"Hannibal" Recap/Review: “Yakimono”

Adam Reynoso ’15 / Emertainment Monthly Staff Writer

After six episodes, Will Graham (Hugh Dancy) is freed and the charges against him are dropped in the most recent episode of NBC’s Hannibal. Along with Will’s freedom, the episode also looked into a new lead in the Chesapeake Ripper case and the recovered, tramautized Miriam Lass (Anna Chlumsky).
After half a season with Will locked up in a mental facility and everyone believing he was a serial killer, as a viewer, it’s good to finally have Will out of the asylum and back with everyone else. Had he been locked up any longer, it may have been harder to have him really have any active role in the show. Now, he can be a part of the investigations and hopefully finally prove who Hannibal (Mads Mikkelsen) really is.
It’s interesting to see everyone’s reaction to his release. Hannibal knew he was innocent the entire time, but he’s still keeping his distance after Will’s murder attempt. Jack (Laurence Fishburne) had begun to realize that Will may not actually have been who they were looking for and it’s clear that he also still blames himself. And then there’s Alana (Caroline Dhavernas).  Her character has undergone quite a shift since the end of last season. She began by trying to help Will, but this season, she never quite believed him and that led her to side with Hannibal. With her becoming closer with Hannibal, it’ll be interesting to see if she either begins to catch onto Hannibal and end up on his menu or if she’ll continue oblivious to his misdeeds.

One scene that stood out was the interaction between Will and Miriam Lass. Both characters have been heavily influenced and manipulated by Hannibal, yet they’re both at different points. Will is aware of what’s been done with him and sees Hannibal as he is. Miriam, on the other hand, has been held captive for an extensive amount of time. She’s had an arm taken and believed to be dead. Not only that, but she’s had some kind of hypnosis done on her and she’s had memories repressed. She’s not there yet, but she is alive.
And with her being alive that only adds to the mystery of Hannibal’s agenda. Everything that’s happened has all been a part of his plan, his design. Will is aware of this and it’s going to be interesting to see where it all leads. The only thing that’s for sure is that Hannibal will come face to face with Jack at the end of the season.
But another part of his plan that fell into place in this episode is the framing of Dr. Chilton (Raúl Esparza). Chilton has been the comic relief in a rather dark show and a character that’s come into his own. He’s the only other character to believe Will and because of that, his fate was sealed. Whether he survives or not remains to be seen, but considering his role in the books, there may be a chance he survives.

The episode itself seemed to serve as a good end to the first half and prepares the viewers for the rest of the season. With Will free and in the field again, the question is will he be able to handle it all and what is his agenda with his sessions with Hannibal. Both men have proven to be dangerous opponents, but who is playing whom?
Overall Episode Grade: B+