Hannibal season 1 episode 9 sees Abigail finally come clean about her role in her father’s killings. The NBC Hannibal series evolved into one of the most unique procedurals on TV. The show charted the relationship between the title character – a supernaturally intelligent and refined psychiatrist who just happens to be a cannibalistic serial killer – and Will Graham, an FBI profiler. Will has an empathy disorder that allows him to get into the mindset of the killers he chases but doing so proves poisonous to his psyche.
In Hannibal’s first season, the titular character becomes Will’s therapist and friend – even though he’s responsible for some of the killing’s Will investigates. The show ran for three seasons in total, with the second half of season 3 tackling Thomas Harris’ Red Dragon novel. The series featured some incredible performances and haunting visuals but despite hopes of it being revived, there’s still no sign of Hannibal season 4 coming. CBS is also developing a show based around Clarice Starling and her career following the events of The Silence Of The Lambs; this series isn’t connected to NBC’s Hannibal and the character himself is unlikely to make an appearance.
A major storyline in Hannibal involved Will taking down serial killer Garret Jacob Hobbs, and saving the life of his daughter Abigail. Both Will and Hannibal feel a level of paternal duty towards her, though the latter is less orthodox as he helps her cover up the accidental killing of Nick Boyle, the brother of one of her father’s victims. Hannibal season 1 episode 9 “Trou Normand” finds her haunted by her past and preparing to write a tell-all book with the aid of sleazy journalist Freddie Lounds (Lara Jean Chorostecki). When the body of Boyle is uncovered, Jack Crawford (Laurence Fishburne) strongly suspects her involvement.
Hannibal season 1 episode 9 sees Will also realize Abigail killed Nick, and learning Hannibal helped her cover it up. Instead of doing the smart thing and reporting it, Hannibal persuades Will of the logic of keeping the secret, as Abigail only acted in self-defense and would surely be harshly judged based on her father’s crimes. “Trou Normand” ends with Abigail helping Hannibal clean up after dinner and confessing she did help her father in his crimes. She was used as bait and befriended the girls he selected, and she breaks down in Hannibal’s arms as she knew if she didn’t help, Hobbs would have kill her instead. Abigail’s confession also showed that despite displaying herself as a victim, she was an accomplice – albeit a very reluctant one – and had been manipulating Will, Alana and everyone else into believing otherwise. Hannibal saw through this from the beginning, and her confession to him is another sign of him gradually luring her to his side.
Hannibal season 1 episode 9 also features the usual creative serial killer subplot, where Will and Jack investigate a human totem pole comprised of decades worth of victims. Will follows the clues to Larry Wells (Lance Henriksen, Aliens), who killed the first victim decade before because he was the husband of a woman Larry was having an affair with. The final victim was the son of his former mistress, who he murdered in revenge and to secure Wells’ “legacy” as a great killer. What Wells didn’t realize – and Will is only too happy to tell him – was that the last victim was also his son and he murdered his own legacy.
