Hannibal (TV Series) Primavera (2015) User Reviews

Better than people are making it out to be.

[mranieri-42338 · 8/10 · 14 June 2015]

A lot of people have been fairly disappointed with this episode and with the beginning of season three in general, however these viewers seem to be missing the point of these first few episodes. The ending of season two was a massive moment for both the characters and the show itself, and it would have been wrong if Fuller and his team hadn't treated the aftermath of this event without the proper weight it deserves. This episode provides a wonderful insight into the relationship between Will and Hannibal, and really reveals just how much these two men meant to each other.

Throughout the episode, Will is consistently conflicted in regards to his feelings towards Hannibal. He is unsure whether to bring Hannibal to justice, or to join him and start a new life. The scene in which Will searches for Hannibal in the Italian catacombs culminates with Will saying to a still hidden Hannibal, "I forgive you." This is a very interesting moment in Will's character development, and it will be as equally interesting to see how this will affect Will's hunt for Hannibal in future episodes.

The development of Abigail and Will's relationship is also a highlight, with Abigail experiencing many of the same feelings Will is. The show initially reveals that Abigail survived the massacre in Hannibal's home, however it is later shown that she is merely a figment of Will's imagination and did indeed die. This twist is one where half the audience will see it coming while the other half will not. Despite this, the reveal that she is a hallucination demonstrates just how much Abigail meant to Will and how he is regretful of the fact that she was caught in the conflict that ended her life.

While the episode is filled with gorgeous settings and symbolic visuals, the inclusion of more linear storytelling would benefit the show. The beginning of the episode, which is merely five minutes of archive footage from the season two finale, is unnecessary despite its symbolic purpose. The episode does however introduce some intriguing plot developments, such as the introduction of Inspector Rinaldo Pazzi who inserts himself into the manhunt for Hannibal.

Overall, a gorgeous episode filled with marvelous performances from all of the cast members. The inclusion of profound character development as well as stunning visuals elevate the episode to a place not everyone is giving it credit for.

Hannibal's third season is slower but more beautiful than ever before

[ryanjmorris · 9/10 · 3 September 2015]

If last week's season premiere of Hannibal was focused on fear and terror, then this second installment leans heavily on the opposite. Well, it might not be entirely geared around love, but it's easy to follow the episode's fascination with the human heart. Last week's excellent Antipasto ended with the sight of Anthony's body skinned, dismembered and folded into the shape of a human heart, which would seem like a fitting place to begin episode two. But, much like the premiere, we don't begin where we expect to. Rather, Primavera (titled both after an Italian pasta dish and the full version of the painting at the head of this review) opens somewhere we've already been. We watch the horrifying final events of season two's Mizumono play out again, but this time we stay in the house after Hannibal leaves, as the (metaphorical) dying feathered stag unleashes a tidal wave of blood, speeding towards the also dying Will Graham and Abigail Hobbs. It's a thrilling sequence, and as visually breathtaking as anything else this show does, but it does feel a tad unnecessary.

I don't wish to pass anything that Bryan Fuller shows us in a show as visually and conceptually layered as Hannibal as unnecessary, but the repetition of that entire final scene just felt..misplaced. Perhaps for viewers who don't re-watch the show it might have served as a fitting reminder of how last season ended, and it unquestionably starts Primavera off with a bang; I could watch the final moments of Mizumono a hundred times and still feel my heart sink. But for those who made use of repeated viewings of the show's second season, something it really calls for, this episode doesn't really do much for it's first five minutes; it is, literally, something we've all seen before. That said, the shot of Will drowning in a frame of blood is nicely reminiscent of a similar shot of Bedelia in last week's episode, and the visual metaphor of the teacup was used more effectively here than it's ever been.

