This time around on Hannibal, it looks like the titular doctor has a bit of a rival in the form of a music teacher by the name of Tobias. Tobias’s hobby isn’t munching on his victims, however, but making music strings out of their innards. The story begins with another session between Hannibal and his neurotic patient Franklin, whereby Franklin explains to the good doctor that he’s worried his friend Tobias may be a psychopath.
Enter Graham and friends and their new case. Turns out that they’ve just found a dead musician that someone opened the throat of and played like a viola. So Graham does his thing and figures out that the killer in question was actually sending some sort of message, trying to get a hold of someone. That special someone is, of course, Hannibal, AKA the Chesapeake Ripper.
Hannibal’s clingy patient, back for another round, tells the doctor about Tobias’s crazy talk and that he may be involved in the killing. Hannibal also knows Graham’s side of the story and realizes quickly that the message was intended for him. So he sets out to meet up with the homicidal music teacher with the intention of killing him. Though they have a brief conversation, neither man kills the other. Instead, they end up having dinner together. But Hannibal isn’t happy with Tobias so he drops a hint to Graham and sets him on the rival’s trail. When Graham arrives, the guy goes a little nuts and kills the two officers that came with Graham, but still manages to get away.
Eventually this leads to a confrontation at Hannibal’s office between the doctor, Tobias and Franklin on the side. Franklin ends up a casualty and Hannibal must fight Tobias to the death. It’s not an easy win for our fair doctor, despite his killer instincts.
On the side, Hannibal’s own psychiatric treatment with Dr. Du Maurier continues and we get an insight into some of their background. It looks like Du Maurier was attacked by a patient once, a patient that later died. It also looks like Hannibal may be the cause of said death and furthermore, that his lady doctor probably knows the truth of it. Also, Graham is hearing things and exchanges kisses with his own psychiatrist friend, Alana Bloom. That remains to be resolved in future episodes, however.
Once again, Hannibal has attempted to turn our stomachs by devoting itself to detail. The process that Tobias uses to make strings from human entrails is given to us visually and the show once again puts the viewer in the uncomfortable position of having to witness the behind-the-scenes part of serial killing.
The continuing humanization of Hannibal was done expertly this time around. We see his lack of sympathy for Franklin and how it contrasts with his own feelings toward Dr. Du Maurier. We see his lack of a desire to bond with Tobias, despite their shared interests, and the contrast it makes with the revelation that Hannibal may be finding a friend in Graham. We also see the mortality of Hannibal in a brilliant and tense fight scene between him and Tobias. All-in-all, another great 40+ minutes of television from Bryan Fuller. For a preview of next week, check this link out.
Hannibal and Tobias courtesy of nerdbastards.com
