There are many ways to tell a story, and each available medium has something unique to offer. The story of psychologist-turned-serial killer Hannibal Lecter has endured for over thirty years in print, film, and television. The most recent retelling of the Hannibal Lecter saga is NBC's three-season series Hannibal, which takes the story in a fresh direction.
Though the Hannibal Lecter films will always be cult classics, this television rendering gives audiences new insights into the minds of the supporting characters, and a new perspective on the doctor himself. Hannibal also firmly pushes this decades-old story into the modern era.
8 Hannibal Is A Talented Amateur Chef
Across all mediums, one of Dr. Lecter's signature moves is covertly feeding human flesh to his house guests. One thing Hecter adds to the tried-and-true Hannibal story is a closer look at the doctor's culinary skills. The films show him serving dishes, but rarely depict the actual cooking process.
In contrast, multiple episodes of Hannibal feature Dr. Lecter cooking for Jack Crawford, Mrs. Crawford, Abigail, and many others. The care and attention Hannibal puts into the creation of his dishes speaks to his meticulous nature, something that's evident in his killings. This adds an intriguing layer of characterization to the series' rendering of him.
7 The Story Works Well As A Procedural
Season one, in particular, has a distinct police procedural feel. The Hannibal story lends itself surprisingly well to this format, as Hannibal is able to develop the relationships between the characters while they follow the central case of each episode. This is especially true for the relationships between Graham, Crawford, and Dr. Lecter, who collaborate in a variety of ways from one case to the next.
The procedural format of the first season also gives viewers a deeper look at the inner workings of the behavioral unit, adding supporting characters for the main heroes to play off of as viewers get to know them. These supporting characters add some much-needed breathing room and occasional comic relief to the otherwise dark subject matter of Hannibal.
6 Graham And Lecter Have A Multi-Faceted Connection
While the dynamic between Dr. Lecter and Will Graham is expertly navigated by Anthony Hopkins and Edward Norton in the film Red Dragon, Dancy and Mikkelsen use the TV series format to build a compelling, layered relationship between these two iconic characters. Dr. Lecter assumes the role of psychologist for Graham at the beginning of Hannibal, and the lines between doctor and patient twist and blur in many dark directions throughout the series.
Graham becomes something of a false accomplice for the doctor, and their relationship even leans towards romantic at some points in the series. The connection between these two men is the most enthralling aspect of show.
5 Dr. Du Maurier Is a Compelling Love Interest
Silence Of The Lambs is heavily safeguarded by MGM, so the series was unable to feature Clarice Starling, a pivotal character from the film and the original Thomas Harris novel. Series creator Bryan Fuller brilliantly improvised by integrating some aspects of the relationship between Dr. Lecter and agent Starling into Hannibal's relationship with his psychiatrist, Dr. Du Maurier.
This relationship mirrors the peculiar connection Hannibal often has with his own patients, but the roles are reversed. The connection is also a modern replica of the strange, compelling love that existed between Starling and Lecter. The difference in power dynamics between the doctors in Hannibal adds more depth and nuance to this classic relationship.
4 Freddie Lounds Is On A Quest For The Truth
Reporter Freddie Lounds is a male in both the novels and the films, but Fuller's television series features a female version of the journalist. From the very beginning of Hannibal, the female Freddie Lounds is on the case, pressuring Will, Dr. Lecter, and anyone else she can find for information about the crimes they're investigating.
She is a much more aggressive tabloid reporter than the male version of the character in Red Dragon and plays a more significant role in trying to take down Hannibal. This version of Freddie has a dynamic personality that makes her a fan-favorite among the supporting characters.
3 Hannibal Recruits A Potential Protégé
For all of his atrocities, Dr. Hannibal Lecter has a strange paternal quality to his personality. Perhaps it is because of his work in psychology or because he feels a perverse sense of nurturing toward some people. Abigail Hobbs - daughter of serial killer Garrett Jacob Hobbs - is someone Hannibal feels drawn to immediately.
He positions himself as a protector and helps Abigail come to terms with some of the trauma she experienced at the hands of her father. It is abundantly clear, however, that Hannibal also sees some of himself in the young girl, and wants to bond with her for selfish reasons. The relationship between these two characters gives viewers a unique insight into Dr. Lecter's peculiar brand of humanity that isn't as prominent in the films.
2 Mason Verger Dies A Fitting Death
Mason Verger appears in the 2001 film Hannibal as the doctor's primary antagonist, and he has a similar role in the NBC series. He is a vile character by all accounts, and audiences certainly weren't sad when he met a gruesome demise in the film. The most obvious - and most satisfying - difference in Mason Verger's television storyline is the way in which he dies.
In the Hannibal film, he is fed to his own wild pigs by his assistant Cordell. In the television show, however, Mason's twin sister is able to take revenge for all the trauma she has suffered at his hands over the years. She holds his head underwater in a fish tank as a moray eel slithers down his throat. Mason chokes to death on one of his favorite pets, much to the relief of characters and viewers.
1 Will Graham Is An Isolated Loner
While Edward Norton's Will Graham is a family man when he is sucked into the world of Hannibal Lecter, Hannibal's Will Graham's only family is his eleven dogs. Graham's isolation in the series gives viewers a deeper insight into his psyche.
Audiences watch Graham grapple with the things he sees during his partnership with the FBI, and sweat-soaked nightmares, sleepwalking, and hallucinations plague him after every case. Edward Norton's portrayal of Graham was stellar, but this series' rendering of the character humanizes him in a much deeper way.