How to Watch His Dark Materials: Live Stream HBO's Next Big Show

By Henry T. Casey
published

What is The Magisterium up to?

(Image credit: HBO)

I'd never heard of His Dark Materials — a new HBO and BBC series that adapts author's Philip Pullman’s trilogy — but the reaction to the first episode of this series was so strong I could not ignore it. Not familiar with Northern Lights, The Subtle Knife and The Amber Spyglass? It's time to give you enough to be ready for the show that has people are a buzz, and how to watch His Dark Materials online.

A lot of that buzz is coming out of word of mouth, after the Nov. 3 (BBC) and Nov. 4 (HBO) debuts. But what if you've yet to consume it? Here's everything you need to know. 

How to watch His Dark Materials online anywhere on Earth with a VPN 

If you're on the road, but don't want to miss out on His Dark Materials (constantly playing media-catchup is no fun), you can still watch with everyone else, live on HBO. With the right VPN, you can stream the show from wherever you go.

We've evaluated many VPN services, and our top pick is ExpressVPN. It meets the VPN needs of the vast majority of users, offering outstanding compatibility with most devices and impressive connection speeds. It's also affordable at $12.95 per month. (Signing up for longer periods of six months or a year reduces the cost even more.)

ExpressVPN

Our favorite VPN service, ExpressVPN, really shines thanks to its safety, speed and simplicity-to-use. It's also compatible with loads of devices - from iOS and Android to Roku, Apple TV and PlayStations. You'll even get an extra 3 months free if you sign up for a year, or there's a 30-day money-back guarantee if you just want to give it a try.

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His Dark Materials release date: here’s when to watch

His Dark Materials' first episode starts tonight (Nov. 4) at 9 p.m. (your local time) on HBO, so pop that popcorn and get ready.

How to watch His Dark Materials online in the US 

Those looking to watch His Dark Materials in the states have their choice of methods. The show is available via HBO Now, HBO’s standalone $14.99 per month streaming service, as well as HBO Go, a similar service that requires you to have a cable subscription. HBO is also available as an add-on to most popular live TV streaming services, such as Sling TV, PlayStation Vue, Hulu with Live TV and YouTube TV.  HBO is even available a la carte on Apple TV Channels.

HBO Now

Cautious about how well HBO can adapt the graphic novel? The free 7-day HBO Now trial will last long enough for you to test the waters. You can also try out Watchmen, binge a season or two of the critically acclaimed Succession and chuckle through Danny McBride's latest zany series, The Righteous Gemstones.

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His Dark Materials (HBO) trailer 

Wondering what you’re getting yourself into? Check out the official His Dark Materials HBO trailer here: 

What is HBO’s His Dark Materials about? 

His Dark Materials is derived from the trilogy of the same name, which is comprised of Northern Lights (Scholastic Point, 1995), released as The Golden Compass in the U.S.)  The Subtle Knife (Scholastic Point, 1997) and The Amber Spyglass (Scholastic Point, 2000). 

This 2019 adaptation premiered last night (Nov. 3) on BBC One in the United Kingdom, and presents audiences with a reality where all of us humans are paired with animals known as daemons, who are connected to our souls. This first 8-episode season stars Dafne Keen (who starred in Logan) as Lyra who is trying to solve a mystery of a missing child named Roger, and in the process she discovers a mystery tied to her uncle Asriel (James McAvoy).

The more she learns, the deeper the proverbial rabbit hole goes.

Henry T. Casey
Henry T. Casey
Managing Editor (Entertainment, Streaming)

Henry is a managing editor at Tom’s Guide covering streaming media, laptops and all things Apple, reviewing devices and services for the past seven years. Prior to joining Tom's Guide, he reviewed software and hardware for TechRadar Pro, and interviewed artists for Patek Philippe International Magazine. He's also covered the wild world of professional wrestling for Cageside Seats, interviewing athletes and other industry veterans.