Beth and Matt Unger, siblings obsessed with Hannibal, do an episode-by-episode rewatch. Spoilers abound.
Wherein Beth and Matt welcome culture critic and friend to all Fannibals, Rotem Rusak! In part 1 of our discussion, we cover Digestivo at length, learn why it's Ro's favorite, and give Chiyoh a chance. Nice Links: The Breaking of “Narrative Promises” Through the Lens of Supernatural, Marvel, & More S3 E6: Digestivo Find Rotem at: Twitter: @Moondancer1626 Instagram: rotem_rusak @HannibalEvents @FannibalMovemnt Journo Portfolio Nerdist Author Page
Wherein Beth and Matt welcome our first known listener, @peacecraft, and cover such varied topics as anime, the Hannibal cast reunion, and, of course, William Petersen's beach attire. Nice links: Blood simple Polar The Running Man "Retirement the Margaritaville Way" by Nick Paumgarten X Files: "Home" Yellowjackets Fleabag Our Flag Means Death Why Cuba? Hannibal Cast Reunion Eureka Seven Super Dimension Fortress Macross Promare Berserk
Wherein Beth and Matt discuss what makes a good series finale, and how some other's we've known compare to The Wrath of the Lamb. (Spoiler: Wrath ranks highly.) Shows that we'll really, really spoil include: The Sopranos, Battlestar Galactica, Mad Men, Lost, The Leftovers, The Thing, Mad Men, Angel, and Six Feet Under.
Wherein Beth and Matt welcome cross-stitch enthusiast, fondant sculptor, and friend of the show, Withering Slights! Also known as Charlotte, she joins to discuss the difference between fandom and obsession, Gillian Anderson's many modes, genre swim trunks, cupcakes, Star Wars, and where Will and Hannibal might go from here. Withering Slights' Etsy Shop X-Files Speedo Episode Withering's entry in #thisismycupcakedesign Manhunter (once again) The Great Sex Education Hannibal Rising Mary Berry's chocolate cupcake recipe Fondant hardener Meat glue
Wherein Beth and Matt gather themselves and approach their second viewing, ponder Francis' liberation, and contemplate the eternal mingling of Hannibal and Will's molecules. We also take side trips to Sicily, Wuthering Heights, and Stonehenge (where the demons dwell). Luc Besson's Leon the Professional The Final Scene from Georges Lautner's The Professional The entirety of Georges Lautner's The Professional This is Spinal Tap's Stonehenge scene An academic discussion of Erice by Aaron Sterngass "Elm Street is Burning" by Bryan Fuller Montaigne's "Of Friendship" Emily Brontë's Wuthering Heights at Project Gutenberg Kate Bush's "Wuthering Heights" (our closing song) André Aciman's Call Me By Your Name
Wherein Beth and Matt finish the recap of the series finale. Going our way? Michael Mann's Thief The Gospel According to John at Project Gutenberg William Fraker's Roman Polanski anecdote from Visions of Light La petite mort definition "The Hitch-Hiker" Twilight Zone episode "Rumpelstiltskin" at Project Gutenberg
Wherein Beth and Matt find Will harder to read than ever, revisit Faust, and Matt gets a lump (not a sum) in his throat while doing the recap. John Guillermin's The Towering Inferno Henry Jenkins on "The Glass" Robert Wagner about to put a towel over his head in The Towering Inferno
Wherein Beth and Matt discuss flowers, Paradise Lost, and the end of Will's spectrum. Nice links: John Schlesinger's Marathon Man Paradise Lost audiobook Anna Biller's Bluebeard Movies Letterboxd list Joseph L. Mankiewicz's Dragonwyck Tay Garnett's Cause for Alarm! George Cukor's Gaslight Terence Malick's The Tree of Life The scene in Marathon Man we referred to. Is it safe? William Blake's Paradise Lost illustration in which Satan tries to enjoy the corruption of Eve
Wherein Beth and Matt pick things up from Chilton's kidnapping and refuse to let Will off the hook. Terence Young's Wait Until Dark Roman Polanski's The Tenant Buffy episode The Harsh Light of Day
Wherein Beth and Matt admit that it's going to take three parts to discuss this episode. Bluebeard and Paradise Lost figure heavily. It's the penultimate, people. Perrault's The Story Of Blue Beard at Project Gutenberg Charlie Chaplin's Monsieur Verdoux Struck and White's The Elements of Style “In-Famous” scene from Three Amigos Milton's Paradise Lost at Project Gutenberg Dante's The Divine Comedy at Project Gutenberg Terence Young's Wait Until Dark Roman Polanski's The Tenant Buffy Episode The Harsh Light of Day Andrew Dominik's The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford Sidney Lumet's The Verdict
Wherein Beth and Matt discuss what Will sees when he looks at Molly, and then Faust and furiously gab about Goethe.
