#like the last part I remember is hannibal and Jack fighting in s3 but that's it. the rest I only know from hearing abt it and seeing clips

[everymlmhybrid]

Finished hannibal s1 in my rewatch. It hurts just as much as every other time.

[nalyra-dreaming]

Will’s state of mind in S3

((this is a follow up post to "Hannibal’s state of mind in S3″, reshared))

I believe Will knows how Hannibal feels about him.

Will says “I knew you’d turn yourself in if I rejected you” when he leaves Hannibal in prison once more.

Now, of course, hindsight is 20:20 and by then Will probably wanted to hurl something pointy at Hannibal for trying to get his family killed by sending the Dragon to them. Because Will is definitely vicious and vindictive, in my eyes even more dangerous because he is a loose canon so to speak - if he permits himself to be.

But that means he has thought about why he said it at the very least, probably brooded about it all in the dark of the night when Molly slept. Keeping what Hannibal is and means to him close to himself and only to himself, hiding the letters he gets in his underwear drawer (for heavens sake).

I believe Will rejected Hannibal in that moment because he was at rock bottom, emotional-wise as well, there in that bed in Wolftrap. Now it’s (imho, alway imho) important to remember that, while the events of Mizumono were devastating for Hannibal as well - Jack, Alana and Abigail paid the true price - and so did Will. But Will,…. never intended to go there to betray Hannibal. He allowed himself to be torn open because he realized the depth of the pain he caused Hannibal in that moment, he didn’t even try to defend himself. But he didn’t want that… he WANTED to run away with Hannibal, wanted to kill Jack. Which is something we know from the “red dinner” scene. Jack forced their hands by going there alone. Otherwise… *sighs*

And then Will had to heal there, alone, knowing he had hurt the only one that understood him, just as much as that person had hurt him (though in another way). He discussed -all- of it with himself (through the “ghost” of Abigail), admitting he still wants to go with Hannibal to himself. And so he sets out on a boat, not easily trackable, time for himself to think, trying to track Hannibal down by himself. And Hannibal wants him to, he draws him near, akin to a self-fulfilling prophecy.

Will realizes his own need to be near Hannibal, rekindles his relationship in his mind (the stag is his manifestation after all), follows it to the Uffizi after admitting that he “never knew himself as well as when he was with him” out loud to Chiyoh. Who tells him to his face that he is “just like him”.

But Hannibal isn’t ready. He’s getting there but the fight with Jack just before that meeting has left Hannibal without the atonement he was looking for, still unable to properly reciprocate. While the Uffizi scene is undoubtedly romantic it always struck me as more relieved on Will’s side than on Hannibal’s, unbalanced. Hannibal is guarded. He even warns Will not to rush into action, knowing he would need to respond accordingly then.

The next scene is difficult. Because in the script Hannibal has a knife as well, balancing the scene out, the threat, making them equally unsure of where they stand, equally dangerous. The show does not give us this fact and so it’s -not- canon and it unbalances the “why” immensely in my mind. I understand why Will has a knife yes, but why would he draw it in broad daylight on an open place. Except that maybe that was -why-. Maybe that was what was in Will’s mind at that moment, taking Hannibal down in front of witnesses and then being taken down by the police or at the very least arrested. To end the hunt, right there, to give them -both- the satisfaction of Hannibal dying at Will’s hand, in a personal manner. THAT would fit imho. But Chiyoh intervenes.

Then that scene with the shot wound. Will draws Hannibal near but Hannibal does not accept. The academy should give Hugh Dancy a fucking Oscar because it’s all in this little scene where he breaks down against Hannibal’s shoulder and then pulls himself together once more right away. It’s painful to watch.

And then Hannibal drugs him against his will (once more!) saws his head open, and then he’s dragged off and transported over and hung up like meat.

And I would pay real money betting that Hannibal, always so eloquent normally, didn’t know what the fuck to say on that trip in that meat truck. Once more one of those scenes I would have loved to see, but, of course, show-wise it would have been not so clever^^.

And Will is through by the time they reach Muscrat Farm. It’s in every line of his face when Mason has them wheeled into the stable.

