I thought we'd do something a little different this week, friends. Rather than talking in general terms about a show that's working or not working for us, this week I'm thought it would be fun to talk about the pilot of a show specifically. There are a few very particular things that a pilot has to accomplish, and whether or not it does that often speaks to the overall success of the show. There are exceptions, obviously- shows where the pilot is amazing and then you're more disappointed by every episode after until you give up, or shows where the pilot is weak but the rest of the show picks up the slack.
Then there are pilots that perfectly set up the series that follows, that set the tone and create the world and introduce you to the characters and more than anything else, totally suck you in. We always laugh about those pilots later, like we were lost from the first moment.
Bryan Fuller's pilot for
Hannibal is one of those perfect pilots, and here's why:
The first important thing about
Hannibal is its striking visuals, and these are on show from the pilot's first moments. Will Graham is a character that sees and experiences the world in a really specific way- so it's important that the visuals of this show be unique. Fuller starts the pilot off with a bang, flowing a scene backwards to show how Will deconstructs a crime scene. It's a bold choice, and one that works incredibly well here.
That sets up the intensely visual way we'll be introduced to all of the characters.
Hannibal is a show where characters' inner selves (and their psychosis) are expressed visually around them. So everything, from the way their faces are lit to their clothing to the decorations in their homes is important, and everything is done by design (sorry, couldn't help myself).
Another important thing about the world of
Hannibal is the incredibly complex relationships between the characters. Not just Hannibal and Will- although that's carefully crafted from moment one- but even the scenes between Will and the rest of the forensic team, or Alanna and Jack Crawford, are tightly written. They're never overly emotive, but you're still given the glimpse you need into their interpersonal lives to get invested right away.
And the last thing I'll talk about (because I could probably write a thesis about the genius of this pilot) is the way it handles horror. After all, this is a show about a cannibal working within a team that hunts serial killers. The show is shot in this beautiful hyper-saturated color, which makes even bland scenes pop. So when there's an act of violence, it's just as beautiful even as it's shocking. And that's a theme throughout the show- the beautiful and the horrific in the same scene, the same shot. Scenes where Hannibal is cooking, and you
know he's cooking someone he killed, it's still some of the most gorgeous and delicious looking cinematography I've ever seen. And that's why it's horrifying- you're forced into seeing something violent and scary as beautiful. It's supremely effective.
If you haven't seen Hannibal yet and you're into horror it's a must-see!
Happy Watching!
CT
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