Hannibal Season 3 Episode 2: You Dont Know Whose Side Im On

"Primavera" focuses primarily on Will Graham. We learn what happened to him in the aftermath of the season 2 finale and his attempts to find Hannibal some eight months later. I am sad though that we saw so little of Hannibal (but he was lurking in the catacombs). Bedelia was completely MIA this week. Let's hope she's not in Hannibal's freezer. I've made no secret of the fact that I would be delighted if this was the Hannibal and Bedelia show full time.

As I predicted, Will survived being stabbed by Hannibal. Uh, he's not going to die. He's a main character. We also thought Abigail lived since she spent half the episode talking to Will. In fact, she did not make it. Will imagined her in his "mind palace". That was a good fake out "Hannibal". And for the record, poor Abigail has had her throat slit not once, but twice, on this show.

Yep You're Really Dead This Time

Will travels to Polermo where he meets Inspector Rinaldo Pazzi who is in search of the "Monster of Florence" (who is of course Hannibal). They discuss Hannibal's previous crimes and his latest. The killer likes to turn his victim's into famous paintings. I will never view the art museum in the same way again.

Rinaldo, You Should Leave Town Immediately

I was worried that Rinaldo wouldnt even make it through this episode but he did. He will of course be dead by season's end. Side Note: The Monster of Florence is a real life serial killer who has never been caught. See Monster Of Florence for more details.

Will still confuses me. Is he trying to catch Hannibal or reunite with him? I'm not sure he knows himself. When he encounters Rinaldo in the catacombs he says "You dont know whose side I'm on". I especially enjoyed the catacomb scenes. Lots of dark twists and turns. What are the stuffed body looking things that hang at both sides of each room entrance? I thought one of those would turn out to be Hannibal for sure.

There has been much speculation about Hannibal and Will's feelings for it other. Hannibal's latest victim (Anthony) was contorted into a broken heart for Will. I have no idea what it all means but theirs is the most fascinating male/male dynamic currently on TV.

On a somewhat related note, did you catch that the censors blurred out the boobs from the painting? Seriously you've got a guy regularly eating people or turning their bodies into nightmare inducing works of art, and you're worried about boobs? That made me laugh. We certainly live in screwed up times. I say more boobs and less killing all around!

Favorite Quotes:

"I forgive you. Do you forgive me?"- Hannibal to Will before slicing Abigail's throat. And Will says "Hannibal, I forgive you" while in the catacombs.
"Hannibal's not God. Wouldnt have any fun being God. Defying God-- that's his idea of a good time."- Will.
"He gave you a chance to take it all back and you just kept lying. No one had to die." Imaginary Abigail to Will.
"You dont know whose side I'm on."- Will to Rinaldo
"God's not who I am here to find."- Will to Rinaldo
"Everything that can happens, happens."- Will. "If everything that can happens happens then you can never really do the wrong thing. You're just doing what you're supposed to do."- Abigail.
"You are already dead arent you?"- Rinaldo to Will

Grade: 4 1/2 Monsters (out of 5). We finally learn Will survived Hannibal's dinner party. Abigail unfortunately did not. No word yet on Alana and Jack. The pace of this episode was slower with lots of imagery. I dont mind though. Episodes of "Hannibal" should be savored-- not devoured. I could have done without the beginning flashback which seemed to take up half the episode (but it's good for people who dont know the specifics of their last encounter).

This Is Some Weird Shit

The cross cut scene between Will being saved after the stabbing and Abigail being prepared in the funeral home was very powerful. Also the unfolding of the heart into a stagman creature was very strange. I've never been a big fan of that imagery but extra bonus points for strangeness.