The idea of a Hannibal Lecter prequel was first dismissed as tired franchise-milking.
Two seasons on, here’s how it proved sceptics wrong…
Warning: contains spoilers forHannibalseasons one and two and the Thomas Harris novelRed Dragon.
Season two had so many strong moments, its hard to know where to begin.
Even obsessive fans had to admit that it was time to let the good doctor go.
And yet, there remained a niggling feeling.
After all, it was not as though there was no story left to tell.
Arguably the most interesting relationship in the whole series seemed to have been forgotten by its own creator.
Clarice Starling becomes the object of Hannibal Lecters obsession and Will Graham is literally never mentioned again.
The concept is enough to make any fan of the franchise salivate.
Fuller has embraced the operatic, grandiose style of Thomas Harris with aplomb.
Having recently finished re-reading the trilogy, I am surprised at justhowfaithful the TV series is stylistically.
Whole patches of dialogue are lifted directly from the novels.
Internal monologues are re-contextualised into the musings of the characters on particular events.
And then there are the characters themselves.
In Mads Mikkelsens hands, Hannibal Lecter is no longer the showy monster Anthony Hopkins played to perfection.
Well congratulations Bryan Fuller, you have succeeded in making that the case with your two iconic protagonists.
Is Mikkelsen better than Hopkins?
Thats a matter of taste, as both performances are equally valid and effective portrayals of the same character.
Its easy to read the novels and imagine the distinctive tones of either actor every time Lecter speaks.
The news of every one of these was met with a collective sigh of exasperation.
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