Futamono (Hannibal)

Lore & Background

In the episode, Jack Crawford visits Will Graham, confronting him about sending Matthew Brown to kill Lecter. Graham denies the attempt but insists Lecter is the Chesapeake Ripper, a cannibal who attacks in groups of three or four to maintain a steady food supply. Crawford remains unconvinced, but Graham warns that after the Ripper strikes again, Lecter will host a dinner party. A corpse is found with organs replaced by poisonous flowers, and Lecter declines Crawford's request for help but invites him to dinner. Meanwhile, in his cell, Graham confronts Abel Gideon, who reveals that Lecter instructed him to kill Alana Bloom when he escaped. Chilton records the conversation and shows it to Crawford, who remains cautious. Lecter visits Graham, expressing disappointment and wanting distance. At Lecter's dinner party, Crawford takes food samples for testing, which later show no human tissue. However, fishing lures from a crime scene contain DNA from many victims, including Miriam Lass, leading the team to realize Graham is not the Ripper. The lures also contain rare tree bark, directing Crawford to an abandoned farmhouse where he finds Lass alive but missing her left arm. Lecter drugs Bloom's wine to use her as an alibi while he kidnaps Gideon from the infirmary, killing a guard. Later, Lecter serves Gideon his own amputated leg, which Gideon eats willingly.

Reader's Guide

Futamono serves as the midpoint of Hannibal's second season, accelerating the plot toward the revelation of Lecter's true nature. The episode received extremely positive reviews from critics, who praised the performances, character development, writing, visual style, cinematography, shock value, and ending. According to Nielsen Media Research, it was seen by an estimated 2.18 million household viewers and gained a 0.8/3 ratings share among adults aged 18–49, a 38% decrease from the previous episode. With DVR factored, the episode achieved a 1.4 on the 18-49 demo. Critics such as Eric Goldman of IGN gave it a 9 out of 10, calling it 'fantastic,' while Molly Eichel of The A.V. Club gave it an 'A−' and described it as a major turning point. The episode's ending, with the discovery of Miriam Lass alive, is widely noted as a shocking and pivotal moment that reshapes the investigation and confirms Graham's innocence.

Did You Know?

• The episode was written by Andy Black, Bryan Fuller, Scott Nimerfro, and Steve Lightfoot from a story by Black.
• It was directed by Tim Hunter.
• The episode was first broadcast on April 4, 2014, on NBC.
• The episode's ending reveals Miriam Lass alive with her left arm missing, found in an abandoned farmhouse in Somerville, Virginia.