This is my essay on what makes Hannibal the show (in my opinion) so distinct and unforgettable.
Basically, since I watched it for the first time I couldn't stop thinking about how unique it feels and why I keep coming back for more and why it occupies so much of my waking time. I feel like the show consists of sort of layers that add to each other and create a very complex whole. Basically, when you watch it for the first time, it feels like entering deep waters with the most obvious aspects of it on the surface and the more hidden ones deeper down. So here they are:
The gore and violence
The first thing most people notice is the violent aspect of the show. It was marketed as a crime show, the first scene involves a crime scene, its main characters are a serial killer and an FBI profiler. The sheer amount of blood and gore that is part of every episode is unmissable as is the everpresent physical violence and psychological manipulation.
2. The aesthetics and beauty
This second aspect of the show feels almost contradictory at first, but you very quickly realise how central it is to it. There is a lot of attention put on long aesthetical shots, the environment feels beautiful, the violence feels beautiful even if you resist it at first. This makes the show, in my opinion, so unique within its context, because it allows the viewer to experience the gore as beauty. This is of course done through the character of Hannibal who appreciates aesthetics over everything else. His craft, whether it is murder or cooking, is always immaculate, presented with uttermost care. He enjoys it, he appreciates it, and consequently, so do you.
3. The love and romance
In the same way that violence is intertwined with beauty, romance is too. The whole story revolves around a romantic relationship that generates violence but what makes it truly fascinating is how the violence fuels the romance. Love and intimacy do not exist despite the violence but because of it. Will and Hannibal love each other because they see the darkness within the other and recognise it as their own. They embrace its beauty. It triggers something in you because you recognise that longing for wanting to be seen fully with every dark corner of your mind and be loved because of it.
4. The comedy and humor
I think this aspect of the show can be potentially missed on the first watch, but it is as essential as are all the others. The show is hilarious, it is filled with puns and once you notice it, there is no going back. It is done so well because it is subtle, and it is, again, interwoven with the violence. Hannibal constantly jokes about cannibalism and you always laugh with him. The scene where Mason Verger is feeding his own face to Will's dogs is absolutely hilarious, as it is horrific, as it is romantic.
5. The symbolism and religiosity
Another thing that requires a bit more attention than just casual watching is the symbolism of the show. This is quite directly related to the aesthetics, but it also goes further. The show uses symbols to represent its main themes and it also communicates additional context through them. You have themes of devotion, betrayal or power told through tarot, mythology, Christianity. And while you can understand what is happening in the story without fully understanding all of the symbols, they give such a delicious context and depth. They make the story transcend its own boundaries and provide a commentary on the existence of God, nature of evil or individual agency.
6. The question of morality
All of the previous aspects I have mentioned lead you towards the core question of the show and that is the question of morality. You endulge in beautifully presented meals made from people, you laugh at violence, you appreciate the beauty of the murder tableaus, you long for a love like Will's and Hannibal's despite all the pain and manipulation. You want to be recognised, you want to be seen. And so the story leaves you with the same question Will tries to answer the whole time. Do you finally want to give in or will you resist just a little longer?
Honestly, I keep being amazed by the complexity of this show and how much it allows you to go beyond a surface level analysis.
