Digestivo (Hannibal)
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| "Digestivo" | |
|---|---|
| Hannibal episode | |
| Episode no. | Season 3 Episode 7 |
| Directed by | Adam Kane |
| Written by | |
| Featured music | Brian Reitzell |
| Cinematography by | James Hawkinson |
| Editing by | Michael Doherty |
| Production code | 307 |
| Original air dates |
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| Running time | 44 minutes |
| Guest appearances | |
| |
"Digestivo" is the seventh episode of the third season of the psychological thriller–horror series Hannibal. It is the 33rd overall episode of the series and was written by executive producer Steve Lightfoot and series creator Bryan Fuller and directed by Adam Kane. It was first broadcast on July 16, 2015 on Canada, and then July 18, 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 Lecter and Graham being kidnapped by Mason Verger (Joe Anderson) to torture and kill them.
According to Nielsen Media Research, the episode was seen by an estimated 0.97 million household viewers and gained a 0.3/1 ratings share among adults aged 18–49. The episode received universal acclaim from critics, who praised the performances, directing, writing, resolution to Mason Verger's storyline, and the final scene of the episode, being deemed as one of the series' best moments.
Police officials led by Inspector Benetti (Giorgio Lupano) interrupt the meeting between Hannibal Lecter (Mads Mikkelsen), Will Graham (Hugh Dancy) and Jack Crawford (Laurence Fishburne). Despite Crawford claiming to be a federal agent, the police ignore him, only taking Lecter and Graham with them, intending to deliver them to Mason Verger (Joe Anderson). Officers then prepare to kill Crawford, but he is saved by Chiyoh (Tao Okamoto), who kills the officers. They leave to find Lecter and Graham in Muskrat Farm, despite Crawford having to evade authorities.
At Muskrat Farm, Mason informs Lecter and Graham about Crawford's "death", which will be blamed on Lecter. They have dinner, where Mason states his intentions of eating Lecter and then cutting off Graham's face so he can wear it. Graham wounds Cordell (Glenn Fleshler) by biting his cheek and is told that he will be fed to the pigs after they remove his face. Meanwhile, Margot (Katharine Isabelle) starts conspiring with Alana Bloom (Caroline Dhavernas) to get Mason's sperm in hopes of conceiving a child, with Bloom acting as the surrogate. However, Mason is aware of their relationship and intentions and says that he has already found a surrogate, just saying "she is on the farm".
While Bloom explains her decisions with Graham, Margot visits a caged Lecter, who tells her that Mason will betray her. Bloom suddenly arrives and tranquilizes a guard. She then approaches, willing to release him if he can "save Will", which he promises. She releases him, but Lecter states that Margot must be the one to kill Mason so she can take the sperm, with Lecter taking the blame for her. Mason's surgery begins and he is put under anesthesia, but Cordell starts slicing into Graham's face without using anesthesia on him. Lecter arrives and kills Cordell, cutting off his face and putting it on Mason's, who is horrified to discover it when he wakes up.
Bloom and Margot find the surrogate and are horrified to discover that it is a pig carrying a human fetus. When they remove the child, they find that it is stillborn. They confront Mason, who just found out about Lecter's killing spree. Margot intends to kill Mason, although Mason states he kept his promise and that if he dies, she will lose the fortune. However, Bloom reveals that Lecter managed to get his sperm by stimulating his prostate with a cattle prod while he was under anesthesia and kept it in a vial. Mason tries to shoot them, but Margot fights with him, with the bullet piercing the aquarium beneath his bedroom floor. Margot shoves Mason's pet moray down his throat, which suffocates him to death.
Lecter takes Graham to his house in Virginia, evading Mason's guards with Chiyoh's help. The next morning, Lecter and Chiyoh part ways after Lecter reveals that while he ate his long-dead sister Mischa, he didn't kill her. Graham tells Lecter he will let him escape, but wants nothing more to do with him. After saying goodbye, Graham sees Lecter leave the house. By nightfall, Crawford and the police arrive, looking for Lecter. Lecter is revealed to be still in the area, and willingly surrenders in front of Graham. In the distance, Chiyoh sees Lecter being taken by the authorities.
Production
Development
In June 2015, NBC announced that the seventh episode of the season would be titled "Digestivo", with executive producer Steve Lightfoot and series creator Bryan Fuller writing the episode and Adam Kane directing. This was Fuller's 27th writing credit, Lightfoot's 16th writing credit, and Kane's first directing credit.[1] The episode was originally scheduled to air on July 16, 2015 but it moved to July 18, 2015 when NBC decided to move the remainder of the season to Saturdays.[2][3]
Writing
Fuller explained that the episode would serve as a closure to the first chapter of the season, "the first half of the season will have its finale that reaches a climax and wraps up that story in a great way, and then we start a new story, and then that will have its own climax at the end of the season. Two separate stories that’ll have two finales and so you get two seasons for the price of one."[4]
