His dark materials

Fantastic. Great cast, wonderful deamons, awful cruel adults alongside the kind ones, we should all have an armoured bear ready to help us at times of need.
And - I don't do fantasy

I have read the books and think that the casting is very good on the whole. I wasn't sure about Lee Scoresby but his character has grown on me.
Totally agree with bohemian about Ma Costa however - a ' dishevelled Twiggy ' - brilliant. Nowhere near enough personality or gravitas.

tanith i agree it was boring and i made a cup of tea half way through as it just didnt hold my attention and i am glad it has finished to be honest.

They seemed to combine the first and second books in some way; I don't think Will was in the first book [?]. That really confused me as I couldn't understand why he didn't have a daemon. I'm just worried that it's because I'm getting old that I struggled with it; I used to love sci fi stuff when I was younger and seemed to understand complicated concepts. I think I need an 'idiots guide' to the books.

Not a fantasy fan. Read the books ten years (?) ago. Listened to the 1st 2 books last year on Audible. The TV series made me listen to all 3 books again. I have my criticisms of the TV (made by BBC & HBO, so it'll sold all round the world) but watched it with DD, who didn't know the stories, and she loved it. I enjoyed it.
Labaik - Will doesn't come in until Book 2. They also mentioned the knife, which no one knows about until middle of Book 2.

Labaik ,you're right, they combined two books in some way. Will doesn't have a deamon because he's human. I don't think you need an idiots guide to the books. Maybe like me, you need to re-read them. A friend did exactly that as we first read the books about 15 years ago when our teenage children recommended them. I forget the thriller I finished last week these days, never mind something as complex and gripping as these Pullman novels.
I think Will finds the Subtle Knife that enables him to travel into the world where Lyra and her bear live. That, is what happened at the end of the latest episode. The religious themes are interesting. Pullman is strongly opposed to organised religion and that's a strong theme. I don't share his strong feelings about that but I can definitely see his argument about control of people by organised religions.

SPOILER ALERT;
but why did Roger die when other children were cut but survived, albeit in a bad state...

Because Lord Azriel cut his deamon and left him to die. )I think)
Also Roger had been at death's door previously. Poor Lyra with parents like she has - so many themes in those brilliant books.

Extremely well done I thought, and well acted too, liked it very much.

Have been thinking about what several said re. not understanding the 1st episode. I love Line of Duty, but I never understand how the strands all fit together until the end. For next Line of Duty series, I will employ the excellent idea of watching previous episodes twice, once in the right place, and then on iplayer when I've seen subsequent episodes - that's a good tip

I sometimes have to rewatch series; had to do so with Years and Years eg as there was so much to take in. On the other hand, these days I often watch something and don't even try to understand it. I've never understood series like Line of Duty.

With box sets eg Game of Thrones I like to watch the commentaries after I've seen the whole series, as they explain everything.

Absolutely loved this, read the books few years back, and am now reading the new series set in the same world with same characters Thought this production was excellent in every way - brought the characters to life., Well acted, well produced, =well presented. Am looking forward to seeing the next part of it. Yes, they did include parts of book 2, but am wondering if the next series will be Books 2 & 3.
Thought they made it very obvious that Will was in a different world to Lyra - buses, cell phones, etc. etc.
Thought Lee Scoresby was well potrayed - and I know that many teenagers were drawn to watching this because he was in it - hopefully, they will all go on to read the books now.

I watched the last 2 episodes tonight and I have to admit I hadn't not a clue what the ending meant.

Am I correct Lyra and the boy went through a porthole into each others world? Lyra by going into the light and the boy by going through the bush? What then? What was the meaning to it all in a few words can anybody tell me.

I don't need anybody to tell me I must be thick if I didn't get it I admit to it ?

Have you read the books POGS?
The Subtle Knife is the one where Will discovers he can move into the world where Lyra lives.

With all dramas, it helps to record a few episodes and then watch at least two back to back.
Love everything apart from Ma Coster, a ‘dishevelled Twiggy’ indeed, haha Boheminan?I expected a stronger looking character.