Wherein Beth and Matt decide to love Molly and hate Jack (again). The Lost World (1925) Mirnau's Faust (1926) Goethe's Faust at Project Gutenberg The Wolf Man (1933) An American Werewolf in London (1981) "Baby I'm Your Fool" (The Pips) "Fool for You" (The Impressions)
Wherein Beth and Matt discuss talk Blake, Butts, and Bedelia. Peter Medak's The Changeling Illuminated Printing description at the William Blake Archive William Blake's "To Thomas Butts" Terence Malick's The Tree of Life Terence Malick's The New World Richard Armitage visits the Brooklyn Museum Michael Mann's Thief Son of the Invisible Man sketch Gerald Kargl's Angst Peter Medak's The Ruling Class Edward Goulding's Nightmare Alley
Wherein Beth and Matt discuss the best date ever, Bedelia and Will's stunning snot-off, Marie Samuels, and various tail-swallowing circular arguments. William Blake's Songs of Innocence and Experience at Project Gutenberg Liam Gavin's A Dark Song Morbid Anatomy classes A Clockwork Orange Murder Scene (graphic) Marion Crane's alias in Alfred Hitchcock's Psycho Ken Russel's Altered States Red queen scene from John Frankenheimer's The Manchurian Candidate Alien reveal scene in M. Night Shyamalan's Signs Brian De Palma's Dressed to Kill Deckard gives Rachael the Voight-Kampff test in Ridley Scott's Blade Runner Marion Crane's alias in Psycho The mouth image from A Clockwork Orange's murder scene Matt's gift to Beth: A "Murder Wives" Hoop from WitheringSlights' Etsy shop Beth's gift to Matt: A Kim Atlin painting from the Bugera Matheson Gallery
Wherein Beth and Matt break down the Bride of Frankenstein comparison, describe H.R. Pufnstuf, and discuss the smell of Will's brain. Hermit Scene in Bride of Frankenstein Universal Monsters Collection Enjoy some H.R. Pufnstuf with your edibles David Cronenberg's Dead Ringers Twins by Bari Wood and Jack Geasland Transformation scene in An American Werewolf in London Jane Campion's The Power of The Dog Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan (Spock-Savik exchange happens at 1:17:39)
Wherein Beth and Matt battle sleep deprivation, make an embarrassingly obvious connection, and admire Freddie's coat. There's a lot to cover. Hermit Scene in Bride of Frankenstein Hermit Scene in Young Frankenstein The Last Seduction Withering Slights' Etsy shop True Blood Universal Monsters Collection
Wherein Beth and Matt discuss Richard Armitage vs. Tom Noonan, Boticelli's Fortitude, leprosy in Armadillos, and what kind of roommates Jack and Will would make. We also spoil an X-Files episode. Nice links: Manhunter What Happened Was Fangoria Article Caterpillar locomotion PBS Butoh piece X-Files Episode Papillon - Thomas Covenant Books The Descent Get Carter
Wherein Beth and Matt return from their travels to find three years have elapsed. We also complain about Jack and then take it back and then un-take it back. Nice links: Caterpillar locomotion Call Me By Your Name
Wherein Beth and Matt discuss haunted doors, Alana and Margot's motivations, Hannibal's Zephyrish position, The Shining (again), and Coma. Matt also describes his Face/Off rewatch experience and tries to make a case for Death Laid an Egg. Pacific Rim Death Laid an Egg “All Work and No Play” reveal in The Shining The jacket Matt loves “The Blackest Eyes” speech in Halloween Hard Boiled Hard Target Broken Arrow Janet Maslin's review of Face/Off Roger Ebert's review of Face/Off Get Smart: “Missed it by that much” Coma Logan's Run “The Science of Psychopaths” discussion
