10 Shows To Watch If You Liked His Dark Materials

The show based on the novel became a huge hit in its first season. Starring Dafne Keen and James McAvoy, His Dark Materials takes us to a world where everyone is born with a literal spirit animal called a Daemon. It follows Keen who plays Lyra who discovers she is destined for greatness after discovering her true heritage and her abilities.

For those that can’t wait for the second season, rest assured you won’t have to wait for long. We made a list of some of the best fantasy shows and compiled the best 10 that are most like His Dark Materials.

10 The Witcher

One girl is destined for something far greater but lives her life in secret after her parents were seemingly murdered. Sound familiar? In almost identical plots, both Lyra and Ciri have similar destinies but unlike Lyra, Ciri has a mutated monster hunter at her side instead of a weasel.

The Witcher is based on the novels and video games of the same name and it has all the monsters and mystical creatures you can think of and more. Although it’s only in the first season, The Witcher has become a popular show and will most likely have at least a second season to binge through in the near future.

9 Watership Down

This Miniseries based on the 1972 novel by Richard Adams is a little different than other shows on this list but is nevertheless a must-watch for HDM fans. It’s based on a family of rabbits that try to fight the incoming intrusion of humans to save their homes.

If that’s not intriguing enough the voice cast is made up of James McAvoy (Lord Asriel), Ben Kingsley, and Jon Boyega. Even if its just four episodes, the miniseries has enough to keep you talking for days!

8 The Vampire Diaries

The CW show is based on two brothers who also happen to be handsome and powerful vampires fall in love with a high school girl. It’s nothing like Twilight because this show paints vampires as terrifying and cunning creatures, while also including werewolves, witches, and ghosts.

Like His Dark Materials, the show has a young female protagonist who is destined for something greater and must do what she can to save the world. Another comparison is, of course, they are both based on popular novels.

7 The Refugees

The Refugees was a short-lived one-season wonder that was based on a group of “Refugees” that travel back to the past to avoid their barren future. It comes at a cost because they are forced to forget their families and live in silence to avoid being spotted from the future.

A glaring similarity between the two shows is that they both star the talented Dafne Keen and the plots both revolve around her character.

Even if the plots are different, The Refugees is a good show to watch while you wait for the second season of His Dark Materials to come out.

6 Locke & Key

Perhaps the newest show on this list, with season one premiering in early 2020. It follows a family moving back to the family home after the family’s father is murdered in front of the family’s eyes. Like the compass, the show is based on objects that have mystical abilities and only one who can truly understand the keys, the family’s youngest son Bode.

The show’s protagonist both feature unlikely and young heroes whine well beyond their years. Although Bode doesn’t have a destiny, he is the only one who can access the keys because he’s the only one who can understand them.

5 The Magicians

This Syfy Channel show doesn’t get enough love since but in its five seasons has managed to draw in a cult following. In a world where magic and fantasy are very real, 5 college-age students must work together using their magical abilities to save the world from impending doom.

The Magicians has fantasy, with mystical creatures and a Narnia like kingdom, it has suspense, dealing with the underworld and a pedophilic demon. It even has romance and passion, with the characters often engaging in romance and literally dying for each other.

4 A Discovery Of Witches

This AMC show is based on a young historian that discovers a way to summon mystical creatures and forbidden love. Like Lyra, the young witch Diana comes into possession of something that completely changes her life and makes her susceptible to unwanted attention.

Like many shows on this list it didn’t last very long but every it had an impact of fantasy fans. Every episode was full of twists and turns very much like the first season of HDM.

3 Game Of Thrones

Despite its controversial eighth season, GoT has been one of the most popular shows in Tv history raking up millions of viewers worldwide and creating an enormous cult following. Like His Dark Materials, the show is loosely based on the novels and they follow the tales of a young orphan.

Jon Snow is no helpless kid, and his animal companion is a gorgeous Dire Wolf, and his destiny is a little different but they both have similar drives and willingness for adventure. Like Jon, Lyra has good and strong morals and she can easily influence others with her likable personality.

2 The Librarians

The Librarians is based on the movie series and follows the same concept but takes place after the events. Like His Dark Materials, the librarians in the show represent all the knowledge in the world and will go through extreme lengths to protect it.

There’s a lot of demons and other creatures that threaten the librarians so there’s plenty of action and drama. Every season is jam-packed with plenty of action, adventure, and fantasy to keep you entertained.

1 Carnival Row

This star-studded show has all the fantasy we see in His Dark Materials with all the mystery and excitement of a high budget show.

Both Orlando Bloom and Cara Delevingne put on amazing performances and chemistry that makes this show a must-watch. To add on to that, the mystical creatures and overall effects and feel of the scenes are something that makes this show an instant classic.

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