His Dark Materials, a show made in a partnership between the BBC and HBO and based on the best-selling series of novels, is creating a complex fantasy world that is staying true to its source materials. The characters from the books are a huge part of the show's success.
Intelligence comes in many forms and just like none of these characters are completely good or completely bad, there's a lot of grey areas when it comes to how smart they are. Whether it's based on the knowledge of these different worlds, their scientific experiments or perhaps their sheer experience, each of these characters bring something different to the table.
Iorek Byrnison
Iorek Byrnison is now the king of the bears, but there was once a time when he was actually an outcast. His mind is made for war and while he is quite wise, he is also able to be manipulated by the likes of Lyra.
He's a worthy ruler, that much is certain, but his intelligence is certainly mixed. He has a lot of experience which has made him a grizzled old bear, but he perhaps doesn't possess some of the deeper knowledge that other characters have.
Will Parry
Will Parry started the show as just a schoolboy with a lot of big questions about his heritage and his father. Season 2 has allowed the character to develop a lot further. He is quick thinking and resourceful, but still has a lot to learn.
He is very informed on his own world and is clever enough to escape capture. He's a great friend to Lyra, but there's so much more that he needs to learn. He still doesn't really even understand what a dæmon is!
John Parry
John Parry is Will's father. He is currently missing in the show, but there have been a few details revealed about him that demonstrate how intelligent he really is. For starters, he discovered a way to actually cross between the worlds.
What's more, he seems to be surviving in a tower, in a place where adults rarely make it. He's clearly just as resourceful as his son, but audiences still have a lot to learn about the missing military man, with the series likely taking a little departure from the books.
Mary Mallone
Mary Mallone is a scientist on the traditional version of Earth. The character is clearly very intelligent as she's actually managed to discover what Lyra has come to know as dust. Her technology can even allow communication with the substance.
There's still a lot more work for Mary to do, but the former nun has already put in a lot of hours to get to the position she is currently in and it's clear she will be a vital character in Lyra's journey.
Lyra Silvertongue
Lyra Silvertongue really is the star of the show and one of the reasons that His Dark Materials is worth watching. Unlike other lead characters of her age, Lyra is incredibly bright and very tactical.
She has achieved a lot so far, putting together plans to save her friend Billy or help a bear become king once again. She has even managed to work out how to use the golden compass itself; no small feat for someone so young.
Lee Scoresby
Lee Scoresby is an aeronaut and an adventurer. While he doesn't have the traditional intelligence of some of the other characters in the show, he has a great deal of common sense. He has gone through a great number of difficult experiences too.
Plus, above all else, he knows the skies, which is a dangerous method of travel, especially by himself. Lee has come to learn of a great prophecy and is doing everything in his power to protect Lyra. His kind of intelligence cannot simply be gained from a book.
Carlo Boreal
One of the things the show really needed to get right was the villains. While Carlo may be a little different from the source material, he's a menacing threat to Lyra and someone to be genuinely feared.
The character is incredibly sly and just to prove he can't be trusted, he has a snake as his dæmon. He's intelligent enough to have stolen the Alethiometer and already knows all about the various realities in existence.
Serafina Pekkala
Serafina Pekkala is one of the leading witches in Lyra's reality. The witches hold on to ancient abilities and know-how to create all sorts of spells, fly, understand prophecies and even remove themselves from their dæmons.
Serafina has such a leading role amongst her group because she is one of the most powerful and most intelligent. She understands things that man can't simply comprehend and has the experiences to match.
Marisa Coulter
Marisa Coulter is constantly playing a dangerous game and is always looking to expand her knowledge. Her scientific experiments prove that she is one of the most intelligent people in all of reality, but she hasn't quite worked out how to achieve what she needs.
Not only is she traditionally smart, but she is also a brilliant manipulator. She essentially has control of the whole of the Magisterium, thanks in large part to a combination of her terrifying personality and her long term planning.
Lord Asriel
There are always characters like Lord Asriel in fantasy TV shows, but this secret father to Lyra comes with a twist. Neither good nor evil, he is just passionate about the knowledge he is gaining from studying reality itself.
He may be cruel and heartless in his methods, but he has achieved things no one else could dream of. His Dark Materials has shown that the pursuit of knowledge has its sacrifices and since Asriel is so very comfortable with that, he's likely the most intelligent man in the show.