"In the finished show (which boasted an initial script so impressive that NBC completely skipped over the Pilot stage of development), we follow Hugh Dancy as Will Graham, a troubled FBI profiler who initiates a partnership with the mysterious psychiatrist Dr. Hannibal Lecter as they work together to track down a serial killer. Naturally, it’s soon revealed that Hannibal has his own cannibalistic secrets, though the good doctor develops a dangerous fondness for Will as he realizes that the two of them may have a lot more in common than previously thought.
Thus, Harris’ forensic epic is transformed into a deeply psychological game of shifting loyalties and interpersonal relationships between broken people, with this compelling premise being further elevated by stunning art direction and memorable performances that stand toe-to-toe with previous incarnations of these characters. Hell, there’s no shortage of think-pieces praising Mads Mikkelsen’s star-making portrayal of the world’s most charming cannibal, and it’s no surprise that the show would spawn endless waves of erotic fanfiction celebrating Dancy and Mikkelsen’s oddly enticing chemistry.
However, I think the real source of Hannibal’s enduring success is the fact that none of its episodes ever felt like watching a cheaper version of Brett Ratner’s Red Dragon (or even Michael Mann’s Manhunter, for that matter). Despite covering much of the same ground, the final season feels like a completely new story about love and betrayal that only happens to feature the same characters and set-pieces as Harris’ novel, making this a worthy companion piece to both the book and its film adaptations instead of an ill-fated attempt at a replacement.
Although Hannibal was never a ratings juggernaut, it did boast a steady viewer-base that only grew as the show became available on more streaming services, so it’s only natural that it would end up influencing a whole generation of genre TV. It’s a shame that it ended so soon, with the story concluding on a literal cliffhanger instead of going on to adapt TheSilence of the Lambs as the showrunner intended (with Fuller claiming to have a whopping six seasons planned out), but I still appreciate the series that we got and there’s a reason why it remains relevant even a decade later. In fact, I defend that gruesome finale – and its Siouxie-Sioux soundtrack – as a perfect place to end the story, as fans of the books know that Lecter and Graham’s relationship would never recover from that final encounter."
6 seasons planned...