HBO’s His Dark Materials is, of course, an adaptation of the bestselling series by the author Philip Pullman. It’s one of those fantasy series that is not only an adventure but also explores serious issues such as prophecy, religion, and personal responsibility.
Whether a villain or a hero, it’s the characters that really make this show work. In some important ways, they almost seem to leap off the screen, pulsing with vitality. It’s also fascinating to think about how these various characters would fit into the zodiac and how, as a result, they would mesh with various viewers’ personalities; kind of like having your own daemon.
Aries: Iorek
Iorek is one of the race of armored bears that inhabit the north. Like most of his kind, he can speak and, once he is angry, he can be a true force to be reckoned with.
Though he initially proves reluctant to take back the throne that rightfully belongs to him, Lyra inspires him to break out of his funk and reclaim his birthright. He can also be a bit stubborn, which shows that is very much of an Aries.
Taurus: Father Macphail
In the world of His Dark Materials, the Magisterium looms as one of the most powerful organizations. Driven by religious zeal, it refuses to accept that there is any other way of thinking other than its own.
Father MacPhail is one of its most devoted members, with a ruthless determination to see that the will of the Magisterium is carried out. Like a textbook Taurus, he has a true commitment to duty and what he sees as right, no matter how much it might hurt others.
Gemini: Lord Boreal
Lord Boreal is one of the series’ most enigmatic characters, particularly since he can cross between the worlds (one of the few characters to be able to do so). Given that ability, he has taken to adopting different personae depending on which version of Oxford he happens to be inhabiting.
As everyone knows, having two different aspects of their personality is one of the key aspects of the Gemini, meaning that Lord Boreal would definitely fit that mold.
Cancer: Will
Sensitivity is one of the key traits of the Cancer, and it’s also the perfect way to describe Will Parry, a young boy who lives in what audiences would probably recognize as the “real” world- although he'll meet up with Lyra in the second season.
He has a deep devotion to his mother, and he will go to almost any length to protect her from the cruelties of the outside world. However, like a Cancer, he can at times be a bit short-sighted, which means that he doesn’t always think through his actions.
Leo: Lyra
In many important ways, Lyra is the beating heart of the series. She’s the first character that the audience is really asked to identify with, and she manages to dominate any scene that she appears in. Lyra is an incredibly adventurous sort, which means that she has a lot of Leo in her.
It definitely helps that she also has quite a bit of charisma, which means that there are very few people who don’t end up falling under her spell.
Virgo: Ma Costa
Ma Costa is the Gyptian woman who has a special fondness for Lyra. She has a very important role to play in the first season of the show since she is one of those whose son is carried away by what are ultimately revealed to be forces from the Magisterium.
Though the audience doesn’t learn a great deal about her, it is nevertheless clear that she’s a sensible and clear-eyed sort of person, exactly what one would expect of a Virgo.
Libra: Lee Scoresby
It’s impossible to dislike the character of Lee Scoresby- especially one so charmingly played by the inimitable Lin Manuel Miranda.
In both the television adaptation and the original novel, he shows himself to be one of the people who truly cares about Lyra and her well-being. Though he’s quite brave and adventurous, it’s also true that he tries to strike a middle path whenever he can (usually encouraged by his daemon Hester). Anyone who’s ever met a Libra knows that this desire to find balance is one of their hallmarks.
Scorpio: Mrs. Coulter
Ah, Mrs. Coulter. What can one say about her? She’s one of the most compelling villains to ever appear in a fantasy novel, and in the hands of Ruth Wilson she is truly an extraordinary character.
She’s ruthless and cunning, willing to crush almost anyone who gets in her path (sounds like quite the Scorpio, doesn’t it?) However, as with so many other water signs, there’s sometimes a softness to the Scorpio personality, and in this case, Mrs. Coulter’s one vulnerability is her daughter, Lyra.
Sagittarius: Lord Asriel
It is ultimately revealed during the course of the series that Lyra is the daughter of none other than Mrs. Coulter and the man she thought was her uncle, Lord Asriel (who doesn't seem to be in the second season).
Though the viewer doesn’t know a great deal about Asriel, what they learn is that he’s a formidable and domineering personality prone to fits of anger and adventure. If that doesn’t sound like the textbook Sagittarius, then almost nothing does.
Capricorn: Farder Coram
As she goes on her various adventures, Lyra is helped by numerous people, most notably the Gyptians. Farder Coram is one of their sensible leaders and one of her staunchest allies.
He’s one of the more stable people in Lyra’s life and, in keeping with the persona as a Capricorn, he’s very free with giving her the type of advice that she needs in order to survive the various threats against her life that arise.
Aquarius: Serafina Pekkala
Serafina Pekkala is one of the more intriguing characters to appear in the series, precisely because so little is known about her. As one of the witches, she possesses extraordinary powers, and she’s able to see into realms and into places that few other people can. This makes her a formidable enemy but also a very valuable friend.
Like the Aquarius, there is always something about her that hovers just out of sight, tantalizing and mysterious.
Pisces: Roger
Roger is, of course, Lyra’s best friend at Oxford, the person that she trusts most in the world.
Given that he’s such a malleable sort of person and that he basically lets himself be bossed around by Lyra, it’s very easy to see how he would fit into the personality type embodied by the Pisces, a sign known for its willingness to let others take charge and direct the course of events.