Dr. Lecter Invites you to Dinner. The ''Hannibal'' Thread

[Sawyer]

Inside Hannibal's The Shining Shout-Outs

 

[Sawyer]

And from David Slade's Twitter...

Dr. Lecter's Red Right Hand

 

[Mace Bloodstone]

NBC really have to keep their logo on screen plus advertisement for another show?... so distracting.

 

[Matt]

Initial thoughts:

I really dislike Mikkelsen's accent, it is too difficult to understand. He also seems to lack the charm of Lecter.

I'm surprised that some of this stuff is getting on network TV. The Shrike's victim in the field in particular.

I'm confused...is Lecter supposed to be the Minnesota Shrike or is the Shrike also a cannibal?

Will is VERY unlikeable. They'll need to do something about that. I'll be back because the premise is promising, the acting is good and this is only a pilot. Pilots and what the show becomes are often two different things. That being said, I am fearful that the premise is limited. How long can they keep up the innuendos and double talk between Lecter and Graham? Either Will has to find out (in which case the entire premise is changed) or it'll get tiresome quickly.

 

[Pink Ranger]

How is the Red Dragon book? Would you recommend reading it for information? Or is all the info about the characters and their history that was in the book in the film?

I would recommend reading it, it is quite good. Will Graham is definitely more "normal" in the book than we see him now, that's for sure. I imagine the TV series is going to deviate considerably, in both the cases that Graham will eventually investigate pre-Dragon, but it is worth reading.

 

[Ultimatehero]

This series is great.

It flows great.

The character's are weird, but just the right level of weird and neurotic. That dog part was a nice touch.

The acting is great. I could actually imagine another Hannibal past Hopkins, not as great while not poor either - just different.

And the coming weeks look awesome.

 

[Matt]

I would recommend reading it, it is quite good. Will Graham is definitely more "normal" in the book than we see him now, that's for sure. I imagine the TV series is going to deviate considerably, in both the cases that Graham will eventually investigate pre-Dragon, but it is worth reading.

I'll say. Will caught two serial killers in the lead up to Red Dragon. The Minnesota Shrike and Hannibal Lecter. He's already caught the Shrike. So yeah, some deviation is inevitable. I personally don't care for TV Will at all. He is easily the weakest aspect of the show. Hell, I'm not even a fan of Lecter. He is too outwardly creepy. Yes, the audience knows Lecter is a cannibal and serial killer....but anytime that he is on screen it feels like Mikkelsen is winking to the audience and saying, "EHHHHH!?!?! EEEEHHHHHHHH!?!?!?" I'm really hoping that a few of the kinks are worked out between the pilot and the second episode, because there is undoubtedly potential, but so much wrong right now.

 

[flickchick85]

Good God, Mads is so creepy. That brief moment when he was holding the pencil and thought Crawford was investigating him? Chills.

I don't find Will unlikeable at all, actually. They were smart in mentioning the Aspergers thing early on, because that went a long way toward helping me understand his behavior throughout the episode, as well as Bloom's protective instincts toward him. Even if Will doesn't have Asperger's exactly (they mentioned him being close to it on "the spectrum"), I think Dancy plays that particular social disorder very well since he starred in a movie about that exact subject before.

Overall, I loved it, but I felt the commercials really disrupted the mood, which made me again wish this was on cable. But it grabbed me so much more than the Following and Bates Motel pilots did. And the preview for the upcoming eps was awesome.

 

[hellblazer103]

this was an amazing pilot. though I will agree mikkelsen's accent is a bit hard to understand at certain points.


also, I agree about the commercials . definitely took me out of it. I really wish this was on showtime or HBO or something. then again I don't have HBO anymore, so i'd probably prefer the latter. lol

 

[Matt]

Good God, Mads is so creepy. That brief moment when he was holding the pencil and thought Crawford was investigating him? Chills.

I don't find Will unlikeable at all, actually. They were smart in mentioning the Aspergers thing early on, because that went a long way toward helping me understand his behavior throughout the episode, as well as Bloom's protective instincts toward him. Even if Will doesn't have Asperger's exactly (they mentioned him being close to it on "the spectrum"), I think Dancy plays that particular social disorder very well since he starred in a movie about that exact subject before.

Overall, I loved it, but I felt the commercials really disrupted the mood, which made me again wish this was on cable. But it grabbed me so much more than the Following and Bates Motel pilots did. And the preview for the future eps was awesome.

I actually think that the Asperger's is an unnecessary touch that is just going to make it difficult for the audience to relate to the character. Plus I think it undermines Will. I didn't like it when Thomas Harris felt the need to write some generic motive for Lecter in Hannibal and I don't like the writers of the show trying to explain away Will's....gift.