Wherein Beth and Matt try to discuss this episode without saying "isn't this great" about everything. Plus: Chiyoh Ex Machina. Abbot and Costello's Susquehanna Hat bit John Woo's Face/Off Cape Fear face-biting scene Mel Brooks' Young Frankenstein (just watch the whole thing) Text of Humane Slaughter Act The statue of Talos attacks in Ray Harryhausen's Jason and the Argonauts David Cronenberg's The Brood and Shivers David Lean's Doctor Zhivago Dario Argento's Deep Red (Arrow Player Link) Just Before Dawn (Shudder link) Alex's former droogs stick his head in a trough in A Clockwork Orange Francis Ford Coppola's The Godfather Part II
Wherein Beth and Matt discuss elevator fights, melting butter, and revisit Will's "before and after" line. Matt also reports on his transubstantiation research. Sleeping Hermaphroditus in the Louvre Ip Man elevator fight Captain America elevator fight Diamonds are Forever elevator fight Michel Giuttari's books From Communion to Cannibalism: An Anatomy of Metaphors of Incorporation by Maggie Kilgour Of Cannibals by Michel de Montaigne
Wherein Beth and Matt discuss Jack and Will's handshake, Das Perfekte Dinner, Italian TV, and, of course, The Museum Scene. Can Beth repeat Hannibal's dialogue without weeping? Tune in. Mean detectives in Barton Fink Das perfekte Dinner in Köln: Jetzt werden in Köln die Klingen gekreuzt Midnight Mass The Chinese Kitchen by Eileen Yin-Fei Lo The Manchurian Candidate The Leopard Man And, once again, I made the mistake of calling the de-faced guard in Silence of the Lambs "Jack Pembry" when his name is "Jim Pembry." I will never get it right.
Between Hannibal discussions, Beth and Matt recorded this little chat about Brian DePalma's Blowout, Arthur Penn's Night Moves, and Ivan Passer's Cutter's Way. Nice links: Matt's Letterboxd review of Blow Out Matt's review of Cutter's Way
In this bonus chat, harpsichordist extraordinnaire, Andrew Appel, joins Beth and Matt to discuss Hannibal's preference for the harpsichord (as expressed in S3 E5 - Contorno), the "Goldberg Variations," pigs in blankets, and keyboard anatomy. Nice links: Four Nations Ensemble Francois Couperin Cinquième Ordre Book One of Pieces de Clavecin - Andrew Appel Bach - Aria mit 30 Veränderungen Goldberg Variations BWV 988 - Jean Rondeau Bach English Suite No 3 BWV 808 G minor - Béatrice Martin Johann Sebastian Bach Fantasia BWV 922 - Marco Mencoboni
Wherein Beth and Matt discuss rewatching A Clockwork Orange through the Hannibal lens, Hannibal's tacky shirt, North by Northwest, and Alana's performative table-setting. Nice links: A Clockwork Orange North by Northwest The Lady Vanishes Finally, here's the recipe for "Pappardelle sulla lepre" from Florence The Art of Cookery, the book Matt and his wife received from an Italian bookseller as a honeymoon gift. Preparation time: 40 minutes. Cooking time: two hours. One carrot one onion one stick of celery 4 tbsp extra-tirgin olive oil parsley 2 kg hare (or rabbit) 500 g fresh pasta one glass red wine 2 tomatoes one lemon Parmesan salt Wash, peel and finely chop the carrot, onion, celery, and parsley. Fry over a medium heat in a large pan. Cut the cleaned hare into large pieces and add to the vegetables. Increase the heat and brown on all sides; add the glass of wine and let it evaporate rapidly. When the hare is well cooked. remove it from the pan, bone then chop the meat and return it to the rest of the sauce. Add a glass of warm water and the peeled, chopped tomatoes and salt. Cook over a low heat for ten minutes. If liked, add some grated lemon rind, though be careful to avoid the pith, as this lends a bitter flavour to the meat. Cut fresh pasta into broad strips (pappardelle) and cook in boiling, salted water. When cooked, drain and tip into the pan on top of the sauce. Toss gently for a minute and serve, topped with grated Parmesan, in a large bowl, warmed with some of the pasta water. Domenico Romoli wrote: "Hare with papardelle...use fine, soft lasagne to line the bowls and pour the meat sauce on top, flavoured with pepper". Pellegrino Artusi suggested adding "a pinch of nutmeg" but added, "I think enhances the flavour, but if you don't like it then don't bother". In Florence, the pappardelle are traditionally placed on top of the sauce and then gently mixed through and not vice versa, as this method tends to spoil the subtlety of the flavours.
