UK TV review: Hannibal Season 3, Episode 6
Review Overview
Delicious dishes
8Dodgy deals
7Dangerous liaisons
7Jo Bromilow | On 19, Jul 2015
Already seen Episode 6? Read on at the bottom for additional, spoiler-filled comments.
How does one hunt a dangerous beast? That’s what we explore in this episode – the various ways you actually entrap a cornered creature. Because while Hannibal (Mads Mikkelsen) did limp off into the night at the end of last week’s episode, he’s very much cornered. So how would you bring him in?
Dolce follows the various methods chosen by our cast, as they observe the majestic Mikkelsen from afar. For Bedelia (Gillian Anderson), plausible deniability is the best option; seemingly flinging herself at the mercy of the law, she opts to leave to save her skin and keep it intact by not betraying Hannibal just yet. A wise course of action, but one that is likely to change. Bedelia is a creature of mystery and slippery motives as much as Hannibal is. Who knows at what point she will turn on her former patient?
Having firmly renounced her own Hippocratic oath, Alana Bloom has entrenched herself even more deeply into the Verger camp – deeper than we might otherwise have suspected, given the extremely trippy sex scene we are treated to – with Margot moving into the fore to reveal her own interests in what the acquisition of Hannibal will mean to the clan at large, and perhaps a more sinister purpose for Alana. How might this play out in Will’s eyes, if he and Alana are reunited? The good Doctor has gone firmly to the dark side in pursuit of vengeance where previously she was a strong moral compass for Will. With those wishing to stop Hannibal so divided, will they do their cause more harm than good?
Thankfully, there’s one man whose objective doesn’t waver. Mason, like any hunter, has food on his mind, pondering the best way to consumer Hannibal and take his power. But as big game hunters will attest, the majesty of the kill he is hoping to make also looms large in his mind; this will be a symbolic and ritualistic dinner when it is finally served. Joe Anderson’s portrayal of Mason makes a deliciously dark addition to an otherwise largely humourless cast (filling the Gideon void with aplomb), with lewd jokes and touching scenes in equal measure. This isn’t the Mason Verger Will and Hannibal knew before; therefore, the chance to see how Mason will attempt to banter with the deadpan Hannibal will be a welcome treat in episodes to come.
But steady on, we’re not there yet. Antagonists to Mason’s purpose abound – Chiyo, revealing herself to Bedelia as being interested in the preservation of this particular predator, is hell-bent on preserving the last dinosaur (if dinosaurs look that good in suits) from Jack’s attempts to put him behind bars. If Russell T Davies ever wants another example of a male lead weaponising his disciples, he need look no further; the perplexing psychology of Chiyo’s motivations is likely one even the good doctor couldn’t crack, even given the time he would have, were Chiyo to place him in the cage she was found guarding.
And locked in there with him? Far from Bedelia to be described as his partner-in-crime; that crown will always belong to Will, even if he’s not actually in the room (or in the country). Now that Bedelia is out of the picture, the greatest blood-drenched bromance on Tumblr can play out for the two, as Will continues to place himself in harm’s way (or blocking blades aimed at his other friends) to keep the beast company. Perhaps that’s the best way to tame a wild beast. To become one yourself.
Hannibal: Season 1 to 3 is available to watch online on Amazon Prime Video as part of a Prime membership or a £5.99 monthly subscription.
Where can I buy or rent Hannibal online in the UK?
Photo ©2014 NBCUniversal Media, LLC
Additional notes (contains spoilers)
– What the hell was that ending all about? Unreliable narrations abound in Hannibal, but I’d love to see how this one plays out. Although, given all the pigs popping up throughout the episode, I should have seen it coming.
– Also, what the hell was that sex scene all about? Masterful camerawork to get that one past the “the following programme” lady and it does give Margot back her sense of agency (plus I imagine it threw a bone to the fans), but the use of the eye in the frame might suggest it’s all in Mason’s twisted imagination? Or in ours…? The tantalising final moments of Alana and Margot re-dressing themselves rather suggests that we can’t rely on what we’ve seen.