Although a full six seasons were planned for the now reputable television series,
Hannibal, only three of those seasons (thirteen episodes each) made it to fruition, as the series died from a lack of ratings. While showrunner Bryan Fuller began searching for a new network for the unfortunate program, the chances of it getting picked up are becoming increasingly unlikely, though we can expect the third season to be released on home video in early December. That brings us here today, as I discuss what I believe are the five greatest episodes of
Hannibal's three season run.
HONOURABLE MENTIONING
Season 1 Episode 8 "Fromage"
The highlight of the series, largely as a whole, is the 'bromance' between Hannibal Lecter and Will Graham. Taking place during the early stages of that relationship, "Fromage" appropriately focuses on the theme of friendship and rejection. Serial killer Tobias Budge and Franklin Froideveaux (stand-ins for Buffalo Bill and Benjamin Raspel) both want to be Hannibal's friend but are rejected. Franklin thinks that Tobias is his friend, but it is all a ruse for Tobias to get closer to Lecter. And of course, throughout the series, Hannibal wants to be Will Graham's friend but Graham is reluctant to accept his own supposed murderous nature. The fight between Hannibal and Tobias also makes this episode a favourite of the series, along with the mentioned themes it addresses.
THE LIST
5. Season 3 Episode 1 "Antipasto"
"Antipasto" not only introduces us to the third season while maintaining a level of secrecy of what's to come, but it also marks the latest stage of the show's evolution. This episode cements the series' direction as the television equivalent of a stylish arthouse film. The episode was beautiful to look at and many stills from the episode can easily be mistaken for a painting. While I am a fan of this direction, I do have to admit that the style gets a little out of hand in later episodes to the point that a man putting coins in a slot machine is suddenly turned into a giant, slow motion spectacle. But, like I said, that doesn't happen until later. This episode manages to foreshadow what's to come with the Mason Verger storyline without giving a single thing away.
4. Season 3 Episode 13 "The Wrath of the Lamb"
The third season finale had the burden of not only closing the
Red Dragon storyline, but also wrapping the entire series in a bow, as it was common knowledge by the time of production that there may never be a fourth season. For the most part, it does a great job of not only wrapping every major loose end, but it leaves other lesser loose ends open to keep us interested in seeing more if more is to come, yet it still feels satisfying as a conclusion. Hannibal's interactions with Will after their showdown with the Tooth Fairy are beautiful in a very twisted way, as Will realises that Hannibal is seemingly right about him. The both of them dying together serves as an excellent close, though they can easily be brought back for another season. The song "Love Crime" by Siouxsie Sioux works well to elevate the emotion of the episode, and the after credits scene finds a way to suggest that Lecter may have survived, even if Bryan Fuller has said in interviews that Bedelia may be victim to someone other than Lecter (such as Lady Murasaki).
3. Season 3 Episode 7 "Digestivo"
"Digestivo" serves as the final chapter of the Mason Verger arc, which is adapted from the Thomas Harris novel simply titled
Hannibal. Just as the sadistic Mason Verger thinks he's going to have his revenge on Hannibal Lecter, he finally gets what has been coming to him. The character, who has been torturing his sister since the second season, finally meets his end in a scene ripped straight out of the novel. This episode had me on the edge of my seat the entire time, and the exchange during the feux ending to Hannibal and Will's friendship was perfectly executed. When Hannibal turned himself in to the police, I was initially unsettled since it was such a deviation from the source material, but the scene has since grown on me.
2. Season 2 Episode 12 "Tome-Wan"
Michael Pitt's performance and the tension between Mason Verger, Will Graham and Hannibal are a big reason as to why this is one of the best episodes in the series. The episode shows how Michael Pitt's Mason Verger ultimately became the Verger we are all familiar with in the various films and novels. Of all of the villains in the series, Pitt's Verger is probably the best (well, other than Hannibal himself). Joe Anderson did a good job of portraying the character in the third season, but he was never as entertaining to watch as Pitt's energetic take on the character, even if Pitt was clearly basing his performance on Gary Oldman. "Tome-Wan" plays with the idea of Will wanting Hannibal to die, despite their friendship, which is one of the many reasons that their complex relationship is so thought provoking.
1. Season 2 Episode 13 "Mizumono"
This episode concludes the second season of the series, and is impressively unpredictable, keeping everyone in the audience on the edge of their seats as all of the characters finally discover who Hannibal truly is. Tensions are high and Hannibal seemed legitimately hurt at the discovery that Will was working against him. And had there never been a third season, this would have certainly made an interesting conclusion to the series: Hannibal Lecter escaping police capture as all of the main characters lie dying in a pool of crimson red.
Those are, in my opinion, the greatest episodes of NBC's run on the Hannibal television series. The series as a whole was great, but these episodes somehow managed to stand out from the others. As always, if you have any favourites that didn't make it onto my list, feel free to mention them in the comments section below.