His Dark Materials (2×04) Tower of the Angels Review

For our review of the last episode of His Dark Materials, click here.

Synopsis: Will and Lyra make a plan, unaware of the dangers or the cost involved. (HBO)

Now that’s a cool origin story if anything. Things are starting to come together if this latest exciting episode of His Dark Materials is of any indication. Lyra is the center of the universe as far as the majority of the characters are concerned. All roads lead to Cittàgazzan, the new inbetween world of the first 4 episodes of the season thus far. This episode was full of reveals, none larger than Will’s real purpose for which the series has been foreshadowing for quite a long time.

The episode started with a quick epic history lesson on the guild, the subtle knife (the knife in question), and Cittàgazzan and the spectres, basically how things got to the way they were. Suffice it to say Asriel’s actions didn’t help either.

Will is in fact the rightful bearer of said knife that he and Lyra were tasked to fetch for Boreal. Tower of the Angels would be a big Will episode that gave Amir Wilson the chance to really strut his stuff here as Will who became more of an equal to Lyra thanks to the knife and its many magical powers such as cutting a hole through worlds. Teaching him was Giacomo Paradisi (Terence Stamp), a man whom he and Lyra found bound upon entering the infamous Tower of the Angels. Paradisi was the previous bearer of the knife before an incident where he had to defend him deemed Will worthy (but we already knew he was pure of spirit, trustworthy, and brave and also a few fingers which were the qualities the knife looked for in a bearer). The teacher/student dynamic was a fun one to watch but the episode was more about Will and Lyra’s relationship developing into a closer one as she helped him get through this new ordeal by showing wisdom beyond her years. It is definitely something more and Dafne Keen deserves some credit for that as well.

Meanwhile, Scoresby finally caught up with Grumman (his demon is voiced by Phoebe Waller-Bridge which is a nice Fleabag connection) thus giving us our first proper introduction to Will’s father (among other things). The two were a real contrast in energy which Andrew Scott and Lin-Manuel Miranda played off in an entertaining way. John Parry was just trying to find a way back to his family after finding himself trapped in this new world, his exploits were him trying to find a way back. After those failed, he was at peace. His mission was to find the subtle knife and give it to Asriel. Scoresby agreed to help take Parry to the knife (he didn’t know his son was now its bearer of course) but Parry also had his shaman powers and his knowledge of windows and doors to different worlds. Now they appear to be on a path to Cittàgazzan.

Malone was also challenged in the episode as Boreal, or whatever identity he was using, came to her office offering funding for her research for defense for which she vehemently refused. As a result, she was deemed worthy by dust or the dark matter as it literally spoke to her through the cave and offered some interesting information. Shadows are Dust, and Dust is Angels. Angels gave birth to mankind out of a wanting for vengeance. Coincidentally, that’s what the witches wanted and actually enacted here in taking down a series of Magisterium warships before entering Asriel’s supposed portal to Cittàgazzan.

Last but certainly not least, Boreal and Mrs. Coulter are also in Cittàgazzan now too.

There’s surely a battle brewing for what is looking like an exciting episode next week.

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Keith Noakes

The EIC of the coincidentally-named keithlovesmovies.com. A Canadian who prefers to get out of the cold and into the warmth of a movie theatre.