GOBBLERS - MORE THAN AN URBAN LEGEND



One of the biggest elements of the Gyptian storyline in the premiere is the Gobblers - an urban legend of sorts, of people who come and steal unwitting children. This is first brought up when Billy Costa (Tony's brother) goes missing, but both Tony and Lyra immediately dismiss it as rumor and rubbish. However, as the episode continues, it becomes clear that the Gobblers are not just a story told to frighten children into staying home at night. Both Billy and Roger are shown to be captured by someone who has a fox dæmon, although no more of them is seen that a few shadowy glimpses. It's also not clear why the Gobblers are taking children, although Lord Faa explains that many Gyptian children have been taken, and the rumor is that they are being taken to London.

Book readers will know who the Gobblers are, and why they are named the Gobblers, but as these are some of the biggest twists in the first book, viewers will have to wait and discover who has the fox dæmon and what they are doing with these stolen kids.

ARMORED BEARS AND WITCHES



Finally, two other groups are briefly mentioned in the premiere (and will become a larger part of the series as time goes on): the Armored Bears and the Witches. The Witches have yet to be seen at all, but are mentioned in the introduction as living far in the North, outside of the control of the Magesterium. The witches' 'whisper of a prophecy' is also mentioned in the intro, although this is not returned to in the premiere episode. From the books, it is known that the witches are not quite human, although they look human and also have dæmons (which are always birds, as witches fly on pine branches, and their dæmons must fly with them). Unlike humans, however, witches have the use of magic, and a much longer lifespan. They rarely come South, so are not likely to show up in the series for a little while, until Lyra starts to move North herself.

The Armored Bears also get only a mention, although the trailer includes phenomenal footage of Iorek Byrnison (Joe Tandberg), the armored bear who will be a major character later in the series. At this point, however, the Bears are just mentioned in passing, as Lyra is talking to Mrs Coulter (Ruth Wilson) about things she has seen in the North, when she asks about 'Tartars and Armored Bears'. The Bears are a race of intelligent polar bears, who have the ability to speak, and who are brilliant metalworkers - which is how they make the armor that gives them their name. They live on Svalbard, for the most part, but can be hired to fight for others. Although they are like humans in their intelligence and speech, Armored Bears do not have dæmons, and they are incapable of being trick


There are many more parts of this world that will slowly fall into place as the series continues; the Tartars that Lyra mentions will presumably mak an appearance, the time in London will further clarify how this world is different to our own (and where it is shockingly similar), and the secrets of the North and the Alethiometer will come out. For now, however, viewers will have to wait to discover what else can be found in Lyra's Oxford, and the world of His Dark Materials.

His Dark Materials premieres Monday, November 4 on HBO.