Good lord, the music in this episode. Just fantastic. Jarring and atonal, it was reminiscent of Jonny Greenwood’s classic work on There Will Be Blood. But I can’t help but feel it would have been a better fit for last week’s “Sakizuki,” because “Hassun” is a little less engaging.
Keep in mind, Hannibal has never really produced a “bad” episode. But “Hassun” definitely feels like wheel-spinning. We’ve been looking forward to Will’s trial since his incarceration at the end of season one, and I have to say, I found it a little underwhelming. The trial didn’t wrap up tonight, so maybe next week will be more gripping.
Not that it’s boring – not at all. The performances are fantastic across the board, and it’s nice to see the return of Freddie Lounds (in a ridiculous hat), who shows up to drag Will’s name through the mud, only to be immediately discredited by Will’s lawyer Brower (“How many times have you been sued for libel?” “Six.” “And how many times have you settled.” “Six.” “No further questions.”). Raul Esparza is damn good as Dr. Chilton; having recently rewatched The Silence of the Lambs, I have to say I prefer his performance to that of Anthony Heald. He says, “There’s no name for what Will Graham is,” which is more or less what Clarice Starling said about Hannibal Lecter (“They don’t have a name for what he is”).
The biggest thing to happen during the trial is the death of the bailiff, and later the judge. The judge is killed in an especially impressive tableau, strung up with a scale in one hand, on which is placed his brain and his heart. This will result in a mistrial for Will, which is good news. The only problem with these copycat killings is that when in doubt, the killer is usually Hannibal.
But that brings me to a more important point: friendship. This is the loneliest episode of Hannibal to date, and our dear psychopathic cannibal misses his friend. He genuinely likes Will, which is a wonderful touch. I’d be far less interested in watching him toy with Will emotionlessly. “I want you to believe in the best of me,” Hannibal tells his friend, and Mads Mikkelsen’s naked, unaffected delivery really drives the point home.
Even in an episode like this, one that’s simply okay in comparison to the rest of the season, Hannibal can make you empathize with a murderer who eats his victims. That’s pretty incredible.
A Few Thoughts
– Cynthia Nixon’s Kade Prurnell returns. I was wondering what exactly her role this season would be, but then it was pointed out to me that “Kade Prurnell” is an anagram of “Paul Krendler,” the US Attorney played by Ray Liotta in 2001’s Hannibal. So maybe she’ll be a pain in everyone’s ass until Hannibal eats her brain
– I think we need more Alana Bloom, pronto
– Hassun is the second course of kaiseki (sakizuke is the first)
About Author
Trevor has a unique ability to tell us why it sucks, so this is basically a gush from him. Tight and to the point. Hate to see what he writes if no one gets eaten.