark Materials is a fantasy/drama television series that follows Lyra, a brave young woman from another world. Lyra’s quest to find her kidnapped friend leads her to uncover a sinister plot of a secret organization, encounter extraordinary beings, and protect dangerous secrets. Lyra will find that her life is inextricably linked with another as they discover they may be the ones to change the world.
Game Of Thrones
Based on George R. R. Martin’s ongoing A Song of Ice and Fire novel series, Game of Thrones is a fantasy drama set in the fictional continents of Westeros and Essos. It follows noble families like the Starks, Lannisters, and Targaryen vying for control of the Iron Throne while a rising threat from the undead looms in the North. The series received significant critical success and amassed a loyal fan base due to its high production values, sprawling sets, iconic characters, and shocking twists.
