Hannibal - 2.04 - Takiawase "Painful Goodbye" - Review

I'm trying to decide whether I'm disappointed or not, but it's probably something in between. Takiawase certainly shocked the audience and managed to deal with the heavy and very emotional storyline of Bella's and Jack's relationship, which was a highlight to me. On the other hand, there are several points that need to be discussed, most notably Beverly Katz, her "death" and Will's increasing awareness.
First, I admit that I am not book purist, so it really doesn't matter all that much if Fuller deviates from the source material too much. In the past it was enjoyable even. The episode however didn't impress for several reasons, such as moving character A in order to get to plot B and create emotion C. That kind of storytelling process is too obvious in my opinion, which is why I'm firmly on team #Katzisalive.

A.V Club addressed the cliffhanger and revealed a rather gruesome picture that will be presented soon.

Memories and Danger
Whether it's a brief journey through Will's mind and his time with Abigail, or the disturbing details of Hannibal's "unorthodox therapy", it was honestly liberating for his character to go through the process to regain his identity. Chilton is really growing on me, by the way. The way he stood up to Hannibal and managed to back him into a corner with that sassy attitude was nice to see. And Will mentors not just him, but also Beverly, leading them past the traps that Hannibal has so carefully laid. Unfortunately, such actions don't come without consequences and Will's interference literally puts other characters in danger simply by being his mouthpiece and challenging the intelligent psychopath. Challenges are met, but Hannibal wants to silence, ensnare and finally mold Will to an image that he envisions for his "friend". Others are probably not "friend" enough to consider at this point.

Problems
Oh, Beverly. Fans are complaining that her visit to the basement without backup etc. was foolish, but we knew they'd eventually set up ways to come closer to the truth. Unfortunately, her death feels exactly like that. A plot point and unfortunate side effect. It also makes us question what she's seen before Hannibal appeared.
Characters die, people get hurt. We move on to follow the story. The same thing happened with Abigail. This time however I would not settle for simply writing her out like that, even though Fuller revealed that she was supposed to die in season 1. Characters like Beverly, Abigail, Freddie, Brian etc. are not the protagonists that we are supposed to follow in this story, but removing their own stories, no matter how minimal, and then killing them off is the same as discarding their potential. In Abigail's and even Bella's case it's much better done, since it feels like we are following their journey through the pain and attempts to regain their agency. So we can settle for their point of view.
Gina Torres did an absolutely fantastic job to establish the way her character seeks control over something that doesn't want to be controlled. That type of power can indeed make someone feel very much alive. Hannibal can respect that, but that doesn't prevent him from playing God.

In the end Beverly died in ways that was abrupt and felt too much like shocking book fans. And it also feels like saying goodbye to someone who presents a plot opportunity to show Hannibal's most gruesome nature. Stuffed into the fridge writing at its low point. That is why I'd prefer if she outsmarted Hannibal in one way or another. Fans usually demand a body before accepting that a character died. In case of NBC Hannibal I demand even more. I demand twists, turns and outright contradictions to established facts, because that's the nature of symbolism, parallels and foreshadowing.

Bella's anger at having her own choices dismissed and her potential conflict with Dr. Lecter might lead to the foreshadowed fight between Hannibal and Jack as a result of what happens to her. And just to mention in this context, goodbyes are always painful. They mark an uncertain future and the irreparable damage that can be done to the people left behind. They are also a way to help the person make choices that contradict what other people expect of them, but can be empowering for the person saying goodbye. In the end, they always change people. And outside parties can claim to help these people, as Honey Bunny/Katherine Pimms (Amanda Plummer) did. However, that is also an act of playing God, especially with people who aren't fully aware of what is going on exactly. That's also why Bella's state and Hannibal's smirk heavily resonated with scenes of Clarice and Hannibal in the future. Bella's scenes were heartbreaking and tough to watch.
Awareness is and should always be top priority. And that's what Will has been fighting for and will continue to pursue.
Without equals and friends like Beverly at his side.

To conclude with a quote from Red Dragon (Thomas Harris)

"I'm sorry, Beverly. What did you say?" He looked at her bright eyes, and kindly well-worn face.
"I just said I'm glad to see you back, Champ. You're looking good".

Beverly Katz and Will Graham

What did you think of Takiawase?