Criticism | ‘Frontiers of the Universe’ season 2 is an interesting journey of self-discovery

After the tragic events of the previous season’s finale, the 2nd season of “ Frontiers of the Universe ” had a reputation to maintain – and some issues to work out: after all, HBO had presented us with a cohesive adaptation of the namesake saga. signed by Phillip Pullman and that it had already been brought to the cinema by a forgettable reinterpretation, except for brief moments. However, its narrative impalpability tarnished good intentions, using far more of a visual spectacle than a plot strong enough to transport viewers to the final episodes. Fortunately, the new cycle has shown itself ready to let go of the compelling mistakes of the past, betting on exploring a very expressive mythology and an explosive collision between multiple worlds.

After crossing the interdimensional divide opened by her own father, Lyra (Dafne Keen) decides to seek answers about the mystical dust that is spreading in the universes and which is considered one of the original sins by the dangerous magisterium, which her hunting for carrying an important weapon called an alethiometer. After all, Lyra is a smart and cunning young woman who has an undeniable ability to understand the hidden and metaphorical messages delivered by the object and thus poses a threat to the realm of terror, chaos and purge that religious commanders. wish to impose on all creatures. who dare to challenge their faith. But things don’t go as planned, and instead of finding clues about Dust, our heroine crosses paths with Will (Amir Wilson), a boy from the other Oxford who is also breaking through the veil. Both find themselves engulfed by the dangers of Cittàgazze, a vertical city abandoned at the mercy of deadly creatures known as Specters.

In a way, the plot gives a break to focus on character development. Jack Thorne, back to oversee the script, matures alongside the protagonists and supporting cast and invests more in questions of metaphysical self-discovery, which go beyond mere classic epic forays and seek the explanation of the world. It’s in this scenario that Will and Lyra, teenagers who still don’t understand all the evil in the world but have a traumatic emotional charge strong enough to make them think about the future, realize that nothing is happening. what it appears to be. Lyra, for example, deals with the lies that her father, Asriel (played by James McAvoy, who for some reason only appears in the last episode of the new season), and her mother, Marisa (played by the always fantastic Ruth Wilson), and doesn’t believe she can trust anyone again.

In other words, until the moment he meets Will. The dynamic between the two characters seems to deviate from the elaborations of the original writings and suffer from some pacing issues, perhaps because seven episodes don’t seem like enough to develop all that is needed. After some disagreements and disagreements, the two unite against something that is to come that foreshadows a war that cuts across distinctions between universes and will impact the lives of every being that inhabit the cosmos. Even with those clear sheets, Thorne, along with an incredible team of directors, delivers what one expects from a production of this caliber and keeps us stuck in twists and turns that unfold in the most unexpected way possible – like death. a high ranking member. teacher and some obligatory sacrifices to increase the complexity of personas.

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Will, for his part, suffers the trauma of having killed someone, even unintentionally, and hides from the bailiffs of his world while dealing with concerns about the vulnerable mother. Tribulations aside, like the fact that the mother is completely forgotten and without explanation, he reveals himself as the bearer of the subtle knife, a powerful object that tears the cracks between dimensions and has very powerful blades capable of killing n any creature, human or supernatural. Become an important part of the cataclysmic events, he emerges from his condition as a simple frightened British boy and transforms into a mighty warrior – and in search of his father.

As the series’ mythology expands (one of the plus points of Cycle Two), new characters appear to provide emotional and / or psychological support to the protagonists. Lyra is assisted by Serafina Pekkala (Ruta Gedmintas), witch and queen of Lake Enara who has sworn to protect her so that she fulfills her role of prophecy; in the distance, Lee Scoresby (Lin-Manuel Miranda) meets one of the last people who has yet to indulge in the oppression of the Magisterium to seek heroin – to be thrown out for no apparent justification; and Simone Kirby makes her debut as Dr. Mary Malone, a molecular physicist of Will’s world who engages with Lyra’s awe-inspiring knowledge of what she’s studied all of her life (only to soon find out she owes it. guide to his destiny).

“Frontiers of the Universe” has delivered a fun and improved season in recent weeks and set the stage for the third and final cycle with indescribable passion. Still with misunderstandings already visible in the show’s first year, we hope the final episodes bear fruit and honor the legacy Pullman left in his books.

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