Going into the first season, I think most people were wondering how NBC could possibly pull off a Hannibal Lecter show that was a prequel to the main movies like Silence of the Lambs and Red Dragon, especially as they had failed show after failed show and were being beaten by re-runs of Pawn Stars and Duck Dynasty.   Hannibal emerged as one of the best shows on television, however and felt like, somehow, NBC was getting away with showing an HBO or Showtime show on network TV with the insane amount of violence on display, although maybe because it’s shot so gorgeously is how they get away with it.  Mads Mikkelsen brought a completely different take to the infamous serial killer;  a colder, calculating, deceptively charming doctor who secretly butchers and eats people.  Hugh Dancy brought a fresh spin as well, playing the “hero” of the show but always teetering on the brink of a complete psychotic breakdown.  The second season starts on February 28th and it should be incredibly interesting because *spoiler warning* Will is locked up in Baltimore State Hospital for the Criminally Insane (the future home of Hannibal) as Hannibal hid the fact that Will was suffering from encephalitis and made FBI boss Jack Crawford (Laurence Fishburne) and Will’s other colleagues believe that Will is the Chespeake Ripper.  If you have not watched the show, stop what you are doing and try to get a hold of the first season, because it is truly one of the best shows on TV right now, and check out the trailer for season 2 below.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XVhl6WgMTGw&list=WL735010C982EF4BF3