The adequately creepy but fortunately not over-the-top Hannibal is played by a Dane (wearing 1970s suits and sports coats even though the setting is contemporary), not surprising casting choice for anyone who has seen Riget or is otherwise a fan of Lars von Trier. Hannibal is also an FBI consultant and quickly becomes something of a sounding board for the protagonist.
Hannibal and will have a conversation his feelings about killing.
Hannibal: It wasn't the act of killing Hobb's that got you down, was it? Did you really feel so bad because killing felt so good?
Will: I liked killing Hobbs.
Hannibal: Killing must feel good to God too. He does it all the time. And are we not created in his image?
Will: It depends on who you ask.
Hannibal: God's terrific. He dropped a church roof on 34 of his worshippers last wednesday in Texas while they sang a hymn.
Will: Did God feel good about that?
Hannibal: He felt powerful.
Overall the show is not too overblown. Not all of the murderers are just flatly labeled sociopaths (as if that alone should explain their evil impulses), although so far all of the sociopaths are murderers (actually, this is not clear yet, there are a couple of characters that could turn out to be more sociopathic than they initially appear). This show has a lot of potential, particularly if they introduce a character who is a sociopath and not a murderer -- there's a lot of ripe ground there and a great chance to really explore the mindsets of different personality types.
On a side note, watching the show makes me wonder what would have happened if I had pursued working for the FBI. I had applied once. I took the tests and passed, even the personality/psychological test (and people fail this one all of the time, I knew a guy who failed this particular portion). All I had to do was schedule a physical fitness exam to move on (no problem since I actually can do pull-ups, thank you swimming for my upper body strength). I never did, though. One of my friends insisted that I should never work for the government, that the things I get away with in my current field might risk a prison sentence in the government sector. I didn't know if that was really a reasonable concern, but the logic was compelling enough for me to move on to something else.
It's just the way it is, mang.
ReplyDelete'Power' is an illusion, to take pride in it is simple vanity.
Also, there's no such thing as free will, so stop fooling yourself.
but illusions can have be very powerful themselves if enough people buy into them. if someone believes in the illusion of your power then it becomes real
ReplyDeleteNope, you'd still be fooling yourself.
DeleteAn illusion remains an illusion, no matter how convincing it seems, but most people love their illusions.
DeleteTo each his own, I suppose.
The only reality we can know is an entirely subjective one - illusions therefore are as real as any truth, so far as the experience of the deluded goes. Objective truth does not exist - ONLY illusions have power; objective reality is the myth.
DeleteAh, yes. The day has come. Hannibal has arrived to the only blog I actually enjoy reading. (It constantly interests me.) I was wondering when would that happen, along with that past post on "The Hollow Men". Perhaps I should play the annoying individual who recommends things around here. Perhaps not. I prefer not.
ReplyDeleteAnyway, itself, it's a good show. A seductive chess game. I watch it both for the criminal investigation and Dr Lecter's toying with those around him. His "mongoose", specially.
It's like watching a cat play around with mice. Allowing them small amounts of false hope here and there, the audience knowing beforehand, or at least myself, that there's no real way out of that one. It's fun. It's, admittedly and obviously, sadistic. It's pure entertainment. Even when the cat decides not to play and brutally kill off one of the mice, one can't help but to stay and watch what happens to the--unfortunate creature and, in a sort of trance, enjoy it too.
But all in small meals (pun unintended). The devil in the details, of course. Must keep an eye out for those. Otherwise it would be yet another vulgar show depicting a "refined" serial killer. Obnoxious, aren't they?
As for the power talk with Will, and in consequence, the whole 'illusion' debate, I believe Hannibal was merely trying to lure Will to his corner. To show him a "friendly" door for him to walk through and see things the way he sees them; no divisory lines, no 'right' or 'wrong'. Power was just a word for the massive gray. But maybe that's just me.
I like the way he wraps up all those nice organs into handy packages for cooking. If I had a psycho bf like that I'd make him cook for me, Love pate.
DeleteI think Sherlock does a lot more for the cause than having psychopaths being depicted in the media as a another cannibalistic serial killer. That being said I really enjoy Hannibal and thought they were making an effort. Can't help but wonder if 1. psychopaths get off on having people fear them so being associated with serial killers is kind of fun; and 2. This public depiction of psychopaths as serial killers only causes psychopaths to hide more, which enhances the sense of alienation and the need for masks- this in turn pushes some to be naughtier than they might have been if there was an acceptance for them.
ReplyDeleteMore semantics, but I can't seem to get them out of my head.
ReplyDeletePath is a root word that means feeling or disease. The 'or' is what troubles me. Why not both? The empath feels so strongly the emotions of others that she often seeks a life of seclusion. The sociopath has a natural feeling for social interactions, which leads to highly effective lying, manipulation, and charm.
