Having been a huge fan of 1986's Manhunter (Red Dragon) and 1991's Silence Of The Lambs both film and books, I was instantly drawn to the recent NBC series Hannibal. I should point out the character of Hannibal Lector went south for me after Hannibal (movie), Red Dragon (the Manhunter remake) and then, Hannibal Rising.

But I found the series much more satisfying than Following. A lot more darker too.
However, I also felt that Hannibal is on the wrong network. It demands a network along the lines of cable, like AMC or Starz. Right now, it isn't on NBC's fall lineup, but, given the context of the deal, it doesn't need to be. The entire season and future seasons will have 13 episodes. So it could return about this time next year.

While I did get a little tired of the Manhunter/Red Dragon and Lambs winks - characters will quote bits from the books/movies or there would be imagery taken from those and re-arranged here now and then - I find that I am hooked on the show.

Is the series right for network television? As much as I like the series and it's morbid kick, I'd have to say no because of that morbid kick. And there's only so many times we can see Lector in his kitchen, wondering if he's serving a "special recipe" of Pot au feu or not.  When the folks behind the show 'pulled' an ep because they fwelt that it may be "insensitive" to those affected by the Boston bombing, I thought that it was ironic that they think they have to be PC on one ep (which could be seen online) and yet the entire series revolves around a cannibalistic serial killer.

One station in Utah decided that they'd rather pre-empt the series altogether because it is too intense and dark. I like the show - but I'm inclined to understand...and agree. Cable is a better home for Hannibal in my view.

And...as it turns out, if NBC does not pick up the second season, Amazon has stepped up and put in an offer. So has a cable network, but they don't want to identify themselves yet.I don't think it's NBC's cousin USA but it wouldn't be the first time a struggling series was moved from NBC to there (Law & Order CI) - I'm thinking it's more along the lines of Starz or HBO.

Has anyone seen the series, what are your thoughts on it, if any?

I've watched Hannibal since it started.  And for the most part, I've liked it.  It truly pushes the network gore envelope while still managing to breathe life into these characters.  First and foremost I have to say that Mikkelson does an excellent job in the nearly impossible task of inhabiting the character of Hannibal Lechter.  I don't know if any actor is so indelibly linked to a role as Anthony Hopkins is to Lechter, so I was rather surprised to see Mikkelson is up to the task.    

I like how Will is able to "reverse engineer" these killings in his mind, although I'm not crazy about how the show presents it.  That "window washer" effect is just silly.

The one problem I can see the show running into already are the increasingly elaborate serial killers Will sets out to catch(seems Baltimore has more than its fair share).  The Shrike, the angel maker, the mushroom guy and most recently Tobias the human cello player.  What's next, the couch upholsterer?   Of course all this is simply burning time until Will discovers Hannibal's true identity.   It'll be interesting to see how this builds up to Red Dragon.

Anyway, glad to hear Amazon and cable have stepped up in case NBC foolishly decides to dump this.  Hannibal is a show worth saving, and I actually think it strikes a nice balance between the gore and the tense relationships among Lechter, Will and Crawford.  So, I don't think a move to cable is necessary, but it looks like it's gonna happen.

Mads Mikkelson.
Never cared much for his stateside efforts.
But I love Flame and Citron & The Door.
The guy even handles schmaltzy kid dramas with aplomb.

While Hannibal maybe somewhat visually hamstringed on NBC...
I'm still hooked on the show.
A few missteps aside, I find all the episodes but one quite engaging.

This is how a new property SHOULD mine the original content for new tropes.
J.J. Abrams could learn a thing or two from Bryan Fuller in that department.
It's very clear to me Fuller UNDERSTANDS the SOURCE MATERIAL.

Mr. "Star Trek's my Path to the Force", not so much.

E.D.

I love each year's rollout of pilots... a chance to discover a new show to replace one I stopped watching (or ran its run). I was especially excited about this show, having been a huge fan of the movies (and the "Silence" novel).

As a point of reference, I like morbid when it's done well--huge fan of "American Horror Story" (season 1, not so much 2). That said, I only watched one episode of this show and decided that was enough. Forget if it was the actual pilot or episode 2, but it came off as hokey to me. Not crazy about the way (Will?) reconstructed the scenes--the savant. And it was overly stylized for me, especially in those re-creation scenes. Seemed like more sizzle than steak--same thing that turned me off about "CSI, Miami" though I loved the first few seasons of the original "CSI."

I recall one particular reconstructed scene that was a full-blown bullets-and-blood glorification, with the blood spurting "artistically" all over the screen. Like I said, I like morbid, and I like gore, but this seemed as gratuitous as booby-shots in 80s slasher films (though those were actually entertaining as a teenager).

The season finale of Season 2 will rip out your soul and feed it to you while you lie crying in the fetal position...in the best possible way.

My favorite show on TV right now.  Season 2 really committed to its arc and abandoned (for the most part) the case of the week structure of Season 1.  They took a lot of risks and it definitely paid off.

Mads IS Hannibal.  Sorry Anthony.

Quoted from Dressel The season finale of Season 2 will rip out your soul and feed it to you while you lie crying in the fetal position...in the best possible way. My favorite show on TV right now.  Season 2 really committed to its arc and abandoned (for the most part) the case of the week structure of Season 1.  They took a lot of risks and it definitely paid off. Mads IS Hannibal.  Sorry Anthony.

I gave up on this show after the first season. But you make me want to check out what they did in the second.

Quoted from Demento I gave up on this show after the first season. But you make me want to check out what they did in the second.

The first season is spotty, no doubt.  I wasn't 100% on board with it till this season.  But you really need the first season to lay the groundwork for what they do later.

I can't watch any of the netflix TV dramas. I watched an episode of Breaking Bad and thought it was shiite. TV is no replacement for film... certainly not American TV, anyway.

Quoted from DustinBowcot I can't watch any of the netflix TV dramas. I watched an episode of Breaking Bad and thought it was shiite. TV is no replacement for film... certainly not American TV, anyway.

I thought Breaking Bad was pretty good. Maybe a bit overrated but good. One thing I think British TV is far superior than US is in sitcoms. IMO they have the funnier shows.

I liked how Hannibal was shot and it had a pretty good cast. But the first season kind of couldn't decide if they are going for the whole different case every episode or are we doing one narrative all through out the series. Then it tried to mix the two and theн they committed to the story. I gave the first episode of the second season a shot and quit there. I'll look into it again.

Quoted from DustinBowcot TV is no replacement for film... certainly not American TV, anyway.

What a horribly broad generalization.  Not even worth arguing.