 

[Ultimatehero]

I don't find Will unlikeable at all, actually. They were smart in mentioning the Aspergers thing early on, because that went a long way toward helping me understand his behavior throughout the episode, as well as Bloom's protective instincts toward him. Even if Will doesn't have Asperger's exactly (they mentioned him being close to it on "the spectrum"), I think Dancy plays that particular social disorder very well since he starred in a movie about that exact subject before.

I think that's why I don't see the hate towards Will. And some people on IMDB hate him as well. He seems normal and relatable to me. But, keep in mind - I seem cold, distant, and unapproachable to a lot of people due to having social issues as well. The brooding creative type. I relate more to dogs than I do people while also being an empath and able to analyze them as interesting subjects lol (albeit as a writer, not a profiler). t:

 

[flickchick85]

I actually think that the Asperger's is an unnecessary touch that is just going to make it difficult for the audience to relate to the character. Plus I think it undermines Will. I didn't like it when Thomas Harris felt the need to write some generic motive for Lecter in Hannibal and I don't like the writers of the show trying to explain away Will's....gift.

Well I obviously can't speak for the whole audience, but it certainly didn't stop me from finding him relatable. I mean, I don't have any social disorders (that I'm aware of), but I definitely felt empathetic toward him and I already feel a bit protective of him like Alana does, as I kinda found Crawford's attitude toward Will to be a little..exploitative. But I guess when lives are at stake, he doesn't have time to worry about being sensitive to his condition.

 

[Schlosser85]

I kinda found Crawford's attitude toward Will to be a little..exploitative. But I guess when lives are at stake, he doesn't have time to worry about being sensitive to his condition.

Crawford uses everyone. But in fairness, he's got a job to do where more people die if he doesn't use every tool at his disposal, so I can't blame him too much.

 

[hellblazer103]

Good God, Mads is so creepy. That brief moment when he was holding the pencil and thought Crawford was investigating him? Chills.

my thoughts exactly. that scene was fantastic. I also loved

Spoiler

how indifferent he seemed when they went to garrett's house and he slit the wife's throat and everything. even a slight smirk when he saw the daughter on the ground. although at the same time I was kinda like " dude.... will's right there, I think that'd look a bit suspicious if he saw you acting like that " . lol . but obviously at that moment will had a lot of other things to worry about than what kind of "looks " Hannibal has on his face or anything. also all the subtle things like the pissed off look he had on his face when the patient placed the dirty tissue on the table and the scene where he calls garrett and "warns " him and when he hangs up he has this look on his face that says " hmm, this should be interesting " . lol.

 

[flickchick85]

Crawford uses everyone. But in fairness, he's got a job to do where more people die if he doesn't use every tool at his disposal, so I can't blame him too much.

Yeah, I don't really blame him, but that treatment certainly added more sympathy to Will for me.

 

[flickchick85]

my thoughts exactly. that scene was fantastic. I also loved

Spoiler

how indifferent he seemed when they went to garrett's house and he slit the wife's throat and everything. even a slight smirk when he saw the daughter on the ground. although at the same time I was kinda like " dude.... will's right there, I think that'd look a bit suspicious if he saw you acting like that " . lol . but obviously at that moment will had a lot of other things to worry about than what kind of "looks " Hannibal has on his face or anything. also all the subtle things like the pissed off look he had on his face when the patient placed the dirty tissue on the table and the scene where he calls garrett and "warns " him and when he hangs up he has this look on his face that says " hmm, this should be interesting " . lol.

Yeah, Mads had a lot of really great subtle moments in that pilot. On one hand, I can kinda understand some of the reviews suggesting that he may not yet be a killer, but on the other, I can't help but think, "if you really think that, you weren't paying attention." It seems very clear to me from Mads' performance that Hannibal is already a serial killer.

 

[Maximus One]

Will outshined Lecter here IMO. I feel a lot like he does in social situations. Granted not near as intense but it's enoughto where I avoid contact with people I don't know a lot of the time. Loved it though, Mads accent isn't the best and I do get what Matt was saying about him. It's like we're all in on this big joke together, us the audience and Hannibal while every other character in the show is just clueless. Kinks to work out, yes. Phenomenal start to what seems like an outstanding series? Hell yes

 

[Pink Ranger]

I'll say. Will caught two serial killers in the lead up to Red Dragon. The Minnesota Shrike and Hannibal Lecter. He's already caught the Shrike. So yeah, some deviation is inevitable. I personally don't care for TV Will at all. He is easily the weakest aspect of the show. Hell, I'm not even a fan of Lecter. He is too outwardly creepy. Yes, the audience knows Lecter is a cannibal and serial killer....but anytime that he is on screen it feels like Mikkelsen is winking to the audience and saying, "EHHHHH!?!?! EEEEHHHHHHHH!?!?!?" I'm really hoping that a few of the kinks are worked out between the pilot and the second episode, because there is undoubtedly potential, but so much wrong right now.

