Television: His Dark Materials - Audience and Industry

 Audience

1) Read this audience rating guide for His Dark Materials. Based on the screening and this article, who do you think the target audience is for His Dark Materials and why? What about psychographic groups? You can revise Pyschographics here.

As His Dark Materials was aimed at an international audience, the show features both British and American star names such as Brits Ruth Wilson and James McAvoy and American Lin-Manuel Miranda who wrote the smash hit musical Hamilton.

• Targeted at fans of the fantasy genre along with fans of the original books by Philip Pullman.
• Diverse representations of gender and race may appeal to a younger audience.
• Rated for 14+ by HBO due to some scenes that may be frightening to younger children.

2) What audience pleasures are offered by His Dark Materials - The City of Magpies? Apply Blumler and Katz's Uses and Gratifications theory to the episode. Make sure you provide specific examples from the episode to support your ideas.

Personal Identity: Aimed at a contemporary family audience for the BBC Sunday night broadcast slot (8.10pm)

Personal Relationships: Targeted at fans of the fantasy genre along with fans of the original books by Philip Pullman.

Diversion (Escapism): The UK DVD release of His Dark Materials season 2 is rated 12 by the BBFC.

3) Thinking of the 3 Vs audience pleasures (Visceral, Vicarious and Voyeuristic pleasures), which of these can be applied to His Dark Materials? Refer to specific scenes or moments in the episode to explain your answer. 

As His Dark Materials was aimed at an international audience, the show featured both American and British star names such as James McAvoy and American Lin-Manuel Miranda who wrote the smash hit musical Hamilton.

4) How did fans react to Season 2 of His Dark Materials? What about critic reviews? You can find some possible answers for this in this BBC website article on the critical reception for His Dark Materials and watch the fan reaction video above.

Fans were happy and excited because they were waiting for his dark materials to be released. People had made YouTube videos on there first time watching the trailers or the first few clips. 

5) What might be some of the preferred and oppositional readings for His Dark Materials? Why did some fans love it? Why have other people criticised it? 

Some fans loved it because of all the plot twists and drama also the relationship between the two teenagers but some people may not like it because theirs too much things happening and they might not like too much fantasy. 

Industries

1) Which companies produced this His Dark Materials series?

BBC1 and HBO

2) What were the UK viewing figures for A City of Magpies? How did this compare to season 1 of His Dark Materials?

The City of Magpies, and was first broadcast in the UK on Sunday 8 November 2020 on BBC1 at 8.10pm. It was made available on iPlayer on the same. There were a range of videos and promotional events designed to create a buzz around the new season of His Dark Materials.

3) What was American network HBO's role in making His Dark Materials and why is this important? Look at the notes above for more on this.

His Dark Materials had 2 highly respected media giants behind it - and in HBO's case a huge amount of money. HBO has over 40 million subscribers and brings in around $7 BILLION in subscription revenue each year

4) What famous stars are in His Dark Materials and why do you think they were selected for the show? Watch the Comic Con panel video in the notes above to see the stars talking about the show.

The show features both British and American star names such as Brits Ruth Wilson and James McAvoy and American Lin-Manuel Miranda who wrote the smash hit musical Hamilton.

5) Who are Bad Wolf and what do they produce?

Producing over 50 hours of high-end drama for broadcasters and networks including HBO, BBC, AMC and Sky.

Comparison: Doctor Who - An Unearthly Child and His Dark Materials - The City of Magpies

1) How are the technical conventions different between 1963 Doctor Who and 2020 His Dark Materials (e.g. camerawork, editing, sound and mise-en-scene)?

If you watch these shows you can tell the camera difference and how his dark materials have more of a clear sound as they have more advanced technology however doctor who had poor quality and sound.

2) What similarities and differences are there between Doctor Who and His Dark Materials in terms of genre and narrative?

They both have genres of adventure, action and family drama but other hand there different because Doctor who is science fiction and His dark materials is more fantasy genre. 

3) How are representations of people, places and groups similar or different in the two shows?

The difference is that doctor who setting looked old and rusty however his dark material setting looked more modern and more well presented.