Hannibal Review: A Totem Pole of Corpses

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Lawrence Wells was rather creative in "Trou Normand." A constructing a totem pole of corpses? Can't say I ever considered that as a way of financing a retirement fund.

What was most interesting about Lawrence was that his actions were what ultimately did him in. He believed he was in complete control of how and when he would get caught and how he would be remembered, but that arrogance was exactly the kind of instability needed to murder your own son without ever knowing it. Lawrence believed in only one thing: his way.

The Totem

Much of that same arrogance could be applied to Lecter as well - and Jack can see it. Because of it, he is beginning to see a pattern emerging with Lecter and he’s determined to follow it to wherever it leads. Yet it’s amazing how much trust the rest of the team has in Lecter. So many small trails lead back to him, but their faith in him as a person and a doctor blinds them to any real objectivity. Like Lawrence, Lecter believes in his version of events, but the difference is he can make others believe it as well.

As damaged as Will is, his ability to empathize with his victims and killers also began to lead him back to Abigail and Nick’s death. The problem is that same damage is what paralyzes Will with so much self-doubt. He’s spending so much time in death and destruction that it’s literally eating away at his perceptions of reality.

Lecter knows this about Will, and he is able to rationalize his way out of Will doing anything against him. Lecter can twist Will to where he needs his version of events to go. This game of cat and mouse between them is taking a very interesting turn; it is morphing into a partnership of blackmail and manipulation of the highest order. The sad part is a lot of the same details can be attributed to Will’s rough partnership with Jack.

At times, Jack is a strong and caring partner for Will, but mostly Jack uses Will as a funnel of information to close his cases.

Elsewhere, Abigail Hobbs’ story took a new and interesting turn. She’s gone from being an innocent victim to admitting that she’s been a willing participant in helping her father find these girls and learning more about them.

Abigail’s emotional instability is difficult to pinpoint with any true clarity. Sometimes it comes across as Abigail feeling actual remorse for her role in Nick’s death and being unable to process and cope with it; however, most of the time, Abigail’s emotional state feels more like stress from keeping up with the big lie. She's so afraid of getting caught that the only outlets she has are Lecter and her emotions. Abigail’s growing emotional releases in Lecter are beginning to resemble Abigail seeing him as a surrogate father.

What was most chilling is the event that unfolded at the dinner table. Abigail knows exactly what she is eating. Everyone else is blissfully unaware of what they’re feasting on, but the minute Abigail put that fork up to her mouth memories of the past with her father came rushing back.

Trou Normand Review

Editor Rating: 4.8 / 5.0
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User Rating:

Rating: 4.9 / 5.0 (29 Votes)
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