finale explanation (non-fairyland version) *major spoilers*
if you think will and hannibal were on the same page in that last scene, i’ve got news for you, they weren’t even reading the same book. you think they were “becoming one” or “giving themselves fully to eachother”? nah. here’s what went down: will, eyes wide open and mind made up, killed hannibal while martyring himself. i’ll be the first to admit that i didn’t get this upon my first viewing, but with a second viewing and help from edwardmeechum, i could see that hannibal was absolutely caught off guard by the fall. they didn’t “die in eachother’s arms” - as they went over the cliff, hannibal’s arm was reaching out. will didn’t put his arm around hannibal’s neck for a hug, he preparing to pull him over.
will killed hannibal. it wasn’t a mutual true love suicide. was will happy to do it? was it easy for him? no. was he being genuine when he said, “that’s beautiful”? probably. but will knows that hannibal has ruined normal life for him. he can’t help himself when hannibal is around and he resents that. i’m not denying that will has a deep connection with hannibal. but he doesn’t get the same enjoyment out of their relationship that hannibal does, and will uses that to his advantage. the principle of least interest theory proposes that in a relationship, the partner with the least interest in continuing that relationship possesses the most power. at this point, hannibal has far greater interest than will in their relationship (i’m stating this as a sad fact - i personally believe hannibal’s relentless obsession with will degrades the lecter character). knowing this, will was able to manipulate hannibal right into that vulnerable spot on the edge.Â
as far as surviving the fall? i really don’t see how they could, but even assuming that they did, what would the point of that be? faking their deaths? no one was there to see them fall. there is nothing to accomplish there. but wait, you ask, what about that after credits scene? does the table set for 3 not indicate that hannibal and will made their way over to bedelia’s for supper? not necessarily. how on EARTH could hannibal and will, both seriously injured, have swam to shore, gotten back to baltimore, cut off bedelia’s leg, cooked it, and set the table all in one night? and more importantly, why would they? if they were going to run off together it wouldn’t make much sense to HANG AROUND at the house of one of the first people the fbi would pay a visit to upon learning of lecter’s real escape. i believe that final scene is bedelia realizing she’s made a huge mistake, arrested development style. when she heard will’s plan, she knew that hannibal would come for her. so, she decided to offer a peace treaty of sorts. as a doctor, bedelia would indeed have the skills and tools necessary to amputate her own leg. people in dire situations do these kinds of things, it’s not unheard of. but if you’re still not buying it, head over to edwardmeechum, who has the logistics ironed out and can assist you in quashing any doubt.  the table is set for 3 because she knows that if he’s coming, he’s bringing a plus-one. of course, seeing as hannibal is otherwise engaged on a date with the angel of death, it’s all for naught. that look on her face? that’s not “julianne moore in hannibal 2001 high”, that’s “dear god what have i done”.Â
when i came on tumblr after the finale, i knew something was amiss. where was the anger? the sadness? the crushing despair? all i saw was….happiness? joy? it was extremely troubling and that’s when i realized that i would have to sit down eventually and write this post. in all fairness, with a show as messy as this one, there are other valid ways to interpret the finale (someone mentioned the fall taking place in will’s mind as a symbol, which i’d say is fairly probable). but there are so many LAYERS of uncertainty and lazy organization here that i’ve decided to take some things at face value for the sake of having something solid to build on. so come at me tbh.Â
