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kathrynethegreat · 5 years

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@random-emerald-thoughts: said In response to this post. Now I’m hella curious about your thoughts on the other seasons.

Totally! I will post the notes I have for season 2 below. Notes for season 3 will follow in another week, and season 4 a week after that most likely.

Like with season 1, I didn’t write full episodes, just some general details, and the notes assume you’ve read the novels to some extent. Have questions, just ask! Also, not that it matters, but season 2 is my personal favorite of the four seasons.

To those of you who have written to me about this project, thanks for all of the kind words and PMs. It really means a lot.

To those seeing this for the first time and have no idea what this is, the original posts are here:

OVERVIEW

SEASON 1 SUMMARY | SEASON 1 DETAILS

SEASON 2 SUMMARY | SEASON 2 DETAILS

SEASON 3 SUMMARY | SEASON 3 DETAILS

SEASON 4 SUMMARY | SEASON 4 DETAILS

Below the cut is the following information for Season 2 of The Rape of Europa:

Additional Information about each episode and the real crimes that inspired some of the stories

Artwork featured in each episode

A couple pieces of Fan Art that didn’t make the cut for the Season Rundowns.

Flashbacks featured in each episode

General Season Arcs / Information / Themes

General Clannibal info (Last season saw the Doctor and the Agent on rocky ground after a moment of passion and ultimately rejection.)

A full summary of the third to last episode of the second season - episode 2:13 Whoso List to Hunt. Heavily inspired by Anne Boleyn and Henry VIII.

Season 2 General Notes / Arcs / Themes:

The second season deals heavily in the father/daughter bond or lack thereof. Clarice’s relationship with her father - one she remembers fondly and talks about with Lecter frequently, and Molson Verger’s terrible and loveless relationship with his daughter Margot, which Clarice struggles to understand.

A major theme in the season is forgery. This is shown both in actual art forgeries but is also repeated with the duel identities of Clarice Starling / Elizabeth Chase and Hannibal Lecter / Dr.Fell, with Dr.Fell and Elizabeth Chase being “Forgeries.” of their real selves.

This season further explores Hannibal Lecter's Background. Last season we learned that Hannibal Lecter’s sister was eaten - but this season we learn that he also ate her. The first season dealt with the parts of Hannibal Rising that deal with the war - and while this season still has some flashbacks to what happened, this season deals with the second half of Rising, which focuses more on the murders and the search for lost art from Lecter Castle.

The two Johns. Clarice’s relationship between both Lecter and Brigham deepens in this season. Brigham is shown to very clearly be in love with her. She is not in love with him, though she is great friends with him. There is a “will they or won’t they?” surrounding both Clarice and Lecter AND Clarice and Johnny. Since Lecter is still undercover as Dr.Fell, she is essentially stuck between Dr.John Fell and Johnny Brigham. Two very different people, Johnny is all that is good and honest and Lecter is...obviously not. Clarice knows she should be happy with Johnny and not be drawn to Lecter, but cannot find her way around it. She struggles with this in each episode this season.

Please note that Clarice doesn't reveal Hannibal because she's been properly threatened by Chiyoh. She knows Chiyoh, now head of a Japanese Yakuza absolutely has the capability to kill her - as well as Johnny and Ardelia.

Hannibal helps Clarice because he needs her help in return- he needs access to the stolen paintings records she has as a member of the Art Crime Team. He also needs help tracking down someone who has changed their name - someone he has been hunting for years. Clarice insists she won’t help him find someone just so he can kill them.

Hannibal is living in France this season, traveling across Europe as needed depending on where his own investigations into his family paintings take him. He runs into Clarice here and there. While both characters are shown in each episode, they do not spend every single episode together.

The Memory Palace. We see this concept come up, and frequently we see Lecter think, reason and remember via his mind palace, via art pieces in his internal “Gallery.”

SEASON 2, EPISODE 1 : Chiaroscuro

DATE: January 1991 FLASHBACKS:

Clarice - Discussing Lecter's file with Crawford, discussing the Victim who is still alive "On a ventilator"

Hannibal - When Hannibal Looks at Leda and the Swan, he has a quick flash of kissing Clarice in season 1, immediately followed by a flash of him telling her Typhoid and Swans come from the same place, immediately followed by an unwanted image of Micha being chased by a Swan and Hannibal chasing it away.

Hannibal - Hannibal studying with Jakov. Jakov asks if Hannibal Lecter wants to remember everything. Jakov teaches him about the concept of the Memory Palace.

Clarice - Clarice speaks with Chiyoh (this flashback is meant to take place in between season 1 and season 2 - it is not something we saw happen in season 1)

ARTWORK FEATURED:

Leda and the Swan by Rubens, Louvre museum, Paris, France

Kouros - Artists Unknown / Possible Forgery, owned by the Getty Museum in real life, but owned by Molson Verger for this narrative

NOTES:

M.J. Verger is heavily, heavily inspired by the real-life John Paul Getty, his museum, its fraudulent background, and the Getty kidnapping.

Iraq will be invaded soon (Desert Storm), and several Art Historians and archaeologists did, in real life, consult with the U.S. Military about what areas they should avoid bombing, as they did not want to destroy any major historical heritage. In this story, it is Clarice who is consulting with the Government.

Clarice remembers a discussion she had with Chiyoh just before she left Japan (this scene was intentionally not shown in season 1 - it is meant to have happened in between the seasons.). Chiyoh is calm but serious, and she tells Clarice that she cannot hurt Hannibal Lecter. Chiyoh has bribed the Japanese government. The Japanese government holds Dr.Fell in bad taste...and are bitter to not get to indict him against his art crimes, but they have no idea the real story they are inadvertently covering up - they have no idea they are granting immunity to Hannibal Lecter. Dr.Fell’s books are clean...there is no reason for anyone to investigate him. Dr.Fell has nothing on paper that anyone can prove. And only Clarice and Chiyoh know his true identity. She threatens Clarice with her life - and the life of her friends, that she does not reveal Lecter’s identity. Clarice knows enough to know that Chiyoh will make good on her promise. Clarice manages to convince herself continuing to keep his identity a secret is okay - after all, Dr.Fell helped her with many cases. He’s been more help to her than a hindrance. Maybe even Soah might not have been taken down without the important information he gave to her. She uses his helpfulness over the past year to try to convince herself she is okay with not turning him in - for the time being. She also knows if she turns him in, she’ll be ignored. She tried to turn him into the FBI several times and was rebuffed (thanks to Paul Krendler). Clarice also knows that if she reveals Dr.Fell’s identity, that she will have to stop using Elizabeth Chase as her own identity. Elizabeth already has heavy contacts around the world that know about what happened with Hiroshi Soah...to take down Hannibal Lecter, is to reveal Elizabeth Chase and undo a lot of important work she has done and is still working on (especially with the Gardner case). Clarice acknowledges she will not reveal his identity, and Chiyoh continues on. “I won’t let you hurt him,” Clarice again says she will not reveal Fell’s identity. “No.” Chiyoh says again, “I won’t let you hurt him.” Clarice suddenly understands. Chiyoh doesn’t want Clarice hurting him emotionally either. Chiyoh is well aware of Lecter’s growing affection for Clarice, but it is the first time Clarice has been confronted by another person with the fact that Lecter likes her. Chiyoh does say that if Lecter chooses to reveal HIMSELF, that she will consider their deal null and void.

Despite his dislike of Clarice personally, Paul Krendler finds himself attracted to her. He calls rather drunk and asks her out on a date. She knows he is married and turns him down. He is not pleased. (The novel says that Krendler called to ask her out during the first week of Desert Storm, so I’ve tried to keep the timeline the same when I can). She is worried that her rejection of Krendler is only going to make her life worse.

An anonymous tip comes in about some forgeries for the Verger Museum. (The Kouros, specifically) Once it is investigated, Clarice very quickly finds that it’s the tip of the iceberg...the museum has TONS of problems. Some pieces may have been forged. Some pieces may have been stolen outright. Some may have been purchased through not entirely illegal means. There may be some tax fraud going on...but the amount of investigation each piece takes, the amount of paperwork involved is monstrous. Clarice - though still on the Gardner case - will be on the Verger case for almost the entirety of Season 2 - with information leading her into the path of other smaller cases along the way.

We do not yet know where the anonymous tip came from. We will find out later in the season.

Clarice realizes that the man she is investigating is the father of Mason Verger - a name she recognized from the Lecter case.

Hannibal Lecter is shown to be living in Paris, but traveling around as Europe as needed while he searches for what he is looking for. At one point in this episode, he makes his way down to the basement of the Louvre (dressed as an art conservator) and casually snags a few small, lesser pieces for his home. (The basement of the Louvre is indeed filled with hundreds of items not on general display).

