In celebration of the #HelpHannibal campaign, I went back yesterday and re-watched last week’s amazing episode “Apertivo.” Hannibal is known for its artistic imagery, the use of metaphors, and also profound, but also at times comical, quotes, and upon re-watching, I realized that this past episode was stock full of memorable quotes, ones that at times made it feel like the story was being told in the form of a poem. Actually, if I had to guess, I would say that a good 60-70% of the dialogue was comprised of lines that will likely stick around in this Fannibal’s memory palace for a good long while. Here are some of my favorites:

OPENING DIALOGUE BETWEEN CHILTON AND VERGER

“The dead at least have the luxury of being done with what they lost. You and I, we still itch.” — Chilton

“That itch should be telling you something.” — Verger

“Would you like to discuss what that little itch is telling you?” — Chilton

“Are you wearing makeup? How long does it take you to put your face on in the morning?” — Verger

“Now that I got the routine down, no time at all.” — Chilton

“You show me yours, I’ll show you mine.” — Verger

“Now, we can talk face to face.” — Verger

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DIALOGUE BETWEEN WILL AND CHILTON IN THE HOSPITAL

“I can help get Hannibal Lecter out of your head.” — Chilton

“And into your hospital?” — Will

“There’s opportunity here, for both of us. We can catch the man, who framed and maimed us.” — Chilton

“There’s no opportunity here, Frederick. Not for you.” — Will

“Optimists believe we live in the best possible world. The pessimist fears this is true. This is your best possible world, Will.” — Chilton

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WILL’S CONFESSION TO JACK

“You remember when you decided to call Hannibal?” — Jack

“I wasn’t decided when I called him. I just called him. I deliberated while the phone rang, I decided when I heard his voice.” — Will

“You told him we knew.” — Jack

“I told him to leave. I wanted him to run.” — Will

“Why?” — Jack

“Because he was my friend, and because I wanted to run away with him.” — Will

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CHILTON’S OFFER TO ALANA

“I don’t mean to kick you when you are down, I’m just reminding you how you got down.” — Chilton

“And who I’m down with?” — Alana

“We could all use a little group therapy.” — Chilton

“There’s only one ‘we’ you’re interested in, Frederick. And that ‘we’ really isn’t interested in you.” — Alana

“Will Graham could use a breakthrough.” — Chilton

“Being broken is his breakthrough?” — Alana

“Being broken was yours. Will has not had his breakthrough yet. He is saving that for Dr. Lecter.” — Chilton

“It would be the best thing for his therapy, really.” — Alana

“It’s only a matter of time before they are back in each other’s orbit. It’s a shame not to have the good scenes.” — Chilton

“That would require some manipulation.” — Alana

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“Friendship with Hannibal is blackmail elevated to the level of love.” — Alana

“Mutually unspoken pact to ignore the worse in one another to continue enjoying the best.” — Will

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“If my brother offers you chocolate, politely refuse.” — Margot Verger to Dr. Bloom

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“Dr. Lecter got deeper inside you than any of us.” — Verger

“I want you to understand, Dr. Bloom, this is not a revenge thing. I’ve forgiven Dr. Lecter, as our Savoir forgave the Roman soldiers. ” — Verger

“Forgiveness isn’t all it’s cracked up to be, Mr. Verger. I don’t need religion to appreciate the idea of Old Testament revenge.” — Dr. Bloom

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“You can do something I can’t, you can cut out what’s killing you.” — Bella to Jack

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“First thing you did after getting shot in the face was copyright Hannibal The Cannibal.” — Jack to Chilton

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“I know what’s coming for you, Will. You don’t have to die on me, too.” — Jack to Will

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“Ah, Cordell. If I had lips, I would smile.” — Verger

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“You’re preparing the theatre of Hannibal’s death. I’m just preparing the stage.” — Dr. Bloom

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Besides all of this fantastic dialogue, the episode left me with some burning questions, and I absolutely can’t wait for Thursday with the hope that we might get an answer or 2.

1. At the end of the episode, Verger tells his assistant, Cordell, that we wants to make preparations to have Hannibal eaten alive. I read several comments after the airing of the episode, including those from other journalists, and I noticed that many of them took that quote to mean that Verger wants and intends to eat Hannibal. Well, I didn’t get that memo. I personally thought Verger meant that he wants to feed Hannibal to some animal, probably the boars that he raises (very similar to the season 2 episode where he tried to do the exact same thing but failed because Will cut him down). What did everyone else think? Does Verger really want to eat Hannibal?

2. I assume everyone recognized Verger’s assistant, Cordell, as Glenn Fleshler. I swear as soon as I saw the guy, chills ran up my spine. Fleshler has played villain roles not only on True Detective, but also recently in a very creepy 2-episode arc on FOX’s The Following. This guy is naturally super-creepy, but I wonder what kind of role he will play in the series given that Margot is present, unlike the film. Will he be the one to take out his ungrateful master, or will that be left to Margot, who has perhaps endured more abuse at the hands of her brother than anyone else.

3. How many of the characters seeking revenge will actually survive the attempt? As the old saying goes, when you embark on a journey of revenge, be prepared to dig 2 graves. Somehow I don’t think anything will happen to Hannibal, but what about Dr. Bloom, Dr. Chilton, Mason Verger, and let us not forget Inspector Pazzi. My money’s definitely on Verger and Pazzi biting it, but what about the other two? Will Hannibal finally take them all out once and for all?

While it’s unlikely we’ll get the answers to all of our questions anytime soon, it’s going to be a hell a lot of fun watching and finding out.

Hannibal  airs on Thursdays at 10/9c on NBC.

 

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