Once we cut to actual new footage, Primavera hardly puts a foot wrong. Both of the Abigail twists were genuinely surprising; first that she was still alive and second that she now only exists inside Will's mind palace. It further adds to the complexity of Will and Abigail's relationship when we understand that he knows she is dead, we see him watch her die. Both twists were handled elegantly, and Fuller actually managed to make the "person only exists in imagination" trope feel new and different this time around. It's been played before, Will used to see Abigail's father on a regular basis despite his death in the very first episode, but Abigail herself was played differently, more emotionally. Her final sequence with Will balanced plot development and emotional substance seamlessly. The introduction of Rinaldo Pazzi was also handled well, his motives for hunting Hannibal felt entirely justified mere minutes after meeting him. I also appreciated that we got to see one of the crime scenes that Hannibal left in Italy all those years ago, this show has never shied away from death and Hannibal's Primavera body display was truly unsettling.

Primavera also succeeds in offering us arguably the most frightening sequence the show's ever presented. When that heart-shaped body started beating I nearly turned my television off, but what came after was even more horrifying. As the heart unfolded, standing up, essentially evolving into a stag as it approached Will I could almost hear my own heart beating. Brian Reitzell has stated in various interviews that when he crafts the score for a horror sequence, he attempts to make sounds audiences aren't familiar with. I won't attempt to describe the soundtrack he produced for this sequence in fear of not doing it justice, so let's efficiently say it was terrifying and leave it at that. Primavera was an entirely different episode to Antipasto, this time Hannibal himself was hardly on screen, but we needed this hour to catch up with the other side of the story. Will and Hannibal's relationship is visualised best in the form of the yin yang, both are equals that have left imprints on each other. This is going to be a very different season of Hannibal to either of the two that preceded it, and if the opening episodes are enough to go by, we're in for a darker year than ever.

Better than S03E01, that's something

[panagiotis1993 · 8/10 · 19 August 2023]

My Reaction / Review for Hannibal Season 3 Episode 2: Episode 1 wasnt that good and i gave it a rating of 7/10. I really hope this is better than the first episode. The episode starts with scenes that we have already seen, not happy about that. Abigail survived? What a joke, no one could survive after what Hannibal did to her. So Hannibal is also known as the monster of florence, interesting. What about Jack? Is Jack alive? How many episodes it takes to see? Im confused, is Abigail alive or she is just part of Will's imagination? Will says he forgives Hannibal, could this be true after everything that happened? Not a masterpiece but better than S03E01, my rating is 8/10.

Primavera: Severe, Beautiful, and Timeless

[teacupshatters · 10/10 · 15 June 2015]

(For those that didn't pick up on that, the title of this review is how Hannibal describes the Norman Chapel in Palermo, but I feel it is fitting for this episode as well).

I don't understand some people. Last week, so many people were complaining about there being no Will Graham. This week, I see people complaining that we need to not focus on Will Graham so much. Make up your minds.

Honestly, I think we needed an episode to focus on Will Graham. What happened at the end of Mizumono was traumatic for all the characters, but especially for Will, and this episode really showed just how much those events affected him. To gloss over that and not show just how affected Will has been by that fateful night at Hannibal's would have been a disservice to the show, to the character, and to the fans.

Also, I have seen people complaining that this show is getting so far from reality. Have you watched seasons 1 and 2?? Because building a human totem pole, or growing a human mushroom garden, or someone crawling out of a horse is TOTALLY realistic. (Note: sarcasm). This show was never meant to be "realistic." Showrunner Bryan Fuller has said a number of times that the show is meant to be operatic; elevated in a sense from reality.

Those complaining about the "unreality" of the show seem to be upset about the stagenstine/stagenstein/Frankenstag/Broken Hart thing and by Abigail (who is dead but Will imagines her). But how are those any different than season 1 and season 2 when we had the Ravenstag (also a mythical creature) and we also seen Abigail fishing with Will when he was in prison.

Personally, I loved Primavera. I thought for sure Abigail was dead, but the longer we seen her with Will, especially once they were in Italy, the more I thought maybe she is alive. Turns out she was dead (and for those confused by that, the fact we see her in the church and her neck begins bleeding and then we see the flashback of Will being saved and Abigail being embalmed is so that we clearly understand she is actually dead). I thought that was brilliantly pulled off. Also, I loved the dialogue because Abigail was saying everything I've been saying the past year..."Why did you lie to him?"