While in the Louvre, Hannibal sees Titian’s Leda and the Swan, which causes him to remember his time with Clarice. He remembers kissing her, and then he remembers a moment in which he scared away a swan that had frightened his sister, Mischa.

Chiaroscuro, the title of the episode is the use of strong lights and darks to contrast a composition. This, of course, is shown in art but is also represented in the two sides of our story - in the honest people on Clarice’s team, and the dishonest ones of Verger’s.

January 12 – Gulf War: The Congress of the United States passes a resolution authorizing the use of military force to expel Iraqi forces from Kuwait. January 13 – Singing Revolution: Soviet forces storm Vilnius to stop Lithuanian independence. This may be briefly mentioned as news in the background. It’s, of course, relevant to Hannibal Lecter’s interests...

January 15 - The United Nations deadline for the withdrawal of Iraqi forces from occupied Kuwait expires, preparing the way for the start of Operation Desert Storm

January 16 - U.S. serial killer Aileen Wuornos confesses to the murders of six men. Clarice is interested in this and frustrated that she doesn’t get to be involved in this case.

January 17: Operation Desert Storm is launched and the first air attacks are launched on Iraq and Kuwait.

SEASON 2, EPISODE 2: Wiedergutmachung

DATE: February 1991 FLASHBACKS:

Hannibal - Painting of the upstairs bedroom, hiding with Micha and drawing her hand, Hannibal sings quietly Ein Männlein Steht Im Walde to her

Hannibal - Painting being wrapped by Simonetta and put in the wine cellar with the other paintings.

Hannibal - Family abandoning their castle to go to the lodge in the woods

Hannibal - A Flash of the deserters and their dog tags as they call each other by name over the fire. Emphasis on Grentz.

ARTWORK FEATURED:

The Grand Canal in Venice - Canaletto, Getty Collection

The Bridge of Sighs Bernardo Bellotto, Musée des Beaux-Arts de Lyon

Grand Canal in Venice - Francesco Guardi - Frick Art Museum

Various other assorted paintings from the Lecter Castle collection. No others are specifically mentioned in the book, though it is mentioned there are others. Just shown as an assortment of beautiful pieces.

NOTES:

The word Wiedergutmachung means restitution from crimes committed by the Nazis.

The Art Loss Register is Begun in 1991 in London (In real life). Clarice is closely consulted and involved in this (for this story’s purposes)

Clarice meets Verger's Curator for the first time. There is a lot of build-up. The viewer might feel it's going to be Hannibal Lecter, since last year he was curating for Hiroshi Soah, but it is revealed to be Trebelaux.

Pierre Trebelaux is one of two characters from Hannibal Rising who gets a reprieve from being killed (in the novel he has no first name given). He only lives a few brief pages in Hannibal Rising before being killed- in this instance, I’ve let him live a long healthy life...for now. We will see him in flashbacks and get a better idea of why he is important.

Trebelaux’s character (who again, barely appears in Rising before dying, and thus we don’t know much about his personality) is heavily influenced by Jiri Frel, a curator at the Getty Museum. Frel is credited with the expansion of the collection of antiquities for the Getty, and he was involved in a number of controversies including a tax manipulation scheme to buy artifacts of dubious provenance. He also had a tendency to purchase items that were fake. Frel studied in Paris (like Trebelaux). Following the Soviet invasion, Frel emigrated to the U.S. He expanded the Getty collection heavily. He designed a tax evasion scheme where fictitious donors paid to an intermediary to get tax reductions for donations of artifacts they’ve never seen.

This episode marks the first time Hannibal Lecter actually reaches out to Clarice asking for her help (beyond just keeping quiet about his identity). He has seen her work for the Art Loss Register, and he wants to access it. It’s Government only at this time, and she cannot grant it. He is looking for some of his family’s lost artwork and gives her some of the specifics. She says she will keep her eyes open. He gives her the name Grentz and says his last known whereabouts was Canada, and she takes note.

Clarice goes to visit Verger at his English country home in Kent after her trip to London regarding the Art Loss Register. There she meets Trebelaux, as well as Margot. Clarice notices there is a lot of tension with Margot and Verger and witnesses small instances of verbal and even physical abuse directed at her by her father.

Clarice eventually learns that Margot has let her father know that she is a lesbian, and he has written her out of his will. It should be noted that re-writing his will was a favorite pastime of John Paul Getty in real life.

When discussing the Verger collection with Verger and Trebelaux, Clarice sees The Grand Canal by Canaletto and realizes it is from Lecter Castle. She doesn’t say anything but begins to dig into things. She lets Lecter know but asks him to let her handle it. In real life, this painting is, in fact, a part of the John Paul Getty collection.

The character of Grentz is the second character from Hannibal Rising that gets a reprieve. The novel ends with Hannibal going to his taxidermy shop. For our purposes, I am going to propose that when Hannibal went to kill him, he simply wasn’t there. He’d already moved away. Hannibal has been searching for him ever since. He is the last one of the deserters from the lodge that he has not managed to track down and kill.

So Hannibal Lecter’s goals are 1: reclaim paintings, which he’s done a little bit already (in Japan) and 2: find and kill Grentz.

February 9 – Singing Revolution: Voters in Lithuania support independence.

February 17- Operation Desert Storm is launched and the first air attacks are launched on Iraq and Kuwait.

February 27- Victory Declared in Iraq

SEASON 2, EPISODE 3:The Spoils of War

DATE: March 1991 FLASHBACKS:

Hannibal - Quick shot of Hannibal's dead parents (which we saw last season) followed by a shot of Hannibal reaching for Mischa to keep her from going out to their mother and the wolves.

Hannibal - Hannibal is thrown into the barn with his sister and a young Albanian boy

Hannibal - The Albanian boy is taken away, and there is suddenly food...

ARTWORK FEATURED:

Terracotta lion from Shaduppum

NOTES:

March 15 - Four Los Angeles, California, police officers are indicted for the videotaped March 3 beating of Rodney King during an arrest. This is not relevant to the story, but would be big news for the F.B.I in general, and would be mentioned in the background.

March 15 - Germany formally regains complete independence after the four post-World War II occupying powers (France, the United Kingdom, the United States, and the Soviet Union) relinquish all remaining rights. This event would also be HEAVILY mentioned in this episode.

We see Verger and Trebelaux speaking with Clarice, being kind and charming. Later we see them talking alone, arguing. From the conversation, it is clear that both men are very guilty, but Verger is angry “You said it was all foolproof.” They discuss how they are going to figure out the problem of the museum being investigated. They begin hiding some paperwork and agree that once they’ve secured everything, that the best thing to do is to play along with Clarice, to act as if they are as cooperative as possible and deny as much as possible.

Miranda Pilcher is offered a sculpture by an art dealer. It is from Iraq, and Miranda immediately has her guard up. Before calling Clarice, she does a little bit of digging. She calls some curators from other museums. She finds several museums have purchased similar items recently - all from different dealers. Miranda is concerned and calls Clarice Starling. Together they discuss each piece, each museum that purchased something, etc.

Hannibal Lecter is present in this episode, but he is back in France and is not interacting with Clarice. We see more of his life in France and more of his flashbacks.

The pieces are all too alike...the timing is strange. Miranda wonders - could these be pieces pilfered from Iraq during the recent Desert Storm? Clarice agrees that it is indeed very suspicious.

Clarice interviews the art dealer, who insists that he is above board and has done nothing wrong. Clarice finally uncovers several layers of buyers and must travel around the world to interview them, hoping to find a common denominator.

Johnny travels around the world with Clarice to help with the interviews. It eventually comes out that Jack asked him to be by her side for her protection. She is a little piqued at this but glad that Jack is thinking about her. She confides to Johnny how much she wishes she could be working for Behavioral Science. None the less, Clarice assures Johnny that she doesn’t need any protection. He lets it slip that he cares deeply for her, and she does not know how to respond.

This episode flows heavily into the next episode....

SEASON 2, EPISODE 4: The Director of Idolatry

DATE: March 1991 FLASHBACKS:

Hannibal - Mischa is ill. Hannibal feeds her like a bird. Hannibal holds her and sings Ein Männlein Steht Im Walde

Hannibal - Mischa is taken away, Hannibal's arm is broken

ARTWORK FEATURED:

Human Headed Winged Bulls and Reliefs from Dur-Sharrukin

Terracotta lion from Shaduppum

Statue of Sanatruq, king of Hatra

Plaster with boar relief

Wall relief from Ninevah featuring an Assyrian soldier

NOTES:

This episode is heavily influenced by Khaled al-Asaad. He was an archaeologist and head of antiquities in the ancient city of Palmyra, a position he held for 40 years. Though he was active during the second Iraq war, I’ve placed him earlier - with Desert Storm instead. In real life, he helped to evacuate the city’s museum. He was captured and tortured in an attempt for to get him to reveal the locations of some important pieces that he had hidden. He was beheaded, and his body was hung from a traffic light, with a placard on his body declaring him the “Director of Idolatry.”

