His Dark Materials (2×05) The Scholar Review

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

Synopsis: Will and Lyra set out to retrieve what’s been lost.  Mary takes a leap of faith. (HBO)

While the epic showdown that the season was foreshadowing didn’t quite happen here, The Scholar still featured an exciting showdown that saw Will and Lyra on edge unlike ever before. As far as they were concerned, it was about getting the alethiometer back at all costs. Meanwhile, many are surely wondering what Malone’s role will be in the end. Here, it became clear that she would have to go to a different world to do it. She is just so likable as a character and her sheer sense of wonder the last few episodes were so relatable.

Ultimately ending up in the second Oxford, Mrs. Coulter, whose first name is Marissa, could not be any less impressed in general or just impatient with whatever Boreal had planned. However, experiencing what this new world had to offer was an interesting evolution for her. New outfit in hand, the turning point was her meeting with Malone (leaving her demon behind as she implied being a witch). What was initially a chat to see what Lyra was up to, she was taken aback by seeing a woman in such a prominent position, being a scholar herself who was marginalized by the patriarchy of her Oxford (and now had target on her back thanks to the Magisterium). Despite the awkwardness, Malone was fascinated but Coulter stormed off. She would end up called onto a mission by the dust to find a gateway to another world where she would presumably need to protect Will and Lyra (she would presumably be protected from the spectres). The dust then left the building.

In order to get the alethiometer back, Will and Lyra needed to make a plan. The gateway city of Cittàgazzan (which we will refer to as the gateway city) shared a striking resemblance to the two worlds it connected thus they could find a way into Boreal’s home with the right cut with the subtle knife. Meanwhile, they may have to deal with Angelica whose brother Tulio (Lewis MacDougall) whom got attacked by spectres after loosing the knife to Will. Will and Lyra interrupted a contentious exchange between Coulter and Boreal. They would have gotten away with it if not for Coulter’s demon as it has often done in the past.

As Lyra went toe-to-toe with her mother (and their demons), as did Will and Boreal. Things certainly got heated once Coulter continued to woo her daughter back to her side over the alethiometer but was shot down (Pan winning the demon battle and the effect it had on Coulter said everything but she clearly would survive). Nevertheless, Coulter’s words and the damage being inflicted left Lyra shook as Will took care of business (despite the mention of his mother) and got the alethiometer back and willing them to safety just in time.

The focus was now on finding Will’s father but don’t think Coulter and Boreal are out of the picture (Coulter still has a few tricks up her sleeve). The episode ended with Malone finding her gateway which appeared to lead to the gateway city which will hopefully lead to a nice reunion.

While this didn’t change what the season looks to be leading up to. The showdown was an intense one while Ruth Wilson and Simone Kirby were superb here as Coulter and Malone.

If you liked this, please read our other reviews here and don’t forget to follow us on Twitter or Instagram or like us on Facebook.

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.