Monday, March 10, 2014

'Hannibal' 2.02 "Sakizuki" Review

NBC
Even though this show has had its fair share of horrific moments, none so far can match anything to do with the human mural. "Sakizuki"’s cold open played out like a mini horror film; there was no way to know how it would end until the gut-punch conclusion. Every moment that the living victim worked to free himself was agony to watch, but there was also a message to be found that could relate to Will Graham’s current predicament. It’s no coincidence that he later envisions himself exactly in the same position as both this victim and later on the mastermind of the mural that takes his place. Freedom is going to cost dearly and while it doesn't seem as though Will will literally lose his pound of flesh to switch the focus to Hannibal as perpetrator, it is clear that he’s going over a cliff and he might not make it out alive.  



NBC
This episode thematically focused on characters looking down at the lines drawn on the ground before them, literally and otherwise, and choosing to cross those lines. These actions carry with them new consequences as power shifts abound between the characters. I'm glad that early on this season chose to have Dr. DuMaurier take her stand against Hannibal. It would be a massive insult to her intelligence (which we know Hannibal respects among few others) to continue their relationship as it was last season. Her confrontation with Lecter was tense and unpredictable. People suit or not, he could have lunged for her right then and there in his office. I thought she was a perfect choice to give hope to Will Graham considering they now have a great deal in common. It seems that Bedelia was too smart to hang around to wind up on Lecter's dinner table so I hope we'll see her again in a big way during Will Graham's upcoming trial perhaps.

NBC
Those proceedings are guaranteed to be an absolute circus and I hope that Will has it within him to continue his role as an expected ringmaster. Will's contrition scene with Alana and Hannibal was the next best move he could make with those two. One of my favorite things about seeing Will in this position is how very differently he acts with the different characters that come to visit him. There is no question that Alana may be able to realize the truth of what's happened to her friend and colleague but Will knows that she's too close to Lecter still to take the risk. Whereas someone like Beverly Katz, who if  you'll notice all but squirms in the very presence of Lecter this season, has proven to be just slightly open enough that perhaps she can be convinced. I'm enjoying the focus on her outside of the lab and her capacity as go-between with Will Graham even if Jack Crawford was a raging asshole to her about visiting him.
NBC

By the end of "Sakizuki", I don't mind admitting who I hope wins in the battle between Jack and Hannibal from the season opener. It was a progressive annoyance stemmed from how Jack seems to find a way to keep making it all about him that Will is locked up. Yes, he did put him on these assignments and he also pushed him during the course of several investigations in order to get their man. But Jack clearly hasn't learned anything from this experience as evidenced by his conversation with Bedelia. She's clearly uncomfortable with the idea of ever seeing Dr. Lecter again and all Jack can do is try to assure her that maybe he can help her with that. So she should definitely keep seeing him. Of course, she doesn't take the bait but Jack's willingness to want to persuade her back into something she doesn't want to participate in came off really badly in the scene.

NBC
It could just be part of the fact that Jack is an administrative guy at heart. Honestly, whenever he gives his ideas about a crime scene they're so far off from the actual intention it makes you wonder how he got so far in the bureau. But now Hannibal's around to do the creative thinking for him. Made all the easier by the fact that he was involved directly in the final murder (assisted suicide even) of the human mural. Talk about crossing lines, we were given a chance to witness why Hannibal is so damn dangerous in the first place.

NBC
The very idea of a serial killer who's also a psychiatrist may seem banal at first but this episode gave us a chance to really see why this combination is so insidious. I applaud Fuller for including the scene of Hannibal with the 'artist' of the mural instead of leaving it to the audience imagination. This way we're given a chance to see how his mental mastery digs deep inside of those who would never lie down for actual law enforcement. Hannibal figures them out and then he gives them what they want it just so happens to coincide with what he wants. The artist gets to become part of his masterpiece and Lecter gets to feast on veal osso bucco--everybody wins. Just wait for the Verger siblings to show up and if it follows what happens in the book series, you'll really see how influencing Lecter can be to the damaged.

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