Hassun (Hannibal)
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| "Hassun" | |
|---|---|
| Hannibal episode | |
| Episode no. | Season 2 Episode 3 |
| Directed by | Peter Medak |
| Written by | |
| Featured music | Brian Reitzell |
| Cinematography by | James Hawkinson |
| Editing by | Ben Wilkinson |
| Production code | 203 |
| Original air date | March 14, 2014 |
| Running time | 42 minutes |
| Guest appearances | |
| |
"Hassun" is the third episode of the second season of the psychological thriller–horror series Hannibal. It is the 16th overall episode of the series and was written by Jason Grote and executive producer Steve Lightfoot, and directed by Peter Medak. It was first broadcast on March 14, 2014, 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 Will Graham's trial as he is charged with all the murders. The trial is also interrupted when Graham receives a severed human ear, as the killer may appear to contact him.
According to Nielsen Media Research, the episode was seen by an estimated 2.47 million household viewers and gained a 0.9/3 ratings share among adults aged 18–49. The episode received very positive reviews from critics, who praised the writing, art design, performances and character development.
As Graham's (Hugh Dancy) murder trial begins, Crawford (Laurence Fishburne) is pressured by Prurnell (Cynthia Nixon) to save his own career by testifying against him. On the stand, Crawford states he pushed Graham into participating at the crime scenes in order to get effective results, which upsets Prurnell. Graham receives an envelope with a severed human ear. The BAU determines that the ear was removed from a corpse in the past 48 hours and some suspect that Graham did it despite being incarcerated. When Freddie Lounds (Lara Jean Chorostecki) takes the stand, she testifies that Abigail Hobbs told her that Graham was planning on killing and eating her. Graham's lawyer, Leonard Brauer (Shawn Doyle) attempts to discredit Lounds' testimony by highlighting multiple libel lawsuits.
The BAU discovers that the knife that cut the ear belongs to Graham, and was the same knife used on Abigail's ear. Interestingly, the knife was removed from the evidence room by Andrew Sykes, the bailiff. The FBI conducts a raid on Sykes' house on Milford Mill, Maryland, but the house is booby-trapped and explodes as the agents open the door. After containing the fire, Crawford finds Sykes' corpse mounted on a stag's head, his face cut into a Glasgow smile, his ear missing and evidence suggesting that he was burned before the explosion - each a hallmark of a murder attributed to Graham. As the trial continues, Lecter (Mads Mikkelsen) visits Graham to ask for help in the case. Although he is hopeful that this killer is responsible for the deaths he is accused of, Graham concludes that because Sykes was shot to death before being mutilated, this crime was committed by a different killer. While Lecter agrees on his theory, he convinces him to lie on the stand in order to save himself.
On the stand, Lecter testifies in favor of Graham, but the prosecution successfully convinces Judge Davies (Barry Flatman) that Sykes' death is irrelevant, leaving Graham without a defense. The next day, a janitor finds the Judge dead in the courtroom, hanging from chains while holding a scale with his heart and brain. Crawford tells Lecter that with his death, a mistrial is assured. Bloom (Caroline Dhavernas) meets with Graham, who believes the killer will try to contact him again.
Production
In February 2014, it was announced that the third episode of the season would be titled "Hassun" and that it would be written by Jason Grote and executive producer Steve Lightfoot with Peter Medak directing. This was Grote's first writing credit, Lightfoot's fifth writing credit, and Medak's second directing credit.[1]
