“Amuse-Bouche” S01E02 Hannibal Review
After the very promising series opener ‘Aperitif’ last week, we were hoping this week would be more of the same. Well the performances are as sound, the script just as sharp, and the uck factor very much present. So is it as good or perhaps better? Well unfortunately the quick answer is no. Apparently Hannibal’s US ratings have dropped significantly, and on episode three, which is a massive signpost to the fault lying with this one, and I can see why. This week’s episode is just plain disjointed, with no real emphasis on one theme or point.
The episode begins, not with a new story but with Graham and Crawford visiting Hobbs’ (last weeks baddie and I assume a recurring nightmare for Will) cabin, where they look at all manner of horns and not much else. This scene is presumably there to propose Crawford’s idea that Abigail Hobbs (his daughter) may have been in on the killings, but also to introduce Freddie Lounds, who is going to be causing all kinds of trouble as the series goes on, and indeed in just this episode. We then have a bit of a chat with Will, Alana (who really doesn’t have any point in this show and should be got rid of entirely) and Crawford about whether or not Will is stable enough to come back to work after shooting Hobbs.
We then spend quite a bit of time in Hannibal’s office with him signing Will off immediately, in the pretense that they can now have a proper therapy session without bureaucracy, but instead so Hannibal can continue to play mind games. Finally, eleven minutes into the episode, we get a hint of what the story for this week is, and it looks great. Some kids walking around in the forest come across what looks like a mushroom farm, but turns out to be a killer’s cemetery, with the bodies intravenously feed so they can stay alive long enough to be the fertiliser for his fungus network. Inventive, bizarre, creepy, everything you’d want in a show that is meant to be about serial killers. However, when Will gets to the scene, we are subjected to more of his be kind, rewind twaddle. This is ok if the actions of the killer are unknown to us, but what’s the point of dragging it out rewinding and then replaying, if all Graham does is chuck a shovel of dirt in and ties up their hands? We guessed the killer had done as much already just from looking at the line of graves. The special effects for this are very good, but having an opportunity to do it doesn’t mean you should. If you want to show Graham doing it that’s fine, just do the replay, if you want to show off the special effects just do the rewind, but don’t bore us with both. Also, why did we have that ‘scare’ at the crime scene, just for scares sake? If so, don’t bother, it’s cheap and meaningless.
Then, instead of doing some investigative work, we have another meeting in Hannibal’s office, followed by another scene with Freddie (who I was annoyed to see naked for no reason in her first scene, but after seeing her outfit in this one I would happily set fire to all of her wardrobe). We then have a scene with Crawford and Hannibal having dinner, for no reason other than we can all sit there wondering if it’s really pork. However, all I wonder is does anyone ever take such small portions and then sit there with their fork dangling in the air for so long? Also, if you are going to keep on doing this, occasionally let us know whether it is pork or not, otherwise we will get bored of this as well.
Eventually we get on the case. Then two minutes later it is solved, because Will isn’t someone with an unusual brain that can make connections, he’s psychic. Within half an hour of the show’s airtime, we know who has performed the murders, his motive, his method and his place of work, as does the FBI. Of course, he gets away, with some tenuous link to Freddie Lounds website.
After that, you just sort of give up. We have a few more scenes that again, may have been better elsewhere or on the cutting room floor (Alana again) which stumble their way to the inevitable and predictable conclusion.
I think the problem with this show so far is that although called Hannibal, isn’t about Hannibal at all. With it being set before Lecter is caught, we only get to see an insight into his malicious character about thirty seconds every episode, with the ending of this week being a prime example. This show is about Will Graham, and his quite frankly fucked up mind. Which is fine, but if this is really a show about Hannibal treating Graham as his little pet and possibly protege, then dive in and get to it. Don’t dangle other killers in front of us simply to discard them, don’t bring in tedious little scenes with pointless characters and don’t have Hannibal be so masked all the time. Let him break out and show us the sociopath within.
5/10
