Most poorly crafted pickup line ever?
I might have stuck with the “Do you think I could have a plum?” approach he took when he first met Reba. It was a surprisingly effective icebreaker.
And the dude only says “UHHHHHHHH” at the dinner table. You could say he gets by on looks, but … she’s blind.
Also … THORIN GOT TALL. And somehow even grouchier.
This sucks.
Although I absolutely love the name “Jethro Nededog.” I’m tempted to change MY name to that.
http://www.businessinsider.com/hannibal-season-4-isnt-moving-forward-with-amazon-netflix-2015-7
“Hannibal” was cancelled after struggling for ratings for three seasons.
“Family Feud” has been on the air for 39 years.
Just think about that for a little while.
It looks as though this third season … MIGHT be its last. There seems to be a lot of speculation out there about whether a fourth season may be possible via streaming services like Netflix or Amazon Prime. I myself can’t tell if I should be optimistic … apparently if NBC cancelled the show early this season, the producers “have time” to shop for another carrier?
They say that the show has a fervent cult following, but no wide audience. I’m forced to admit that this makes sense to me — the program’s gore probably turned off some viewers; its unexpectedly slow pacing (which allowed for a cerebral script) probably lost even more.
http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/tv/hannibal-canceled-nbc-seasons-article-1.2267674
[WARNING — THIS POST CONTAINS MAJOR SPOILERS FOR SEASONS 2 AND 3 OF “HANNIBAL,” AS WELL AS STEPHEN KING’S “THE DARK TOWER” SERIES. READ AT YOUR OWN RISK.]
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This could be overeager nerd eisigesis, but something jumped out at me immediately in the second episode of this summer’s “Hannibal.”
When Will Graham greets Abigail Hobbes at the beginning, he wonders about “some other world.”
The doomed young Abigail responds: “I’m having a hard enough time dealing with this world. I hope some of the other worlds are easier.”
That’s “worlds,” plural — not “another world” or “the next world.” It sounds a hell of a lot like the doomed Jake Chambers’ famous line towards the end of “The Gunslinger,” before he falls to his fate: “Go then. There are other worlds than these.”
Graham goes on the discuss string theory: “Everything that can happen, happens.” This dovetails perfectly with the idea of the nearly infinite parallel universes that comprise different levels of “The Tower.”
Then other story parallels occurred to me:
1) Both Abigail and Jake are children of surrogate fathers who are on a crusade (Graham’s pursuit of Hannibal Lecter, the Gunslinger’s quest for The Tower).
2) Both are specialized, cold-blooded killers by training (Abigail’s bizarre tutelage by her serial killer biological father, Jake’s training by the Gunslinger).
3) Both are willingly sacrificed by their surrogate fathers. (NBC’s show makes it clear that Hannibal is also a father figure to Abigail.)
4) Both characters were sacrificed by the show’s/book’s title character.
5) The memories of both haunt the stories’ protagonists as a recurring motif. Both appear to drive the heroes insane.
6) Both characters are ostensibly dead at some point, and then are quasi-resurrected by a surprise plot device. (Abigail has been secreted away by Hannibal; Jake is returned from a parallel universe to which he was consigned.)
7) The loss of both characters are tied to themes of forgiveness. (Jake forgives the Gunslinger for letting him fall; Graham explicitly forgives Hannibal for Abigail’s loss as part of the show’s overarching theme.)
It would be fun and perfectly viable to imagine that the show’s events transpire on a “level” of The Tower. The differing continuities of the original books and feature films could even comprise other levels. King makes it clear that “twinners” are character analogs living in different universes.
But I am probably just imagining things. I also thought that Hannibal’s reference to his “person suit” in this season’s first episode was a reference to “Donnie Darko” (2001): “Why do you wear that silly man suit?” And, in retrospect, that seems like a coincidence.
If you catch up with “Hannibal” via DVR or NBC.com, I might actually suggest you begin with the amazing and beautiful second episode, and not the Season 3 premiere. I enjoyed the season opener, but not quite as much as everyone else did. (Seriously, guys, if you think I am alone in lauding this program, google a few reviews.) The first episode falls firmly for me into the “good, but not great” category; I’d give it an 8 out of 10.
We’ve got an interesting basic story that pays very close attention to Thomas Harris’ source novels and Ridley Scott’s 2000 film treatment, and we’ve got great directing, cinematography and acting. Gillian Anderson shines, outperforming even the terrific Mads Mikkelsen in the title role.
It was creative and different, with dramatic changes in point of view, tone and setting, as Hannibal absconds from Baltimore to Florence with the extorted Bedelia du Maurier. It held some nice thematic surprises, as the script humanizes Hannibal unexpectedly — and this is helped by flashbacks in which we actually get to see Eddie Izzard’s bad guy from Season 2 get one up on him in some verbal sparring. (I am entirely unfamiliar with Izzard’s comedy performances, but damn if he doesn’t make a sweet super-villain. The guy’s got perfect diction and line delivery, and can be damned frightening when he wants to be.)
But, for me, this episode failed in terms of momentum and tension. It does very little to move the overarching narrative forward — so little that I suggest it could be seen as ancillary material appropriate for a webisode or DVD extra. (Yes, I do realize that Hannibal “missing” Will Graham is important in setting up themes and character relationships for the rest of the season, but … whatever.) This is really a kind of … “milieu” episode that establishes his arrival in Europe and the means to arrive at his cover identity. The fates of the victims of the Baltimore massacre? They’re unknown to us.
We can’t feel too much tension — of Hannibal’s two murder victims, one is hardly known to us, and the other is flat out unlikable. We can’t identify with them. Nor can we take any pathological satisfaction in Hannibal’s modus operandi. He kinda shows up and says “Bonsoir” a bit undramatically, and we cut to another scene.