There is a discussion about the Curator of the Iraqi museum, the fictional Kasim Amari (based on Khaled al-Asaad) and his death in the newspapers. The art world is horrified. He was killed some months before.

Clarice receives a letter from Kasim - it is dirty and battered and clearly has been in the mail for a while before reaching her, having been written before his death. She opens it and it begins with “If you’re reading this, then I am no longer on this earth...” He goes on to give her clues to the whereabouts of the artifacts that he has hidden. Of course, he has coded the message with clues - lest the letter falls into the hands of the wrong people.

Clarice and her team journey to Iraq, uncovering clues, decoding messages, interviewing people all in the hopes of finding where the various pieces have been hidden.

Johnny and Clarice grow increasingly close in this episode, looking at art, admiring the culture and food, etc.

Tensions are high in the region, and though the war is officially over, it is dangerous. Clarice separates from her team for a moment in a city square, and when a bomb goes off, Johnny struggles to find her. After a frantic search, he finds her shaken but unharmed. In a moment of relief, he kisses her and she does not pull away, but when they finally part, it is clear she is unsure. She tells him she needs some time.

Ultimately the different paths each piece of art has taken are uncovered. Each one went through a series of art dealers, etc in an attempt to put anyone who wanted to steal or destroy the pieces off the scent. In the end, they discover many of the pieces were, in fact, offered to the museums at the request of the curator - in hopes that the pieces would remain protected for years to come. The pieces Miranda feared were looted weren’t looted at all, leading to complicated questions about the role of Museums.

SEASON 2, EPISODE 5: Nécessaire

DATE: Early April 1991 FLASHBACKS:

Hannibal - One of the deserters tries to get Hannibal to eat, he is shown only as a hand and a voice. We do not see his face.

Hannibal - Bombing and abandonment of men in the lodge.

ARTWORK FEATURED:

Ein Männlein steht im Waldem - a song by Heinrich Hoffmann von Fallersleben

The Stolen Kiss - Fragonard, Hermitage Museum, St.Petersburg, Russia

Psyche Revived by Cupid's Kiss, Antonio Canova, Hermitage, Russia

Nécessaire by Peter Carl Faberge (Missing, but found by our characters)

Twelve Monograms by Peter Carl Faberge, Hillwood Museum, Washington D.C.

Rose Trellis by Peter Carl Faberge, Walters Art Museum, Baltimore, Maryland

Gatchina Palace by Peter Carl Faberge, Walters Art Museum, Baltimore, Maryland

Pelican by Peter Carl Faberge, Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, Richmond, Virginia

Rock Crystal by Peter Carl Faberge, Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, Richmond, Virginia

Czarevich by Peter Carl Faberge, Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, Richmond, Virginia

Red Cross with Imperial Portraits by Peter Carl Faberge, Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, Richmond, Virginia

Lilies of the Valley by Peter Cal Faberge, owned by Viktor Vekselberg in real life, owned by Aleksander Sokolov in this narrative

Hen by Peter Carl Faberge, owned by Viktor Vekselberg in real life, owned by Aleksander Sokolov in this narrative

Renaissance by Peter Carl Faberge, owned by Viktor Vekselberg in real life, owned by Aleksander Sokolov in this narrative

Rosebud by Peter Carl Faberge, owned by Viktor Vekselberg in real life, owned by Aleksander Sokolov in this narrative

Imperial Coronation by Peter Carl Faberge, owned by Viktor Vekselberg in real life, owned by Aleksander Sokolov in this narrative

NOTES:

The character of Aleksander Sokolov is heavily influenced by the real-life Russian Viktor Vekselberg, who owns several Faberge eggs.

This episode takes place around Easter for the Russian Orthodox Church (A week after Clarice would recognize Easter).

There is a discussion of the Imperial Eggs and the fall of the Czar. There is some discussion about the great love between Niki and Alex and the love between Alexander III and Maria Feodorovna.

Aleksander wants to purchase every Faberge egg in the world. He owns several already, but he wants them all to be displayed in the Hermitage in hopes of bolstering Russia’s place in the art world and world in general.

Not all of the Imperial Eggs are in existence. Some were destroyed, but the Nécessaire made it through the revolution and was seen at an exhibit in 1949 at Wartski’s. In June 1952 it was sold to “A Stranger.” No one knows who purchased it, and Aleksander wants Clarice to find out...

Along the way, we learn a bit more about the other eggs, as well as additional Russian history.

SEASON 2, EPISODE 6: Still Life

DATE: April 14, 1991

FLASHBACKS:

Hannibal - Hannibal comes out of the woods in chains

Hannibal - Hannibal is taken back to his castle - now an orphanage

Hannibal - Hannibal wakes from the night screaming. The next morning he stands by the moat - it is devoid of swans.

Hannibal - Hannibal sneaks into the wine cellar and sees his paintings are all gone

ARTWORK FEATURED:

The Burghers of Calais by Rodin, France

The Potato Eaters by Vincent Van Gogh, Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam

Wheat Field with Crows by Vincent Van Gogh, Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam

Still Life with Bible by Vincent Van Gogh, Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam

Still Life with Fruit by Vincent Van Gogh, Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam

NOTES:

In April 14, 1991, twenty paintings were stolen from the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam. This episode doesn’t merely take the event as inspiration - it puts our characters directly into the event itself. Since the paintings were found a little more than 30 minutes after the theft, the episode will show the theft and recovery in real-time.

This episode is also heavily inspired by the opening scene of the remake of The Italian Job. A good heist, a good chase on foot and by boat through Amsterdam rather than Venice...

Hannibal is in France attending the opera, visiting galleries, eating good food, drinking good wine. When looking at the Burghers of Calais, he has a flashback to his time in chains. When drinking wine he flashes back to seeing his wine cellar emptied of its hidden paintings, etc. This attempts to show that though he is trying to live a quiet life, he stands on shifting sands due to his background.

SEASON 2, EPISODE 7: The Forgery

DATE: May 1991 FLASHBACKS:

Hannibal - Hannibal forges a letter from an allergist saying he is allergic to chalk dust.

Hannibal - Hannibal gives the forged letter to his professor.

Hannibal - Hannibal is allowed to be seated at the back of his classroom where he draws all day.

ARTWORK FEATURED:

The Forgery in question is this episode is not a real piece but is a similar piece to Frans Hals Portrait of a Gentleman.

NOTES:

This episode is heavily inspired by a 2018 case in which Sotheby’s sold Portrait of a Gentleman by Frans Hals for eleven million dollars to real estate investor Richard Hedreen. Ultimately it was determined that the painting could be a fake and Hedreen sued. There are also other similar cases that involve both Christie’s and Sotheby’s.

For the purposes of our story, the buyer is a French Billionaire. He sues Christie’s, and the F.B.I. Art Crime Team is brought onto the case to determine if the painting is a fake, and if so where it came from- the fear being that the original collection it came from could contain additional fakes. Clarice wants Ardelia to come onto this case for the legal red tape, but Ardelia lets Clarice know that Christie’s has hired her as their lawyer, so a serious conflict of interest arises.

If the painting is a fake, the other question is - where is the real one? Digging through the provenance, Clarice tries to answer that question and ultimately comes upon an entire collection that was painted as a forgery.

In order to gain information into some people’s private Collections, Clarice must continue to pose as art dealer Elizabeth chase. Playing a fake person, while investigating fake art makes her wonder about the nature of forgery within herself. On one hand, she must lie and pretend to be Elizabeth Chase for her job, but on the other hand, it comes very easily and often times she finds out she’s NOT lying about things, but actually being more herself when she is Elizabeth Chase than when she is Clarice Starling. Is she a forgery? Is Elizabeth the forgery?

Clarice only continues to question herself when a letter from Hannibal Lecter arrives, asking many of the same questions. If she finds that she wants what Elizabeth Chase wants, then maybe she is Elizabeth Chase. Maybe Elizabeth is who she would be without constraints, without worrying about what other people thought, etc.

SEASON 2, EPISODE 8: The Plunder

DATE: July 1991 FLASHBACKS:

Hannibal - Hannibal is selling his paintings to get through medical school and sees the Guardi at a Gallery

Info Flashback - The Gallery owner goes to Trebelaux and tells him the Guardi is "Hot."

Info Flashback - Trebelaux goes to Milko, asks if he has any more paintings from Lecter Castle. We see a quick shot of him looting them all from Lecter Castle, before he says he can't get them into the country, but that he has a plan...they have to wait until his ailing father dies.

