"Hannibal" A Savory New Entree on NBC

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"Hannibal" A Savory New Entree on NBC

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“Hannibal” a savory new entree on NBC By Joanne Ostrow Television Critic

Depending on your appetite for gore, you may want to tuck into “Hannibal,” a prequel to the Hannibal Lecter/”Silence of the Lambs” tale, coming to NBC Thursday, April 4 (at 10 EDT). A well constructed, masterfully written piece, “Hannibal” exceeds the “ick” factor of any crime procedural on the air. What else could we have expected?

With mushrooms growing out of the bodies of buried but still living victims, a pair of lungs prepared gourmet-style by the famously cannibalistic doctor, and with enough spurting blood to rival a premium cable series, “Hannibal” is off to a strong start as one of the grisliest dramas on broadcast TV.

The characters are so compelling, however, that you may give in to the gore-fest. Hugh Dancy as Special Agent Will Graham, Laurence Fishburne as Agent Jack Crawford and Mads Mikkelsen as Dr. Hannibal Lecter are a strong triangle at the heart of the story. Each inhabits his character with authority, making the twisted minds seem credibly skewed. The soundtrack is wonderfully eerie, suggesting the damaged inner lives.

Bryan Fuller (“Pushing Daisies”) has created an effective backstory for one of the great villains of modern crime fiction. The premise: Before “Silence of the Lambs,” before “Red Dragon,” Hannibal Lecter (Mikkelsen of “Casino Royale”) was a brilliant psychiatrist in the employ of the FBI. He was recruited by FBI boss Jack Crawford (Fishburne, “Man Of Steel”), the head of the FBI’s Behavioral Science Unit, to crack the tough cases. Now Lecter must help a sensitive but gifted criminal profiler, Will Graham (Hugh Dancy, “The Big C”), who is haunted by his ability to see into the minds of serial killers. Will, the hunter of psychopaths, finds himself seated opposite Hannibal, the biggest psychopath with the biggest secret, discussing dark feelings and precarious mental states.

Fuller’s series is based on characters from the book “Red Dragon” by Thomas Harris. While this level of violent imagery is not my cup of tea, I was drawn in by the characterizations. Consider that a warning, and bon appetit.


My note: I am a Hannibal fangirl and can't wait to see this, contrasting what the author of this piece said. Anybody else interested?!?
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Re: "Hannibal" A Savory New Entree on NBC

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Yes, despite having recently turned away from The Following after only one episode I will give it a try. Not to veer off topic, but what did you think of The Following?
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Re: "Hannibal" A Savory New Entree on NBC

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Sorry, never heard of The Following; rarely watch TV, which is why I'm excited about Hannibal. Course, I could be very disappointed; there's been a lot of fan fiction on the relationship between Hannibal and Will Graham, so we'll have to see what pans out.
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Re: "Hannibal" A Savory New Entree on NBC

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The Following is a tasteless :wink: serial killer show starring Kevin Bacon. Senselessly violent imo. I stopped watching after the pilot episode. It has bad writing and of course features an FBI agent/profiler (Bacon) being assisted by an intelligent, manipulative serial killer who's incarcerated. Where have we seen that before?

It premiered in January on FOX. Perhaps I stopped watching too soon, but it looked like it was little more than FOX's inadequate answer to NBC's Hannibal.

I do look forward to Hannibal, however.
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Re: "Hannibal" A Savory New Entree on NBC

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So, after the Viking Bardo of Valhalla Rising, Mads Mikkelsen has moved on. I wonder if Hannibal is higher or lower on the Wheel of Life than a berserker? :D
BTW, we liked the prequel movie, Hannibal Rising.
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Re: "Hannibal" A Savory New Entree on NBC

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Carl wrote:BTW, we liked the prequel movie, Hannibal Rising.
This is a prequel just right before "Red Dragon" or "Manhunter," both based on the book, "Red Dragon."
So Hannibal has of course graduated from med school and moved to the US. I always thought it would be interesting to have a follow-up to "Hannibal Rising," showing the young Hannibal just starting out in med school and perhaps munching on his dates....

Did anybody here see "Manhunter," much better than "Red Dragon," IMHO, and GREAT soundtrack.
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Re: "Hannibal" A Savory New Entree on NBC

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Very eighties as I remember it and a very good film. I need to see Manhunter again in High-Def.
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Re: "Hannibal" A Savory New Entree on NBC

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Yes, very eighties; the guy who directed it also did Miami Vice. But good!!
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Re: "Hannibal" A Savory New Entree on NBC

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I'm looking forward to this show.

I love the Following, how can people say it's not good after only watching the pilot? I've been watching every episode the day it airs in the USA. It's original TV.
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Re: "Hannibal" A Savory New Entree on NBC

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Re: "Hannibal" A Savory New Entree on NBC

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Indifferent43 wrote:I'm looking forward to this show.

I love the Following, how can people say it's not good after only watching the pilot? I've been watching every episode the day it airs in the USA. It's original TV.
Melong wrote:It [The Following] has bad writing and of course features an FBI agent/profiler (Bacon) being assisted by an intelligent, manipulative serial killer who's incarcerated. Where have we seen that before?
Similarities don't end there. Bacon's character got close to the killer before finding him out (needing his help? I can't exactly remember), was severely wounded by killer before taking him in, is now a retired alcoholic with a pacemaker who has to be brought back in for his unique insights, killer escapes and gruesomely wounds guards to finish off what he was prevented from accomplishing by Bacon.

Now he apparently has a following of people in subsequent episodes doing his bidding. Like Hannibal communicating with his admirers in Manhunter/Red Dragon and Silence of the Lambs?

I was not convinced, but as I said perhaps I should give the show another chance. :wink:
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Re: "Hannibal" A Savory New Entree on NBC

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Did anybody watch the trailer?? I'm soooooo excited!!
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Re: "Hannibal" A Savory New Entree on NBC

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Very good pilot. Easily superior to The Following's pilot episode.

Had me worried there for a moment. I couldn't understand a whole sentence Mads Mikkelsen spoke in Hannibal's first dialogue (sobbing neurotic patient). I understand the differences in the Graham and Hannibal characters are closer to the book?

Suddenly feel an urge for a nice glass of red wine with my Lasagna tonight.
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Re: "Hannibal" A Savory New Entree on NBC

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Great pilot, will definitely watch this show each week.
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Re: "Hannibal" A Savory New Entree on NBC

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This is the best Hannibal Lector story since Silence of the Lambs imo. I hope we get more than one good season out of this NBC show.
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