His Dark Materials viewers devastated by brutal child murder scene – claiming it shouldn’t have aired pre-watershed

HIS Dark Materials came to a bitter end on Sunday night.

The BBC and HBO fantasy drama wrapped with heart-breaking scenes as Lord Asriel (James McAvoy) proved he’d do anything to open a rift between worlds.

Taking advantage of the aurora, Asriel dragged Roger to the top off a cliff under false pretences, before throwing him and his daemon in separate cages.

The equipment set up between them was disturbingly familiar, as it became clear Asriel intended to cleave Roger from his daemon in order to harness the explosive energy that comes with death.

Viewers will remember how Mrs Coulter’s facility with the General Oblation Board performed similar experiments before it was destroyed by Lyra, the gyptians and legendary witch Serafina Pekkala.

Roger screamed for mercy as Asriel brought the blade down, why a horrified Lyra watched on from the other wise of the cliff face.

His daemon ended up disintegrating, sparking a huge beam of light that ultimately opened a portal, just as intended.

Lyra was left sobbing over Roger’s body as Asriel strode into the mysterious gateway – and suffice to say viewers at home were equally torn up.

“Omg that was as heart-breaking as I thought it would be. Poor Roger,” one wrote.

“Roger – I am completely broken,” another added, alongside a string of crying emojis.

“I’m a crying mess now,” a third chimed in.

“I’ve read the books and expected the death of Roger, but still, God damn!” a fourth exclaimed.

Others took issue with the scenes being aired pre-watershed at 8pm.

“Happy Christmas everyone! Here’s James McAvoy murdering a child before the watershed,” one sarcastically quipped.

“Surely this is a bit f***ing much pre-9pm?!” another fumed.

Season 2 of His Dark Materials is already in the works and is expected to air on BBC One next year.