‘Nothing Here is Vegetarian’: NBC’s ‘Hannibal’ Celebrates 10 Years of Serial Killing and Cannibalism

Dr. Hannibal “the Cannibal” Lecter and his culinary horrors from NBC’s series “Hannibal” turned 10 years old, on April 4.

First fleshed out in Thomas Harris’ 1981 novel “Red Dragon,” Dr. Hannibal Lecter is a cannibalistic serial killer as well as a brilliant psychiatrist. Most know this character from the 1991 horror film “Silence of the Lambs.” 

Will Graham, also introduced in “Red Dragon,” is an FBI special agent with an empathy disorder and an overactive imagination. Will empathizes so deeply with the killers that he is able to intimately understand their motives and the precise ways they execute their killings. 

These two characters are given starring roles in NBC’s television adaptation “Hannibal,” developed by Bryan Fuller. Will (Hugh Dancy) is initially unaware of Hannibal’s (Mads Mikkelsen) murderous secrets, but upon recognizing the killer in front of him, Will begins to live in horrifying synchronization with him. 

Dancy (“Ella Enchanted,” “Confessions of a Shopaholic”) breaks free from his more well-known roles in rom-coms to deliver the dark and troubled life of Will. The British heartthrob is drenched in blood, sweat or tears in almost every scene.

Mikkelsen (“Doctor Strange,” “Casino Royale”) breathes life into the notorious cannibal. He unnerves the audience through his depiction of a chillingly perfect “person suit” hiding the monster that claws at the seams. 

Hannibal and Will’s interactions follow mostly the same script of convoluted metaphors and obscure historical references. At times, watchers may feel like the two speak in intellectual riddles almost impossible to follow. 

Even the actors had some trouble with the pretentious language.

“I did have to look up 20 words in the dictionary the other day just on one scene,” Mikkelsen said in a 2015 interview.

Hannibal and Will begin their relationship as patient and doctor as well as co-workers. Hannibal is regularly called to consult on FBI murder cases alongside Will, but also acts as Will’s supportive psychiatrist in times of mental distress. 

However, that’s only what the “person suit” shows. Within the bloody walls of his home and office, Hannibal manipulates Will, exacerbating Will’s rapidly declining mental state. 

Taking on the mindsets of killers takes an obvious toll on Will’s health as he begins to hallucinate, sleepwalk and believe himself to be just like the killers he pursues. 

Will’s hallucinations start to blend with reality. The show becomes one long trip of madness, which may unsettle viewers with doubts of what’s real and what’s not. 

The horrifying murder displays, or tableaus, of the show are artfully produced and can even become hard to stomach in their explicit gore.

Hannibal and Will’s relationship reaches a breaking point at the end of season one, with Will slowly uncovering Hannibal’s hideous truths.

“Are you a murderer, Dr. Lecter?” Will asked. “You have no traceable motive, which is why you were so hard to see. You were just curious what I would do. Someone like me. Someone who thinks how I think. Wind him up and watch him go.”

Season two returns with a palpable sense of hostility between the two men as Will is determined to reveal Hannibal to the world. The two reunite with Will leveling a gun at Hannibal’s head.

This season also begins to explore Will’s descent into darkness as he starts to dance to Hannibal’s tune. Will’s quicker to draw his gun and more controlled in the face of killing. 

Will begins to mimic Hannibal’s mannerisms in that he manipulates situations to the detriment of Hannibal because he’s “curious” what the other man will do.

However, he does not mirror Hannibal exactly. In contrast to Hannibal’s vague criteria for his victims and tendency to prolong suffering, Will’s pathology is one of swift mercy for those who harm either him or others.

“You delight, I tolerate,” Will said to Hannibal in reference to their respective killings.

Terror increases in the final and third season. Will’s moral compass is completely skewed and his sense of loyalty to the FBI has weakened. When pressed, Will sides with Hannibal, as his life has become intrinsically intertwined with the doctor’s.

“You’re right. We are just alike” Will said to Hannibal. “You’re as alone as I am, and we’re both alone without each other.”

In the end, each man is revealed as a monster in his own right. Hannibal revels in the spotlight of his inhumanity and Will reluctantly claws his way up to join him.

Despite the grim premise, the show does offer viewers some humor in Hannibal’s dramatically ironic cannibal jokes.

“Before we begin, you must all be warned — nothing here is vegetarian,” Hannibal said to his dinner guests as they unknowingly consumed human organs.

Even 10 years after its initial release, “Hannibal” remains delightfully disturbing and an excellent psychological thriller. The series still holds a fanbase of “fannibals” today, nodding to its exceptional longevity. 

“Hannibal” is available on Hulu or to buy on Apple TV.

Featured image courtesy of NBC Studios.