FREE-FOR-ALL META COMMENT-A-THON
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!
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FREE-FOR-ALL META COMMENT-A-THON!
( Read more... )
Abigail isn't a predator so much as willing to do whatever is necessary to survive (and stay out of prison). Manipulation is part of that. I should also note that her manipulative tendencies probably stem from fear and abuse in her homelife. (I'd say it's fair to consider her father abusive, given how frightened she seemed of him in that flashback on the train. And he was killing those girls as a substitute for her, which she knew.)
She is also attempting to control her image. At first she covers her scar with a scarf, something she has stopped doing as she realizes how little this helps to cover up her past trauma. She now leaves it uncovered, which seems to signal that she's not ashamed. This 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. (Freddie is all about public perception. Hannibal is also someone who puts quite a bit of thought into his image, though somewhat less publicly.)
Digging up Nicholas Boyle's body ties into this idea of her trying to control her narrative. "I can't control what comes through the door, but I can determine when."
Also messing with victim boundaries - her relationship with Will.
So far, despite all of Will's feelings regarding her, they have barely interacted. Most of the relationship has actually taken place in his head. She actually says to him "just because you killed my dad, doesn't mean you get to be him." There's a certain amount of resentment there, for both his attempts to be paternal AND for killing his father. I mean, her father was a serial killer who was attempting to kill her (and did kill her mom). But he was also her dad, and she loved him. She has a right to her resentment. But it's not the gratefulness we expect from rescued victims.
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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 willing to do whatever is necessary to survive (and stay out of prison).
Yeah, I think calling her a predator is a little much, I guess. I don't actually think she's going to start randomly killing people (though I think she might at some point do that if Hannibal pushes her in that direction, but so far we haven't actually seen any of that)
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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!!!!!!
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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)
But yes, this is where giving up control is a way to actually gain control and this is something that I think is hard to balance? Especially since I do agree that she's attached and that he's her sort of safe haven and the guy who also protects her (even unconsciously - see Alana who says Hannibal is beyond reproach and therefore she doesn't doubt Abigail).
I think even though Hannibal, within the narrative has more power (there is a lot of comparison to Lucifer) and more experience, their relationship has strong elements of quid pro quo as well. In 1x3 they promise each other to keep each other's secrets. In 1x9 she tastes the meat and confesses to him afterwards. (He obviously manipulates her into trusting him in 1x3 by convincing her nobody will believe her it was self-defence, but I think her going against him and digging up Boyle counters that beautifully as well)
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.
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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.
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