My partner and I just started it and are about 6 episodes in and it’s honestly pretty interesting. It has some YA novel feeling issues but it overall seems like a well done show.
I like how the showrunners are able to have all the characters talk to and treat younger people in the show like they’re normal adults/people. There’s no talking down or disregarding them because of their age. The one time where someone tried that (when the aeronaut met Lyra) the notion got shot down immediately. Is that an aspect in the books as well? Seems like a refreshing choice.
I love His Dark Materials. The HDM trilogy is my favorite series ever since I first read them in 5th grade. Phillip Pullman made some truly remarkable characters and the worldbuilding is so, so good. I think the show is about as close as you could get to staying faithful to the books. I’d highly recommend checking them out if you’re a reader. The last book, the Amber Spyglass, is especially good.