To catch a predator, an organism must rise to the occasion and evolve or risk dying out.

On Hannibal Season 2 Episode 9, Will continues this evolution. 

Watch Hannibal Season 2 Episode 9 Online

During Hannibal and Will's first therapy session, Hannibal mentions to Will that he should adapt and evolve - and to imagine himself in new situations.

Will imagines himself shooting the social worker in the horse in the head, telling Hannibal he feels power over it. The entire conversation is shown with close ups of both Will and Hannibal; it almost like both are trying to get back to what they once had, but, moreover, it's demonstrative of Will's further evolution as a character.

He's willing to put on new stripes, adapt and evolve for Hannibal. While Will may not ultimately be a killer, he is willing to make Hannibal begin to think and assume that he can be. 

It's Will best chance to bring his reckoning to Hannibal. If Will can somehow make Hannibal begin to see that his own time is limited, there's a opportunity for Hannibal to slip up, allowing Jack the chance to catch him in the act.

Jack, too, is beginning to evolve in his thinking and patterns with Hannibal. Jack hopes that by reverting to his old relationship with Hannibal, and showing remorse for his old actions, there's a chance that Hannibal will begin his subtle manipulations to get what he wants: Will. 

Hannibal's talks with Randall offers insight into how he views his killing. Hannibal sees them as evolving into a higher plane of existence although they are savage and primal in nature.

The plane of existence is all in Hannibal's mind. It's not an adaptation or an evolution, but merely a regression back into primal existence; back to a time where humanity had not evolved to a different time. 

Finally, Will's delivery of Randall's body to Hannibal is chilling. It's another opportunity to show that Hannibal is still very much in control of the situation, even if Will is willing to bend the rules, but it's also a move of desperation as well.

Hannibal wants to continue his screwed up relationship with Will and Will is never known to be (or shown to be) physically capable of handling himself in such a way.

Will's "Even Stevens" approach to the delivery is a confirmation that Will can tap into his primal side and reach his "higher plane" that Hannibal has been slowly trying to groom Will into. Ultimately, I believe Will is doing all of this, becoming a protégé of Hannibal's, as an opportunity to go undercover and understand who Hannibal really is. How he ticks and how he kills. 

That doesn't mean the ride isn't going to be enjoyable though. 

Has Will successfully entered Hannibal's head?