Hannibal - In Medical School, Hannibal's professor tells him what to sketch. He stays up late sketching a flayed cadaver - the face in the sketch is that of Milko

ARTWORK FEATURED:

Galerie Nationale du Jeu de Paume

Adoration of the Shepherds, Giorgione - the National Gallery

Grand Canal in Venice - Francesco Guardi - Frick Art Museum

Other various stolen pieces of artwork from WWII adorn the walls of the Galerie Nationale du Jeu de Paume

NOTES:

July 1 - Telephone service goes down in the cities of Washington, D.C., Pittsburgh, Los Angeles and San Francisco due to a software bug. About twelve million customers are affected.

I have used the above-mentioned event as the basis of this episode. In this episode, it is a full power outage - not just telephones.

During the power outage, there are reports of a theft at the National Gallery. Several people saw suspicious activity and others saw someone remove a painting from the wall. The museum was emptied when the electricity went out, so only a few people outside, and some staff inside witnessed anything. Since the power was out, nobody could call the police, and all sensors for the artwork did not work without electricity, nor did the security cameras. There is no evidence of the theft, beyond a few people claiming it happened...though none of them can confirm just what painting was taken...

The other problem is that there doesn’t seem to be any painting missing from any of the galleries. Clarice must determine if there really was a theft, or if perhaps a fake was put into the real paintings place.

Investigating the museum’s security to try to determine where the thief may have entered, how the museum’s software works, when it does actually work, etc, Clarice reaches out to Margot Verger who owns and operates a software company. (in the novel she writes software for exercise equipment) since she has been disowned by her father.

Margot is a computer wizard. and Clarice ultimately winds up discovering the fact that it was, in fact, Margot who plotted the theft at the request of her father, who plans to hold it in his private collection. Hoping to get back into his good graces, she agreed.

Instead of just taking down the Museum’s system, Margot figured it would be less suspicious to take down the power for the entire city. Having written the software the city uses for traffic lights, etc, she was easily able to hack into the grid and take it down for a short time.

This episode draws parallels to the plunder of Lecter Castle with the theft of the National Gallery.

Clarice threatens to turn Margot in, but Margot convinces her she will help Clarice get the evidence she needs to convict her father, despite all evidence leading to Trebelaux. We learn it was Margot who made the original anonymous call about her father’s museum. They agree to work together if Margot will steal the painting back again. Put the real painting back and give her father the fake, as well as give Clarice information on the forger so she can arrest him.

We see flashbacks of Lecter in medical school, drawing the faces of the men in the lodge.

SEASON 2, EPISODE 9: Craquelure

DATE: July 1991 FLASHBACKS:

Hannibal - Hannibal closely observes the Guardi painting in a gallery as a young boy. He looks at the stains. He flashes then to a memory of his mother telling him the marks are called “Foxing.”

Info Flashback - Trebelaux speaks to a man (we see only his back) about several paintings. He offers a great deal for the Italian ones.

Hannibal - Hannibal goes to visit the stolen paintings. He asks about the painting with Mischa's handprint

InfoFlashback - Trebelaux removes Mischa's handprint

InfoFlashback - Trebelaux sells the painting to the mysterious man. They strike up a conversation, and he says he could use him to help him start his museum. The man thanks Trebelaux, gives him his card, and Trebelaux replies "My pleasure Mr.Verger."

ARTWORK FEATURED:

Caves at Lascaux, emphasis on the handprints

NOTES:

In this episode, we learn that Trebelaux sold one of Lecter’s paintings to Verger years ago, and that is how Verger and Trebelaux met.

Clarice dons her alter ego once again, befriending thieves she knows have likely stolen a piece of art. She attempts to become friendly enough with them that they ultimately want to show it to her to impress her. This takes several weeks. Ultimately they want to show it to her, and she must determine if it is a fake before she can get a warrant.

In order to determine if a painting is a fake, she has been studying photos of the original piece and memorizing its Craquelure - it’s a distinct pattern of cracks. By memorizing this - or a small portion (often a corner) - a painting can be identified as the real thing.

We see flashbacks to Hannibal Lecter identifying his artwork by the foxing on the matte surrounding the painting. Another identifying feature is Mischa’s handprint, which is on the back. All of these elements authenticate his piece, but Trebelaux removes Mischa’s handprint, making the piece more difficult to claim.

SEASON 2, EPISODE 10: The Adoration of the Mystic Lamb

DATE: August 1991 FLASHBACKS:

Hannibal - Hannibal goes to visit his painting and is told he's been removed from the list, the painting was claimed by someone else

Info Flashback - Trebeleaux and Milko discuss Hannibal Lecter and agree he needs to be taken care of

Hannibal - Hannibal works late in the lab, sketching. Milko comes in, there is a fight. We do not see all of it, nor do we hear all of their conversations. Milko says something that clearly upsets Hannibal greatly, but we see this from afar.. (We will find out what he is told in the season 2 finale) Milko is placed in the cadaver tank and drowns.

Hannibal - Milko's father dies in Lithuania. The remaining paintings from Lecter Castle are placed into his casket. (In the novel it’s Dortlitch’s father)

ARTWORK FEATURED:

The Ghent Altarpiece by Jan Van Eyck in Saint Bavo's Cathedral in Ghent, Belgium

Mammelokker, seen above the Belfry in Saint Bavo's Cathedral in Ghent, Belgium

Assorted paintings from Lecter Castle put into the casket of Milko’s father.

NOTES:

This episode about the Ghent Altarpiece by Jan Van Eyck, which is an absolutely stunning piece. Its secondary name is “The Adoration of the Mystic Lamb.” for which we get the title of the episode, because who am I to pass over lamb imagery for this series?

The Altarpiece has been a part of THIRTEEN crimes and has been stolen SIX times over the years. It is the most stolen piece of artwork in the world. Each time it was found or returned (in one instance by the Monuments Men in WWII), except for once...in 1934 the panel entitled “The Just Judges” or “The Righteous Judges” which has never been found. Jef Van der Veken (an art forger) painted a replacement for the piece, which is what you will see if you visit it today.

The thief of “The Just Judges” tried to negotiate its ransom via letters, but was unsuccessful.

Comically, A witness spotted two people leaving the cathedral that night with a panel-sized package wrapped in a black sheet tucked under an arm. This witness ALSO happened to be participating in a completely different robbery - of a cheese shop across the street from the Cathedral.

The investigator on the case back in 1934 also did not seem terribly concerned...he himself covering the theft of the art AND the theft of the cheese shop - reports say the officer seemed to be more interested in the Cheese shop theft.

The thief of the altarpiece panel was almost certainly Arsène Goedertier, a stockbroker heavily active in the church. No one really knows the motive, as he didn’t need the money (he was wealthy). In his desk, on his death were found carbon copies of the 12 ransom letters, and a 13th letter that was never sent. The 13th note indicated that the panel was safe - but that it was hidden somewhere that nobody could access without attracting the notice of the public.

Obviously the above is insane, completely true and too good to pass up and not use. So...for our story The Bishop of Ghent has heard much about Clarice Starling and the works she has managed to recover with her team. He reaches out hoping that she might be able to help solve this long-forgotten case.

Hannibal Lecter, of course, is prying around being his own annoying self. At one point he pulls Clarice into a confessional in the cathedral to tell her some information. A tight and intimate space and a lot of sexual tension. Again, she is not amused. He, on the other hand, is constantly amused by her.

At one point they are in the cathedral talking about the case, about the artwork, and Clarice mentions the original officer in the ‘30s did a shoddy job because he was distracted with the cheese shop, to which Hannibal Lecter replies “In his defense, it is an excellent cheese shop.”

Johnny sees Clarice and Dr.Fell speaking and approaches Clarice, confused. He knows that she has worked with Dr.Fell before, but the last time was in Japan - when Dr.Fell knew her as Elizabeth Chase. Clarice explains that Dr.Fell now knows her real identity, and has been very helpful in helping her navigate the art world. Johnny is unnerved. He cannot prove Dr.Fell was involved in any of the crimes in Japan alongside Soah...but he heavily suspects that he was.

I had two problems to solve with this episode. 1. We don’t really know where the painting is, but I need to “Solve” this case somehow - at least fictionally. 2. Hannibal Lecter’s paintings are hidden in the coffin of Milko’s father...his casket taken over the border of Lithuania and buried (above ground) in a crypt in Sweden. How the HECK will Hannibal figure THAT out? It is not ever resolved in Hannibal Rising.

Both of these issues are solved with the same case. Ultimately, Clarice and Lecter are having a discussion about her father, and she mentions he was buried with his hat, but not his star. She pauses for a moment. “Wait...wait!” Clarice realizes what has happened. She checks with the church, and finds that Goedertier is buried in the crypt beneath the church...they have him exhumed, and sure enough, he has been buried with the stolen panel. The case is solved...but now Hannibal Lecter is spurred onward. Clarice’s discovery makes him wonder...could the same thing have happened to his paintings? He begins to do some digging into the families of the men he has killed.

