Fromage (Hannibal)

Lecter (Mads Mikkelsen) holds a session with Franklyn Froideveaux (Dan Fogler), who worries that his friend, Tobias Budge (Demore Barnes), may be a psychopath. However, Lecter is more concerned by Franklyn's growing obsession with his therapist. He notes that while Franklyn may not be a psychopath, he seems fascinated by the idea of it. He shares his concerns to Bedelia (Gillian Anderson), considering referring Franklyn to another psychiatrist.

BAU is called for a new victim at a concert hall. The victim was a musician named Douglas Wilson, who had his throat opened and a cello neck inserted through his mouth. While using his "ability", Graham (Hugh Dancy) sees that the killer played the instrument inside the victim's corpse while he notes a figure in the empty seats, Garret Jacob Hobbs (Vladimir Cubrt). He confines his discoveries to Lecter, who deduces that the killer may have been serenading another killer. In another session, Franklyn tells Lecter that Tobias told him about planning to kill someone in the same method that Wilson was murdered and wonders why would he tell him, before realizing that Tobias did so he could tell Lecter. Lecter decides to pay a visit to Tobias' shop in Baltimore, claiming to need a catgut.

Graham's mental stability deteriorates further when he begins having auditory hallucinations of animals in pain, even slamming and creating a hole above his chimney when he thinks he hears a raccoon. He has a conversation with Bloom (Caroline Dhavernas) and they both kiss. At first she responds well to Graham kissing her, but then says it would be a bad idea for them to become involved. Lecter dines with Tobias, who confesses to killing Wilson and reveals his intentions to kill both Franklyn and Lecter. He also reveals his knowledge of Lecter as a killer, having seen him dispose a body. Tobias offers a partnership between both of them, but Lecter is not interested. Graham interrupts the dinner to talk with Lecter about his encounter with Bloom. Lecter uses the opportunity to inform Graham about a possible lead, directing him to Tobias' shop.

Graham and two police officers visit Tobias, but his hallucinations make him leave the shop. When he returns, he finds an officer dead and discovers Tobias' hideout in his basement, where he finds organs and the corpse of the other officer. Tobias surprises him and tries to garrote him, but Graham shoots him in the ear, prompting him to escape. Tobias arrives at Lecter's office, just as he was telling Franklyn he would refer him to another psychiatrist. As Franklyn attempts to calm Tobias and offer his help, Lecter suddenly snaps Franklyn's neck, killing him. Lecter and Tobias then engage in a brutal fight in his office, with both getting stabbed multiple times. Lecter breaks Tobias' arm and then smashes his head with a statue, killing him. As Graham and Crawford (Laurence Fishburne) question him, Lecter states that Tobias came to his office to kill Franklyn and then him to avoid witnesses. In another session with Bedelia, Lecter expresses his intention to open his office for more patients, after stating previously that he might have found a friend on Graham. He assumes responsibility for Franklyn's death, although Bedelia says he can't put his death on himself.

In May 2013, it was announced that the eighth episode of the series would be titled "Fromage", and was directed by Tim Hunter and written by producer Jennifer Schuur and series creator Bryan Fuller. This was Fuller's 6th writing credit, Schuur's second writing credit and Hunter's first directing credit.[1]

According to Bryan Fuller, the characters of Franklyn Froideveaux and Tobias Budge were inspired by Benjamin Raspail and Jame Gumb from The Silence of the Lambs and Gumb was set to play a pivotal role in the episode. As the series was unable to secure the rights for the characters, they created Franklyn and Tobias and the episode went through a different route.[2] He also viewed the episode as an opportunity to explore a possible friendship for Lecter, "we get that Hannibal has been seeking friendship for a while. Therefore, it's not just a new concept to him with Will Graham, but he sees a genuine opportunity for fulfilling that desire with Will Graham."[2]

• Official website
• "Fromage" at IMDb