I loved the embalming scene. It was a bit jarring to see, since we don't normally see that on television. But it was so hauntingly beautiful in the way it was shot. It's probably one of my favorite scenes of the series so far.

Another favorite scene in this episode was when Will had the flashback/dream to when he was in Hannibal's office and all the books/papers were falling around him. It was so beautifully shot (though, that is a given for this show; it always has such amazing cinematography).

I can't not talk about the Stagenstein. I was shocked when I saw it and literally yelled "WHAT DID I JUST SEE?!?!" when watching it. I was amazed but happy to see the stag back. The Ravenstag in seasons 1 and 2 represented the relationship between Hannibal and Will, and when it died in Mizumono, it was sybmolic of their relationship ending, or at least that chapter ending. The rebirth of this Stagenstein, I think, represents a new connection between these two men, but one that is even more twisted. So, I am glad to see this version of the stag. (Also, I did not know, until this show, that a stag is called a hart, and so the "broken heart" became a "broken hart"...very clever pun; see...who says this show isn't educational?)

The catacombs scene was another favorite. It was incredibly suspenseful, courtesy of Brian Reitzell's mastery with the scoring (I love his work). Also, I have since learned that scene was filmed on a small set. I would have never noticed; it was so well done that I couldn't tell.

I loved this episode and felt it was a perfect compliment to last week's episode. I am looking forward to see where season 3 leads.

impressed, that's the word, impressed.

[yami_shizuka · 10/10 · 12 June 2015]

I don't know what to say, I don't know if it is the psychological depth of the scenes, the slow motion, the incredible dialogue or something else

but Im frankly terrified at some point after the first few minutes when Will started talking about Hannibal, because his level of understanding the thoughts of him is strange but while impressivethen, Abigail filling me with hope and with all these nostalgic feelings, the researcher began to refer to Hannibal as "the monster".. it's interesting, but disgusting in the sense that probably he is right,next the scene in the church with the body, I'm sure stepped back as much as I could in my room, this is something that could easily be within one of the best horror movies as one of its most dense in meaning and shocking scenes, all references to God, Hannibal and his obsession for detail, looking sweet,innocent and artistic while He draws, Will smiling, then Will saying to the commendatore that he didn't know if he wants to catch Hannibal, but then Hannibal was watching him from a distance, that just broke my heart in a very strange way, I don't know, I was so scared in the last scene, there was much suspense, the inspector behind Will,Will looking for Hannibal,that just pushed me a little more on the edge of panic, I was really crying, and I don't know, if it's because I was so scared or that I was happy? I could not even decide, I was very confused when the inspector say Will that he was dead, it was like if all space is suddenly closed, and no one could just breathe until the precise moment that Will say "I forgive you" and it was like, I woke up from a nightmare

really amazing chapter, caught me in every single second

---------------- Well now that I'm more calm,

I imagine that people who are not very happy with this episode, are not very accustomed to scenes like this, and indeed are more akin to the action scenes, or police wefts

in my case I like horror, psychology and mystery, so much as I like the action scenes, Im more fascinated for complex scenes that play with your emotions and mind, cause are interesting

so I think that those who have felt this different or "outside reality" should watch the episode again, give it another try, and try to understand it better, the episode has so many details that I'm sure it will only get more and more interesting

A meditation on grief

[stevi-deter · 10/10 · 15 June 2015]

This episode opens with an unflinching return to the horrific events at the close of Mizumono, which sets the viewer up to understand where Will Graham is as he wakes in the hospital. We then journey with Will, emotionally through his grief and survivor's guilt, and physically to Palermo, as he seeks to understand where he stands now, both with himself and with Hannibal. The episode provides a raw and devastating look at dealing with grief, and trying to understand yourself beyond it. Will finds he has to let go of the biggest symbol of that grief in his mind before he can continue to discover where is now. And he must do that while facing the connection he still feels to Hannibal, who has left him a valentine in the way only Hannibal can.