I had the occasional nitpick as well.
1) The viewer is asked to identify with Bedelia. For some reason this character has never worked for me. It certainly isn’t Anderson’s fault. She’s fantastic. Maybe the problem is me.
2) I actually do really like Mikkelsen. But his stoical approach to the character is nowhere near as satisfying as Anthony Hopkins’ iconic, nuanced, expressive, darkly charming take on the character.
3) We live in an age of Google image search. Does no one in Florence notice that “Dr. Fell” looks nothing like an online photograph?
4) After the climax of Season 2, shouldn’t Hannibal be easily recognized as the world’s most infamous fugitive and alleged serial killer? Is his image nowhere on CNN.com?
5) What about facial recognition software? If a photo of Faux Fell is ever uploaded, might Interpol or the FBI locate him at once?
6) Seeing Dana Scully (sorry — BEDELIA) sexually harassed at the dinner table just makes me angry. Fox Mulder needs to appear and kick some ass. Actually … scratch that. Send John Dogget.
7) I don’t like seeing Hannibal appear with even a putative “spouse.” He’s a lone wolf, to me, anyway.
8) The dialogue, yet again, is occasionally too overly stylized for me. Even ingenious people communicate prosaically in their everyday lives. Do these people sound like Shakespeare when they say “Pass the salt,” or ask what time to set the alarm clock for the next day?
9) Once or twice, the dialogue is just … bad. Bedelia: “Your peace is without morality.” Hannibal: “There is no morality — only morale.” (You can’t call it Shakespeare if it’s trying too hard.)
10) The symbolism and the references to the feature films are maybe a little too heavy-handed. I’m talking the hand-on-the-shoulder during the lecture, and seeing one character bashed over the head with a bust of Aristotle. (“When Academics Attack.”)
Don’t let my compulsive griping get to you if you are a fan of the show, however. This wasn’t a bad episode, just not the best. And the second episode of Season 3 is goddam PHENOMENAL.
First look at “Hannibal” Season 3!!!
I am depending on you people to watch this show, so that it remains on the air. You guys already failed to come through for me on “The Following,” and now Ryan Hardy will no longer be able to save us from serial killers — which, in “The Following’s” universe, are about as common in the population as Justin Bieber fans (and even more terrifying).
I am sorry to gush so much like a fanboy for “Hannibal,” but if everyone else is going so bananas for “Star Wars,” I figure my ardor here is forgivable. If it redeems me any, I was also a huge fan of the books. So … y’know … literature and stuff.
Here are a few quick thoughts:
1) The Season 3 preview looks great, but it IS rather heavy on spoilers regarding who survived the Baltimore massacre. (Am I mistaken in thinking the second season finale meant to keep that a mystery? ALL the advance press does this — including character posters.)
2) I’m happy to see that Hannibal Lecter is NOT actually married to Bedelia (I won’t attempt to spell the remainder of her name), because that would contradict his character incredibly.
3) It looks as though NBC shot on location in Europe. Isn’t that really expensive for a TV show to do?
4) I’m confused about whether the story takes place in Paris or Florence (as in Thomas Harris’ original novel).
5) Seeing Will Graham speak in a British accent causes me cognitive dissonance. I get the same thing whenever I see Andrew Lincoln or Hugh Laurie in interviews. Because Rick Grimes should not sound like James Bond.
6) It looks as though they are heavily (and wisely) referencing the novels again. The line, “I’ve killed hardly anybody during our residence,” paraphrases Harris’ “Hannibal.”
7) No Clarice Starling … and maybe not ever. NBC does not own the rights to that character.
8) Whether or not Bedelia condones or participates in Hannibal’s crimes is left ambiguous. This is something that seems forced and implausible to me. (Viewers should know if she’s dirty or not.) This is despite the fact that Gillian Anderson is a great actress with great delivery of ambiguous dialogue. Yes, I do understand that both characters are supposed to be brilliant, and can trade cryptic comments and understand each other perfectly. But would this happen all the time? Wouldn’t Bedlia, just once, look over and say, “You know, I’m not on board with all this killing and stuff?”
9) Shot for shot, the preview here is heavily reminiscent of Brett Ratner’s film, “Red Dragon” (2002).
10) The “Red Dragon” storyline is indeed happening; we just won’t see it right away. Actor Richard Armitage looks great. They will return to Baltimore if Francis Dolarhyde is a baddie — this would also explain why we see actors portraying Baltimore residents in past seasons.
11) No Inspector Pazzi, despite Florence being referenced.
12) Mason Verger returns. He looks different. Because WHEN ANIMALS ATTACK.
13) Some of my Mommy friends have young children who occasionally will lose a baby tooth. I suggest that this is a great family-friendly program with which to introduce to them the story of “The Tooth Fairy.”
This is my big brother — actor and screenwriter Russell Morgan. Look at that iconic face and that steady stare.
TELL ME THIS GUY DOESN’T DESERVE A GUEST-STARRING ROLE ON NBC’S “HANNIBAL.”
It looks good enough, if not overwhelming. I’m reminding myself that Season 2’s trailer sucked, and that season was amazing.
We’re shown one (probably obvious) Baltimore survivor, with an allusion that at least one other has died. You can also tell that they’re continuing themes from Season 2 and really plumbing the mythos established by the books and films — something the show has excelled at so far.
If someone can tell me what is in those square glass displays, I’d be grateful.
Oh! Also … we’re in Europe!
It’s the thinking man’s “Walking Dead.”
Eric Robert Nolan, Author 