His Dark Materials - Season 3 (Blu-ray) review

[David Vaughn]

Studio: HBO / Warner
Release Date: April 25, 2023
 Rating: NR
 Film:  4/5
 
 Plot
 His Dark Materials follows young orphan Lyra (Dafne Keen) on a journey through a parallel world where a human’s soul exists outside one’s body – in the form of a talking animal called a daemon. Season Three is based on “The Amber Spyglass,” the final novel in Philip Pullman’s award-winning trilogy, Lyra, the prophesied child, and Will, the bearer of The Subtle Knife, must journey to a dark place from which no one has ever returned.  As her father’s great war against the Authority edges closer, they will learn that saving the worlds comes at a terrible price.
 
My Thoughts
I enjoyed the first two seasons of the show but due to the pandemic, there was a two-year break between seasons two and three and while my wife and I remembered the overarching story, we forgot many of the finer details. Before diving in we watched a recap on YouTube but that only scratched the surface and, in all honesty, we should have gone back and watched it from the beginning. The show is very complex and with deep thematic elements that must be digested and thought about versus the run-of-the-mill show.
 
Season Three Episodes (one hour each):
 

• The Enchanted Sleeper
• The Break
• The Intention Craft
• Lyra and Her Death
• No Way Out
• The Abyss
• The Clouded Mountain
• The Botanic Garden

 
The presentation is excellent, just like the first two seasons. The digitally shot production is crystal clear and teaming with detail. Furthermore, the CGI is extremely well done and blends in with the live action seamlessly. The audio track could be a tad more aggressive, but overall, it pulls you into the scenes and gives you that being there effect.
 
 
Video 5/5 (AVC)
 Audio 4.5/5 (DTS-HD MA 5.1)
 
 Special Features:
·        None
 


 Conclusion
 I read the Pullman book series about 20 years ago or so and while some of the details have been changed in the adaptation, the overall narrative is retained. I think I liked the second season the best of all of three, but the third is no slouch. It’s a well-crafted show with phenomenal world building. I’m glad to see that HBO allowed the show to run from beginning to end because Lyra’s adventure is a sight to behold. Recommended for fantasy fans.
 

 Reference Review System:
 JVC DLA-RS3100 4K Ultra High-Definition Front Projector
(Calibrated with Portrait Displays CalMAN color calibration software & C6-HDR Meter from Portrait Displays)
Stewart Filmscreen - Firehawk 110” 2.35:1 Screen
Trinnov Altitude 16 Audio/Video Processor
ATI AT527NC Powering Bed Channels
ATI AT524NC Powering Atmos Speakers
Kaleidescape Strato + Server
Panasonic DP-UB820 Ultra HD Blu-ray Player
System Controller: URC MX-990
M&K S-150 THX Ultra (R-C-L Speakers)
M&K SS-150 x4 (Surround Speakers)
Atlantic Technology IC6-OBA x 4 Overhead Speakers
SVS PC-Ultra Cylinder Subwoofer
SVS SB3000
HSU VTF-15H MK2 Subwoofer
M&K Sound X15+ Subwoofer
Mini DSP HD controlling all subwoofers
Audioquest and Monoprice - Audio/Video/Speaker Cabling
PureAV PF60 Power Conditioner

[Ralph P.]

Greetings,

I really enjoyed this series and season three is my favorite. Nice review Dave..



Regards,