The episode ends with Hannibal Lecter going to Sweden and entering the crypt of Milko’s father...he opens the coffin, and sure enough - his paintings are there. He is pleased. He writes Clarice a lovely letter. It doesn’t go into specifics of how she helped him - but he indicates that she’s been instrumental in helping him find something that belonged to him.

August 19 – Dissolution of the Soviet Union: Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev is put under house arrest while vacationing in the Crimea during a coup. The attempted coup, led by Vice President Gennady Yanayev and seven hard-liners attempting to usurp control, collapses in less than 72 hours.

August 20 - Dissolution of the Soviet Union: More than 100,000 people rally outside the Soviet Union's parliament building protesting the coup that deposed President Mikhail Gorbachev.

The Mammelokker sculpture is shown in this episode and is meant to be foreshadowing to Clarice offering her breast to Hannibal Lecter like at the end of the novel (Spoilers - eventually!)

SEASON 2, EPISODE 11: Operation Atilla

DATE: September 1991 FLASHBACKS:

Hannibal - Mischa in her bathtub, among the cabbage roses and bubbles. Hannibal watches over her.

Hannibal - The Lodge, Hannibal is ill. A quick flash of Mischa's bathtub, water boiling in it

InfoFlashback - Trebelaux removes Mischa's handprint

Hannibal - Hannibal goes to visit his painting and is told he's been removed from the list, the painting was claimed by someone else

ARTWORK FEATURED:

Kanakaria Mosaics

NOTES:

Please note that Operation Atilla in this instance DOES NOT refer to the Nazi occupation of Vichy, France, but instead the actions of the Turkish armed forces during the invasion of Cyprus in the 1970s. What followed was looting of Cypriot Orthodox Churches on a level not seen since WWII. Most notable, some Kanakaria Mosaics and frescoes were sold to museums around the world. People like Aydin Dikman and others have managed to get rich off of the looting of old churches and selling pieces to museums.

When a church collapses in Cyprus due to a terrible earthquake, Clarice Starling knows that Hannibal Lecter will not be able to resist going. In the past, during times of war, earthquake, other acts of God, looting often becomes a problem. Clarice journeys to visit with government and church officials in an attempt to figure out a wide-scale plan to keep items from leaving the island.

When visiting one of the churches late in the evening after some official discussions with the government and local police, she runs into Hannibal Lecter. She is not surprised or caught off guard. She figured he would get there eventually. They banter a bit about his collection of church collapses and walk around the rubble. She asks him if he’s at all upset over the loss of art? He seems unphased but admits that the events of Operation Atilla in the 70s were unfortunate.

As the sun sets we hear a noise in the rubble. At first, they think it’s an animal of some kind and continue their discussion, Lecter pointing out a mosaic at her feet that intrigues her. After another moment he pulls her behind a tree - someone is walking in the rubble of the church. She peeks her head around the trunk of the tree and is shocked to see it’s Pierre Trebelaux and two of his workmen. Her eyes narrow, and she tells Lecter “It’s one of the men I’m investigating. Verger’s curator - Pierre Trebelaux.” Lecter pauses and asks her to repeat the name. As she does so he peeks around, immediately recognizing the man. We have quick flashbacks of scenes we’re already previously seen - Trebelaux letting a young Hannibal know his painting has been claimed by someone else, and the removal of Mischa’s handprint from his artwork.

Clarice is immediately aware of the change in Lecter’s demeanor. “What is it?” He tells her that’s the man who sold several of his family’s paintings away, despite him already having a previous claim on them. He makes a move to step out from behind their hiding place. Clarice grabs him and begs him to stop - to please not kill Trebelaux. She’s been working on the case for months. This incident is just the thing she needs to put him away.

Lecter grabs her by the wrists, angry, hissing at her. He tells her she’s made the grave mistake of becoming complacent, of forgetting who he is and what he is capable of. Clarice stares him in the eyes, not afraid. He cools after a moment and releases her. She then asks him to promise to let her handle Trebelaux - and she promises him that she WILL take care of him. She won’t let him get away with any of it. Not the issues with the Verger Museum, nor any of the crimes committed against his family. Lecter reluctantly agrees. Clarice doesn’t speak her hesitation, but ultimately she isn’t sure if the Doctor will be able to keep his promise.

September 2 – The United States re-recognizes the independence of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania and the US government reopens the embassies there.

September 6 - Singing Revolution: The Soviet Union recognizes the independence of the Baltic states.

September 17 – North Korea, South Korea, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, the Marshall Islands and Micronesia join the United Nations.

SEASON 2, EPISODE 12: Ein Männlein steht im Walde

DATE: December 1991 FLASHBACKS:

Hannibal - The orphanage - A child taunts a smaller child. Young Hannibal retaliates.

Hannibal - Hannibal is punished for his misbehavior, and is told he is "No longer the Lord of the Manor."

Hannibal - Hannibal shares his candy with a smaller child.

Hannibal - Simonetta stashing her jewelry in a boar's head and declaring "Pearls before swine."

ARTWORK FEATURED:

Ein Männlein steht im Waldem - a song by Heinrich Hoffmann von Fallersleben

The painting that was destroyed is not real in this episode but would be a portrait painted by the real-life Russian painter Vasily Ivanovich Surikov.

NOTES:

Ein Männlein steht im Walde refers to the song that Hannibal would sing to his sister. It literally means “The Little Man in the Woods.” In this episode, we see Hannibal in the woods walking towards the lodge.

December 23 - Clarice's Birthday

December 25 - Dissolution of the Soviet Union: Mikhail Gorbachev resigns as president of the Soviet Union, from which most republics have already seceded, anticipating the dissolution of the 74-year-old state.

December 26 – The Supreme Soviet meets for a final time, formally dissolves the Soviet Union, ending the Cold War. All remaining Soviet institutions eventually cease operation on December 31.

We see Lecter visiting his Ancestral home. He cannot go inside as it is an orphanage, but he walks around the grounds at night and has memories of living there as a child, as well as memories as an orphan.

Hannibal visits the lodge in the woods. He finds the boars head in the rubble on the floor, removes its false back and pulls out a handful of his mother’s jewelry.

This is Ardelia’s first appearance in an official capacity on Clarice’s Art Crime Team. Having a background as a lawyer, she will be brought in to deal with legal issues - she is not generally on the ground with the rest of her team, and thus does not run into Dr.Fell like the rest of her team occasionally does. Ardelia, obviously, would know him, because she’s the smartest person in this story.

This episode is heavily inspired by a plane crash off the coast of Nova Scotia, which took place on Sept 2, 1998. Onboard was a priceless Picasso, which was ultimately lost at sea.

Germany and Russia argue over the ownership of the painting. The events dissolving the Soviet Union make the case less than cut and dry. Ardelia is shown to not be intimidated AT ALL by Government authorities of Russia or Germany. She is actually...kind of more of a badass than Clarice.

This episode explores the idea of ownership. Does anyone ever really own artwork? And if so, who owns it? What happens when its country of origin is no longer a country? What happens when governments change, laws change, when the ower dies, etc?

Lecter writes Clarice a letter wishing her a happy birthday as he travels to his ancestral home. He doesn't tell her where he is specifically, but he references the events happening with the fall of the USSR and says that for many the war was not over until this day as the cold war followed so swiftly on the heels of WWII and that for some the war may never be over - that its ramifications can and still be seen through history.

Along with the letter, Hannibal Lecter has included an extraordinary gift for Clarice - a beautiful necklace. Clarice does not yet know, but the necklace belonged to Simonetta Lecter. The stones from the necklace have been in Simonetta’s family for hundreds of years - once owned by Caterina Sforza.

SEASON 2, EPISODE 13: Whoso List to Hunt

DATE: January 1992 FLASHBACKS:

Hannibal - Simonetta Lecter stashing her jewelry in a boar's head and declaring "Pearls before swine." (We’ve seen this flashback before. It is repeated in this episode to re-establish where Clarice’s necklace came from)

Hannibal - An Injured deer with an arrow in its side, Mischa being taken away

ARTWORK FEATURED:

Whoso List to Hunt, a Poem by Sir Thomas Wyatt

The Swing by Fragonard, The Wallace Collection in London

The Halt During the Chase, by Jean-Antoine Watteau, The Wallace Collection in London

The Grand Canal in Venice - Canaletto, Getty Collection

Anne Boleyn by Hans Holbein the Younger, owned by the Royal Trust, in the collection of Molson Verger for this narrative

Greensleeves, a song by Henry VIII

Wound Man by Hans von Gersdorff

The Allegory of Passion by Hans Holbein, owned by the John Paul Getty Museum.

NOTES:

This episode is HEAVILY influenced by the poem Whoso List to Hunt by Sir Thomas Wyatt. The poem uses the metaphor of a hunter perusing a deer. The deer is hard to catch. The hunter is lagging - and the king has claimed the deer, putting a necklace around its neck. The poem is typically believed to depict the relationship between Sir Thomas Wyatt, Anne Boleyn, and Henry VIII, with Henry staking his claim on Anne, and Wyatt knowing he must give up. The poem will be recited in the episode, and it will become clear that Johnny = Wyatt, Clarice = Anne, and Henry VIII = Lecter.

