“I don’t want to kill you any more, Dr. Lecter … not now that I finally find you interesting.” Will Graham explains to Hannibal. (Major Spoilers)
Now that Chilton is dead and Jack Crawford is seemingly satisfied he was the Chesapeake Ripper, Lecter is free to assist the FBI once more. Even so, Will Graham knows exactly what Hannibal is but is clearly happy to play along with the charade. We are also introduced to a new character, well, new to the show, but not to those of us who’ve read the book. Margot Verger is a patient of Lecter’s, who suffered at the hands of her sadistic brother, Mason. Mason Verger was memorably played by Gary Oldman in the 2001 movie Hannibal, where he wore an incredible amount of prosthetics to help complete the transformation. In the book, Margot was a bodybuilding, walnut-cracking lesbian, who was desperate for a child. She was never portrayed in the film so this is the first time we’ve seen her, and Katherine Isabelle does a fantastic job of bringing her to life.
- Hannibal
- Created by
Bryan Fuller - Cast
Hugh Dancy, Mads Mikkelsen, Laurence Fishburne, Caroline Dhavernas - Episode Release Date
18 April 2014 - Ed’s Grade: A
The opening scene this week is of Jack and Will icefishing where Will is explaining how to catch a fish that doesn’t want to be caught. This is a metaphorical display and discussion on how to catch Lecter. Jack asks “how do you catch a fish that isn’t hungry?” Will explains “your lure is the one thing he wants, despite everything he knows.” Then adds “I’m a good fisherman, Jack.” Jack tells Will “you hook ’em; I’ll land ’em,” which suggests Jack isn’t quite as convinced of Hannibal’s innocence as Lecter thinks. After Jack’s behaviour last week, where he was very angry and upset at Chilton, who he believed to be the killer of his colleagues, I actually expected Jack to ease up on Hannibal, however, judging by just the opening dialogue between he and Will, Jack is still open to the fact it may indeed be Lecter who is the Chesapeake Ripper. If that is the case, then why did Jack behave as he did towards Chilton, by trying to kill him?
The next scene where Jack and Will dine at Hannibal’s is and interesting one, where Jack and Lecter pretend all is well with the past actions of Lecter being considered a suspect is put behind them, only to have Will say what he really feels; “I thought it was my turn to provide the meat.” The look on Jack’s face when he utters those words is priceless. Will continues to add in his little barbs throughout the meal, but a stoic Lecter does his best to make excuses for Will’s comments, convincing himself that Will is no longer a real threat. This is before Will has a frank talk with Lecter.
*****
This week’s gruesome murder is yet another beautifully planned and considered horror scenario, where a person is murdered then sewn inside the belly of a horse; a horse that had recently lost its foal. It never ceases to amaze me just how many different ways the writers have found to invent the most outrageous ways of killing someone on this show. Hannibal Lecter is called in by Jack to assist on the case, which gives Lecter the chance to have Will Graham drafted in. Lecter explains to Jack; “this killer doesn’t think like anyone else, Jack. You’ll have to find someone who doesn’t think like anyone else to catch him.” Jack then gives Lecter a knowing look.
We’re then witness to Margot being hurt by a mostly unseen Mason Vergor, by way of a flashback in Lecter’s office. Margot’s arm is in a sling and she’s discussing why she attacked her brother, regretting not being able to kill him properly. Lecter eventually tells Margot, “it would actually have been more therapeutic if you had killed him.”
When Will attends his session with Lecter, they both agree it would be better if they drop the pretence, although, Lecter won’t openly admit to anything that contradicts his caring psychiatrist persona. Hannibal wants to know if Will intends to make another attempt on his life. Lecter also asks;
“why have you resumed your therapy?”
“I can’t just talk to any psychiatrist about what’s kicking around my head.”
“You fantasize about killing me?”
“Yes.”
“Tell me, how would you do it?”
“With my hands.”
“Then we haven’t moved past apologies and forgiveness, have we?”
“We’ve moved past a lot of things. I discovered a truth about myself when I tried to have you killed.”
“That doing bad things to bad people makes you feel good?”
“Yes.”
“I need to know if you’re going to try to kill me again, Will.”
“I don’t want to kill you any more, Dr. Lecter … not now that I finally find you interesting.”
Touché!
Before Hannibal has his next session with Margot, we visit the next crime-scene where 16 bodies are recovered thanks to the soil found in the horse victims throat, and lab-tech Brian Zeller offers Will Graham an apology for not believing he was innocent. A bitter Margot complains to Lecter about Mason being forgiven for all his sins (if you’ve read the book you’ll understand just how bad his sins actually are), and how she believes he won’t stop. Lecter eventually suggests Margot gets a third-party to kill Mason.
The death of the 16 women are down to two possible subjects, one of whom is a social worker. It’s clear after he’s brought in for questioning and cleverly interrogated by Alana Bloom, he’s the odds-on favorite as the killer. We end the episode with the social worker, Clark Ingram, covered from head-to-toe in blood, having just emerged from another dead horse. In a strange turn of events, Hannibal only just prevents Will from shooting Clark, and both Will Graham and Hannibal Lecter recognise the irrevocable change in Will. Will behaving thus, also helps allow Hannibal to think he’s in complete control of the situation with both Jack and Will. Hubris may yet be Hannibal’s downfall.
TV Recap by Lead Entertainment Writer, Ed Blackadder