Wherein Beth and Matt discuss the preponderance of windows, pappardelle sulla lepre, King Kong, A Clockwork Orange, the verdict on defenestration, continued confusion about Chiyo, Jack's whimsical mistake, and the labor of the snails. The railing conversation from King Kong (1933) Nice links: Pappardelle Alla Lepre recipe King Kong (1933) Planet of the Apes (1968) Trippy abstract window views in Planet of the Apes
Wherein Beth and Matt discuss defenestration, Pazzi and the Pope, Three Kings, Jaws, and the Chiltonian wardrobe. This scar is not a smile. Nice links: David Cronenberg's Crash Daniel Jutte's article on Defenestration David O. Russel's Three Kings The Defenestration of Prague The bullet-in-the-liver from Three Kings
Wherein Beth and Matt address Ssssss, "The Body," Will simplifying his life. They also attempt to discuss Bella without weeping. The guy in Ssssss. Beth said Matt's junior high school graduation photo looked like this. Nice links: Ssssss Shout! Factory release Tarantula directed by Jack Arnold The Phantom of the Opera (1925) Books by James Cabell The Innocents directed by Jack Clayton Terry Albury article in The NY Times Buffy Season 5 (The Body is episode 16) John Donne's "A Fever" Leo G. Carol in Tarantula
Wherein Beth and Matt discuss fireflies, snail sex, Bad Ronald, and birds, birds, birds. A firefly! Image source: The Tennessee Conservationist[/caption] Nice links: Snail facts from snail-world.com 11 Cool Things You Never Knew about Fireflies from Scientific American The Nasty Bits: Thoughts On Lungs by Chichi Wang The Offal Truth about Easter (article about lamb offal) by Elizabeth Minchilli Quinto Quarto: inside Rome's offal obsession from Great Italian Chefs Punch Romaine recipe from Saveur Stuart Gordon's Castle Freak Buzz Kulik's Bad Ronald Nicolas Gessner's The Little Girl Who Lives Down the Lane Warren Zevon's Excitable Boy Isao Takahata's Grave of the Fireflies Thanks to our friend Henry for the proper pronunciation of Fu Qi Fei Pian! Fu Qi Fei Pian from the Golden Mall in Flushing (via chopsticksandmarrow) A bucket of snails at the market in Palermo (photographed by Matt)
Wherein Beth and Matt discuss Pazzi's need for friendship, how Hannibal got like that and if it matters, fireflies, and little gadgets. John Glenn's capsule surrounded by guiding lights in The Right Stuff[/caption] Nice links: Clarise and Hannibal talk about high-powered perception in Silence of the Lambs Facts about fireflies from the National Wildlife Federation 7 Staples of Rome's “Fifth Quarter” - La Cucina Italiana The Right Stuff And here's the AMA logo with the snake Matt referred to:
Wherein Beth and Matt discuss the real Il Mostro at length, the differences between the final scene in Mizumono vs. the opening of Primavera, and Shazam and Isis. Il Mostro investigation photo from the February 6, 2016 issue of Siena News Nice links: The Shazam Isis Hour Amanda Knox Discusses her wrongful conviction in The Atlantic Amanda Knox documentary on Netflix The Monster of Florence by Douglas Preston and Mario Spezi Douglas Preston's Atlantic Article on The Monster of Florence
Wherein Beth and Matt discuss skeletons in Palermo, Chloris and Zephyrus (and related winds) Don't Look Now, and Will's vampiric style choices. Nice links: The Monster of Florence (Atlantic article by Douglas Preston) I'd Rather Be Blue (Fanny Bryce via Archive.org) Capuchin Monastery Catacombs – Palermo, Italy (Atlas Obscura) Don't Look Now Find some nice photos over at secondhelpingpod.com.
