***SPOILER WARNING***
Now we’re back on track. No more flashbacks or waiting to know who survived season 2. It’s time for Hannibal to move forward. Contorno definitely brought us this and more. So much more. This time we return to Florence where Jack says a sad and dignified farewell to Bella.
Jack has lost so much and seems like he has accepted his fate as the unsatisfied cop whose main rival escaped his grasp. He’s trying to find peace. Pazzi recognises and relates to Jack’s situation and extends him friendship. Of course, this being Hannibal, this glimpse of happiness can’t last long. More on that later.
We must focus on Dr Alana Bloom for a bit. Dr Bloom began as a kindhearted and humanistic psychologist. She saw the turmoil in Will and tried to help. She gave Hannibal the benefit of the doubt. Seeing her left broken, literally, was painful. However, as the old proverb goes, hell hath no fury like a woman scorn. Dr Bloom’s transition into a sophisticated, scheming and vengeful character is pretty damn amazing. Her meeting with Mason Verger in the previous episode showed us how thirsty for blood she is. And who can blame her? Her beauty and grace mirrors Hannibal’s, though there’s still remnants of a conscience within her. Caroline Dhavernas plays the role beautifully with just enough hamminess and seriousness that plays off Verger’s insanity well. She’s just great.
Speaking of Verger, while in season 2 he was obnoxious and deserving of karmic punishment (jury’s still out whether he truly deserve the punishment he got), it’s strange to feel sympathy for him. His intentions are nowhere near the vicinity of pure, quite the opposite actually, yet we kind of want him to get what he wants this time i.e. Hannibal. Despite his charms, Hannibal is due his own karmic backlash.
Will and Chiyoh were kind of unremarkable in this episode. Their own return to Florence felt like it should have been more grand or exciting. Rather, we were treated to more exposition. We learn more about Chiyoh’s past with Hannibal and there are hints of attraction between her and Will. Fortunately this is merely a ploy.
So yes, Will continues to make bad decisions in where he places his trust. There’s still a lot of potential on how this storyline can develop. Chiyoh could well and truly just want to take care of Hannibal herself. Perhaps she saw how close Will is to becoming Hannibal and decided to take care of him when she had the chance. She’s a narrative wildcard so far.
Will’s not the only one making bad decision though. Inspector Pazzi, burning for revenge, makes a regrettable life decision when decides to try selling Hannibal out to Verger. He had all he needed to at least detain Hannibal and yet the bounty set by Verger was too much for the inspector to resist. And in return he was hanged and gutted (in that order). It’s quite a powerful image.
Then we come to the big finish.
Round two of the Jack and Hannibal grudge match.
Here we see how much Jack was trying to convince himself to let Hannibal go. He knew if the chance presented itself he would beat the crap out of Hannibal.
This scene was incredible. Not just because the schadenfreude of seeing Hannibal beaten to a bloody pulp was immense, but also because it highlights the fact (to us and to himself) that Hannibal isn’t as careful or as powerful as he likes to think.
He’s just another human being, or close to it anyway.
And that’s exactly what it became.
And it was glorious.
Well done, Jack. Well done.
