Antipasto (Hannibal)
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| "Antipasto" | |
|---|---|
| Hannibal episode | |
| Episode no. | Season 3 Episode 1 |
| Directed by | Vincenzo Natali |
| Written by | |
| Featured music | Brian Reitzell |
| Cinematography by | James Hawkinson |
| Editing by | Michael Doherty |
| Production code | 301 |
| Original air date | June 4, 2015 |
| Running time | 43 minutes |
| Guest appearances | |
| |
"Antipasto" is the first episode of the third season of the psychological thriller–horror series Hannibal. It is the 27th overall episode of the series and was written by series creator Bryan Fuller and executive producer Steve Lightfoot, and directed by Vincenzo Natali. It was first broadcast on June 4, 2015, on NBC.
The series is based on characters and elements appearing in Thomas Harris' novels Red Dragon and Hannibal, with focus on the relationship between FBI special investigator Will Graham (Hugh Dancy) and Dr. Hannibal Lecter (Mads Mikkelsen), a forensic psychiatrist destined to become Graham's most cunning enemy. The episode revolves around Hannibal Lecter and Bedelia Du Maurier in Europe, posing as Dr. Roman Fell and his wife after Lecter killed them. When a person who knows Fell seems to suspect something, Bedelia begins to feel uncertain about her role with Lecter as he puts in danger their cover. Throughout the episode, flashbacks are shown through certain events impacting Lecter's and Maurier's lives. The episode only features main cast members Mads Mikkelsen and Gillian Anderson, tying with the next episode for the episode with the fewest cast members. With his appearance, Mikkelsen is the only actor to appear in every single episode of the series.
According to Nielsen Media Research, the episode was seen by an estimated 2.57 million household viewers and gained a 0.7/2 ratings share among adults aged 18–49. The episode received mostly positive reviews from critics, who praised Mikkelsen and Anderson, the directing and cinematography, although some felt mixed on the episode's slow pace and lack of answers from the cliffhanger.
Flashbacks
On the night that he ate his leg, Abel Gideon (Eddie Izzard) converses with Lecter (Mads Mikkelsen), viewing him as a form of Devil. They then discuss the idea behind cannibalism, with Lecter remarking that it "is only cannibalism if we're equals." Later, he shows how he severed his arm in order to enhance the flavor and Gideon notes that just like him, Lecter will also be eaten eventually.
After being interviewed by the FBI, Bedelia Du Maurier (Gillian Anderson) finds Lecter taking a shower at her house. Lecter explains his failure with Will Graham and how it appears that he struggled.
In another flashback, Bedelia wakes up from a session to discover she killed Neal Frank (Zachary Quinto), a violent patient referred from Lecter. Lecter arrives and notes the level of aggression committed at the scene. He offers to help Bedelia with the scene and how to tell the story.
Present day
In Paris, a man on a motorcycle travels throughout the city until he stops at a party. The man is revealed to be Lecter, who is interested in a man, Dr. Roman Fell (Jeremy Crutchley). Another person at the party, Antony Dimmond (Tom Wisdom) salutes Lecter, and they exchange a conversation regarding Fell with Dimmond mocking Fell, as he previously was his teaching assistant. Fell leaves the party and Lecter follows him to his house, with Fell recognizing him from the party. He kills him, and when Fell's wife returns home, he kills her and eats both of them.
Lecter and Bedelia are now in Florence, posing as Fell and his wife. During a party, they are approached by Professor Sogliato (Rinaldo Rocco), who mocks Lecter's knowledge of Dante Alighieri, prompting Lecter to recite Dante's first sonnet, La Vita Nuova. At their apartment, Bedelia wonders if he would kill and eat Sogliato but Lecter wants to protect his cover. The next day, Lecter walks through the Palazzo Capponi and is surprised to find Dimmond there. Even though it may risk his identity, he invites Dimmond to dine with him and Bedelia. During dinner, Dimmond notes that Bedelia's meal consists of the exact ingredients that Lecter fed to Gideon to "enhance the flavor". Lecter invites Dimmond to a lecture that "Fell" will make at the Studiolo of Francesco I, surprising Bedelia.
Dimmond attends the lecture, seeing Lecter as "Fell" giving his presentation, with Bedelia in attendance. Lecter even addresses Dimmond among the crowd, prompting a shaken Bedelia to leave. After the lecture, Sogliato is impressed and Dimmond does not disclose Lecter's facade. After Sogliato leaves, he confronts Lecter about Fell's whereabouts. He invites Dimmond to his apartment to explain, just as Bedelia appeared to plan to escape. She then sees Lecter murder Dimmond and questions whether she is observing or participating. She says she was curious, prompting both to conclude she was participating by not interfering and deducing what would happen.
Lecter boards a train to an unknown destination, remembering Gideon's conversation about being caught. Lecter then makes an origami heart out of the Vitruvian Man reproduction. The episode ends with the revelation that Lecter made a human origami with Dimmond's torso to make it appear as a heart, displaying it at a chapel.
Production
Development
In September 2014, Bryan Fuller announced that the first episode of the season would be titled "Antipasto".[1] In March 2015, Fuller announced that Vincenzo Natali would direct the episode.[2] NBC would confirm the title in May 2015, with Fuller and executive producer Steve Lightfoot writing the episode and Natali directing. This was Fuller's 22nd writing credit, Lightfoot's 12th writing credit, and Natali's third directing credit.[3]
Writing
Fuller said that the episode would serve as a "pilot for a new series" and would answer "why she [Bedelia] was on that plane, what is her agenda, and how she fits into the bigger story."[4] He also said that the episode wouldn't solve the cliffhanger of the previous season, with the episode focusing on Hannibal Lecter and Bedelia Du Maurier.[5]
Casting
At the 2014 San Diego Comic-Con, Fuller confirmed that Eddie Izzard would return as Abel Gideon for the season premiere in a flashback sequence, which they were already in the process of writing at the time.[6] In March 2015, Zachary Quinto was announced to guest star as Neal Frank, "a patient of Bedelia Du Maurier."[7]
In September 2014, it was announced that Gillian Anderson would be upped to series regular, starting with the episode.[8]
