Serial killers aren’t new to TV, but I’ll tell you why NBC’s “Hannibal” may just slay the competition.
Reading the name Hannibal probably conjures images of Anthony Hopkins seriously creeping out Jodie Foster in “The Silence of the Lambs.” In fact, with shows like Fox’s “The Following” already on the air, you might roll your eyes at the thought of another such series.
Just wait and reserve your judgments until after I unveil some finer details of the new show, which is on at 10 p.m. Thursdays.
The main character isn’t Hannibal at all. It’s Will Graham (Hugh Dancy), a gifted young criminal profiler. When the show starts, Will is content to lecture rather than work in the field. But special agent Jack Crawford (Laurence Fishburne) has heard of Will’s downright scary ability to empathize with a killer and puts him to work on a tricky batch of murders.
Will is haunted by his ability and has trouble socializing normally. To back him up, the FBI also recruits talented psychiatrist Dr. Hannibal Lecter (Danish actor Mads Mikkelsen). In other words, Will has a killer new partner.
What I like about this show is the idea of partners working cases and becoming friends with one having no idea what the other’s extracurricular activities may include. Also, I’m a huge fan of Mikkelsen, who beautifully plays a pre-prison Hannibal.
The New York Post said, “Hannibal” was “the most beautifully shot and produced show on network TV.” “Hannibal” also has style and depth, things I’ve felt “The Following” is lacking.
Showtime’s “Dexter” probably has been the best killer series to date and will kick off its eighth and final season this June. If “Hannibal” plays its cards right, it could pick up Dexter’s fans.
I’m a fan!