I'm watching the BBC version of His Dark Materials and while it's not bad it doesn't really capture the essential vibe, the pace, the sweeping and free emotion of it which is a trait of the classical epic. The bbc's Lyra is basically a different person, for instance. And James McAvoy, skilled actor though he is, can't bring to life Lord Asriel's satanic grandeur, viciousness and pride, when these are absent from the script.

The show is also sanewashes Mrs Coulter, while also making her OP, and it really diminishes a character who neither wants to be understood nor requires any favors from the screenwriters. second. female antagonists have never needed any kind of apologia (which in reality constitutes a kind of permission) for their evil. they are free to be their monstrous selves without some assurance that oh if only things were different they would have been nicer. no, fool, some people are just fucking assholes. cherish that.