Sunday, July 19, 2015

CAN CANNIBALISM BE ELEGANT?

 Why yes, apparently it can. Now mind you, not that I'm condoning cannibalism, although... I have been know to eat men alive!!!!!!As a stubborn fan of the character and a hater of all things associated with remake culture, I had very little interest in watching NBC bastardize a great horror series. I could not have been more wrong.Series creator Bryan Fuller has somehow managed to pull off the unthinkable by making a television series centered around Hannibal Lecter that is just as good, if not better, than the films.  Despite the fact that NBC just devastated fans by canceling the show after its third season, the show is still well worth watching. That said, I'm glad they let it live and gave it a chance.
 
  Week after week I am amazed by what the series gets away with; it airs in primetime on NBC, yet features the most horrifically grotesque images I’ve ever seen on TV, including American Horror Story, or even  HBO. But being highly visual, I love it!!!!!  "Hannibal" has a distinct visual style that sets it apart from literally any other show on network television. The cinematography of Hannibal is unparalleled — between the gorgeous shot compositions, the use of slow motion and the visual and aural horror associated with Will’s ‘dream’ sequences, there is always something gorgeous to behold.  Initially the show may appear to be nothing more than another boring police procedural, but it’s anything but.The sets alone are stunning!!!

Hannibal, a notable psychiatrist, is brought in by FBI to aid special investigator Will Graham, played by hunky Hugh Dancy in  what I think is the best role of his career, who has the unique ability to ‘get in the minds’ of the killer through his victims. Will has the ability to essentially replay each week’s murder in his head via beautifully shot and intensely stylized visual sequences and figure out how the victim was killed.Little do the authorities know that the very man helping them solve the crimes actually committed them in the first place. I had actually hoped Will and Hannibal would have had an affair! Their connection was very eerie.


The show would be nothing without its excellent cast. Mads Mikkelsen and Hugh Dancy are both superb in their leading roles, and the supporting cast, which includes the likes of Laurence Fishburne, Gillian Anderson and Cynthia Nixon are all equally wonderful.  The performances really elevate the material, and when combined with the absolutely insane visuals and special effects, Hannibal truly shines. In addition to all of this, the incredibly creepy sound design is worth noting — never has a show made me cringe or jump with only sound. I have yet to meet an ardent horror fan who hasn’t been completely blown away by the show.  If being scared isn’t your cup of tea, there are plenty of other things to salivate over, including the food. While the cuisine may consist of people, it looks just as delicious as anything you’ll see on the Food Network and is presented in such a way that makes it elegant and tasteful. For a show that is often so horrific, it is so damned beautiful!
And then there's Gillian Anderson as Bedelia du Maurier, who is Hannibal's psychiatrist and then posed as his wife. These two have one of the darkest relationships I've seen on tv. Of all the indelible moments from the series, the season 3 premiere, the dinner scene with Hannibal, Bedelia, and a very game, but misinformed Antony Dimmond was the clear standout. The scene is rife with dramatic tension with regard to Dimmond’s presence amongst the phony Fells, who they are pretending to be. When the young rhymester notices Bedelia’s dining on oysters, acorns, and marsala, he notes how those items were fed to cattle by Romans to make the meat taste better, Bedelia responds by saying, “My husband has a very sophisticated palate. He’s very particular about how I taste.” It’s an in-joke that is as perversely funny as any of the other humor on Hannibal, but thanks to Anderson’s performance, there’s more than enough evidence to conclude Bedelia’s aware the likelihood she’ll be served up next. And later Hannibal does admit he planned on eating her. But the clever Bedelia wormed her way out.... Loved it. She essentially: scathingly looked at Hannibal and mended his broken ass, dumped him, got high, mugged Jack and Will off. Be interesting to see what happens to her. But how incredible did she look in this show!?!?!?

And then there was the unexpected lesbian love affair with Alana and Margot, who were horny, lonely, found each other attractive and had time and opportunity.
 
 And how twisted was Margot's brother Mason.... pulling the sick trick of having her eggs put in a pig as a surrogate???? And the pig had it's own room in the mansion, complete with baby pig mobile above the bed?????
 
I will miss this elegant, but grotesque show as it heads off into the sunset.  Snack anyone???

16 comments:

  1. "I have been know to eat men alive!!!!!!" - and those men have been very lucky indeed! :)

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    1. I just have to remember to watch the teeth.

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  2. When I told co-workers I was watching, they said they tried, but found the scenes too confusing, like the stag Will saw, that stood for Hannibal. I too loved it. I don't think American television has ever seen the likes of the talent, sets, writing and suspense this show had. I will look forward to how the show incorporates the Red Dragon part of the story now, and just how they will wrap this show.

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    1. I think you may be right. With exception of this show, Once Upon A Time and Downton Abbey, I feel there is not much else different on tv

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  3. Mistress, what a great post!!!!! William and I have enjoyed from day one. Many people are watching, it's just not in the specific demographic that guides NBC's programming suits. Bryan Fuller, I have read, has a plan b, so I'm not worried that I won't ever see this show again, but should that happen it is the loss for the world. I'll tell you why. This show is gifted with excellent writers, directors, producers and Janice Poon (food stylist) is a high end chef with an imagination that won't quit. Not to mention great set decorators, and wardrobe talents. Suffice to say this show is very much like 1980s show MAX HEADROOM.... ahead of it's time. And probably to highbrow for viewers here. I too agree Gillian Anderson is incredible. This show just reeks good taste, pun intended.

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  4. This show is freaking AWESOME! I would recommend for new viewers that they record this and start from the beginning. Start at season 1. Please somebody pick this up. I think NBC is to stupid to not know what it has here. Definitely will be a cult series. Every show more , still, blows my mind.

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    1. I too am looking forward to the next phase of the story now.

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  5. Yes, I have to say , it is one of the most elegant shows on the tube right now. I tried to watch, but the murder scenes were just to gruesome for me to see, so I covered my face. I haven't seen such a story like this since The Cook, The Thief, His Wife and Her Lover.!

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    1. The Cook, The Thief, His Wife and Her Lover.! I remember seeing that. It is actually the same thing. What a sharp looking movie that was.

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  6. I was so angry when I heard it was canceled.

    I love this show; it's so dark, but so gorgeous; so operatic and creepy and visually stunning with the best characters and some of the best acting on TV.

    Which, sadly, in this day of Kardashians, is why it was yanked.

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    1. curse the Kardashians! And the Real World, who started all this. When I had heard it got cancelled, I thought of you.

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  7. Couldn't wrap my head around this. I tried. I really, really tried. I think it's that Hannibal wasn't ... sinister enough. Even at his most salacious, elegant self, there should be something diabolical about Hannibal Lector; something which causes a cold shiver down the spine. Ah well, this is the same kind of preference which makes tops and bottoms, don't you think?
    Hope you had a wonderful weekend!

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    1. I think here they are now Hannibal has gotten more diabolical to a point, but they were definitely showing a showing a different Hannibal in this.

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  8. I loved this show too. But doesn't surprise me it got the ax. Unless it's a waste less reality show with buffoons on it, the same lame ass comedies, or the cookie cutter crime show, people don't watch.

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    1. Your absolutely right. I guess dumb tv wins ......again.

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