HBO's Underrated Fantasy Show With 84% On RT Deserved So Much Better After "Game Of Thrones Replacement" Talk

His Dark Materialsis one of the most underrated fantasy shows of the last 10 years, and the HBO series deserved so much better after all the Game of Thrones replacement talk. Based on Philip Pullman's fantasy series of the same name, His Dark Materials took Dafne Keen's Lyra Belacqua on a journey that spanned universes, bringing viewers on that ride alongside her. With actors like Keen, James McAvoy, and Ruth Wilson at the helm, His Dark Materials' cast offered enough reason to watch the three-season HBO series.

Of course, HBO billing His Dark Materials as a potential Game of Thrones replacement also gave viewers a reason to tune in. After the success of Game of Thrones, there was a rush to put out more fantasy projects, many of which tried to copy Game of Thrones. While His Dark Materials didn't lean into this strategy story-wise, HBO's marketing for the series still pitched it as the perfect follow-up to Game of Thrones. Sadly, it didn't see the same success, despite being worthy of a greater run.

His Dark Materials Was Billed As A Game Of Thrones Replacement

It Was HBO's Next Big Fantasy Series

Many new fantasy shows were billed as Game of Thrones replacements on the heels of the series' 2019 ending. However, His Dark Materials was one of the first to get this designation — and one of the most promising. After all, it premiered the same year that Game of Thrones ended, making its debut in November 2019. It also aired on HBO in the U.S., making it the network's next big fantasy project. So, despite having very different premises, Game of Thrones and His Dark Materials demanded comparisons to one another.

It wasn't a total stretch comparing the two fantasy series, but sadly, His Dark Materials didn't reach the same heights as Game of Thrones.

And although their main plots are quite different, His Dark Materials featured elements of HBO's prior hit that helped make it great. His Dark Materials proved that it wasn't shy about killing off characters from its very first season, and raised conversations about power and corruption. It also boasted the writing quality, acting, and visuals that made Game of Thrones so popular. It wasn't a total stretch comparing the two fantasy series, but sadly, His Dark Materials didn't reach the same heights as Game of Thrones.

His Dark Materials Was Massively Underrated

Its Reception & Ratings Weren't As Impressive As They Should've Been

Lyra and Will in His Dark Materials season 3

Despite being billed as HBO's Game of Thrones replacement, His Dark Materials was hugely underrated, both critically and ratings-wise. Despite its impressive cast and high-quality storytelling, His Dark Materials was met with mixed reviews. It was much better received than 2007's The Golden Compass movie, but it still only managed to land a 77% Rotten Tomatoes score for its first season. That went up to 84% by the show's end, but it still wasn't as hyped up or widely known as Game of Thrones.

Despite debuting to decent ratings, His Dark Materials also saw a decline in viewership on the heels of season 1 (via Deadline). This was somewhat surprising, as the fantasy series deserved better than the middling response it got. Not only do Pullman's books have a dedicated fan base, but HBO's show does an impressive job of bringing them to life. His Dark Materials was one of the strongest fantasy series to debut since Game of Thrones ended, but it simply didn't get the attention it should have. There were a few reasons for this, and most weren't the show's fault.

Why Wasn't His Dark Materials A Bigger Success?

The Game Of Thrones Comparisons Didn't Help

Lyra looking serious in His Dark Materials

Although His Dark Materials was moderately successful, it could have been bigger than it was. However, a few things prevented it from being a proper Game of Thrones replacement for HBO. For one, the comparisons to Game of Thrones may actually have worked against it. With the series being so different from the former hit, this marketing tactic set the show up for failure. Those who went into His Dark Materials expecting Game of Thrones were likely disappointed, despite the show's individual strengths.

The His Dark Materials books also weren't as popular as George R.R. Martin's, and their world and magic system proved a bit more difficult to convey to an unfamiliar audience. Casual viewers may have associated the series with The Golden Compass movie as well, which was a commercial failure. Sadly, all these factors ensured that His Dark Materials never reached the level of fame that Game of Thrones did, even though it was an all-around great addition to the fantasy genre.

Source: Deadline