The 'uber-empath' who is highly intelligent has enough mental plasticity to block the vicarious experiencing of intense emotions as a way to protect herself. The result is a person who can see the pain of others clearly, but not feel it.
Yes, perhaps the root of both empathy and sociopathy is this diseased feeling, so strong that one must suffer or sever it, leading to one disorder or the other.
i was waiting for somebody to give a nice description of uber empath..
Deletei think i am self centered uber empath. I just read somewhere that an uber empath it is common for them to be narcissistic. And YET, they have a sensitivity and an intolerance for narcissistic individuals.
That is the reaction formation, when you dislike what another is and you are similar, correct???
How you fix that is to love who you are or change who you are, or stop being a hypocrite in your head,....
but it still doesn't mean you have to tolerate any behaviours you yourself have a habit of dishing out to others, and lie back and take it just because you are also "guilty " of similar shit
WHat happens when these 2 types have a relationship,( the 2 uber empaths who are somewhat narcissistic, who are both annoyed immensely by uber narcissists??).
I do my best to suppress the more annoying aspects of my narcissism, such as overt bragging, invasion of others' privacy, and throwing fits of narcissistic rage. Those aspects of my personality are counterproductive in both my career and social interactions.
DeleteI don't feel guilt, but I certainly understand it.
One time I was at Olive Garden, and had an overtly bitchy waitress. I could tell when she reached the point that she knew she wouldn't be getting a tip, when she took our breadsticks and threw them away instead of boxing them up with the rest of our food, just to spite us. Rather than do as she expected and leave no tip, I left a relatively large one. Now, if she's like me, she would not have a second thought about her good fortune, but most people are not. I didn't get to see her face, but I know she should have felt incredibly guilty about being such a huge bitch, and the small price of a tip was worth my satisfaction.
Also, sometimes one of my previous bosses would be in a sour mood, and be unnecessarily mean to me. It really doesn't matter the words he uses, I see his intent and anger. In those cases, I worked slightly harder to exceed his expectations and make sure he notices. Yes, these people get what they want from me, but it comes at a price.
I kill with false kindness :)
left relatively large tip? So that she felt guilty and you feel powerful? huh thats narssicism.
DeleteHey andy, that was a good story. the next time you come into the restaurant, pls tell how it went down with her and how you perceive your actions effected further service with her. How are you sure she is a person capable of guilt?
DeleteSome people guilt trip people because they want something, but that's so transparent. I make people feel guilty without gaining anything. Childish, I'm sure, but it gives me satisfaction to make people feel it. Guilt is an awful feeling.
DeleteI just remembered a story! A birthday card was put in my mailbox by mistake. It felt like there could be cash in it, so I opened it. There were some paper clippings, probably had something to do with a family member. I considered returning it to its intended recipient, but I'd already opened it. So, I tore it all to pieces and threw it in the trash. I remember not feeling guilty, but knowing that I should. I found that rather strange.
@12:17 I'm merely going by probability, most people are completely 'normal'. Also, anyone that lets their anger get the best of them, to their own detriment, is probably capable of feeling guilt.
DeleteIf a tree falls in the woods and nobody's around to hear it, does it still make a sound?
i guess so. Sounds right to me, glass.
Delete"I do my best to suppress the more annoying aspects of my narcissism, such as overt bragging, invasion of others' privacy, and throwing fits of narcissistic rage. Those aspects of my personality are counterproductive in both my career and social interactions."
DeleteMirror, mirror...I beg to differ on this one from everything you've shown on here. You are one of the most arrogant, easily slighted people I have ever encountered. At least you've owned up to the fact that you're a narcissist, but you're still clinging to the bad boy delusion for dear life.
As for the waitress, I highly doubt she would have lost any sleep over it. Waste of good money if you ask me.
You're a good teacher, GE. As you can see, I've learned my lesson :)
Deletethe waitress probably looked down at you even more. i worked as a waitress and in different jobs that can be compared. my collegues and me rarely take costumers seriously. but costumers do take themselves enormously serious, costumer is one of the worst species of men on earth. and i never even worked in a business where i would have come very close to them. i would not let go of my anger against a costumer unless the person would do so first. but i understand those waiters who do. and i am rarely showing something personal, something real of me during work because a lot of them forget themselves when they step inside as a costumer. even being friendly and warm is not real at work mostly, it's more a narcistic tactic to get friendly and warm reactions out of people. i don't fell guilty for not treating people as individuals in a friendly way and it's fun for me to make fun of costumers, throwing anger at them is not very far away from that. why should "your" waitress feel guilty of your large tip you responded her anger with? as large as your tip was as large your narcistic slight for being treated rudely might have been.
