If you didn’t watch Hannibal last year, that is fine. I enjoyed it, but I didn’t recommend it because I was waiting for Hannibal to be cancelled. It is gruesome, and I’m shocked that NBC has kept it. Also, I had some reservations about certain plot twists during the first season–it felt like the FBI was stuck on stupid to not notice some of Hannibal’s maneuvers. The beginning of the second season used a narrative framing device that I have lately found gimmicky-the “how we got here” technique where the story opens at the end and the rest of the episode shows how the characters got to that point except Hannibal is spending the whole season instead of just 45 minutes to show how we got there. Indeed Hannibal faces an enormous challenge. The entire audience knows what happens because there are numerous books and movies that detail everything. Some of these movies were executed well: Manhunter and Silence of the Lambs. Some were mediocre and out to earn a buck: Hannibal and Red Dragon. Others were awful: Hannibal Rising. All of them were memorable. At this point, Anthony Hopkins can not do anything for the rest of his life and still be called Hannibal Lecter. Michael Mann’s reputation as one of the most remarkable living directors rests on his visual and narrative re-interpretation of Red Dragon in Manhunter. Hannibal has big shoes to fill, and every week, it not only fills them, but it rips them right open with its oneiric beauty and unflinching devotion to the story. I would even suggest that new viewers could skip Season 1 and just jump right into Season 2. Hannibal has a demented perfect beauty both in visual and narrative techniques. Hannibal’s cast may be the most accomplished and talented cast on tv to date, and an international one to boot. Mads Mikkelsen is an acting titan in Denmark and has brought something joyful, classic, elegant and brutal to the titular character, Hannibal. Hugh Dancy is a British phenom who does not let slip his origins as Will Graham, the mentally tortured, incessantly exploited profiler-the mongoose who is after the snake or the hound on the hunt. Lawrence Fishburne is an American treasure as Jack Crawford, the experienced yet rash FBI supervisor. Hettienne Park and Caroline Dhavernas’ career has been limited to television, but they are rising to the level of their costars. Park in particular has taken what was an annoying, talking head character and developed her into what could be a crucial role in the second season. In addition, it has been a treat to have Gillian Anderson and Cynthia Nixon brought back to the small screen. Even the guest victim actors such as Ryan Field and the dog playing Winston are acting rings around more well known actors in movies AND television with no lines. It is so good that I’ve already rewatched Season 2 Episode 1 three times! If you can’t stomach violence or gruesome scenes, skip it, but everyone else should check this phenomenal show out.