WARNING: The following article contains spoilers for His Dark Materials, Season 2, Episode 3, "Theft," which aired Monday on HBO.
In the second episode of Season 2 of His Dark Materials, Lyra promised to return to Dr. Mary Malone’s office to run more tests with the dark matter she studies. In the latest episode, "Theft," Lyra makes good on her promise, sneaking out before Will wakes to see Mary, even though Pan points out that the alethiometer said she should be helping Will find his father instead. Lyra reasons learning about Dust is important too, and she can help Will after she works with Mary. Little does she know there’s a policeman waiting for her at Mary’s lab.
Mary distracts him, allowing Lyra to run away, but not before she accidentally reveals she’s been staying with Will. The police officer chases after her, so when Lord Boreal -- who Lyra met at the college’s museum the previous day -- pulls up in his car and offers her a ride, she accepts.
When she feels that the coast is clear, she insists on being dropped off, but in her hurry to leave, she forgets her bag, which Boreal calls her back for. As soon as he drives away, Lyra realizes he’s stolen the alethiometer.
Soon afterwards, Will finds her, and she tells him what happened. Both Lyra and Will know it’s urgent that they get the alethiometer back if they want to find Will’s father. Fortunately, Pan remembers Lord Boreal, who goes by Sir Charles Latrom in Will’s world, gave Lyra his card, and the card happens to have his address on it.
Because the police are after both of them now, they go to Boreal’s house after dark. Boreal invites them in and they ask for the alethiometer back, but Boreal refuses to give it to them. Lyra accuses him of being a thief but when he suggests they call the police to settle the matter, Will won’t allow it. Finally, Boreal admits he knows both of them, and is surprised Lyra doesn’t remember him given they spoke during a party at Mrs. Coulter’s home in Lyra’s world.
Boreal proposes an exchange. He explains there’s a knife in a tower with angels on it in Cittagàzze, which he describes as a "crossroads world." If Lyra and Will bring Boreal the knife, he will give the alethiometer back. Last season, Boreal used the Magisterium’s alethiometer to learn about the knife. He discovered then that only Will can lead him to it. So it seems Boreal meeting Lyra and taking the alethiometer was a carefully laid plan to ensure Will will bring him the object he truly desires. Will and Lyra bitterly agree to the deal with Boreal as the episode ends, ensuring that in next week’s episode the subtle knife will make its first appearance.
Airing on HBO on Mondays at 9 p.m. ET/PT, His Dark Materials Season 2 stars Dafne Keen as Lyra, Amir Wilson as Will Parry, Ruth Wilson as Marisa Coulter, Lin-Manuel Miranda as Lee Scoresby and Andrew Scott as John Parry.