Wherein Beth and Matt discuss giallo at some length, make a few movie recommendations, and serve up some Divine Comedy for dessert. [caption id="attachment_12714" align="aligncenter" width="1024"]The curtain opening in Deep Red. Look familiar?[/caption] Mostra Note: Scena di Star Trek Film da guardare Blood and Black Lace What Have You Done to Solange Deep Red Torso House of the Laughing Windows Death Laid an Egg The Possessed Libri da leggere Island of the Colorblind by Oliver Sacks Scena divertente da High Anxiety High Anxiety phone booth scene Groovy soundtracks for your next cena serale Case of the Bloody Iris The Strange Vice of Mrs. Wardh Deep Red Moriccone giallo musica Bird with the Crystal Plumage Lizard in a Woman's Skin Cat O' Nine Tails Spasmo "Tree man" images of Pietro Della Vigna:
Wherein Beth and Matt discuss the start of Season 3, trips to Italy, giallo, snails, and oysters. Nice links: "Snails and oysters" discussion from Spartacus Goblin soundtrack for Dario Argento's Deep Red Morricone scores for Umberto Lenzi's Spasmo and Lucio Fulci's A Lizard in a Woman's Skin Actual antipasto from Beth's recent trip to Italy[/caption] Amazing hat from A Lizard in a Woman's Skin[/caption]
Wherein Beth and Matt discuss their second rewatch of S2 E13, the imago stylings of Jung, Lacan, and Klein, and airport arguments. Nice links: Dupont D fountain pen Norman Palace in Palermo Primer on Jacques Lacan Primer on Melanie Klein The Best of All Possible Worlds (1974 Cast of Candide) Pen fetishist Web site Brokeback Mountain by Annie Proulx Under the Skin Thief Intentions and Intersections of Classical Music in Bryan Fuller's Hannibal (NBC) by Teresa Piñeiro-Otero Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Aria - song by Johann Sebastian Bach, Glenn Gould
Wherein Beth and Matt further describe the events of the finale, mourn Bella, and sigh over the most heartbreaking Sip of Death yet. Nice links: Skyler tells the truth (Spoilerific Breaking Bad Clip) Sam & Dave's "I Thank You" "I have no plans to call on you Clarisse" clip from Silence of the Lambs "Tears in the Rain" clip from Blade Runner Looks like the Champagne on Air France in 2014 might have been a Bollinger 2004 Grand Annee, which will run you $150. It seems to be the brand James Bond prefers, though that probably wouldn't impress Hannibal.