But so is Hannibal. THAT is his look when he looks up and -at- Will. Oh, he pulls himself together later, pushing the fun forward, a part of him definitely enjoying the madness. But that there, is rock bottom. For both.

Now, Hannibal, as I’ve said before, will have his epiphany a bit later on. And Will sees them both together in this mess, when he speaks with Alana he is -always- using “us”, not “I”. Will has already been there, in the hospital with Abigail’s ghost, has already realized he needs and then all the shit and now he’s told that people want to cut his face off to eat Hannibal with it. And he’s just… through with it. Not because his feelings have changed, but simply because he cannot take more of the shit. He’s been cut open, thrown off a train, cut open again, drugged, manipulated and then the face… brrr.

When he wakes up in Wolf Trap, the first thing he sees is the book with the calculations to try to change time. Now Hannibal left that there on purpose. It’s probably the closest Will will get to an apology. And Hannibal is very guarded when he sits down because he knows he messed up with the bone saw and the drugging. It’s in every movement in that scene, every expression on his face. They launch into metaphors there but it’s not needed, really. Just look how Hannibal does -not- want to leave.

Will lies to himself regarding the “you delight, I tolerate”. It’s one of his last vestiges, something to cling to, something to carry before him through his marriage with Molly. He does enjoy killing though, and that is what the final fight in TwotL makes chrystal clear. S4 will tell whether the fall was a suicide attempt or a ploy, I for one am firmly with the ploy and have written multiple versions of it.

Why does he reject him? He rejects Hannibal there because Hannibal can still not say it. Does not apologize. Speaks in metaphors. It’s in every interaction in the prison later on, how royally unnvered and pissed off Will is with the games Hannibal plays (remember the eye roll at “I’m not God’s fool I’m yours” when Hannibal ignores him etc etc?). Hannibal has to grow still, emotionally. And Will has to let him go for that.

And so he does. And underestimates how much he hurts himself with it.

As per the actual knowledge of emotions….

Hugh Dancy said at RDC3 that Will is aware of the fact that Hannibal loves him, even before Mizumono. But Will does not believe Hannibal to be capable of the more serene “in love” of this purity of emotion. Will is imho also aware of his own love for Hannibal, which is why he cannot treat him “normally” but treats him like a secret, something to hold close to your chest.

Loving someone does not equal being “in love”. It is both more and less than the other, the meaning quite a bit different. “In love” has more carnal intentions, an ache, a desire for the other more than “loving” has. For me what Hugh said makes sense because there is a difference in intent there. Being “in love” is a much more fragile state of mind than “just” loving someone.

Which is why Bedelia has to spell it out when it finally clicks, why Will has no apparent answer when she asks him if he feels the same. The thoughts are churning in that moment as well :)

And it’s also why I believe Mads and Hugh felt they just -had- to push the “lunge” into that direction. Look at them. Will puts his head on Hannibal’s chest, knowing, accepting and… Hannibal… Hannibal accepts this time. His expression is that of a man finally come home, emotions painful and brilliant everywhere.

And Will… Will is at peace.

(((Now that arm there in the last frame, right… That arm has no power. It was stabbed he wouldn’t have been able to pull much. Hannibal lets himself fall, and why the heck does he not hold onto Will there anymore??)))

Will will not turn on Hannibal anymore imho. He’s been there and tried that. He tried to free himself of him and it didn’t work. He’s at peace. He is Hannibal’s mirror, in his mind palace at peace.

There will be some kind of mind-fuckery (as Bryan called it^^) but I don’t think it will be Will changing his mind. I believe we will get to see Will Graham’s becoming in Season 4 - with Hannibal. However that may manifest. Or maybe as Hannibal :)))

And…. there are four settings at that table. Two other chairs and a setting for a wheelchair…. Hannibal was shot after all. Janice dropped at some point that it would be Will and Hannibal (in wheelchair) at Bedelia’s and that they would have Jack as their other … “guest”. With Hannibal in the wheelchair - I believe Will made the cut.

Opinions?^^