Hannibal (2013-2015): Season 1

Title: Hannibal

Year: 2013 – 2015

Genre: Crime | Drama | Horror |

Seasons: 1 | 2 | 3 |

Runtime: 44 min/Episode

Created by: Brian Fuller

Starring: Mads Mikkelsen, Hugh Dancy, Laurence Fishbourne

8,5/10

ELEGANT, HORROR AND PSYCHOLOGICAL

Even if you don’t appreciate the appetite Hannibal Lecter has for his guests, there is no denying that after The Silence of the Lambs, thirty years later has had an impact. It introduced Clarice Starling as a young FBI-agent chasing a serial killer with Doctor Lecter as a consultant. Before that, there’s Manhunt, which features a similar set of characters as this NBC series.

One point being made is that this series is graphic, explicit, and horrifying in terms of the explicit content depicted with the gruesome murders, the tone, and the overwhelming aura this series had. Season 1 introduces a couple of characters, more known than others. Will Graham,  Hannibal Lecter returns in the series with new actors. Jack Crawford, the FBI boss, plays by Laurence Fishbourne. Then there’s gender swap and name changing contradicting the source material, from original writer Thomas Harris.

However, the eerie tone of this series is absorbing. Despite the psychological terror it provides, it still an entertaining TV-series. It has an interesting deep look at the human psyche. Few series take time to evaluate the appropriate diagnosis for the killers. Some are more sinister than others. With Mads Mikkelsen in the lead, Hugh Dancy and Laurence Fishbourne by his side. It never gets boring as the killing rate fixes one per episode. Even if it feels overused with the murdering, it slowly transcends to the relationship between the lead character, their internal struggle, and keeping Will Graham out of harm as he slowly drowns in hallucinations.

Mads Mikkelsen presents a curious yet firm lead as Doctor Hannibal Lecter, the renowned psychiatrist who consults the FBI in murder investigations. As the series slowly progress, the secret he has about being a serial killer expose in later episodes. Hugh Dancy, who is unstable, to begin with, tries to overcome his inner demons and highlights that he’s fine and doesn’t need help. As he works to step into the killer’s mind, Graham takes form as a lecturer who is psychotic occasionally and relies on Lecter in confidence. Laurence Fishbourne, known from The Matrix, is the major Hollywood actor of the series. Even if there are some interesting guest stars as Gillian Anderson. He doesn’t bring nuance to his scene but has a glamour that makes the series a little heavy. He juggles between moralities and his self-confidence as the first series continues. And at his best of non-knowledge, he eats Hannibal’s meal containing humans.

The story evolves fast-paced besides the violence and interesting formula and it’s easy to get involved with the characters. They’re overall well-written characters that distinguish from each other.  The first season is good, lengthy, and a little bit predictable through the final three episodes, but the excitement is there, the attention to details as well with astonishing cinematography and elegant soundtrack. A good series to keep you on the edge, from the first dine to the final.