The books are in this order: Red Dragon, The Silence of the Lambs, Hannibal. (Leaving out Hannibal Rising as Thomas Harris was kind of forced to write it)
In Red Dragon, Hannibal Lecter is 41 and already locked up in the Baltimore State Hospital for the Criminally Insane. Will Graham, the man responsible for his capture, comes to him for help in catching (you guessed it) The Red Dragon.
In The Silence of the Lambs, Hannibal is still incarcerated, and helps Clarice Starling catch Buffalo Bill, a serial killer. (See a pattern?) Unless you recently sustained a head injury, you know from their first meeting that Hannibal & Clarice got a little thing for each other. He escapes, and writes her a love note, telling her "some of our stars are the same."
So is it a big surprise that at the end of Hannibal they (16 year year old spoiler alert) end up together? Nah, not really.
Am I making fun? No way, these three books are some of my favorites of all time. A creative marvel as they feature one of my all-time favorite characters. A serial killer who only kills the rude and is so charming that he wins over a by the numbers FBI agent.
So when the show started, I was stoked. My sister and I always enjoyed the movies, even going to see Red Dragon in the theater. ( a chore for an introvert like me) Hannibal was a Christmas movie tradition for us for a couple of years running. (Cordell!!)
But...but...after three seasons the show, in my sad opinion, is finally, mercifully drawing to an end. Will Graham was never friends with Hannibal, nor was Hannibal in love with Will. Hannibal was kept in a grimey, lonely cell. He rarely spoke to anyone. He never held dinner parties inviting Jack Crawford, or slept with Alana Bloom. Who's really a man. Alan. He didn't run off with Dr. Bedelia because she didn't exist, nor hold Abigail Hobbes hostage because she didn't exist either. Will Graham was never suspected of murder or incarcerated. Dr. Chilton was not killed by Dollarhyde, Freddy Lounds was. Oh and he was a he. Confused? Yeah. Me too.
Confused as to why the show went this way at all. Three awesome books would've made for four seasons of a thoughtful, accurately adaptated TV show. Isn't it easier to do things right?
It's almost like watching the Harry Potter movies out of order.
I'll miss Mads Mikkelsen. But no fourth season is ok with me. Bryan Fuller won't get a chance to mess up Clarice Starling, who would somehow become a male Pacific Islander, and Jame Gumb, who would magically transform into a big fat lady making a skinny guy suit.
