The initial run of 'His Dark Materials' makes for pleasant viewing. What immediately stands out are the special effects; they’re remarkable. The animals and dæmons appear extraordinary, particularly when compared to other television shows. That's what I find most appealing about it. The visuals are excellent as well. The acting is solid overall. It's clear that Dafne Keen, who plays Lyra, possesses considerable skill; she’s very good throughout the majority of the series—though there are a few instances where her performance doesn’t quite land, like in episode two—but I wouldn’t fault her too much for it; she is easily the strongest performer and will likely only get better. Some might assume that I'm overlooking James McAvoy’s role as Asriel, but he hardly appears at all, really only showing up in about three episodes. When we do see him, he delivers a predictably strong performance. Beyond Keen and McAvoy, Ruth Wilson (Marisa) and Anne-Marie Duff (Ma) are also part of the cast—I’ve just recently become familiar with them through 'Luther' and 'The Salisbury Poisonings', respectively—and they both do well here. Additionally, James Cosmo (Farder), Lucian Msamati (John), and Lin-Manuel Miranda (Lee) provide enjoyable performances in their respective roles. Helen McCrory is also present as Stelmaria, but I honestly didn’t register her presence until I was writing this review. I did feel that the pacing felt uneven during the first four episodes; there were times when it seemed to be moving too slowly. Fortunately, the latter half of this eight-episode run improves considerably. The opening theme music is also excellent. I'm eager to watch season two.

Source on TMDB