HBO’s adaptation of His Dark Materials has been immensely satisfying to watch for fans of the books, but do you remember what actually happens in those books? Philip Pullman’s trilogy of fantasy novels have been staples of the genre since their debut in the late 1990s, making the HBO series — starring Dafne Keen, Amir Wilson, Kit Conner, James McAvoy, Ruth Wilson, and more — one of the most exciting adaptations in years. Each season of the show covers one of the books in the series, plus some extra material. So what exactly can we expect to see on our screens in the third and final season of the series, which premiered on Dec. 5?
Ahead, you can find recaps of the major happenings in all three of the books, all the way up to the grand finale. This goes without saying, but major spoilers ahead, so if you haven’t read the books and want to go into the third season of the TV show unspoiled, this is where you should stop reading. Everyone else — read on!