Stop Comparing it to the Movie, and Start Looking at the Books

jennifer-89384

I think that this first episode was brilliantly adapted for the network that it's on. While of course people are worried about Clarice becoming another procedural FBI show, I certainly believe that there was enough depth shown to highlight more subtle, Harris-esque details. The show was a bit over-explanatory, but for network TV, I don't think anyone can complain.

As for Rebecca Breeds, she is a fantastic Clarice. I was skeptical at first given the trailers, but her mannerisms and ability to show some vulnerability amongst the character's many strengths is incredible. I disagree with the reviews saying that Clarice is played as over-emotional; catching Buffalo Bill was not this transformative, entirely healing event for Clarice like some only-movie-watchers assume. Rather, it was an event that signified her ongoing plight: rather than be made whole once again and satisfied with the rescue of Catherine Martin (as Dr. Lecter makes note of), the lambs don't stop screaming. Starling is plagued by this compulsion to save, save, save, and that-in addition to her revealing conversations with the good doctor and frightening experience with Jame Gumb-she continues to be affected by her trauma. Brava to the show for conveying this despite some audience expectations.

Finally, onto the matter of the purposefully unnamed doctor himself... I don't think Hannibal should serve as a cute reference as he was a few times this episode (the "first principles" line, for example), but I also don't think he should be avoided entirely. As aforementioned, their conversations affected Clarice deeply; she thinks about him at least thirty seconds of every day canonically. As hinted at in this episode, it would be interesting to see these continued sly references of his ongoing occupancy in her mind (at least for those who do know Starling's decisions after seven years after the first book/movie)

In sum, people shouldn't be so quick to judge this show based on their perceptions of the movie The Silence of the Lambs. I know that people who have seen the movie rush to claim that Clarice can't hold a candle next to the cinematic masterpiece, but I dissent. I think Starling can excel on this platform as long as the writers continue respecting the Thomas Harris source material via style and script.

score 10/10

jennifer-89384 12 February 2021

Reprint: https://www.imdb.com/review/rw6590108/