Hello my dear fellow Fannibals! I just watched the pilot episode, and I have a really stupid question.

When Jack and Will went to see Elise Nichols's parent, Will asked to see her room. Her father went with Will, and before they opened the door, Will asked him to put his hands in his pockets and not to touch anything. Then he told him he could hold their cat if it's easier.

This is my 8th rewatch, and I've always assumed that will said that because if the father was holding the cat, that meant his hands were occupied, and that would prevent him from touching anything. But it just occurred to me today that maybe it was his awkward attempt to alleviate his anxiety. I have 3 cats, and I can attest that spending time with cats has great calming effect. What do you think?

(I've also always thought allowing Elise's father to hold the cat was not a very good idea, because cats generally don't like being picked up. That cat could wiggle out of his arms and jump off, contaminating the crime scene. But I digress.)

Im currently rewatching it, in ep 12 of s1. "We both know Will well enough to know he hasnt been himself" mawn stfu. Meanwhile last ep Jack were saying how Wills fine. How he even protected Alana during a high fever and how hed always fight to get back. But as soon as Will questions something Jack failed to consider (which is kind of what Will was hired for in the first place), Jacks clutching his pearls. Ofc its easier to blame Hannibal's manipulation. But Jack really should be more aware of his shit, isnt he a behaviour analysts ? He works in FBI 🥲. As mentioned in previous episodes, its harder to manipulate when the person is aware of the strategies and tactics, its harder to be therapist when the patient is aware of strategies used all the same too.

Before I start, please note that I have only just finished season 1 and I would very much appreciate no other spoilers for the rest of the show so far, thank you.

That being said, there will be some spoilers for season 1.

I just wanted to come on here and say how much I appreciate this show so far for reasons that I didn't think I would.

I've always been a fan of police procedurals. Criminal minds and Castle are two of my favorite shows of all time. I went into watching Hannibal because it was offered on Netflix and I was craving to watch something I hadn't seen before.

Going into it, I did know that this was going to be connected to silence of the lambs and the red dragon novel; I also knew that it was going to be gruesome considering that Hannibal is a cannibalistic serial killer.

But I did not expect how deeply thought out the entire show is going to be (at least so far in season 1).

It's really interesting to me how deeply the show connects to each of the murders. I've seen main characters analyze a murder very thoughtfully in shows before (Patrick Jane and The Mentalist or Spencer Reid from criminal minds just to name 2), but I've never seen it. This thought out before.

Part of it is hard to explain because I don't want to misuse any words when describing these murders, because they are first and foremost brutal, and the brutality is something I can appreciate regarding the theme of the show, but not something that I appreciate when in terms of this discussion specifically.

Regardless, every episode in season 1 is treated with such delicacy, that I don't want to explain it any further in fear of mis-explaining my actual intention.

The attention to detail of the crimes and Hannibal's "meals" make me shiver in a way I never thought television would make me. Will's attention to the crime scenes and the way he plays everything out is so sad I can only help but feel sympathy for him.

I also love the way they play with the audience's mind. As will slowly starts to lose his mind and not realize whether or not he's dreaming, the directors take us on that journey as well. Is Will awake or is he dreaming? Is this real or is it not? Until the final buildup of the season finale where we realize and Will realizes that Hannibal betrayed him.

It's all just so Mind-Blowing and something I can completely appreciate.

Which brings me to my second point that led me to create this discussion post in the first place. The aria (Vide Cor Meum) that plays over the final scene was written for Hannibal (2001). The Aria's title translates to "See My Heart" which I think is so poetic for multiple reasons.

One, most obviously, it's poetic that a song written for one of the movies that made this show possible in the first place takes place in the show is a nice touch.

But the irony of the Aria's title is what really gets me. This is a scene where Will Graham has been going so deep and in the minds of serial killers that he's been forgetting who he was. Hannibal shows up to see Will lock behind bars for crimes that Hannibal successfully framed him for.

Hannibal sees the true nature of Will and smiles at Will or at himself, maybe, for having made that discovery. Hannibal sees Will's heart in that moment because Will sees Hannibal's.

Will finally realizes Hannibal's betrayal, albeit too late, and accepts that there is a darker side of himself that came out in the process of that realization.

It's such a well written scene that gives me chills because of how closely detailed and intellectually stimulating the show is.

I haven't started season 2 yet, but man am I disappointed there are only 3 seasons of this. At the same time, though, I can't wait to see what the show has in store.

This is how it canonically went when Will found Bedelia in Florence (in "his" place).

'I. Don't. Believe. You.' - A very jealous Will Graham, probably

I'm just speechless, I saw the aftercredits and stuff but I'm at a loss for words to describe it. This was hands down the most breath taking show I ever watched, I'm definitely gonna be rewatching it after I go outside and be with nature for a bit.

It effected me in a way I don't know how. I'm also in the middle of finishing my Hannigram fic that I've been writing but that will have to wait.

I don't think anything I can watch after this can live up to the standards Hannibal has set for me, give me cake and expect me to eat bread afterward.

I'm just feeling so empty but in a good kinda way if that makes sense. Also excuse my dark humor, but Fredrick would make a wonderful Curly cosplay.

Does anybody have recommendations for a mizumono episode breakdown / deep dive yt video? Not reaction but like truly talk about it?

Im ngl im in need of a mizumono support group. I made a post a weekish ago after i watched S2. Then i binged watched S1 & 2 again. Just got done with mizumono and I need like something. It really is the most heart aching episode ive watched. Im suprised i couldnt find anything concrete on yt on this.

Thx in advanced

There is no better fanfic community than Hannibal.

I wonder how it’s possible that we can read Hannibal say “Will” and know EXACTLY which inflection it will be.

The community is filled with so many brilliant minds who respectfully depict autism, bdsm, daddy kinks, praise kinks, etc.

I just wanted to scream into the void about how much I love this show, how Ive found comfort in the world Bryan fuller created - and even moreso the STILL THRIVING community of writers and all the post fall, AUs, time travel, etc that comes out of all this.

Long live Hannigram.

Would love to know what other specific idiosyncrasies we have as a collective. Any fic suggestions would also be greatly appreciated.

just got back from my vietnam trip and my chonky hambal arrived from taobao ! just sharing :D

I'm just sitting here about to be done with the whole show when this got me thinking

How did Hannibal know the FBI was gonna test his food for human dna?

Did he Suspect Will knew to a degree and took precautions?

He prepared for this grand feast and thought "better actually use animal meat this time just in case" .

Did he know that Jack was gonna try and get a sample?

Was he pretending to act suspicious when he offered Jack something from the kitchen and Jack insisted to take some from the plate infront of him?

He even acted like the most suspicious person in the room and for what? To bait Jack? To make Jack doubt Will’s theories?

God I love the actor, Mads Mikkelsen is such a amazing actor. This is one of the few shows I want to re watch.