Hannibal, I Forgive You

[ZegMaarJus · 9/10 · 2 March 2023]

This Episode begins with Will on the evening of the bloodbath, Hannibal stabbed Will with his knife. Will survived Hannibal's attack. Abigail also survived the bloodbath. Abigail tells to Will that Hannibal want that they survived the bloodbath. 8 months later Will and Abigail visit the chapel in Palermo. The Italian police found a part of Antony his body. Pazzi tells Will about the monster of Florence, he shows a picture of Hannibal. Hannibal sees Will in the chapel. It gets clear that Abigail died, it was just Will his imagination. Will follows Hannibal in the cave. Will says that he forgives Hannibal for what he did. Amazing Episode of Hannibal Season 3, Will is back! His return in this Episode makes the series so much better!

Why can't they just keep it real?

[randymcbeast · 2/10 · 12 June 2015]

What is going on with this series? They used to keep it real, true and believable. Now, the fantasy and special effects are eighty percent of the episode. Why do they feel the need to do this? Stop it already! When you keep breaking the trust with the audience or boring them with the abstract, you lose credibility and subsequently frustrate and lose the audience.

The parts of this episode where it was actually real were brilliant. Having Will back is exhilarating and meeting Chief Investigator Pazzi for the first time is simply a joy. Having the two doing scenes together saved the episode and gives me hope.

The series has lost it's way though. It's now just a pretentious pile of poop. Will's visions used to fit well into a real world structure but now the structure has been replaced by misleading abstract diversions, flashbacks, and ridiculous special effects.

Keep it simple. Tell the story. Let the characters work in reality so they can more believably build the suspense and surprise that made it so successful in the first place.

So far, this season is a complete failure. I still have hope though.

A dead body in the shape of a broken heart

[gedikreverdi · 5/10 · 13 May 2021]

I somehow didn't like the Italian investigator. The Lithuanian guy ends up being a monstrous serial killer in Florence and leaves a dead body in the shape of a broken heart in the middle of the cathedral in Palermo for one of his victims from Baltimore. Isn't it a bit too much? Abigail was actually dead and he was just imagining speaking to her. The last scene where he went down to the crypt of the cathedral with the Italian guy was really good with all those skeletons on the walls.

I Forgive You.

[wandernn1-81-683274 · 5/10 · 5 August 2020]

This episode begins and we step back again to the season 2 Finale scene with Will and Lecter with what perhaps will be their final embrace. Lecter leaves Graham with quite a lot to think about, as we all know.

Hannibal is so precise in his butchery, that's one of the things I really enjoy. How he leaves Graham and Abigail in quite the predicament. Crawford also!!!!

But cut to Graham recouping in the Hospital, as we all knew it had to go. Spared by his mentor, Hannibal Lector. As was Abigail in the end, also recovering from her neck injury.

+1 Star to start out with the amazingly beautiful imagery.

Second segment, how did Abigail survive? Lecter's precision of course. We move to an image or vision of Graham in Lecter's house, revisiting Lecter's 'memory palace', where Lecter talks to Graham about foreign locales Lecter has been to, Basically giving Graham a map to where Lecter might go should he have to 'disappear'.

Fast forward 8 months later, Graham and Abigail are travelling together now. They end up in Palermo, and shortly after their arrival, a body is discovered. Will is approached by Inspector Pazzi who questions Will about his presence in Palermo and possible involvement.

Shortly after this, through Grahams visions it is revealed that Abigail's being with Will is actually just fantasy. She actually died in Lecter's kitchen. Too EARLY I say. They should have kept her as Graham's little dream companion much longer than this.

-1 Star for failing to keep Abigail in the story.

Graham informs Pazzi that he believes Lecter is still in Palermo. After a few interactions with Graham and Pazzi, we move to the closing of the episode. Does Graham really get this close to Lecter at the end??

I found this episode a bit lacking. 5/10