NBC Hannibal is back! I have been keeping tab on this series after Season 2 ended for its latest progress, and I'm so happy now that I finally have a weekly drama to look forward to. Season 2 left off with cliff hangers to the betrayal showdown between Will Graham and Hannibal, having culminated into a bloody melee in which Abigail Hobbs died (should have a long time ago), Alana Bloom was flung out of the window (no one cares), and poor Jack Crawford was trying to contain the projectile spurts of his artery. I'm pretty sure Jack had survived and will be making his appearance in this season. Oh, and Dr. Chilton too, who got shot in the face. And of course Will Graham, with a new addition of a scar on his stomach.
Season 2 finale also gave a prelude to the Hannibal-Bedelia relationship which, I predict, will be one of the focus of Season 3, judging by Antipasto. I used to dislike Bedelia Du Maurier in Season 2 because of her lazy weird accent, and that I couldn't quite put my finger on where her loyalties lay. In Antipasto, Bedelia's situation become the focus of this exciting premiere, a good break from the entire FBI-Will Graham-Hannibal triangle in Season 2.
I MUST RAVE about the cinematography of the Hannibal series. The past 2 seasons played with alot of CGI effects (which aren't too fake) especially when Will's nightmares haunt him, and from what I know, the humanoid stag will still be screwing with Will's mind this season. Season 3, judging from Antipasto, seems to take on more stylish effects. I don't know how to describe them using cinematographic jargons, but just note that Antipasto had alot of scenes of slow-mo cascading fluid, black and white scenes, and even changes in aspect ratio to frame flashbacks. I can't decide if these are too much to play with in one single espisode; it seems that the Hannibal cinematography is straddling between very-cool and trying-too-hard for this season. Sound effects and music were good. Of course, I'm not surprised.
A peek into Bedelia Du Maurier's past. Bedelia had been manipulated by Hannibal (reminiscent of poor Will Graham) and is indebted to the cannibal. Out of fear, she becomes an unwilling accomplice and is coerced into playing Hannibal's wife in Europe. Antipasto shows how Bedelia can't escape from Hannibal even though she'd end up on his menu either way.
There were a few flashback scenes of the quickly diminishing Abel Gideon (think limb by limb) dining on himself with master chef Hannibal. I'm still unsure of Gideon's fate, and how he'll play out this season, but he offers good insights on Hannibal's desires and intentions - ah, the proverbial "It takes one to know one".
In Antipasto, our stupid unsuspecting lamb is Anthony Dimmond, who unfortunately, didn't make it out of this episode alive. Hannibal's big step out of his fugitive life was assuming the identity and job of a curator [which he argues that he'd "won by merit" (lol, seriously) evidently after emerging victor from his poetic showdown with the snobbish Professor Soglianto] (On a side note, we can also anticipate who'll end up on the menu #EatTheRude). Dimmond, being the assistant of the authentic Dr. Fell, only got to know of the identity heist after attending "Dr. Fell"'s lecture and was killed duh after a confrontation.
The only thing that irked me was how can someone NOT RECOGNISE a change in identity of a prominent curator and academic????? MAJOR friable storyplot but it's ok I forgive because the drama is too irresistable.
Hands down, the best scene - Unsuspecting lamb Dimmond, still unaware of Hannibal's new identity, taking the dinner-time sexual banter too figuratively:
Dimmond: You avoiding meats?
Bedelia: I'm trying not to eat anything with a central nervous system.
Dimmond: Oysters, acorns and marsala. That's what ancient Romans would feed animals to improve their flavour.
Bedelia looks unsettled and glances at Hannibal
Hannibal, chewing, looks at back at her with a subtle knowing smile
Bedelia: My husband has a very sophisticated palate. He's very particular about how I taste.
Dimmond pleasantly surprised with the innuendo, stares at Bedelia incredulousy, then at Hannibal
Hannibal averts his smile from Bedelia to Dimmond
Dimmond: -to Bedelia- Is it that kind of party?
Hannibal: looking at Bedelia, who is uncomfortable, smiles- It's not that kind of party
Bedelia: No. It really isn't.
Dimmond: Shame. You were both suddenly so fascinating.
Bedelia and Hannibal, who is beaming, both take a sip of wineI also like dialogues in the Hannibal series. To complement its dark theme, The dialogues between characters, especially Hannibal's, are quite profound and implicit and you'd have to think it through for better understanding. Which sometimes can be abit of a bother when I just wanna have abit of brainless entertainment.
Will Graham has yet to make an appearance in Season 3 and I'm definitely looking forward to him flirting with the devil.
Dimmond: “Clearly you found him as distasteful as I did.”
Hannibal: “Quite the contrary"
Bonsoir.
