First of all, I love this series to a fault. It's not perfect, but I just love it. It has some of the best TV episodes I've ever watched, but it also has some of the most scattered storytelling I've experienced.First, the positives.The aesthetics. BEAUTIFUL. Every frame in this series is designed to perfection, and it is just beautiful to watch. The slow motion sequences, the cinematography, the MUSIC. Everything falls together to be a feast for the senses.The performances!! All the acting is flawless, especially that by Mads Mikkelsen and Hugh Dancy. Their performances let you see through their friendship enough to both mesmerize you, and scare you to death. Hannibal cares for Will, but he also sees him as a test subject/plaything. Will knows, but let's himself be immersed into it all for the sake of the greater good. It's all a vicious circle that leads who knows where, but we want to be there to watch.The rest of the cast is amazing as well. Special mention goes to Richard Armitage, who played Dollarhyde frighteningly well, and the great Gillian Anderson.Seasons 1 and the second part of 3 are hypnotizing. All the best parts together to make a wonderful whole. The series works best when there's a concrete situation to resolve, no question.Now, for the not so positives.I understand we want inclusion and representation in modern series, but it sometimes feels forced. Freddie Lounds, for example. We are supposed to feel revulsion at this character, but making her a woman, and beautiful, doesn't help. Making Chilton go through what she should have, felt forced and contrived. Alana Bloom was a woman just because there were too many men, or at least it felt like that. Also, I hated her going from warm and caring to femme fatale style, and out of nowhere falling for Margo Verger. Talking about the Vergers, the first part of season 3 felt all over the place. Mason Verger was absolutely perfect, but the changes to make the story fit made the story and his ending underwhelming. He should have been eaten by his pigs, like Thomas Harris wrote. The bit they included about Hannibal Rising was completely out of place or context. I mean, Will gets thrown off a train and then he reappears with nothing but a few scratches?? The Japanese mysterious lady is introduced only to a act as Ex Machina to let Hannibal do his thing, killing those who would hurt/kill him. No, just no. There's too much going on at once.I understand they didn't have time. The series was cancelled way too soon, and as a result, the first part of season 3 (and a bit of the second part) is messy from trying to include too much in too short time. I wish we could have had at least one more season, so the stories would've been better told and better stitched together.I said I love Hannibal to a fault, and I stand by that. I tend to minimize its shortcomings because I think it's just that good. Don't let anyone's opinion influence you. Give it a try.

Unless you have seen Hannibal, it is difficult to understand how can a horror story about a cannibalistic serial killer be so alluring. I have never before come across a show with such intellectually stimulating and intelligent dialogues. Visually, every scene is a masterpiece - the show is so artistic and esthetic, that I often wondered how can a horror show actually be so beautiful! It is dark, suspenseful, thrilling, and sophisticated - so much so, that it cannot be compared to any other show in the genre except for, maybe, the Bates Motel. If you are a fan of Mads Mikkelsen, you are likely to consider this show as his magnum opus. As Hannibal, everything about him appears mesmerizing and brilliant - including his accent.

One of the best series I've ever seen in my life! The performance of Mikkelsen is perfect! The Hannibal character fits him perfectly! The storyline is great! A very well adapted version.

The real crime here is that this show was axed to make way for......SJW, feminist superhero, beta male sidekick, botoxed pc scripted remakes.For the first time in years, or so it seemed, we had a script addressing the least sympathetic of people with an intensity and intelligence not seen since The Godfather.Not sure when they knew they were going to be axed but maybe that explains the poetry of the 3rd season.I really look forward to blueray with extras until someone with a brain picks this up again and does themselves a huge favor.Knowing that it would conclude made viewing this pre novel excursion of imagination, imperative to literally savouring the photography,character arcs and twists.But I am sorry, it was a crime for NBC to back out while they were artistically ahead. Very short sighted of them.There are petitions to give the green light for a season 4 (and 5 I hope). What more could a network want? Once seen this kind of visual cannot be forgotten in its sumptuous context, so if you are happy to leave car chases and flying botoxed models behind for a few weeks, treat yourself to this feast for the eyes and disturbance for the mind.