Will's ethics
After last week's rather negative impression, I can say that Mukozuke definitely restored at least a little bit of faith. The noticeable amount of parallels to the source material made this episode aesthetically appealing in certain ways. And by aesthetically appealing I refer to Hannibal's ironic position as Rinaldo Pazzi from the 2001 movie version. There's some poetic justice in the way Hannibal gets crucified while his toy is cozying up to a Red Dragon-ish "rival".
I must've been the only one who sighed in relief. Will Graham finally did it. He overstepped a line of morality and entered Hannibal's territory without hesitation. Will's closed off expression while confronted with Beverly's fate conveyed his need for revenge in the same way that his casual interaction with Abel Gideon did. His absolute determination to control each key player, including Freddie Lounds, transformed Will into Dr. Lecter in ways that almost looked scary at times. Here we experienced a retelling of Francis Dolarhyde's story and how easy it is to simply use someone to do the work, drawing people out of their spaces and forcing a "direct-indirect" confrontation. And Will did a remarkable job.
Particularly impressive was his admirer's recognition of Will's abilities and his knowledge that Will actually isn't a killer, which doesn't seem to deter him. Sharing minds and mutual understanding goes beyond such simple connections as killing in the most gruesome ways. In a twisted way there's more respect on Matthew's side for Will than Hannibal's. Matthew Brown (Jonathan Tucker) isn't molding anyone nor does he seek control. His blunt reproduction might lack the artistry and understanding that both Hannibal and Will share, but the simple act of killing Hannibal just because Will tells him to reveals a dangerous side of him that's based on obsession and submission. It also highlights a sick desire to let Will become the murderer by choice. Of course, Gideon had to overhear that conversation, which I thought was a bit cliché. The rest of the episode led to a predictable showdown.
Observations
Chilton's self-absorbed nature and his ire was just sweet to watch, especially when Gideon mocked him during his conversation with Hannibal. Additionally, the entire conversation between Will and Matthew was a personal highlight of mine, because it established an understanding in ways that Will could've not gained with any other person at that point. His mind was in a very dark place and he needed an extended arm that he could relate to. I wasn't surprised that his admirer didn't kill the judge in the end. Hannibal will always meddle with Will's fate, because that's just what he loves. Poor Alana.
Beverly's Death
Seeing Hannibal preparing kidneys while the entire team is grieving was extremely cruel. I thought that her death was added for shock value, and the way they turned her form into a display of art was just plain disgusting. It was the first time when death on the show didn't become something to analyze but a sport to see if they can top the amount of gore per episode. Her display didn't make me feel sad. It made me angry. And while I appreciate Mikkelsen's naked form (and Jonathan Tucker's, naked or not), the focus should've been more on Jack's grief, Alana's confusion and Will's inner torment. This way the episode wasted time on gory art rather than drawing out the emotional side of the story. Next time, I'm just gonna kick Hannibal's bucket myself. Might speed things up a little bit.
Favorite quote:
"Judas had the decency to hang himself in shame at his betrayal, but I thought you needed some help"
What did you think of Mukozuke?
