FREE-FOR-ALL META COMMENT-A-THON

[upupa_epops]

Old news: lj is dead. Everyone is crazy busy, or they have other reasons not to be here. No one has time to read those huge meta posts we used to write once upon a time. But maybe we can all find ten minutes to do this:

FREE-FOR-ALL META COMMENT-A-THON!

Comments

[bellonablack]

Hannibal: Abigail Hobbs analysis. Just an analysis of what way she fits into a predator/victim dynamic and if her arc is a survival one?

[ishi_chan]

You are an evil person for tempting me into this

[streussal]

her face reveals a particular thought process, like she just realized something

YEAH I NOTICED THAT TOO

Especially since she already seemed to suspect him of being the copycat killer, but needed him to continue with the coverup of Nicholas Boyle's death.

To sum up: She is not. allowed. to. die.

BASICALLY MY POSITION

[ishi_chan]

specially since she already seemed to suspect him of being the copycat killer, but needed him to continue with the coverup of Nicholas Boyle's death.

Yeah, I need this more fleshed out tbh. It's such a shame that Abigail is only a supporting character/guest star, because there's so much to tell. But I hope the whole SL will live on until S2 so I can get more...

[streussal]

She's supposed to be in next week's episode (AND BETTER NOT DIE OMG what would even be the point), and Bryan Fuller affirmed (or at least indicated?) on twitter that Hannibal's thing with Abigail is tied to his Mischa issues (dead baby sister). And I think we're getting more on Hannibal's past next season. So, hopefully?

[ishi_chan]

nd Bryan Fuller affirmed (or at least indicated?) on twitter that Hannibal's thing with Abigail is tied to his Mischa issues (dead baby sister). And I think we're getting more on Hannibal's past next season. So, hopefully?

YES I REMEMBER THAT TWEET *_* It gives me hope ngl :)

She's supposed to be in next week's episode (AND BETTER NOT DIE OMG what would even be the point),

Spoilers for Promos and Synopses for the next two episodes + Red Dragon book spoiler

[Spoiler (click to open)] Well, apparently Will checks out again and then Abi is nowhere to be found and people suspect him of murdering her. This all happens after they apparently tied something about her father's murder to Abigail, so I think it's a ploy by her (and possibly Hannibal) to disappear and/or blame Will or possibly just to fuck with Will LOL IDK. I don't think she's actually dead tbh, but that doesn't mean she won't be by the time the season's over :/ I also hope it doesn't mean she'll just be gone in S2 or something LOL

[streussal]

Abigail is a victim, but she is interesting in that she refuses to quite fit into the boundaries of what a "victim" should be. (For both Will and the viewer

[ishi_chan]

I should also note that her manipulative tendencies probably stem from fear and abuse in her homelife.

IA. I definitely consider GJ Hobbs abusive and we don't know how soon he started, how it might have manifested itself earlier in Abigail's life (even before he started killing). I think it's fair to consider that it did.

seems especially relevant in that the first episode we see her do this, she has been talking to Freddie Lounds about writing a book - about publicly telling her story, shaping the perception of events. She attempts to demonstrate innocence by going public.

Her whole relationship with Freddie is fascinating to watch. She's always been less apprehensive towards her than Will or even Hannibal, but it's interesting to see that she's also not just using Freddie to tell her story, but also to get information about other things. She regularly asks her questions and Freddie is usually willing enough to give her answers (influenced by Freddie's own agendas to be fair, but still)

ETA: Abigail isn't a predator so much as

[streussal]

Her whole relationship with Freddie is fascinating to watch. She's always been less apprehensive towards her than Will or even Hannibal

I think it's because Freddie's motives are pretty obvious, which makes the relationship easier to navigate. It's a weirdly honest relationship for people who are using each other (but they know the ultimate goals, it's mutually beneficial).

Hannibal is trying to create this sense of family, of being trustworthy, while clearly being shady, so she also has to be more subtle in their interactions. She wants him on her side, but not in control. But then... showing vulnerability, giving him power, as a way of maintaining a level of power (by keeping him satisfied thinking he is in complete control). I think she is also attached to him? He's the only person she can really confide in. So it's also a relief to be able to be vulnerable around him. But I think her survival instinct is also at play.

This probably makes no sense, sigh.

In conclusion: Abigail Hobbs!!!!!!

[ishi_chan]

This probably makes no sense, sigh.YES YES IT DOES. You perfectly spelled out all my Abigail+Hannibal thoughts in a way that I couldn't! LOL (I fail at meta-ing so hard it's sad

[streussal]

Honestly, sometimes I am surprised by how little she is actually presented as a mere tool for Hannibal, or even a manifestation for his feelings for his sister, considering she is a side-character.

Yes yes! (I mean his sister hasn't even been mentioned yet.) She climbs over not only the walls of the psychiatric facility, but of the narrative.

[kiki_miserychic]

Abigail is possibly the most powerful character on the show. At the very least she's equal to Hannibal in terms of power at her fingertips. She holds the most knowledge and is in the position to use it. Her continued existence as a living person is delicate, but she's intelligent enough to know it. In the scene where she reveals to Hannibal that she helped her father, it's a calculation. She knew the taste of human flesh from one bite at Hannibal's dinner table and took a calculated risk to appear vulnerable to him and further cast him in the protector role. There is Hannibal's perspective to consider as well. At times he uses Abigail as leverage over Will. In the scene where her father slashed her throat, Hannibal had little intentions of becoming involved, but Abigail's wounds were not severe enough that death was the only conclusion. He couldn't justify not acting, so he put on a performance for Will and saved Abigail. From Hannibal's perspective, Abigail is a sentient tool of manipulation with a some genuine feeling as well. She