by Cookie N Screen
There will always be a lot of contention hit back at the season finale of any television show. Hannibal, it seems, is no different. Entering into season two thirteen weeks back and it was clear from the onset we were playing with a different ballgame than the first series. In some aspects, the show was a scarier and more thrilling beast, powering through the motions and the twists like an animal. However, episodes falter and storylines were picked up only to be dropped again. The final episode had a lot of murky waters to navigate in order for it to land, setting up an incredible season three. Did it succeed? In many ways, yes it did. And yes, this review is riddled with SPOILERS.
There will always be a lot of contention hit back at the season finale of any television show. Hannibal, it seems, is no different. Entering into season two thirteen weeks back and it was clear from the onset we were playing with a different ballgame than the first series. In some aspects, the show was a scarier and more thrilling beast, powering through the motions and the twists like an animal. However, episodes falter and storylines were picked up only to be dropped again. The final episode had a lot of murky waters to navigate in order for it to land, setting up an incredible season three. Did it succeed? In many ways, yes it did. And yes, this review is riddled with SPOILERS.
Let’s recap shall we (because half of this bleeding episode was reminding us exactly what happened.) Will and Hannibal are seemingly the hottest murder couple on the show, having mutilated Randall Tier together and Will had apparently butchered Freddie Lounds. But with a sly wink to the audience, Will has actually been luring Hannibal into a trap in order to catch him. Jack Crawford, however, is met with a backlash by DA Kate Prudnell who sends an arrest out to both him and Will for their criminal activities. Soon, Hannibal is alerted to the copious amount of cops on their way and a bloody battle ensues.
Addressing what was failed within the episode first and it must be noted that this episode started off really slowly. It dragged while it grouped everyone together, skirting over the people who know all about Hannibal’s antics and yet again trying to convince the authority that this was a dangerous man. And it wasn’t a dawdling act to build up tension, it just seemed fuddled, trying to keep the audience on tenterhooks. Instead, all it did was eat up time for the final quarter, leaving us minimal minutes to digest the glorious final moments and their exquisite nature.
Addressing what was failed within the episode first and it must be noted that this episode started off really slowly. It dragged while it grouped everyone together, skirting over the people who know all about Hannibal’s antics and yet again trying to convince the authority that this was a dangerous man. And it wasn’t a dawdling act to build up tension, it just seemed fuddled, trying to keep the audience on tenterhooks. Instead, all it did was eat up time for the final quarter, leaving us minimal minutes to digest the glorious final moments and their exquisite nature.
Which leads us on the how utterly brilliant the finale moments were. Yes, Abigail is alive and well, held captive by Hannibal all this time. That may be a bitter pill to swallow but it does wonders for the narrative. Especially because it leads to a beautiful juxtaposition with the first episode (of the first series) and Fuller conducts it so well. The idea that Will was ensnaring Hannibal was a thrilling story arc to follow but then to find out that Hannibal, again, had the upper hand all along was simply delightful. Alongside some powerful imagery (the bloody mask of Will’s was divine,) the full circle nature of the episode with the tea cup leaping up from its shattered shards, was exciting and intelligent. As Hannibal walks away from his carnage, allowing the rain to soak him, the episode became drenched in this chaotic beauty.
In a perfect world, Fuller would have levelled the twist with more room for us to get our heads around it. Why are creative so eager to drop bombshells and leave little from for us to deal with the disaster? This episode would have been a lot more exhilarating if the episode had begun with the battle between Hannibal and Will and the introduction of Abigail, levelling it with Alana trying to get people to listen before rushing off to her fate. But it wasn’t a shockingly bad finale. It left a lot of lives dangling in the air and an exciting end of credits scene. Officially on the edge of our seats, Hannibal has a lot to follow onto season three as the killer has fled and those who survive have to catch him.
In a perfect world, Fuller would have levelled the twist with more room for us to get our heads around it. Why are creative so eager to drop bombshells and leave little from for us to deal with the disaster? This episode would have been a lot more exhilarating if the episode had begun with the battle between Hannibal and Will and the introduction of Abigail, levelling it with Alana trying to get people to listen before rushing off to her fate. But it wasn’t a shockingly bad finale. It left a lot of lives dangling in the air and an exciting end of credits scene. Officially on the edge of our seats, Hannibal has a lot to follow onto season three as the killer has fled and those who survive have to catch him.
RSS Feed
