Hannibal Delivers, So Dine In

Shows surrounded by weeks and months of hype rarely deliver as promised. Falling flat because some idiot thought that he knew better than the viewers who know what they want. I can think of two shows right off the top of my head. And while both The Bates Motel and The Followers are decent shows in their own right, the actual story behind them sort of falls flat. The Bates Motel with its already lush and insane backstory of how Norman and his Mother coexist in a world that would shun them if they found out about their love affair. A love affair that eventually goes awry when Norma finds that sweet, sweet love from another man. Forcing dear Norman to punish her and which leads him to do the same to  women here on out. Only now as in the form of his dearly departed better half. But the problem with The Bates Motel is that first off the producers say that it is not a prequel. If it is not a prequel then why the hell call it The Bates Motel? And then use the storyline that was mostly backstory in the original Psycho? Then on top of that use all the main characters? And when it comes to The Followers. A storyline about a serial killer in love with Poe, rabid “followers” that are willing to do his bidding the story at first came off as a retread of Thomas Harris’ Red Dragon. Right down to the FBI profiler that has, well, some major issues. Thankfully The Followers deviated from the Red Dragon story.

But then there came the third very hyped new show. To complete the trilogy so to say. And when it comes to Hollywood in any way shape or form they have to do everything in threes.

NBC promised to be what the last couple of movies that starred Hannibal Lector were not. To see inside that evil, twisted mind before he was carted off to the dungeon to rot out the rest of his life. And after the premiere episode last night, it did exactly that. Hannibal delivered on all fronts. Right down to Mads Mikkelsen as the title character. You might remember Mikkelsen as Bond baddie Le Chiffre in the Casino Royal. And I could not think of a better person to portray Hannibal “The Cannibal” Lector. Mikkelsen embodies the role with a savage clarity that makes you NOT want to see a psychiatrist. Then to pare him opposite Huge Dancy as Special Agent Will Graham who, like Mikkelsen, not only embodies the famed profiler but adds a whole new dimension to him. This time out, Graham is more of an introvert in the likes of where we should see Norman Bates (Bates comes off almost as a sex symbol in Bates). While he teaches other would-be profilers the tricks of the trade Graham isn’t what you call social human being. He would rather spend time with his dogs. Like him, Graham finds the dogs that don’t belong, who are left for strays, comforting. The rest of the cast for the new Hannibal is just as stellar. With likes of Laurence Fishburne (Crawford), Caroline Dhavernas (Dr. Alana Bloom), and I am really digging the fact that they made the sleazy, unlikable tabloid journalist, Freddy Lounds a woman. Lounds if you recall is the happy chap that gets set aflame and pushed down a parking garage ramp in a wheelchair in Red Dragon (and for those of you who seen the original, Manhunter). Lounds is played Camelot’s Lara Jean Chorostecki.

NBC has Hannibal in a 13 episode run the sees Lector and Graham paired up like a macabre odd couple chasing down the worst of the worst. A dynamic that works on every level as we actually feel a kinship of likability towards Hannibal as he seems to help Graham through his problems of the mind. However, some of the efforts are not in what you call normal in any sense of the world. Sometimes one has to leave a very bloody bread crumb for things to fall into place.

5 out of 5 severed head is the verdict.  I’m calling Hannibal a actual must see. You won’t be disappointed. FYI: for all you X-Files fans look for Gillian Anderson (Scully) to make her appearance on the show.

Until next time... stay bloody.