You Should Be Watching: 'Hannibal'

Bryan Fuller can be a grating individual. Or, rather, his shows can be. Dead Like Me had the most sullen pouty lead I've ever come across; Pushing Daisies was fun, but its relentlessly peppy cast, and primary coloured sets became trying well before it was cancelled; and Wonderfalls, which I never had a chance to see (it was cancelled before it was even half-way through its first season), had the central premise of a young woman who talks to figurines: which sounds just as trying as the rest of his oeuvre.

So it comes as some surprise that his new show, which focuses on the events preceding Thomas Harris's first Lecter starring novel Red Dragon, is the antithesis of his previous work, ie. less with the twee, more with the watchable. (Well almost the complete antithesis: Fuller's fascination with death is as prevalent as ever, if not more so.)

Currently, as the show approaches its last few episodes in the US, the cast and crew wait in a state of limbo, neither cancelled nor renewed. Most people have probably steered clear of the show because Lecter has suffered from almost as much overexposure as vampires. It doesn't help that the show has the same title as Ridley Scott's sequel to Silence of the Lambs, which turned the character into a bog standard boogeyman; Anthony Hopkins seemed to be having fun, but it was all just hammy nonsense. And the prequel Hannibal Rising did nothing to restore the previous menace of Brian Cox in Manhunter, or Hopkins in Silence. Which is a long-winded way of saying that Fuller has had a somewhat uphill battle convincing people that there's something new to say about dear Dr. Hannibal.

The reason the show works is because it isn't about Hannibal. He's important, no doubt about that. And he's had episodes where he's taken centre stage. But the focus is on Will Graham (Hugh Dancy), a man so good at getting into the minds of killers that he's ever on the verge of losing his. I've only seen Dancy in the odd bit part prior to this, and he's never really stood out. In Hannibal he's staggeringly good. Watching him cling to his sanity for dear life is the reason to watch this show. That and the visuals. I don't think I've ever seen a show that looks quite this good. TV is looking ever more cinematic, but with Hannibal you'll find yourself wondering if there's any difference between this and film.

As well Dancy the show has Laurence Fishburne: for once not sleepwalking through his role as he has in most others over the last decade; Caroline Dhavernas: in a seemingly thankless love interest role that she invests with much more character and humanity then was probably ever in the script; and, in the title role, Mad Mikkelsen: who's quiet, restrained take on Hannibal is reminiscent of Brian Cox's portrayal. He skulks in the background, keeping his true nature hidden. Which is a very effective way to build tension and to give the other characters room to grow. Plus its Mads Mikkelsen. Any film or show can do with more Mikkelsen. I have a similar theory about Tom Hiddleston.

What's interesting about the show is that it starts where most shows would end. It's not all that interested in how the killers get caught (which would be the sole focus of an episode of CSI), but who and why the killers are.

Now this isn't to say that the show's perfect. There are narrative leaps that don't make sense and are excused by pointing at Mr. Will Graham and saying: 'He's really empathic; he just knows.' Even when he couldn't possibly. And after keeping Hannibal in the background, only hinting (albeit rather strong hinting) at his true nature, they then bring him to the forefront in rather blunt unnecessary fashion. But Fuller and co. do so much right that the detractions are very minor.

If you haven't started watching it yet: do. Hunt it down. Find it on iTunes, record it on SkyLiving, do whatever you gotta'. Because if it gets cancelled its on you. And it'd be your fault that we can't have nice things. And we all like nice things.

Overall: 8.5/10