I Feel Unstable: Use of Supernatural Narrative in NBC’s Hannibal
Will Graham, one of the dual protagonists of NBC's Hannibal, appears to be suffering from undiagnosed lycanthropy. He is losing track of time, suddenly finding himself in places he doesn't remember going, and discovering blank spaces in his memories. He worries he may be hurting others while in these fugue states. He senses things others do not, and has visions of prey animals. His body is undergoing physiological changes including headaches and an elevated body temperature. He fears what he is becoming, though his concerns are brushed off by those around him.
It is a cultural transformation narrative familiar to viewers of popular shows such as Supernatural or Teen Wolf, in addition to countless other works in a popular media now saturated with paranormal offerings. However, Will Graham is not becoming a werewolf, because unlike shows which use the supernatural as a metaphor for other forms of transformation, Hannibal uses it as a simile. This paper will explore how Hannibal relies on the audience’s familiarity with the language and tropes of supernatural narrative to communicate the horror of its terrifyingly human serial killers.
Will Graham, one of the dual protagonists of NBC's Hannibal, appears to be suffering from undiagnosed lycanthropy. He is losing track of time, suddenly finding himself in places he doesn't remember going, and discovering blank spaces in his memories. He worries he may be hurting others while in these fugue states. He senses things others do not, and has visions of prey animals. His body is undergoing physiological changes including headaches and an elevated body temperature. He fears what he is becoming, though his concerns are brushed off by those around him.
It is a cultural transformation narrative familiar to viewers of popular shows such as Supernatural or Teen Wolf, in addition to countless other works in a popular media now saturated with paranormal offerings. However, Will Graham is not becoming a werewolf, because unlike shows which use the supernatural as a metaphor for other forms of transformation, Hannibal uses it as a simile. This paper will explore how Hannibal relies on the audience’s familiarity with the language and tropes of supernatural narrative to communicate the horror of its terrifyingly human serial killers.
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