Christopher Parry

The mystery of the novel was what drew me in and then once the mystery fades the characters are fully invested in by the reader and take you one the rest of the action packed journey. The first two episodes of the BBC adaptation sadly have gone down the route of explaining everything they introduce and seems terrified, unlike the book, of introducing a character or plot and then totally leaving that thread dangling. Deämons for example, once book one was over I still had loads of questions; the slow peeling layers of this was one of the best parts of the book, but in the tv show they are clearly afraid of putting off viewers who are impatient to find out about these creatures. Then Roger and Billy, two characters who totally vanish, as is the point, are wedged into the narrative of episode two. The book totally left them both for huge chunks so you genuinely didn’t know if they were alive or dead; which again added. Then the introduction in episode two of the cliffhanger of book one and plot driver of book two. I have no clue why the writers on one hand want to explain and visualise every detail - opening in episode one with the lord in his lab in the north and way too much Lyra back story for example - , but then throw in what is quite a jarring plot thread straight away. The only reason must be again they are worried that the viewer seeing this once at the end of the series would be strange and they wanted to introduce that mechanic early on. Strangely in the book it is jarring too but at the same time you are far more intrigued and excited to dive in to book two to find out what the hell is going on. I know a TV adaptation is always going to be different from the books and it is unfair in some ways to compare the two, but in general the books seems to have made far better choices in the pacing of the story and that is my biggest issue with this is that the story they are telling is all over the place, bouncing here and there with the I have to explain more about that approach and we will lay the foundations for that now, even though most of the entire series will not be touching it attitude. What would be so wrong with lingering on Lycra’s story in London, before bouncing to the gyptians, Roger, the church, the college, dimension jumping, and so on. It didn’t serve the plot, it just bounced from one thing to another without much impact or purpose. My advice would be get the audiobook or read the book, as it imparts this wonderful story in a far more engaging and intriguing way. And FYI, Ma Costa would never cry in front of anyone, the toughest most stalwart woman in the book would punch you at the suggestion!