This episode also features a piece by Hans Holbien entitled The Allegory of Passion. A little bit of info about this piece - it shows rider upon a horse. Notes on the painting are as follows: Being carried away by love is one thing. But being absorbed with animal-like passion is quite another. It’s the latter kind that was, and frequently still is, frowned upon. The rider looks us in the eye and clings himself to the manes of the horse. He rather seems to enjoy himself. The panicked look of the animal tell us that this ride is not going to stop anytime soon. Wild animal passion is set loose. From the motto at the bottom of the painting, we can tell that this really is an allegory of love and not just a depiction of a horse ride gone wrong. ‘E cosi desio me mena’ (‘And so desire carries me along’) is a line rather similar to one of the poet Petrarch’s (1304-74) Canzoniere. Of course, this represents Lecter - who throughout the entire series is depicted as an animal seducing a human (Dream of a Fisherman’s Wife, Leda and the Swan, The Rape of Europa, The Allegory of Passion)

Though John Paul Getty lived in America, he had an English country home where he kept his mistresses. Once again I am taking inspiration from Getty - Molson Verger, an American who also has an English country home for the same purpose. It’s also a great place for hunting. In this story, it is located in Kent - not far from Hever Castle - the childhood home of Anne Boleyn.

FULL EPISODE SUMMARY:

Clarice officially turns over her information to the F.B.I regarding seeing Trebelaux looting a church in Cyprus. Molson Verger, outraged that Trebelaux has been caught, fires him. Threbelaux doesn’t take it well - knowing full well that Molson is firing him to make it look as if he is the only one who is guilty - and not both of them. Trebelaux yells, screams and threatens revenge, and ultimately is removed from the premises - though not before snagging a recently acquired Holbein, The Allegory of Passion, as well as Lecter’s Canaletto.

Trebelaux settles in a small cottage nearby the estate, anxiously awaiting an impending trial where his guilt will no doubt be assured. We watch him begin to formulate a plan, making calls, writing letters...

Molson Verger, in an attempt to do his best to continue to look like he is being supportive of the investigation against his museum calls Clarice Starling and asks if she would like to visit his English Country home for an old fashioned English Country House Party - interesting guests in the art community, some deer hunting, lots of food and alcohol, and of course...what would a house party be without the occasional dalliance? And of course, Verger would be happy to discuss any further information about Trebelaux over the weekend as well...he wants transparency, after all...

Clarice doesn’t think this would be very professional, but when she talks to Johnny about it, he thinks it might be a good opportunity to look at the situation a little closer. Up until now, they have met with Verger in an official capacity, and only briefly. Maybe if they are with him for a long weekend, he or one of his art friends might drop interesting information - or maybe they might have time to search through the house for any incriminating records. Clarice agrees that there is merit to this and agrees to join the House Party.

Clarice and Johnny arrive and are shown to their separate rooms. When Clarice comes downstairs, she runs into Margot Verger. The last time she saw Margot was in Washington D.C. when they made an agreement. Margot tells Clarice she knows why Clarice is there, and that she wants to help in whatever way that she can. She knows Trebelaux was guilty, but she thinks her father is using Trebelaux to take the fall - she firmly believes that her father is also guilty. Clarice says a good opportunity will present itself, and that she appreciates Margot’s help.

Most of the guests have already arrived and are in the billiard room drinking before dinner. Molson Verger takes Clarice into the room and begins to introduce her to people. She is shocked when she finds that Dr.Fell has somehow made the guest list. He smiles at her, and she is incredulous. After some small talk with a few other people, she heads over to a corner and motions for him to come to her, which he does, offering her a glass of wine, which she takes.

She asks Lecter if he is there to kill Trebelaux - if he is, he’s too late - Trebelaux is no longer in Verger’s employ. He tells her he’s well aware of their agreement and shrugs her question away. He says he is here looking for the Canaletto, but it seems Trebelaux ran away with it when he was fired. She then asks him, despite his cosmetic changes over the years, how on earth he managed to not be recognized by Molson - after all, Lecter attacked his son Mason years ago. Lecter mentions that Molson spent the majority of Margot and Mason’s childhood in England enjoying the company of his mistresses and his art collection while his children lived in America. He never attended the Lecter trial.

Margot walks into the room, and Clarice is concerned. “How does Margot not know it’s you?” she asks. Dr. Lecter takes a sip of his wine and leans against the window. “Oh, she knows,” he says. Clarice raises her eyebrow. She confesses Margot is helping her, and that even if Margot hadn’t known Lecter’s identity, she had some leverage she could have used. Lecter shakes his head. “Tsk, tsk.”

Later in the evening, Clarice speaks with Margot. Margot admits that she rather likes Dr.Lecter. He was a good therapist to her during a terrible, terrible time in her life. She reveals some of the things Lecter told her to comfort her, and Clarice is oddly moved, looking across the room, locking eyes with Lecter as she continues to speak to Margot. Clarice knows how badly Margot was treated by her brother, and she has witnessed first hand the cruelty her father subjects her to, and she is glad to know that someone was kind and honest with her when she needed it most.

The next day, preparing for the hunt, Clarice and Lecter manage to speak to one another again. Clarice mentions that Margot shared some information from her therapy sessions with him. Lecter says that if Margot has chosen to share, that is her right, but as her doctor, he would never reveal anything about their sessions without her permission. Clarice is further moved and asks if he would ever reveal the things they’ve discussed about her father, the lambs, etc. He says he would not, that it is all stored in her medical files - he points to his head.

Johnny comes downstairs and interrupts Clarice and Dr.Fell. He is rather short and impolite with Dr.Fell. He had been watching them the night previous. He is not Dr.Fell’s biggest fan. He doesn’t think he’s honest. He also has to admit he doesn’t like the way Clarice and Dr.Fell act when they are together.

Everyone heads out to the hunt - some on foot and some on horseback. Clarice canters up to Dr.Fell’s horse and they begin talking about Hannah. Dr.Lecter tells her about his own horse from his childhood - Caesar. The Doctor has not confided much to her about his personal life beyond the fact that his family was killed and his estate pillaged, she doesn’t know the details. She is curious to learn something about him.

During the deer hunt, Hannibal Lecter suffers a flashback to the wounded deer in the snow. Clarice only notices that he seems to be breathing a bit heavily. He excuses himself from the hunt early. The rest of the hunting party doesn’t seem concerned. The hunt - after all - is not for everyone. She sees the body of the deer, and she herself is unsettled and turns back to the house. Brigham watches Clarice depart, knowing she’s going in search of Dr.Fell.

Back at the house, she goes in search of Lecter. When she finds him, she cannot quite bear asking him if he is alright, but dances around the subject, hoping her presence will be enough to convey her concern.

Lecter is seated in one of the drawing rooms at a harpsichord playing Greensleeves. He tells her a bit about the composition, saying it was said to have been composed by Henry VIII for Anne Boleyn, but this more than likely not true. Anne Boleyn’s home, Hever Castle, however, is only a couple miles away - he thinks perhaps Verger has a Holbein sketch of Anne Boleyn at the house - perhaps they could find it? He tells her a bit about Holbein and Anne Boleyn as they walk through the various drawing rooms looking at Verger’s art. He tells her of Thomas Wyatt, of the poem Whoso List to Hunt. “A very different kind of hunt.” he says, referencing the hunt from earlier in the day. They then discuss the Holbein The Allegory of Passion, which Trebelaux supposedly nabbed before being fired. “Being carried away by love is one thing. But being absorbed with animal-like passion is quite another.”

That night is another formal evening. Clarice is beautifully dressed with an emerald necklace around her neck. Dr.Lecter is thrilled to see her wearing the necklace he had given her. Clarice is comfortable in formal wear, and ultimately very happy hobnobbing with all of the rich people of the art world who are at the party. She is laughing and having a delightful time.

Johnny stands in the corner in black tie, but fuming. He finds himself jealous and disgusted. He goes to Clarice and pulls her aside and tells her this isn’t like her - that despite not being undercover, she’s acting more like her other identity, the haughty, snobby Elizabeth Chase. Of course, this is not the first time Clarice has considered this - a letter from Lecter months before essentially confirming the same thing. Angry, she tries to deny Johnny’s accusations, despite knowing them to be true. When he asks her where her necklace came from, she is silent and Johnny understands. He understands that Dr.Fell has given it to her and that the necklace is Dr.Fell’s way of declaring that Clarice belongs to him - at least as much as Clarice can ever belong to anyone or be tamed (There is written her fair neck round about,'Noli me tangere, for Caesar's I am, And wild for to hold, though I seem tame.) He realizes that Clarice also has feelings for Dr.Fell, something she denies, though privately is conflicted.

