The dramatic unfurling of Episode 3 in Season 2 of "The Law According to Lidia Poet" initiates with a chilling scene: a woman, stabbed by an acquaintance, collapses in a pool of her own blood. In parallel, Lidia finds herself entangled in a mission to persuade Marianna to reconsider her absence, grounded in the love she harbors for Paolo. However, Marianna's heartache stemming from her parents' actions necessitates a breathing space away from home.
The grim tally of fatalities escalates to three female victims, prompting the Poets to insist that Lidia remain as Marianna's close companion. Meanwhile, Enrico's political aspirations hit a snag; he refuses to plunge into the parliamentary race sans the comforting presence of his daughter at home.
Elsewhere in the narrative, Fourneau taps into Lidia's expertise, drawing her into the web of stabbings as the latest victim, Azzurra, happens to be her former client. The women share no discernible link, prompting Lidia's mind to wander back to Verzeni, the infamous serial killer who once claimed 11 lives. Memories of her professor, Lombroso, deeply engrossed in Verzeni's case, beckon her, leading her to seek his counsel.
Their visit to Lombroso, now immersed in the study of the female psyche, takes an awkward turn when his assistant, Dr. Carena, mistakenly identifies Lidia as a subject under scrutiny. The encounter proves futile; Lombroso dismisses any semblance to Verzeni's modus operandi and scoffs at Lidia's premature conclusion, insulting her for her haste.
Jacopo, meanwhile, embarks on an investigative journey to Nitti's shop, discovering the shopkeeper's abrupt disappearance. The assistant recognizes Atilla from a photograph Jacopo presents, revealing that the mysterious buyer had visited Nitti and purchased two vintage books at an exorbitant price. Simultaneously, Juvara orchestrates a shadowy operation, hiring a gunman to track Nitti's whereabouts while keeping a vigilant eye on both Jacopo and Lidia.
Returning home, Jacopo unravels his findings with Marianna, theorizing that Nitti, once Juvara's trusted secretary at the Bank of Turin, might have sold confidential documents disguised as books to Atilla. This revelation places Juvara hot on their trail. Lidia's arrival as Marianna's unwilling chaperone amuses Jacopo, who, despite his derision, reluctantly grants her entry.
That fateful night, as Lidia awoke to quench her thirst, her eyes caught a shadowy figure lurking in the periphery. Seeking solace, she stumbled upon Jacopo and poured her heart out, voicing her eerie sensation of being constantly watched. She earnestly implored his assistance in unraveling the mystery, despite the slim chance that their lead might pan out – a whisper circulating in the air about Fabrizio Dellara, the priest, who allegedly inquired into inappropriate matters during confession.
To bait the trap, Lidia adopted the disguise of a widowed woman, confessing her forbidden fantasies about another man to Dellara. The priest, ignited by her tale, eagerly arranged a clandestine meeting.
Meanwhile, at the Poets' abode, the preparations for lunch with the esteemed Duke were a symphony of disarray. Marianna's arrival, accompanied by Jacopo, stirred a ripple of discord; Enrico's irritation contrasted sharply with Teresa's warm embrace towards her brother. The Duke and his clan soon descended, casting an aura of grace over the gathering, until Jacopo's revelation as a socialist shattered the harmony. The Duke's disapproval was swift and unequivocal, prompting Lidia to intervene, highlighting Enrico's endorsement by the President and Filippo for a seat in the Chamber of Deputies.
Enrico, however, was well versed in Lidia's ulterior motive – to leverage his position for advancing her bill. Teresa suggested he could still retreat, yet her stance had softened, believing that Lidia's legislation could benefit their future generations.
Prior to her confrontation with Dellara, Lidia proposed searching Atilla's abode for the elusive books. Jacopo, concerned for her safety, enveloped her in a comforting hug. At the church, Dellara's sinister intentions manifested in a brutal sexual assault upon Lidia, but fortune smiled upon her as Fourneau and the authorities arrived at the eleventh hour, arresting Dellara in the nick of time.
Turning their focus to the enigma of Atilla, Lidia, Jacopo, and Cesare embarked on a quest through his residence. Lidia's keen eye caught a glimpse of a book, triggering memories of Atilla's cryptic letters. It was a citation from St. Augustine, revealing that he had indeed left them a cryptic clue. The trio unearthed the first book, and Cesare's emotions overflowed in tears.
However, the stabbing mystery remains unsolved, as the priest has been convicted merely of grooming, leaving a lingering sense of unrest. To compound matters, another murder occurs while he is confined in custody. Fourneau, his heart heavy with frustration, finds himself at the brink of a breakdown. It is at this tender moment that Lidia steps in, assisting him with an injection of the "medicine," revealing his tragic secret: a rare and incurable condition. Though he had initially shown little interest in seeking a cure, her compassion begins to ignite a spark of hope within him.
An awkward silence descends upon them when Lidia's gaze falls upon the belongings of the fourth girl. Among her possessions, she discovers a voucher from Lombroso's study, a revelation that sends shivers down their spines. They realize with a chilling clarity that all the victims were once subjects in his research. Lombroso, with his measuring tools, had scrutinized their heads, and as they delve deeper into his findings, a haunting pattern emerges: an unusual cranium size hinting at primitivism. Lombroso believed this anomaly to be a rare trait predominantly seen in murderers, one that he analyzed alongside contextual factors. Yet, Lidia recognizes a disconnect in this theory—Dr. Carena, who rigidly views these women as potential killers, overlooks this nuanced perspective.
They hastily converge on his lair, uncovering his latest quarry: a prostitute, isolated and unattended, serving merely as a decoy. While Fourneau scours the vicinity for her, Lidia remains with a vigilant policeman, their mission to uncover incriminating evidence. The prostitute's solitude underscores the emptiness surrounding her. Meanwhile, Carena, concealed within the confines of his home, strikes with sudden ferocity, incapacitating the officer and assaulting Lidia. He unburdens his soul, recounting how his sister's attempt on his life has led him to believe a world without female criminals would be a better place. Yet, he harbors admiration for Lidia, finding it abhorrent to end her life; his hesitation affords her the opportunity to retaliate with a pair of scissors. She flees the scene, fortuitously encountering Fourneau at the nick of time.
Fourneau, distressed by the peril he inadvertently exposed her to, finds solace in her reassurance that she has a peculiar talent for landing in predicaments. Their lips meet in a fleeting kiss, but both acknowledge the futility of any romantic entanglement, leading to her departure.
The following day, Lidia enlists Paolo's aid in persuading Marianna. She vows to Paolo that her affection for him runs deep, her resentment for Lorenzo's theft of their funds burning brightly. He promises a swift marriage, and she, in turn, agrees to return home. As for Lidia, she harbors regret for compelling Enrico to embark on a political journey he might not have chosen, but he reveals his own desire to serve, yearning to contribute to the liberation of their compatriots.
The Law According to Lidia Poet Season 2 Episode 3 concludes with Andrea's return, his eyes reflecting an unspoken query directed solely at Lidia.
