"Coquilles" was technically the fifth episode of Hannibal Season 1, but in light of the events in Boston last week, the fourth episode was pulled.

NBC did post webisodes of the now-forgotten episode for viewers, but not everyone has watched them. Therefore, this review will operate without the knowledge or context of them.

A theme that really stood out for “Coquilles” was the idea of being left behind. This motif was broached from the side of religion and the side of the human condition, and at times Lecter seems to be the master of ceremonies. Will is clearly growing more broken as he logs more hours on the cases and even his only respite of dreaming and sleeping is giving up on him.

Not even Will’s body is able to subconsciously process the violence that he witnesses and steps into, and, in an effort to cope, his body quite literally sweats it out or moves him as far away as possible from the trauma and stress. Lecter’s greatest strengths aren’t in his creepy quotes about animal cruelty or his intricate copycat killings. They are the mind games he can exude; he quite blatantly tries to pit Jack and Will against each other.

For The Angelmaker, the killer, the idea of being left begins right in his brain. His motive is changing and with no real answers over what is going on in his body he’s left to murder people and give them wings to pray for him. It’s incredibly sick and twisted, yet it’s portrayed in such a way that it’s somewhat mesmerizing.

The biggest reveal came in the form of Jack’s wife, Bella, who is suffering from Stage 4 Lung Cancer. Jack is a model worker for the bureau and he’s usually the man with the answers. But how can a man with so much control be able to cope with something beyond his control? Will he end up being left behind?

Most of all, Lecter is able to squeeze himself into another aspect of his coworkers lives and that comes with power and privilege. Instead of working just the Will angle, Lecter can now work Will and Graham simultaneously to try to find a way out. He realizes his biggest weakness is going to be the friendship Will and Graham are slowly developing - and by attempting to split them now means he can go about his usual activities.