The next morning when Clarice and Lecter bow out of the second Deer Hunt, Johnny is angry and heads out, annoyed that she is choosing to stay behind with Fell. As soon as everyone is gone, Margot comes downstairs and the three of them break into Verger’s office. Margot stands guard outside of the office in case someone comes back.

Clarice and Lecter go into the office and begin to rifle through things. As they work, Clarice tells Lecter of her discussion with Johnny about Elizabeth Chase and that Johnny believes Dr.Fell to be in love with her. Lecter looks across the desk at her. Clarice looks away nervously. Lecter then says that Johnny is jealous - that Johnny is in love with her. Clarice says that’s absurd. He looks at her again, serious - “Surely you know when a man is in love with you?” he asks. Again she looks away nervously. He asks if she loves Johnny. She does not respond. He asks if she wished she did love Johnny.

Verger’s desk is a beautiful 18th-century piece with many hidden drawers and compartments. Clarice mentions a similar one sold at Sotheby’s recently, and she had the opportunity to observe it in person. Lecter is pleased with her knowledge. His impression grows when she finds a secret compartment. Unfortunate it is locked, but Clarice uses a hairpin to break the lock. Lecter is delighted. Clarice grabs the paperwork inside, but they do not have time to look through it before Margot whispers that her father is coming back.

There is no time for them to exit, and Lecter pulls Clarice into a 16th-century Armoire. In such cramped quarters, they are very aware of one another physically, their bodies pressed close to one another. Clarice is very much aware she is sexually attracted to the Doctor - something she’s been trying to deny.

Margot goes into the office and tries to distract her father. Eventually, after some discussion, she is successful and he leaves the room with Margot in tow. Lecter and Clarice hold back in the Armoire for a while to make sure the coast is really and truly clear. She whispers what an odd house party this has been. He says it seems pretty typical - a house party often finds people stealing moments in dark corners. He kisses her. When they part he tells her house parties also often see people bed-hopping and knocking on people’s doors at night- the question is, whose door will she knock on tonight? He is, of course, referencing both Johnny and himself. He kisses her again, and when they part a second time he asks her to “Come to me tonight.” She is silent for a long time. “He’s better than you.” She says, about Johnny, trying to convince herself. “He’s good, and honest and kind.” Lecter agrees, Johnny is all of those things, and he himself is none of those things. “You and he have nothing in common.” She says. “Ah,” he says, kissing her again, “That’s where you’re wrong.” She pulls away after a moment, overcome, and rather than respond, she opens the door of the armoire and leaves.

That night at dinner, Clarice finds herself very much tempted. She cannot stop thinking about Lecter and she’s angry at him for seeing through her so easily. She’s also angry with Johnny for confronting her about her behavior. She watches Lecter over the burning tapers across the dinner table and he looks at her hungrily. Johnny notices and is still jealous.

Later that evening, after much wine, discussion, and singing, people begin to make excuses to leave the room in pairs and go upstairs. It is clear that most people at the party have paired up with someone.

Pacing around her bedroom in the evening, Clarice finally goes out into the hall and stands in front of the bedroom doors of Dr.Lecter and Johnny, eventually knocking on one of them. We see the inside of the room and the back of its occupant - but we cannot quite see who it is. Clarice goes to him and kisses him passionately.

After a moment, we ultimately see that it is Johnny. He is confused at first, but she asks him “Isn’t this what you wanted?” and he admits that yes, of course, he wants her. Clarice, unable to bring herself to go to Lecter, instead sleeps with Johnny while thinking of Lecter.

The next morning when Clarice goes downstairs, one of the servants tells her that Dr.Fell departed early that morning for the continent, but that he left a package for her. She is handed the small package, unwraps it, and discovers it is The Allegory of Passion. She knows something horrible has happened to Trebelaux.

Pierre Trebelaux’s body is found in the woods where the deer hunts have taken place the past couple of days. He is pinned to a tree and displayed like Wound Man. Clarice immediately knows that it was Hannibal Lecter’s doing - and that he must have killed the man late in the night - just after she chose to go to Johnny’s bed instead of his.

SEASON 2, EPISODE 14: The Sacrifice of Iphigenia

DATE: February 1992 FLASHBACKS:

Clarice - Watching TV with Ardelia, and seeing Senator Martin, desperate to get her daughter back

Hannibal - Young Hannibal goes to a Canadian Taxidermist (Grentz) with the intention of killing him. He is too late - Grentz has already moved elsewhere.

InfoFlashback - We see Trebeleaux, some time between being fired and being killed by Lecter. He is speaking to a man and discusses kidnapping Margot.

ARTWORK FEATURED:

The Mask of Agamemnon

The Sacrifice of Iphigenia, François Perrier

NOTES:

This episode is heavily inspired by the Getty kidnapping of 1973, in which John Paul Getty’s grandson was kidnapped and held for ransom. Getty, cheap and uncaring did not want to pay the ransom, despite being incredibly wealthy and easily able to do so.

Margot Verger, despite being disowned by her father, despite trying to help Clarice plot her father’s downfall, is none the less always trying to find ways into her father’s good graces in an attempt to be written back into his will (see episode 2:8 The Plunder). Her father has recently purchased a couple of expensive pieces from Greece, and she agrees to be the one to escort the art to America to the Verger museum now that Trebelaux is no longer in his employ to oversee the transfer.

While heading back from Greece, Margot is captured by several Sardinian criminals (Carlo, Mateo, Tommaso, and Piero, who appear in this storyline earlier than they do in the novel Hannibal.) At first it is believed that kidnapping had to do with the artwork, but in reality, it had to do with Margot. It is soon uncovered that Pierre Trebelaux, before being killed, hired the Sardinians to kidnap Margot in an effort to get revenge upon Verger.

Clarice - and really the world - are horrified by the kidnapping. It is major world news. Clarice is still talking with Verger every now and then, as his case is ongoing. She wonders if there is anything the F.B.I. can do to help - even if her Art Crime Team Division obviously would not be able to help with a kidnapping- maybe another section of the F.B.I could? Of course, she quickly is reminded by the F.B.I. that the United States doesn’t negotiate with kidnappers, terrorists, etc, so the fact that Margot is an American Citizen doesn’t really help them - there isn’t much that they can do, unless Verger is willing to pay the ransom privately, which he is legally at liberty to do.

Clarice is aghast when Verger receives a ransom note and refuses to pay it. She thinks of her own relationship with her father. She also thinks back on the Buffalo Bill Case - of how desperate Senator Martin had been to get her daughter back, and she just doesn’t understand how Verger wouldn't simply write a check when he has plenty of money to do so. This causes her a lot feelings about her own father, and she finds herself very close emotionally to this case. Dangerously close.

Clarice paces back and forth, talking to Johnny, furious at Verger, but unable to confront him. Eventually, she comes upon the idea of manipulating Verger into letting her go after Margot by making him believe that she is going after the artwork. After all...that’s what her division of the F.B.I does, isn’t it? Would he be willing to pay the ransom for the art and not his daughter? Though there isn’t really a ransom out for the paintings - Clarice convinces Verger she can get the pieces back with his cash.

She manages to convince herself that if she rescues both Margot AND the paintings, then she is still essentially doing her job and not stepping on any boundary issues. However, she knows she cannot drag her other agents into this. What she is doing would be frowned upon and she will not let them take the heat for it. She’s hoping that it’s better to beg forgiveness than ask permission - after all, if she’s successful on both fronts, clearly no one will complain?

Hannibal Lecter has been moving throughout Europe, perusing some leads on some artwork from Lecter Castle. Knowing the Trebelaux stole a good deal of his art has helped him gain a few leads in where some of his pieces might be.

Trebelaux, upon being fired, stole several pieces from the Verger Collection - Among them, the Canaletto from Lecter Castle, which he sold to Verger years before back in France, and Lecter had been looking for in Whoso List to Hunt.

Trebelaux went on to sell the Canaletto to another dealer in the hopes of getting enough money to disappear without a trace.. Obviously, he was not successful, having been killed by Hannibal Lecter before he could get anywhere. Still, Lecter was able to track down to whom the Canaletto was sold..

Tracking down the Canaletto, Lecter is about to kill the dealer who purchased it from Trebelaux, but the dealer begins to beg and spill all kinds of information in the hopes that Lecter will spare his life. Did he know this Trebelaux fellow was being investigated? Lecter wants to know. Yes, but he needed the Money - he figured he could sell the Canaletto for a lot more than he gave Trebelaux for it. Plenty of museums would be interested in. Then Lecter wants to know if Trebelaux told him anything about any other paintings from Lecter Castle? The dealer isn’t sure - Trebeleaux had mentioned the Verger case, had mentioned wanting to get even, and had mentioned the kidnapping of Margot while transporting artwork into the U.S. What artwork, Lecter wants to know. The Dealer says he isn’t sure about that - it had something to do with a mask?

