BWW Poem: An Ode (sort of) to HANNIBAL (or, Why Canceling it is the Biggest Mistake Ever)

Let's be honest: as we reflect on the impending series finale of HANNIBAL, we could easily write a novel praising the show from both a critical and a Fannibal point of view. For example, we could mention the incredible use of sound design and editing, the meticulously crafted imagery, and the subtle vein of dark humor that runs throughout the series. Or, we could sit for hours and discuss the themes that create the foundation of the show, or how the techniques used in HANNIBAL hearken back to classic, groundbreaking films made by masters of horror, like Cronenberg and Kubrick. Or we could just gush about how truly awesome Bryan Fuller really is.

But one thing that HANNIBAL has taught us is that art, however non-traditional it may be, is often the best way to express yourself. Now before you get nervous, don't worry, we didn't create an effigy out of dead and mutilated bodies. That would be ridiculous.

We wrote an ode (sort of). As one does.

So pull up a chair, grab the Kleenex, and read the best poem that an English major and a film major could come up with!

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AN ODE (sort of) TO HANNIBAL (OR, WHY CANCELING IT IS THE BIGGEST MISTAKE EVER)
By: Courtney Henley and Kara McCoy

It's a real shame when your favorite show,
Spends all of its life on the bubble.
And when it gets moved to Saturday nights,
You know it's in even more trouble.

Okay, NBC, you gave 'Hannibal' the ax,
The news sure made us real sad.
But behind all the tears, we think that you'll find,
It mostly just made us mad.

Yes, we cried out in anguish, "But why!
Why cancel our beloved 'Hannibal'?"
And most certainly we begged, "But please!
He's our most favorite cannibal!"

But now that it's all said and done,
We find ourselves feeling reflective.
There's no other way to explain it,
Except that network TV must be defective.

Maybe they're jealous of his culinary skills,
Of the way he can flambé a human heart.
Or maybe they're just too intimidated,
By a show that's got so much art.

Why else put an end to a drama
That delivers quality week after week.
Blood and guts and livers and lungs,
And a wardrobe that's so very chic.

What isn't to love about Will Graham
Who calls everything his own design.
All glasses, and dogs, and sweaters, and curls,
His appeal isn't hard to define.

And what about Jack and Alana,
Their lives sure became a real mess.
And Freddie Lounds with her pesky magazine,
"Tattle Crime" only adds to the stress.

And that snarky Dr. Chilton, the very first
To catch on to the cannibal craze.
How he ever survived is a true wonder,
After the Red Dragon set his bod ablaze.

And the lovely Bedelia who channeled us all
When she finally had the nerve to say,
"Hey, Will, have you ever considered,
That you and HANNIBAL might be a little gay?"

But even with such colorful characters,
Even with such a talented cast,
The TV gods have cruelly decided,
That season three would be the last.

Did the violence finally become way too much?
Were those sex scenes just too psychedelic?
Was the lighting just too gosh darn dark?
Was Mads Mikkelsen's accent just a little too thick?

Okay, the imagery was often pretty bizarre,
And the dialogue could get heavy, of course
But on what other show could you ever hear:
"Peter, is your social worker inside that horse?"

And sure, a lot would go over our heads,
But there was some gorgeous cinematography.
And we know that, sure, HANNIBAL ate people,
But his dinner parties were pure food pornography.

Alas now we must draw to a close,
So let's look back to happier times.
Because all of this writing is make us sad,
And frankly we're running out of rhymes.

Remember all the gross crime scenes,
Dead bodies left all over the place.
Or when HANNIBAL framed Will for murder,
And made Mason Verger eat his own face.

And remember that season two finale,
That episode was really the best.
When HANNIBAL locked Jack in the pantry,
And stabbed his BFF Will in the chest.

And then season three, the final hurrah,
Took us galavanting all over the world.
We thought everyone was long dead and gone,
But wait - they're alive! Our hearts twirled!

Yes, those times truly were good,
And Bryan Fuller, we owe it all to you.
You deserved so much more than you got,
But we still support all that you do.

So here's to you, Hannibal,
You sharp-dressed, well-spoken dude.
And watch out, you haters, you've been impolite,
And we all know Dr. Lecter eats the rude.

#Fannibals4Life

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