Hannibal [NBC/Sky Living] [** Spoilers **]

Watched episode 2 last night and it was something of a let down. Visually it was still gorgeous and there were a few interesting ideas in play, the mushroom garden was one of the most disgustingly brilliant images in a long time. The killer was caught far too quickly and the final confrontation was about as interesting and thrilling as watching a paper bag caught in a sewer grate. The final ten minutes were far too rushed and the episode in general played out as a procedural going through the motions.

The character of Freddie Lounds is terrible and ara Jean Chorostecki gives a very poor performance though I imagine that much of that is due to how poorly written the character is. Compare the portrayal to that of Stephan Lang in Mann's Manhunter and they could not be worlds apart. Lang played Lounds as a sleazy, vile rat who was inherently unlikeable yet you sympathized with him. Here the character is just unlikeable and not at all interesting.

Graham also hasn't improved. He comes across like a teenager trying to be angry and deep, kind of like a poor mans Frank Black. Millennium is quite an apt comparison as both shows deal with good men who face the worst of the world and try not to let it pollute their lives. Black was one of TV's most interesting and challenging characters, he felt like a fully rounded and flawed character whereas Graham feels like something whipped together in a boardroom. It's clear that those involved felt that they had to find a niche for him so that he could fit in around every other flawed investigator on TV atm. It's a real shame that they got rid of his wife and child but I suppose they want to introduce a generic love story involving a coworker at some stage and if he was already married then we may lose sympathy for him.

I'm still very much enjoying the show. Hannibal is a fantastic character and Mikkelson's performance is superb. Based on the two episodes I've seen to date, I'd go so far as to call him the most chilling and humane incarnation so far. Gone are the pantomime theatrics of Hopkins, replaced by a cold, calculating and evil character whose ever moment on screen is a joy to behold.

Richard Dower wrote: »

Brian Fuller has five seasons planned out.....how many times have i heard this before :rolleyes:

http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/ustv/interviews/a477252/hugh-dancy-hannibal-qa-bryan-fuller-has-planned-out-five-seasons.html

^ um....NO he dosen't you muppet!....he has major bullet points thought up, he has NO IDEA what each and every script is. Now if he had written 100 full scripts before the show launched the fair dues.

Network honchos always ask...what happens in season 5 etc., they really got no feckin clue!, they just want a job and will say anything for a pickup.

Just because he doesn't have scripts for five seasons does not mean that he hasn't them planned out. Most writers who create a show of their own know the story they want to tell and will have a good idea of how long it will take. Eric Kripke started Supernatural and had the entire narrative mapped out. Few writers would have the time or ability to sit down and write five seasons worth of material before a show was commissioned but what they will have is how they see it playing out.

Richard Dower wrote: »

^ let me direct you to three writers who write everything, Michael Hirst = vikings/Camelot. Jim Sherridan = The Borgias......and as cheesy and bad as it is: Brenda Hampton on The Secret Life Of The American Teenager writes every script!

So they can do it, but they don't because many of them are of the JJ ilk....get your name attached and a paycheck, they have 6 feckin shows on the hop at once :rolleyes:



Oh and TVBTN has this earmarked this as on the bubble....even the Cancellation Bear is giving it a facepalm



http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2013/04/30/nbc-hannibal-tumbles-to-a-toss-up-to-be-canceled-or-renewed/179994/

Last time I checked it was Neil Jordan was writing the Borgias alongside 3 or 4 other writers. There is a difference between writing all the episodes of a show, (J. Michael Straczynski did it with Babylon 5) and having all the seasons scripts written before it goes into production which was what your post was mocking him for. There is no writer out there, bar J. Michael Straczynski who got a multi season show planned out and had most/all the scripts written before that pilot was shot. It's simply too time consuming.

dubscottie wrote: »

Crapp.. Then again if its on Sky means no other station will touch it..

No what it means is that Sky outbid everyone else or else they have a first option on that networks shows.

dubscottie wrote: »

Was looking good till they used mobile phones..

Mr Lector did not have them in 1980's..

Considering that the show is set now the use of mobiles is more than acceptable.

dubscottie wrote: »

But wait.. He is come back and has lost weight.

No idea what the hell you are on about there.

dubscottie wrote: »

Big let down. As per Sky. Made to look better than it is..

Made to look to better than it is? You mean that it has slick production values but there's not much going on? That's more than acceptable considering it's not marketed as a high brow show

Nuttzz wrote: »

any theories why lector tipped off hobbs?

Being insane explains away that though I think it was because he wanted to create a situation where will would be forced to use extreme force.