Wherein Beth and Matt embark on part one of a three-part discussion of the Season 2 Finale, Mizumono! Emotions are felt. Nice links: Talk Like Hannibal Reddit Thread Johnlock explained (Slate Culture Gabfest) Origins of the ""Isnt' that awesome" joke (Chris Farley on SNL)
Wherein Beth and Matt discuss Achilles and Patroclus and Matt awakens his distaste for anti-shippers. Achilles and Patroclus: The erasure of LGBT+ History by Reyna Jani Gore Vidal's spat with Charlton Heston over gay ‘Ben-Hur' subtext (Los Angeles Times) The Yin-Yang effect Beth mentions Mason compared to the Thunderbirds guy Achilles Tending to Patroclus' Wounds via Wikimedia Commons Nikolas Ge's Achilles Lamenting the Death of Patroclus via Wikimedia Commons
Wherein Beth and Matt discuss Bedelia's posture and Winston's sobriety. Part one of a two-part discussion. Nice links: Visions of Light (the Godfather discussion starts at 1:01)
Wherein Beth and Matt discuss Shiva, Dead Ringers, Will's ever-evolving feelings, and The Ortolan Continuum. Nice links: Dead Ringers Invasion of the Body Snatchers Hedwig and the Angry Inch (Movie) The Origin of Love (Song from Hedwig) Freddie's Dead (Song by Curtis Mayfield) Basics on Shiva Manhunter ("Radiance of my becoming" quote appears at about 39:30)
Wherein Beth and Matt discuss The Sex Montage, behaviorism, and (inadvertently) relativism. Also, Ghost and and Notting Hill, oddly. The Tom Jones eating scene The last dissolve in Psycho Behaviorism and relativism definitions from the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy The Naked Gun 2 1/2 Ghost Parody Also, yes, Kiera Knightly was in an adaptation of Anna Karenina in 2012
Wherein Beth and Matt explore an infinite loop of possible motivations behind Hannibal sending Randall to Will. We're riddled with questions. Nice links: Midnight Cowboy Will smashes through the window in Manhunter Video essay on Kubrick Closeups, including some Clavius discussion Sacromonte Matera, City of Stone Manimal Boston Dynamics Robot Dog
A very Nietzschean episode, wherein Beth and Matt welcome their first-ever guest, the Season 2 enthusiast, Kayla! We'll discuss Will's inverted hero's journey, Hannibal's genuine WTF moment, and trout! Finding Fish in Faith Friedrich Nietzsche overview (Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy) Lonely as a Fish: Nietzsche on the Self as Metaphor by Frank Chouraqui Jörmungandr You'll Never Walk Alone (Carousel 1965 Cast Recording) You'll Never Walk Alone (Roy Orbison)
Wherein Beth and Matt go full Room 237 on the Will and Jack plan, and air their only real complaint (it's Alana-related). Nice links: "Fucking Face on Your Face" speech from Hereditary "It's Jim Pembry!" scene from Silence of the Lambs (Matt mistakenly said Jack Pembry in the episode) The Sopranos, S3 E11: The Pine Barrens
Wherein Beth and Matt discuss whether the game is afoot, Chilton's complaint, and touch the third rail that is Alana. Part 1 of a two-parter. Nice links: A thread about movie slaps He Hit Me (It Felt Like a Kiss) Carmela gets a dose of reality from an analyst (Sopranos clip) Where Should We Begin Podcast Portnoy's Complain on bookshop.org Karen confronts Henry in Goodfellas
Wherein Beth and Matt discuss whether and how Hannibal might enjoy sex. Nice links: Leda and the Swan He Hit Me and it Felt Like a Kiss (The Crystals) Possession Blu-ray The Heiress (Criterion)
Wherein Beth and Matt discuss Vertigo, at length, and puzzle over why Hannibal thinks life is precious. Nice links: Vertigo kiss (YouTube clip) Vertigo Blu-ray Colors of the Dark Podcast (Critical Horrors episode)
Part 1, wherein Beth and Matt have an orderly chat about Gideon and Hannibal's tête-à-tête. Nice links: American Werewolf in London transformation scene Vertigo kiss
Wherein Beth and Matt discuss Will's changing attitudes, Videodrome, and The Snake Pit. Nice links: The Snake Pit The Narrative of Arthur Gordon Pym of Nantucket at Project Gutenberg Videodrome Audition Pimm's Cup recipe Insane video of bees mating Here's how the aerial "bedlam" shot from The Snake Pit compares to the Eye Mural: