His Dark Materials – Æsahættr

By: Ellie Yates

Ruta (Jade Anouka) is sleeping on the side of a volcano when cliff-ghasts start to gather. In their own demonic language they discuss how Asriel’s (James McAvoy) army is growing and ready for another war, but he needs the Æsahættr. Without it, he’ll be defeated. Ruta later relays this to Serefina (Ruta Gedmintas) and tells her that Asriel intends to fight and they need to help him. Ruta explains that this will be the “Great War” and Serefina says if it is, she needs to look after Lyra. Lyra is the child that will bring about the end of destiny and return free will. Serefina tells Ruta to find the Æsahættr for Asriel and make his fight hers.

Will (Amir Wilson) dreams of his dad (Andrew Scott) telling him he has the only weapon that can destroy the Authority. Will tells Pan (voiced by Kit Connor) that he’s scared and Pan says that Lyra (Dafne Keen) can’t see Will’s fear and thinks he’s the bravest fighter she’s ever seen. Will tells Pan that Lyra is braver than him and the best friend he’s ever had. Lyra smiles as she was listening the whole time. The next day Will considers going on without the witches in order to keep them safe from the Spectres. He says this is the closest he’s been to his father and he feels he needs to take on his mantle. Lyra is worried that she’ll let Will down like she feels she did Roger. Will says they’ve made each other stronger and they need to go on alone as it’s their journey now. Lyra is torn. She doesn’t want to make a mistake with either Will or Serefina.

Serefina tells the witches to check on the children in Citagazze to make sure that they’re safe. Not that there’s any children left there as Mary (Simone Kirby) has taken Angelica (Bella Ramsey) and Paola (Ella Schrey-Yeats) to the camp in the hills. Scouting Cittagazze, Lena (Remmie Milner) finds Mrs Coulter (Ruth Wilson) in the house Lyra and Will were squatting in. Mrs Coulter asks her if she knows where Lyra and the boy are. Lena tells Mrs Coulter that she’s the only witch there and she hasn’t seen Lyra or a boy. Mrs Coulter sets her daemon on Lena’s daemon. Lena realizes who Mrs Coulter is. As the Spectres appear, Lena refuses to tell Mrs Coulter anything. However, as the Spectres draw closer to her Lena reveals that Lyra is Eve “the mother of all.” Mrs Coulter then realizes that Lyra is “Eve before the fall.” Mrs Coulter tells her daemon that Lyra needs their help more than ever. Her daemon seems to disagree and she abuses it saying if they go against her than they go against Lyra. As her daemon whimpers, Mrs Coulter says that Lyra is special and they need to prevent “the fall.” She adds that she will do whatever it takes. They head to the top of the tower and Mrs Coulter summons the Spectres.

Jopari and Lee (Lin-Manuel Miranda) have survived the balloon crash. Lee looks at his wrecked balloon and tells Hester (Cristela Alonzo) that he’s no longer an aeronaut, but merely an insect travelling by foot. Jopari says they need to go west to find The Bearer and they head off through the woods. On their way they notice that they are being watched by a Magesterium soldier’s daemon. As they make a run for it they’re shot at by the Magesterium’s army. Jopari says that one of them needs to stay behind as they can’t both outrun the Magesterium. Lee says he’ll stay as Jopari needs to get protection to Lyra. He tells Jopari that he loves Lyra like a daughter and to remember his promise to protect her. Jopari explains to Lee he’ll make sure Lyra is protected by the knife. Lee fires at the Magesterium as they close in. He leaves his hat on top of the rock he was hiding behind as he heads to further safety. Realizing he has about thirty bullets left, he makes every shot count. Lee tells Hester that he doesn’t like taking lives, but Hester reminds him it’s the Magesterium’s lives or theirs. A bullet scrapes Lee’s scalp before he takes out a few more soldiers. However, Lee is shot in the arm and Hester tells him to summon Serefina with the cloudpine she gave him. Lee does so and goes to take another shot at the soldiers, but he is shot in the chest. Tearfully, Hester tells Lee that they’ve helped Lyra. Unfortunately, Serefina doesn’t make it to Lee in time and he passes away.

As Lyra and Will are resting, Will has a vision of his dad telling him to find him. He leaves Lyra and heads off with the knife. Will’s dreams come true, literally, when he finds Jopari. Realising who each other are, Jopari asks Will where his mum is. Will tells him she’s safe in their world. Jopari is shocked to find that his son is The Bearer. Jopari asks Will how he managed to get through a window, but Will tells Jopari he owes him answers, not the other way round. He tells his dad how hard his mum has found it thinking he was dead. Jopari explains that, despite him trying, he couldn’t get back, but in trying he gained an understanding of the worlds that he could use to help people. He tells Will that as The Bearer, he has a task ahead of him and the fate of the worlds may rest with him. He needs to go to Asriel and tell him that he has the only weapon in all of the universes that will destroy the Authority. Will says he doesn’t want anything to do with it all and doubts his capability, but Jopari tells him he has become a warrior. As they have their much longed for heart-to-heart, Jopari notices a Magesteruim soldier aiming fire at them. He puts himself in front of Will as they shoot. Jopari sadly dies on the cliff edge in Will’s arms.

In a dramatic end to the series, the angels join Asriel and tell him they’re on his side. Meanwhile, Mrs Coulter has found Lyra and has her in a trunk! Mrs Coulter strokes Lyra’s face and tells her she’s out of danger now. She tells her she’s taking her somewhere safe.