Fortune's Fool

Hannibal (2013-2015)

FEM HANNIGRAM HOW ARE WE FEELING

Will going to Hannibal while he's losing time sort of means everything to me. Like Hannibal has officially successful made Will feel like Hannibal is his only support, his "paddle", so much so that even while out of it and losing time he winds up at Hannibal's office. And the ease with which he visits Hannibal in this episode, as if going to him after kissing Alana and having his feelings validated, his fears assuage has proven Hannibal reliable in Wills mind. Just delicious!! And I love that during that scene, Hannibal reaffirms he's there for Will "I'm your friend Will, I don't care about the lives you save I care about your life", and then not only undermining Wills analysis of his illness (since Will again brings up physical symptoms and the idea of a physical illness) but plants the seed in Wills mind that the more unstable he becomes the more violent he might become. Just like beautifully crafted manipulation.

And then immediately afterwards we have Will trying to apologize to Jack. the lack of general concern on Jack's behalf, saying losing himself is just what Will does without seriously considering the toll that might take. His tone is so paternally condescending, like Will is a surely teenager purposefully being obtuse. But the best part of the scene is Will lying to Jack. Hannibal has Will so convinced he has no one else, and he knows Jack will pull him from field work if he starts to slip, that realizing Jack didn't notice makes him lie that he's fine. I'm not sure Jack believes him but it gives him plausible deniablity and beyond that he can't demand Will get help if Will won't be honest about the ways he's struggling. Will lying to Jack, blatantly, in this small way is absolutely the red flag of "and he will lie to Jack again to suit his needs".

the moment between Alana and Will always leaves me conflicted. On the one hand, almost no one in Wills life is both honest with him and doesn't treat him like a child, and that's what Alana is trying to do here. She's upfront both about her feelings and why she can't act on them, treating Will like an equal for the maybe the first time ever in their relationship, even while telling him he's unstable. but I do think in a way it's cruel to say this to him. be upfront about his instability meaning you can't have a relationship? good. but the banter and the flirting, leading with her having feelings for him and not the rejection. She's trying to do the right thing, she's not being malicious, but Will is so desperately alone right now and it seems cruel to reject him after giving him hope again. Ultimately she's doing the right thing, and there's not really a good way to say what she did, but it makes me ache for Will.

the scene of Will confronting Hannibal about Abigail is like permanently imprinted on my brain. his anger, and its half at abigail having committed a crime and half that Hannibal helped cover it up and didn't tell Will. he's so betrayed by it all, and imo that's what he's really struggling with. He accepts both Abigail having murdered someone and Hannibal covering up so quickly, but the hurt remains. and then Hannibal lays it on sooooo thick "we're her fathers now". the logical part of me knows he playing to Wills paternal instincts towards Abigail to insure Will doesn't tell Jack and implicate him in a crime, but it's so heavy handed its like girl just get down on one knee already my god. and the reassuring touch after Will agrees to cover it up when Hannibal KNOWS Will is craving connection more than anything right now... it could actually drive me insane!!!!!

everything abigail is crazy making. the parental lecturing tone Will and Hannibal take with her, Will reaching out again trying to have someone in his life and having abigail reject that almost instantly where she doesn't shrug of Hannibal. her exposing nick Boyle and the conversations with Hannibal about it. even the way he hugs her after she admits to being the lure!!! it's such a strong moment for her, this true vulnerability she only shows around Hannibal. there's this small moment when she eats the meat for the first time, the look on Abigails face... I know that's also the moment she realizes that Will knows but the way it's shot makes it seem like she knows she's eating people. always the lingering shot on the food and her face after she takes a bite, and the way she fully pauses after the first bite. so good

Idea credit @00kozuu

this Will