2013 was another stellar year in television. Girls continued being one of the best shows around - cementing its status as the best show of 2012. Wentworth proved that there was still life in the niche Australian Women in Prison genre. The Americans gave Kerri Russell a new vehicle to throw herself into. But the best show boiled down to a reboot.
2013 started with the reboot of two classic horror characters - Norman Bates with Bates Motel and Hannibal Lecter with Hannibal. Hannibal is a more endearing character than Norman Bates, so he is a character who is more open to being changed to a modern format. Norman Bates update with Bates Motel drags the Psycho character kicking and screaming into the present day. Norman has a mobile phone and bangs his way through the single child life. It's a scar on the Psycho mythology.
Show runner Bryan Fuller brings respect to the Hannibal mythology. There are nods to the films that have gone before, but mostly Hannibal is about reforging the Hannibal Lecter story. The wonderous thing about this show is that it sets itself prior to Hannibal being caught. Will Graham from Manhunter/Red Dragon is here in full force as Hannibal's adversary and somewhat close friend.
The fact that this is a network show allows this level of beauty and gore to be shown is amazing. A lot of the gore is suggested violence, but even then, near the end of season one where a man is turned into a cello and there is a tower of bodies, the show is allowed to push the envelope regarding violence on television.
But Hannibal the show wouldn't be half of what it is without Maads Mikkelsen in the lead. He oozes charisma and is simply the finest iteration of Hannibal Lecter. He brings a gravitas to the role that Anthony Hopkins didn't. Where Hopkins was hammy and scene chewing, Mikkelsen is nuanced and subtle. It's a performance which is allowed to build over the season - and with season two topping the brilliance of season one already, Mikkelsen has stamped the character as his own.
There may not be any Clarice Starling, but the female roles in Hannibal make up for that. Alana Bloom and Freddie Lounds are strong characters, and Caroline Dharvernas and Lara Jean Chorostecki are given fantastic arcs to play. The third wheel between Will Graham and Hannibal Lecter is victim Abigail Hobbs played by Kacey Rohl. She's a victim who also has a great arc.
It's these arcs that cements the show as being one of the finest shows around. Sure, Breaking Bad and (I'm sure) Game of Thrones are great cable television shows, but to see a show like Hannibal buck the trend and be a high quality network television show is something great. The fact it has perfect performances from all involved (I haven't even mentioned Laurence Fishburne and Eddie Izzard's great roles) who help elevate the mythology above more than just being a 'Hannibal Lecter reboot' is amazing.
Just check out these opening titles and get excited:
