Show runner Bryan Fuller starts off Episode 2 with an unnecessarily long recap of the season 2 finale that seemed less placed to stir up dramatic effect than it did to catch to potential new viewers up to where we are now. Soon after however, it is clear that this episode will serve to do for Will Graham exactly what the prior one did for Hannibal – character-building. As such, we are soon brought new footage in the form of a pool of blood consuming Abigail Hobbs and Will Graham in the flashback as they struggle to not bleed out.

We then cut to a hospital setting to find Will Graham alive, but still recovering. To our surprise, despite the gruesome slash Hobbs received via Hannibal’s knife across her jugular she appears through the doorway to greet Will alive and well. However, although new Fannibals may not have known, Fuller mentioned in an interview (by accident?) before the Season 3 start that Hobbs had in fact died. Despite this knowledge we are led to believe that Hobbs is recovering. She informs Will that Hannibal knew exactly where he cut them and that he “wanted us to survive to find him.”

Suddenly, Will’s injury begins to bleed profusely and a large, sharp black object, somewhat resembling an antler (which of course symbolizes the connection between Will and Hannibal) protrudes from his stomach.

Will then appears in a dream sequence back at Hannibal’s office where we are brought back to the scene where Will and Hannibal burn all of the doctor’s case files before their attempted ‘escape’. The real Will watches the hallucinated Will listen to Hannibal as he describes that the entrance to the last place he will have when everything is gone is at the Norman Chapel in Palermo, Italy.

Eight Months Later, Will and Abigail arrive at that very chapel in hopes that Hannibal will be there waiting. Where as in the previous episode where we see Abel Gideon compare Hannibal to the literal personification of the Devil, in this episode we find the hallucinatory Abigail Hobbs consider Hannibal a God. Yet, Will rather considers that Hannibal wishes to “defy God.”

We are then thrust into another police crime scene investigation at the chapel where the disfigured and now malleable body of Anthony the poet, from last week’s episode remains. The Chief Investigator, Rinaldo Pazzi, shared his knowledge of whom he referred to as the “Monster of Florence” showing Will a picture of Hannibal taken 20 years ago. Pazzi recognized the “work” because 20 years ago Hannibal had murdered his victims to replicate artwork by the Early Renaissance painter Botticelli. Pazzi, upset and guilt-ridden that he could not stop the Monster before is determined to not let him get away so easily this time around. Pazzi’s strong Italian accent further accentuates that we are no longer in the presence of the Jack Crawford FBI crew. Fuller even stated that we won’t see the FBI for at least halfway into the season.

Will then walks over to the dismembered body and has a vision of it having a heart beat (resembling Hannibal’s broken heart) and unfolding with body parts of the black stag protruding from the missing head, arms, and legs of the body as it walks towards Will. It seems that Will may still have an affinity towards Hannibal after all, despite the stag seemingly dying back in the episode’s opening flashback. Hobbs then interrupts Will’s vision as the two argue over Hannibal’s intentions – Hobbs believing that Hannibal misses them, and Will adamant that he is simply “playing with us.” Trying to stop arguing, Will and Abigail contemplate where the three would have gone if they left like they were “supposed to.” And just like that (if you didn’t know already) Abigail’s neck wound begins to bleed and the audience is now fully aware that Will was simply hallucinating her presence this whole time.

We then also become aware that Hannibal had in fact been watching this scene play out the entire time behind a perfectly framed window shot. It’s funny how Will rejected Abigail’s opinion comparing Hannibal to God and yet in this scene he watches over all of them, including the revenge-fueled Inspector Pazzi.

Will, aware that Hannibal was watching, descends to the catacombs to find him. Inspector Pazzi follows suit informing him that they both have a debt that needs to be “unburdened,” but Will tells him to let this one go, at least for now. The episode ends with Will forgiving Hannibal (though for what, and whether he accepts the apology remain unclear.)

Although this installment was slow moving at times and a bit repetitive, Fuller is putting the pieces together to establish Will’s rebuttal pursuit since the season 2 finale’s asswhooping and with guest appearances introducing Clarice Starling and Francis Dollarhide, the rest of Hannibal Season 3’s future looks bright.