Dr. Lecter Invites you to Dinner. The ''Hannibal'' Thread - Part 1

[Sawyer]

What makes you say that?

 

[The Shape]

What makes you say that?

Nvm, I thought today was Thursday and saw there was no episode listed for tonight. LOL

 

[insider1970]

Jeff Jensen of "Entertainment Weekly" watched the season finale and gave an A! No spoilers, don't worry:

Obviously there was a screening to journalists because "Seat42f" on Twitter said so:

Hannibal ‏@NBCHannibal 11 Jun
Excellent! RT @seat42f: Just watched the season finale of Hannibal. LOVE this show. Until next season. @NBCHannibal

Rerguder ‏@rerguder 11 Jun
@NBCHannibal @seat42f How is that even possible? Season finale?

seat42f ‏@seat42f 11 Jun
@rerguder Got to see them early. Both episodes are fantastic.

I am very excited!

 

[Maximus One]

I'm just loving how much good press and word of mouth it's getting.

 

[The Shape]

IMO, the last few episodes have been so-so. The show seemed to have lost what was once a concrete focus. The last 3 episodes alone have jumped all over the place, plot-wise. And last episode, when Will hallucinated for what seemed like the 5th time in that episode alone, I even yelled at my TV, "Oh, c'mon dude. Get it together!" It became a little annoying, to be honest. Hannibal's motives are a little unclear. When he speaks to his psychiatrist, he seems to earnestly desire friendship with Will...which seems to be a somewhat out of character for Lecter, based on what we know of him from previous adaptations and what he's done (and continues to do) to Will this season, messing with his head and what not. It'll be interesting to see if Hannibal has a particular endgame in mind here. Also, does Gillian Anderson know any of the horrifying truth about what Lecter does? Sometimes, it seems she does have an idea. Am I the only one getting that vibe?

Here's hoping these last two episodes tie everything together nicely and make all of our ranting/raving/worrying (about the show's fate) well worth it. All I know is that the best stories in the Hannibal mythos are yet to come!

 

[Sawyer]

So-so? More like great-great.

 

[The Shape]

So-so? More like great-great.

Hey, I'm just being honest. This is coming from one of the biggest overall Hannibal Lecter fans you'll find. Read each book at least twice, have seen every film, and have thoroughly enjoyed this TV adaptation thus far. My criticism isn't "OH THIS SHOW SUCKS NOW"...it's constructive.

I like most of the elements at play here, especially through the first bunch of episodes when it was all new and fresh. The show had a groove that I was totally into. But you gotta admit, certain important story aspects just keep popping in and out at random. It's frustrating because you become excited or intrigued by one element, and then have to wait weeks to find out more about it.

Examples:

Abigail Hobbs - Someone who has been hailed as an essential character to this story, someone both Will and Hannibal seemed to care so much about, and yet she popped in and out of the season at random, missing for multiple episodes at a time. I know she'll most likely feature heavily in these last 2 episodes, but it's difficult to connect or care about about a character who isn't as integral to the story as she could be.

Garret Jacob Hobbs/deer - Since he was actually a character from Red Dragon, I'm glad his death was included as a part of Will's story. However, early in the season, Will couldn't shake the image of Hobbs. Then, for a few episodes, Will's fine. Last episode, he haunted Will again and almost drove him mad. Same goes for the deer imagery.

Jack Crawford's wife, Bella - She was featured in maybe 2 episodes, one of which was nearly completely focused on her terminal illness. She hasn't appeared or been mentioned since. Almost seems like a waste of an episode and screentime looking back, doesn't it? Not sure if all of you are aware, but in Silence of the Lambs (the book), Jack is under a huge burden since he has to both care for his terminally ill wife at home and lead the 'Buffalo Bill' investigation at the same time. I'm assuming Fuller is planning on focusing more on her terminal illness when they reach that point in the 'Hannibal timeline', but to introduce her illness now with such little purpose and attention was a waste, IMO.

Procedural aspect - I get it. Hannibal is on NBC and it's a show about the FBI, so it must have procedural elements and storylines, but even that balance seems uneven. We have episodes that feel like a more adult/cinematic CSI, in which a brutal killer is investigated and eventually caught. Then, there are sometimes episodes in which there are little more than conversations between characters that hardly advance the overall plot of the show. I think they can find a way to keep the procedural aspect going, while also keeping the momentum of the season moving along a little more effectively than it has this season.

