Did anyone else notice that in His Dark Materials Season 3, episode 6, after Marisa believes Lyra is dead and finds out Asriel has taken the Intention Craft, there’s this incredibly heavy moment where Marisa gestures to the golden monkey and yells "Come." in a way that seems to be her wanting to go over the edge of the platform?
Here’s what I think is happening. Marisa seems to be considering ending everything, and she tries to get the golden monkey to go with her. But he refuses.
This isn’t a small thing. Her daemon, who reflects her very soul, tells her no.
To me, this moment shows just how deep her grief runs. Marisa is completely consumed by the belief that Lyra is gone—the one person she’s sacrificed everything for. In her despair, she can’t see a way forward. But the golden monkey? He stands his ground and silently refuses to let her make that choice.
I do wonder if he would have sensed that Pan was alive and therefore meaning that Lyra was also alive. Also it looks to be something he and Marisa settled on years before, that they would need to mutually agree to end their lives, and he did not agree.
What makes this moment even more powerful is what happens after. The golden monkey doesn’t return to her. Marisa has to go to him.
That apology is so raw and meaningful. It’s one of the few moments where Marisa confronts her own vulnerability. Her daemon’s refusal forced her to reckon with a truth she wasn’t ready to face. It’s an extraordinary shift in their dynamic, showing that even at her lowest, Marisa has the capacity for reflection, humility, and growth.
To me, this scene encapsulates Marisa’s journey in the series. It’s not just about her sacrifices for Lyra, but about how her relationship with her daemon and ultimately, herself evolved over the three seasons.