DeleteI can tell when they're faking warmth, or if it's there for real. It's very creepy for someone to pretend to be nice. I gave her no reason to hate me, but hate me she did. When you do something people don't expect, you throw them off. Regardless of whether she felt guilty or not, I'm sure I threw her off balance :)
DeleteI appreciate you taking the time to respond, but why do I feel you're incredibly bitter about something? Is there anything you'd like to discuss?
you think you can throw me off my balance?
DeleteBitter and paranoid, that can't be good at all! What's wrong? Believe it or not, but I'm an excellent listener, and I'll discuss your problem with you, if you'd care to share it.
Deletei would have to make something up to discuss with you, which field are you heading to get something out of the discussion?
DeleteMy mistake! I see that your shit is entirely in order. No trust issues, paranoia, or bitterness. I must apologize, I get ahead of myself sometimes in assuming I can see what's on someone's mind. No harm intended :)
Deleteno harm was done. me, too, didn't mean no harm. just talking in an acid voice sometimes and get surprised if people take it personally, but you didn't which is good. i do have trust issues exspecially on the internet talking to strangers on sociopathworld.
DeleteIn that respect, you're smarter than me...
Deleteas smart as a waitress can be...
Deleteit wouldn't "upset" her. What it might do is give her an attitude adjustment with you, make her be sweeeeeet as pie the next time she saw you. If you stiffed her on the 2nd time, when she kissed your ass, you'd have punished her.
DeleteEveryone knows that money talks when you want good service. If you work for tips, that's how it goes. Good service, good tip. Bad tip, maybe not your best work next time, because why waste that genuine smile on a cheapo.
Maybe the Glass just wanted better service for the next time?
Man, Animal, Divine?
DeleteMask is still slipping, M.E, now we not only know you're a woman but an American woman- What's next? You're black?
ReplyDeleteSuppose we'll find out soon, hmm?
Who gives a shit, hmmm? Focus that energy on providing and serving my needs.
DeleteME is mistress to Cornel West.
Deleteonce you go black
Deletethe kkk with sort you out
black women have it hardest out there in terms of dating and respect in job market.. They have to scramble harder in the sea of white males.
DeleteOne of my Friends? Really M.E ?Do you have 'friends'?Who do you call a friend by the way?
ReplyDeleteWhy do you find it so hard to believe that M.E. would have friends?
DeletePretty sure she's not going to answer you btw, but I'm still curious.
I do too have friends! I'm a super-hot, rich as balls lawyer, and I just published a book. Have you published a book? Probably fucking not. What's wrong, little bitch, get your balls twisted into a knot by some mean, dirty whore with half my IQ?
Delete@M.E
DeleteI love people who talk that way~
I was attempting to channel Thrope from the forums.
Deletelooooooooool !
Deleteepic take down M.E.
DeleteM.E's post is a joke right?
DeleteWhom
ReplyDeleteAttention, attention.
ReplyDeleteThank you.
Carry on.
Empty Glass, I mean Andy Glass,
ReplyDeleteI don't think overtipping will upset a waitress or make her care that she threw out your bread sticks.
Maybe you could have told her instead.
Ooops, too honest for you.
Glass, do you have a problem feeling anger? When I stuff down anger, I can't think calmly and rationally.
DeleteI think what you wanted was respect, genuine or not.
On the contrary, anger makes me extremely rational. I channel it into energy and productivity.
Deletedo you feel it, thoroughly, and express the anger to the one who made you angry?
DeleteI really only find Hannibal's character interesting. The rest of the show rubs off as overly theatrical (ex. Will repeating "this is my design" ad nauseaum) and quite pedantic at times - I mean, I swear there are moments where I'm convinced they're going to roll out a blackboard and start defining what a "sociopath" is, what a "psychopath" is, etc., all in the middle of forrest amongst a few dead corpses. "Does that make him a sociopath?" "Would that make me a sociopath?" "Know which career ranks fifth on the list which attracts psychopaths the most?" "Sixth?" Ughh. I wish the director would tear a page out of Hannibal's playbook and employ a little more subtlety when engaging these topics rather than force-feeding us (no pun) some fashionable introduction to sociopathy 1101.
ReplyDeleteMarvelous Monday Themes
ReplyDeleteTheme for Rich
DeleteLove,
Themes
Did you know that the term sociopath is actually antiquated in psychology, sufferers are simply called psychopaths now.
ReplyDeleteWill bores me. I love Hannibal and hope the show comes back this fall.
ReplyDeleteI recently started watching this show & discovered I really like it!
ReplyDelete