Hannibal Episode 13 Recap: Never Arrive Early To A Cannibals Dinner Party (Season Finale)

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Dinner May Be A Little Late. I Have Some "Stuff" To Do First

Now that's how you do a season finale people! This is the best finale I have seen all year. I dare say it's probably in the top five of my all time favorite finales EVER. We have come full circle with "Hannibal". All the episode titles in season 2 were based on Japanese cuisine with the first being Kaiseki and the last being Mizumono (a small desert). If you'd like more info on Kaiseki, check out Japanese Kaiseki Cuisine

The scene opens with Will having the same conversation separately with both Hannibal and Jack. Each says "When the moment comes, will you do what needs to be done". Will replies "Oh yes" to each. Hannibal plans to attack Jack in the kitchen before his dinner party. Then he and Will will run off together. Jack likewise says he's planning to capture Hannibal. There will be lots of FBI (including snipers) positioned outside the house during the party. I think he's secretly plotting to kill Hannibal instead though.

Hannibal discusses "imago" with Will. Per Wikipedia in biology "imago" is the last stage an insect attains during its metamorphosis. In psychology" imago" references 'the inner unconscious image of what you're looking for in a partner but aren't aware of." It is used in couples therapy. I take this to mean that both Will and Hannibal are transforming (into what I'm not sure). Is Hannibal in love with Will though? There has always been some kind of intimate bond between the two. It's hard to pinpoint since Hannibal does not love anyone in the traditional sense. And what are Will's feeling for Hannibal? He says he wants to kill him but there have been several instances where he could have and did not (such as last week at the pig barn). Regardless of what their relationship is actually meant to be, all these discussions about love and changing because of the other person makes for good fan fiction.

Hannibal visits Bella (Jack's wife) who is near death. She talks of forgiveness. She says her death date was prolonged by Hannibal as a gift to Jack (remember she tried to kill herself earlier in the season and Lecter saved her). She asks Hannibal to promise to take care of Jack when she is gone. Unfortunately she doesnt realize that he's planning to kill Jack instead.

Will visits Freddie and asks that she not write about Abigail. Freddie acknowledges that Will is uncertain if he will survive this ordeal. Later Lecterl smells Freddie on Will. Curse Hannibal and his bloodhound nose!

Kade Prunell (Cynthia Nixon) is back. She issues an APB on Will for the death of Randall Tier. She also forces Jack to take bereavement leave. Jack is temporarily benched so he has no backup to help capture Lecter. Alana calls Will and tells him the FBI is headed to his house. Will escapes out the back door and calls Hannibal. Hannibal is of course making dinner.Will simply says "they know". Does Hannibal need to speed it up? Nope, he's still in control as always.

Jack arrives at Hannibal's house. We had seen a bit of what is about to transpire from the teaser way back in episode 1. Lecter says Jack is early. Uh oh. Never arrive early to a cannibal's dinner party. That should go without saying. A few pleasantries are exchanged. Lecter suggests Jack serve as sous chef. They then proceed to try to kill each other. Jack draws a gun. Hannibal stabs him in the hand. Hannibal then bounds over the kitchen island. That guy can seriously move if he wants to. It is an all out battle. Jack appears to have the upper hand and is strangling Hannibal by using his own body weight against him. Finally Hannibal slices Jack's throat with a shard of glass. Jack runs into the pantry and locks the door. He is bleeding profusely. What an excellent fight sequence. I felt like I was watching a movie.

Alana arrives at Hannibal's to find the front door open. She calls the police and then draws her gun and enters. She finds Hannibal flinging himself against the pantry door in order to get to Jack. This was one of the most disturbing scenes in the show to me. I'm not sure exactly why. Jack appears close to death. He makes a phone call. I thought it would be to the police but it is to Bella.

Hannibal tells Alana "Walk away and I'll make no plans to call on you...but if you stay, I will kill you". Alana fires at Lecter but the gun just clicks. There are no bullets. Poor stupid woman! Alana escapes upstairs with Hannibal following behind. Again, stupid! Didnt anyone tell you NEVER to run upstairs (or in the basement) if you're in a horror show? Alana finds some bullets in her purse and shoots through the door. Stop wasting your bullets! Someone sneaks up on her from the other room. It is... wait for it... Abigail (she's alive but minus an ear). She says "I'm so sorry" and pushes Alana out the second story window. I didnt see that coming, did you? I should have known that, since Freddie and Miriam returned from the dead, anything is possible.

Will arrives and finds Alana laying on the ground. She is in very bad shape. He stays with her for a moment and then draws his gun. He finds Hannibal inside and then sees Abigail. She has been alive all along. Hannibal acts like he's going to kiss Will. He says "A place was made for all of us, together. I wanted to surprise you. And you wanted to surprise me. I let you know me... see me". Hannibal realizes that Will never loved him. He was never planning to run away together. Hannibal feels betrayed. So instead of kissing Will, he stabs him in the gut and then brings him in a long hug to make sure the wound does it's job. "I gave you a rare gift but you didnt want it" Lecter says. Now Will is close to death as well.

Lecter still wants to hurt Will for spurning him so he slices Abigail's throat. Both she and Will lay bleeding on the floor. Will tries to stop her bleeding but I think she's too far gone. Hannibal leaves his house and walking right past Alana (who is still laying in the front yard). I thought he might finish her off but he just ignores her. He does a quick wash up in the rain. He puts his coat on and heads down the street like nothing happened. The rain scene combined with droplets of blood made for an excellent scene. It really gave you a sense of Hannibal's power and invincibility.

So at the end of the season 2 we have:

Abigail is mortally wounded (throat slashed) and I assume is dead by next season. Of course she has already survived her throat being sliced once so who knows.
Alana is mortally injured (pushed out a window by Abigail) and I assume is dead by next season.
Will has been stabbed in the gut and is badly injured. He wont die... or will he?
Jack is mortally wounded (throat slashed). Would they kill him off? I'm not sure.
Hannibal is on a plane headed for somewhere in Europe. And who is in the seat next to him but Dr Du Maurier. I assume she is really with him since Hannibal is not prone to fantasizing about people. Oh snap! I definitely did NOTt see that coming. My heart will be broken if Bedelia is evil though. She's too hot to be a serial killer. Of course Hannibal is hot too. OK. everyone on this show is hot. I wonder if Bedelia is playing a long game on Hannibal. Remember she said in the last episode that he would be brought down by "whimsy" (which I thought was a strange choice of words). If she is, she better be very careful. We've seen what happens to others who try to play Hannibal (and it ain't pretty).

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Hannibal and Bedelia

Favorite Quotes:

"To the truth then. And to all it's consequences."- Hannibal to Will.

"I didnt know what else to do so I just did what he told me."- Abigail to Will about Hannibal.

"The most beautiful quality of a true friendship is to understand and be understood with absolute clarity."- Hannibal. “Then this is the clearest moment of our friendship” replies Jack.

"I forgive you Will. Will you forgive me?"- Hannibal to Will.

"In your defense, I worked very hard to blind you"- Hannibal's response when Alana says she doesnt know how she could have been so blind to what he's really up to.

Grade: 5+ Monsters (out of 5). I would give "Mizumono" a higher rating if I could. This is the best finale I have seen all year. If you like horror and you're not watching "Hannibal", you are seriously missing out. All the awards should be to Mads Mikkelson. He is so compelling to watch. Every facial expression conveys a thousand words. I wish season 3 was starting NOW.