I see where you're coming from in some respects. I prefer the book/Manhunter's version of Will, a relatively regular man's man who just happens to have this terrifying talent, rather than the neurotic borderline headcase we got this evening.

That stated, the character needs to change with the times, and I think audiences these days would not buy this character having this talent without A) as graphic a demonstration as we see on this TV show, and B) that his talent would not make his visibly unusual in many ways.

I liked the episode overall. I also like the complex set of motivations behind Hannibal's
actions in this episode: he is fascinated with Will, and does what he does as a combination of training, toying, testing and breaking him. Most importantly, I get the impression that Hannibal recognizes that Will might just be as smart as he is, or at least smart enough to find out the truth about him, and is trying to ascertain how smart Will actually is.

 

[Snow Queen]

Wait. There are references to The Shining in this? And now I will be watching this tomorrow.

Glad to hear it's been getting good responses so far, more good Hannibal is always a great thing.

 

[Maximus One]

Hannibal summed Will up perfectly. "The mongoose that hides under the house while the snake passes by." Meaning, Will is frightened by killers but if put in the right situation he's probably more dangerous than any of them.

 

[Maximus One]

Also I gotta say I loved how Hannibal seemed to not be able to resist playing with Will. Hannibal knows full well just how dangerous for it is for him to even be around Will and that he is truly playing with fire here but he can't stop himself. He's fascinated, you could practically see the thoughts going through his head, the possibilities playing themselves out in his imagination which is probably just as vivid and activa as Will's.

 

[hellblazer103]

Also I gotta say I loved how Hannibal seemed to not be able to resist playing with Will. Hannibal knows full well just how dangerous for it is for him to even be around Will and that he is truly playing with fire here but he can't stop himself. He's fascinated, you could practically see the thoughts going through his head, the possibilities playing themselves out in his imagination which is probably just as vivid and activa as Will's.

i'll probably get crap for saying this, but that was such a Hopkins-esque moment right there, and I don't mean that in an insulting way like " OMG HE RIPPED OFF HOPKINS' PERFORMANCE " cause he definitely didn't . both lecters are 2 different beasts entirely. but that scene gave me a silence of the lambs " you know what you look like to me with your good bag and your cheap shoes ? you look like a rube " type of feel. I loved it.

 

[antsman41]

This was so good. Blew me away, so much better than all films excluding Silence Of The Lambs.

 

[Anno_Domini]

Holy Hell I loved that pilot! So looking forward to seeing future episodes for sure!

 

[Schlosser85]

Also I gotta say I loved how Hannibal seemed to not be able to resist playing with Will. Hannibal knows full well just how dangerous for it is for him to even be around Will and that he is truly playing with fire here but he can't stop himself. He's fascinated, you could practically see the thoughts going through his head, the possibilities playing themselves out in his imagination which is probably just as vivid and activa as Will's.

I agree with this entirely. The scene where he calls Hobbs reminds of when he gives Francis Dolarhyde Will's home address in Red Dragon.

Anyway, my general thoughts:

- Interesting episode. I was very intrigued by the murder investigation and especially the way they show Will's "gift".

- I found Will sympathetic. Yes, he's anti-social, extremely neurotic, and sometimes abrasive and obnoxious, but I also thought there were moments, especially with the dogs and the hospital at the end where you see he does have a heart.

- Speaking of the hospital ending, that was also a surprise to see Hannibal fell asleep holding the girl's hand. I like the flicker of compassion there.

- I did get a little confused about which murders were Hobbs and which were Hannibal. I mean, we saw Hannibal carving up lungs, so did he kill the one girl who didn't fit the rest? And was that really sausage he brought Will for breakfast?

- Mads as Hannibal takes some getting used to. His accent made me miss a few lines, and overall he doesn't seem as cultivated to me as Hopkins. Intelligent, yes, classy, yes, but I don't know, Hopkins just seems more cultured to me. I did like the sneaky way he slipped back into the trailer to give Hobbs the heads up though, and the general trolly/mentor way he sets Will up on collision courses with serial killers and then sits back to see what happens. I did think at the end he was proud of Will to see him "win", and that was why he stepped in and saved the girl, like a reward for Will. It reminded me of in Silence of the Lambs. He helps Clarice catch Gumb to give her the self-validation she's seeking because he deems her to deserve it.