Hannibal Season 3 Episode 1: I Have Taken Off My Person Suit (Season Premiere)

The year long wait is finally over. "Antipasto" (we're doing Italian cuisine this year) finds Hannibal and Bedelia in Paris and Florence. Gillian Anderson is now a season regular. The gods have indeed smiled upon us!

Murder As Art

I've said it several times before but there is simply nothing on TV that stylistically looks like "Hannibal". Everything is a work of art-- the clothing, the architecture, the music, and the food (if you forget what it really is). The dance scene was elegant. Watching Bedelia shop was a feast for the eyes as well.

The episode begins with Hannibal on a motorcycle zipping through the Paris night. He attends a party for an academic named Dr Fell. There he meets Anthony who was previously the professor's TA. Lecter encounters Fell outside. He's a goner. We later see Hannibal eating his liver.

No I Do Not Taste Like Chicken. That's Not A Funny Joke!

There were several flashbacks in this episode that left me confused at first. We see Hannibal continuing to munch down on Dr Gideon. While I love Eddie Izzard the thought of what's going on is terrifying. There's not much of Gideon left. He's currently down two legs and an arm. Dr Gideon tries to probe Hannibal about his cannibalism. Hannibal replies that "its only cannibalism if we are equals". Ouch! The scene where Hannibal pulls snails off of Gideon's hanging arm was also disturbing. He's changing the flavor of Gideon so the snails flavor will change as well. Sick stuff!

Gideon refers to Hannibal as the Devil. If we didnt catch the comparison it's driven home when Hannibal-as-Dr-Fell does a presentation on Dante. The face of the Devil is superimposed over Lecter's to chilling effect.

We also see part of incident where Bedelia stabbed one of her patients and Hannibal later found them. Lecter suggests that she killed Neal (hey that's Zachary Quinto) because she wanted to see what it felt like. He probably orchestrated the whole thing since Frank was his patient first. We'll learn more about this later.

And in another flashback Bedelia catches Hannibal showering. I assume it's after he attacked Jack, Will and Alana. I thought he and Bedelia might have sex. He's looking pretty good after stepping out of the shower. She's interested. He's...well who know what he's thinking. Instead it seems she puts down her gun and willing flees the country with him. Bedelia girl you in danger!

In Florence Anthony runs into Lecter again. Hannibal is posing as Fell (who is the new museum curator/translator at Palazzo Caponé) so this is going to be a problem. Anthony is invited to dinner. Well Hannibal actually says "my wife and I would like to have you for dinner" so that's something very different. Uh oh. Surprisingly Hannibal lets Anthony get away...THIS time.

Mental Note: If Anyone Tries To Feed You Oysters, Acorns & Masala Wine Run For Your Life

But he's not so lucky on the second visit. Helpful hint there Anthony. Never tell anyone you're traveling A-L-O-N-E. And never ever try to blackmail Lecter. Hannibal proceeds to murder the guy in front of Bedelia. Hannibal asks "observer or participant" (meaning is she just watching or does she want to join in)? He reminds her she's not just an observer if she sits idlyly by while a man is being murdered and does nothing to stop it.

The World's Most Frightening Power Couple

Speaking of Bedelia, she is an interesting case. Last season she was afraid Lecter would kill her. Now I'm not sure if she's willingly, unwillingly or partially willingly living as Hannibal's "wife". If she playing a long game on Dr Lecter? Is she just lying to herself and will end up in a nice meatloaf some day? I fear its the latter. But you can bet it will be something a lot better than meatloaf.

In the end, Anthony's body has been shaped into a human heart and left on display for Will and the Italians to discover (which I assume we'll see next week).

Season 3 Death Toll:

Dr Fell (the professor whose job Hannibal took) and his poor wife (I assume) who just happened to come home at the wrong time.
Anthony
I'm not sure if poor Gideon is dead or just missing more parts. There's not much more to lose at this point.
We already knew Bedelia's patient Neal Frank had been previously murdered.

Favorite Quotes:

"You really are the Devil."- Dr Gideon to Hannibal as he serves him his own leg for dinner.
"I've hardly killed anyone during our residence."- Hannibal to Bedelia.
"Observer or participant?"- Hannibal to Bedelia.
"Its only cannibalism if we are equals"- Hannibal as he slowly eats Gideon.
"Will Graham was not a suitable substitute for therapy"- Hannibal when Bedelia said she could no longer be his therapist.
"Im trying not to eat anything with a central nervous system."- Bedelia to dinner guest Anthony.
Bedelia: "What are you doing?" Hannibal: "I've taken off my person suit".
"My husband has a very sophisticated palate. He is very particular about how I taste."- Bedelia. "Is it that kind of party?"- Anthony.
"I still believe I am in conscious control of my actions."- Bedelia to Hannibal. You keep telling yourself that girl.
"My wife and I would love to have you for dinner."- Hannibal to Anthony.
Hannibal: “Dante wrote that fear is almost as bitter as death." Bedelia: “Dante wasn’t dead when he wrote it.”
"What have you gotten yourself into Bedelia?"- Hannibal as he murders a man in front of her.
"Imagine how you taste. It wont be too long before someone takes a bit out of you."- Gideon to Hannibal.

Grade: 5 Monsters (out of 5). Perfection. There wasnt a tremendous amount of action but I could watch Hannibal and Bedelia together forever. Some will complain that the premiere did not pick up with what happened to Will, Jack and Alana after the finale's bloodbath. But isnt this completely in line with Hannibal as a character? He doesnt care what happens in his wake. He isnt in a hurry to do anything. He goes on his merry way without consideration for anyone else or the consequences of his behavior.