Lecter politely thanks the dealer for this helpful information and walks away with a pleasant smile. The dealer breaths a sigh of relief at having gotten away alive. After a moment he looks down and finds he’s been stabbed and is bleeding out. He didn’t even feel the knife go in.

Lecter has been mildly disturbed by the kidnapping. He likes Margot well enough. But now that he knows that stolen artwork is involved - he knows Clarice will not be far behind. Due to her background and need to save the lambs, he also knows that she will be trying to save Margot, and in order to do this, she will have to essentially pretend to be going in for the paintings. He decides to look in on Clarice and Margot...

Margot is shown putting up quite a fight with the kidnappers. She’s frightened, but she is smart and strong and not easily broken. She gives them the artwork and asks if they will let her go. The episode ends when they let her know that they didn’t kidnap her for the artwork - they kidnapped HER. Piero has a quiet moment with her and tells her not to worry - they mean her no harm as long as her father pays the ransom in a timely manner. They lock her in a room and she cries alone, knowing her father doesn’t love her and that she’s doomed - her father will never pay the ransom.

Despite being heavy-handed, Verger is meant to represent Agamemnon, and Margo represents his daughter Iphigenia. Agamemnon offends the Goddess Artemis and she retaliates by preventing Greek Troops from reaching Troy unless Agamemnon kills Iphigenia as a human sacrifice. Obviously, the beautiful Greek Mask of Agamemnon and the painting The Sacrifice of Iphigenia re-assert this.

SEASON 2, EPISODE 15: The Persistence of Memory

DATE: March 1992 FLASHBACKS:

Hannibal - While drugged, Hannibal experiences quick flashes of everything we've previously seen. Parents being killed. Mischa screaming. Hannibal's arm is broken. Hannibal in chains. Hannibal mocked by other children in the orphanage. Him killing Mischa's murderers. Grutas telling him Mischa was eaten - but we add to this a new flashback, we've not yet seen - We see Milko urging Hannibal to eat, and then we see Hannibal and Milko squaring off and Milko declaring that Hannibal also ate his sister.

ARTWORK FEATURED:

The Death of Marat by David

Abraham and Isaac by Rembrandt

The Persistence of Memory by Salvador Dali

The Mask of Agamemnon

The Sacrifice of Iphigenia, François Perrier

NOTES:

While Dali’s The Persistence of Memory is seen briefly in the episode, the title mainly refers, quite literally, to the persistence of Memory - Hannibal Lecter’s memories.

After some globetrotting and investigating, Lecter and Clarice both manage to find out where Margot is being held a prisoner in Sardinia.

Clarice finds out that both The Mask of Agamemnon and The Sacrifice of Iphigenia are for sale on the black market. Unfortunately, they are for sale through different dealers. She assumes this means that the Sardinians have already sold them. However, if they interview both people and find they have a common seller, she can trace back the location of the Sards. Johnny agrees to go undercover to get information on The Mask of Agamemnon with another agent, while Clarice once again poses as Elizabeth Chase alongside one of her agents, and meets a different dealer in another town regarding The Sacrifice of Iphigenia.

Clarice’s questions quickly anger the people she is speaking to, and it becomes obvious that the kidnappers have already sold The Mask of Agamemnon, but they have not yet managed to sell The Sacrifice of Iphigenia. Thinking she was speaking to a buyer - she quickly finds she’s talking to the original kidnappers. Clarice goes for her gun, but it is too late - they grab her and place her in the locked room with Margot Verger.

The kidnappers don’t know Clarice’s real name. They have Elizabeth Chase’s ID.

There is a bit of an argument amongst the kidnappers about the use of the gun. Clarice’s gun went off while they fought with her, and it could have alerted someone with the noise.

The kidnappers, unsure if Elizabeth Chase came with anyone else, send a man to sit outside the building with a dart gun and keep watch. The dart gun makes less noise and takes someone down without killing them.

Margot is defeated and surprised to find Clarice having come to her rescue, even if she failed spectacularly in that rescue. Clarice says not to worry - that Johnny will come to their aid. He’s in another town, but he has a flight to meet up with her the next evening. Once she doesn’t show up, he’ll know something has gone wrong.

Hannibal Lecter has figured out where Margot was taken through similar, but less honest avenues than Clarice, speaking to thieves and forgers and seeing if anyone knows anything. Nearby, he heard Clarice’s gun go off and was alerted to her location.

Clarice and Margot work to assess their surroundings and see what, if anything, they can use in order to aide their escape. They have a little food and water, a plate for the food, a single bed, sheets, the clothes on their back and not much else...the building doesn’t seem to be very big, and the door seems to have a fairly normal lock, but they don’t have much they can use to pick it. Clarice comes upon the idea of using the metal underwire from her bra both to pick the lock and possibly use it as a weapon. But they need to know how many men there are, what the patrolling issue is - has she taken notice of the times they come to give her food, march by her door, change shifts, etc? They quickly begin to formulate a plan but are interrupted when they hear some commotion outside. They race to the barred window but are unable to tell what happened.

A few minutes later Hannibal Lecter is brought in. Piero notes that he will not tell anyone who he is. They have not figured out his identity. They throw Lecter into the room, and it is obvious that he is not well. He only manages a few words before losing consciousness. He has been shot with a tranquilizer dart.

Margot and Clarice had been close to formulating an exit strategy during a shift change, but now that Hannibal Lecter is with them, Clarice says she cannot leave him here alone. Without Clarice’s help, there is no use for Margot to try to escape - they need the manpower. Clarice hopes if Lecter can survive the tranquilizer, he can add to their manpower and help them.

Clarice worries - what if Johnny finds out she’s missing and comes alone, without reinforcements? Johnny could be killed. What if Johnny does rescue them and Lecter is still there - Lecter will be put into jail. She finds suddenly she isn’t sure she wants that either. What if Hannibal Lecter does not live?

Suddenly, we see a scene of Lecter standing in a gallery looking at a large painting of the Sacrifice of Issac. We hear footsteps coming down the hallway. He turns as Clarice approaches him. They both look at the painting together. “Do you think..” he asks, “That God wanted to eat Isaac?” Clarice is puzzled by the question, “No.” She replies, “The angel intervened in time.” Hannibal Lecter turns to her. “Not always.” Suddenly the painting falls to the floor - other paintings on the walls begin to tremble. The walls suddenly fall away, the floor beneath them crumbling. It suddenly becomes evident that we are inside of Lecter’s Mind Palace, and its walls are crumbling. As they are pulled in opposite directions, Clarice reaches out to him, calling out to him, but the memory rips in half.

We cut back to their secured room, where Clarice is still calling out to Dr.Lecter. He is only half-conscious and whatever he has been given is clearly causing him to hallucinate. Clarice tries to calm him, grabs his hand, lays him down, but still, he writhes and screams. Sometimes he calls out names she does not know - Mischa, Jakov, etc. Margot mentions she was given the same thing Lecter was when she tried to fight her captors once - and that she had had terrible nightmares about Mason hurting her again. As time goes on, Clarice realizes he’s not just hallucinating - he’s reliving memories. She’s panic-stricken - she is not afraid of him, but she is afraid for him as she tries to hold him back from accidentally hurting himself, as he screams about things she doesn’t understand. Eventually, she begins to make connections about the things that happened to him, which only causes her more anguish. She has only seen the Doctor composed. The most un-composed she’s ever really witnessed were times he was angry. She’s never seen him afraid. She begins to understand how their pasts are alike.

The Doctor eventually recovers and the three prisoners plan their escape. Clarice picks the lock with her underwire metal, and with shards of glass from a plate of food, Lecter manages to cut Mateo. Carlo runs in and the sheets from the bed are thrown over his head. Carlo escapes with his life, but Mateo dies. Tomasso and Piero were a different shift and Carlo runs to find them on the other side of town, but it is too late.

Lecter, Clarice, and Margot manage to find the painting on the premises. Hannibal Lecter flees before the F.B.I. arrives. When Johnny arrives, he has The Mask of Agamemnon. Both pieces of art are safe and given back to Margot.

Margot returns safely home to give her father his artwork. He is in his bathtub and is pleased to see his art, but does not particularly care that his daughter is home safe. As her father leans back in his bath and closes his eyes, Margot Verger slits his throat.

Clarice, having rescued two paintings, as well as Margot Verger is a hero. Paul Krendler is furious at her conduct, furious that she manipulated Verger and the FBI into letting her take this case and rescue Margot when it was not her place to do so...but much to his dismay, he cannot do anything with her career. She is too well-liked with the press at this moment to strike her down...

#hannibal #hannibal lecter #clarice starling #silence of the lambs #hannibal au #the rape of europa #fan fiction

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