That's just off the top of my head. I love the show to death and would never miss an episode, but I know there's room for improvement. Most TV shows (especially on network TV) really find their groove in the second season, and I'm assuming Hannibal will come back even stronger than ever. I hate to compare this show to another show about a serial killer, but Hannibal could learn a lesson or two from Dexter, a show with many characters (including multiple adversaries per season), many subplots, and dark themes. No, I don't want Hannibal to copy Dexter, but Dexter's best seasons have had strong momentums and a clear focus.

 

[flickchick85]

Well hellooo new Worst Nightmare.

 

[Sawyer]

Poor girl.

That goes for the start of the episode and the ending, btw...

 

[Man in the Suit]

Great episode.

 

[Maximus One]

I thought the exact same thing until tonite! WOW!

 

[Asgard]

Madds should win an Emmy for two moments in this episode alone.

First was the last scene between Hannibal and Jack. When he says, "Im so sorry, Jack." he looked so genuinely sincere and apologetic with tears in the corners of his eyes, and in the span of less than a second he drops all of the emotion out of his face with a slight turn of his head and is just completely blank. It was so well done and incredibly creepy.

The second is Hannibal's revelation to Abigail about his true nature. I could barely breathe during that last scene. Madds seemed to bring to the forefront all of Hannibal's emotionless malevolence in that final caress of Abigail's cheek.

In other shows we would have heard Georgia screaming and thrashing about in the incubator, but they decided to stay within the stylistic nature of the show and presented her death in such a way that it was both beautiful and horrific at the same time.

Um, when Will woke up in the empty airplane, that was another delusion and he was really in the cabin alone after Abigail left for her house and into the clutches of Hannibal right?

This show is really special.

 

[Maximus One]

It really is man. Even with it's negatives like the procedural aspect of it it's still just so outstanding. The writers have really seemed to have nailed Hannibal absolutely perfectly. Everything the dude says or does I'm like "Yup, I can totally see Hopkin's Hannibal doing and saying the exact same thing" plus, I love how metaphorical and artsy everything is. Of course the stag represents Will's subconscious trying to tell him everything is right in front of him. I'd even go as far as saying that the stag is supposed to be Hannibal. I absolutely can not ****ing wait to see everybody's reactions when Hannibal's true nature comes to light. The one thing I am a tad concerned with is how they possibly could be humanizing Hannibal a bit much. Sure he's an absolute monster but he does have real feelings and in his own sick way cares about all these people. God damn this show is just beautiful!

 

[Nemi]

It really is man. Even with it's negatives like the procedural aspect of it it's still just so outstanding. The writers have really seemed to have nailed Hannibal absolutely perfectly. Everything the dude says or does I'm like "Yup, I can totally see Hopkin's Hannibal doing and saying the exact same thing" plus, I love how metaphorical and artsy everything is. Of course the stag represents Will's subconscious trying to tell him everything is right in front of him. I'd even go as far as saying that the stag is supposed to be Hannibal. I absolutely can not ****ing wait to see everybody's reactions when Hannibal's true nature comes to light. The one thing I am a tad concerned with is how they possibly could be humanizing Hannibal a bit much. Sure he's an absolute monster but he does have real feelings and in his own sick way cares about all these people. God damn this show is just beautiful!

That is one thing that I love about his character. Mads makes him come across as someone that has real feelings but isn't a ''human being''. He really is a monster.

 

[Schlosser85]

Actually I find Mikkelsen's Hannibal less sympathetic than Hopkins' (love them both).

Hopkins we only saw in and after prison. Mikkelsen we see just preying on all these vulnerable people because he can, and it makes him come across more cruel to me.

 

[squeekness]

Madds should win an Emmy for two moments in this episode alone.

First was the last scene between Hannibal and Jack. When he says, "Im so sorry, Jack." he looked so genuinely sincere and apologetic with tears in the corners of his eyes, and in the span of less than a second he drops all of the emotion out of his face with a slight turn of his head and is just completely blank. It was so well done and incredibly creepy.

The second is Hannibal's revelation to Abigail about his true nature. I could barely breathe during that last scene. Madds seemed to bring to the forefront all of Hannibal's emotionless malevolence in that final caress of Abigail's cheek.

In other shows we would have heard Georgia screaming and thrashing about in the incubator, but they decided to stay within the stylistic nature of the show and presented her death in such a way that it was both beautiful and horrific at the same time.

Um, when Will woke up in the empty airplane, that was another delusion and he was really in the cabin alone after Abigail left for her house and into the clutches of Hannibal right?

This show is really special.

I can totally agree with this statement. He is a fine Lector and I am thrilled we will be getting another season of this.

 

[James]

"Many more than your father" was the standout line to me. One more episode to go! Very exciting stuff.

 

[Sawyer]

Actually I find Mikkelsen's Hannibal less sympathetic than Hopkins' (love them both).

Hopkins we only saw in and after prison. Mikkelsen we see just preying on all these vulnerable people because he can, and it makes him come across more cruel to me.

To me, I think the difference is relatability. Mads Hannibal seems like a real guy, seemingly friendly and helpful. Hopkins, wonderful as he might have been, seems very over the top by comparison, almost to the point of caricature. There's something a little more disturbing about someone you might actually be fooled into believing is on your side turning out to be a serial killer, who has been pulling your strings ever since you first crossed paths, as opposed to a really creepy dude that practically has "I EAT PEOPLE" written in bold letters across his forehead.

 

[Paradox1]

Hannibal is a monster pure and simple dude really has a god complex he just put **** in motion just to see what happens. It's like Will and Abigail are mice in his maze and he's just watching them go. Do you all think Hannibal does that because he just doesn't understand people?

To me, I think the difference is relatability. Mads Hannibal seems like a real guy, seemingly friendly and helpful. Hopkins, wonderful as he might have been, seems very over the top by comparison, almost to the point of caricature. There's something a little more disturbing about someone you might actually be fooled into believing is on your side turning out to be a serial killer, who has been pulling your strings ever since you first crossed paths, as opposed to a really creepy dude that practically has "I EAT PEOPLE" written in bold letters across his forehead.

I think Hopkins' Hannibal is free from pretending to be normal The taunting the prodding Mads' Hannibal still does it but it's more subtle.

 

[Maximus One]

Well the thing is, I just can not imagine Mads' Hannibal acting the way Hopkins' did when incarcerated. I can't imagine this Hannibal being so overtly malevolent and inhuman like Hopkins was. Sure he does embody both of those things but he's so much more complex than that. I just can't imagine Hannibal looking at Will and not seeing a friend. I see this Hannibal stabbing Will and actually being somewhat sad about having to.

 

[Schlosser85]

As much as Hannibal has talked about friendship, considering what he's orchestrating regarding Will these past few episodes, it's pretty clear he doesn't know what that is.

 

[Schlosser85]

Also, poor Georgia and Abigail. In a way, they were victims too. I don't get the people online saying Abigail got what she deserved. She was forced into it for survival.

Also, I have a hard time seeing it taking Season 2 for Hannibal to get outed based on next week's promo.

 

[Asgard]

It really is man. Even with it's negatives like the procedural aspect of it it's still just so outstanding. The writers have really seemed to have nailed Hannibal absolutely perfectly. Everything the dude says or does I'm like "Yup, I can totally see Hopkin's Hannibal doing and saying the exact same thing" plus, I love how metaphorical and artsy everything is. Of course the stag represents Will's subconscious trying to tell him everything is right in front of him. I'd even go as far as saying that the stag is supposed to be Hannibal. I absolutely can not ****ing wait to see everybody's reactions when Hannibal's true nature comes to light. The one thing I am a tad concerned with is how they possibly could be humanizing Hannibal a bit much. Sure he's an absolute monster but he does have real feelings and in his own sick way cares about all these people. God damn this show is just beautiful!

I cant wait either for Hannibal to be outed. Holy crap thats going to be intense.

As far as Hannibal being humanized, I dont really see it that way. Its all false. He doesnt really care about any of them outside of the fun they provide for him when hes manipulating them. Even when he's interacting with Abigail and he comes off as a father figure, its all a ruse so that he can continue his game. Now that he's confirmed who he is, he's most likely going to kill her to protect himself unless she can find a way to persuade him not to.

Also, poor Georgia and Abigail. In a way, they were victims too. I don't get the people online saying Abigail got what she deserved. She was forced into it for survival.

Also, I have a hard time seeing it taking Season 2 for Hannibal to get outed based on next week's promo.

Yeah, being burned alive is pretty damn horrible. Especially when its in slow motion and you have to listen to music while youre roasting.

I agree. So far I dont have any clue how Hannibal can keep his secret much longer. He needs someone to take the rap for the copycat murders to avoid all suspicion and I cant think of anyone he can use.

 

[Snow Queen]

"He swallowed his tongue while he was attacking me."

 

[Maximus One]

^^^^ hahaha I thought the exact same thing when they said that haha awesomeness