Hannibal
Byran Fuller’s bloody, beautiful fever dream came to a tragic end in its third season, but at least the show went out with something close to perfection. Hannibal effectively bifurcated its farewell season – which should really be called a victory lap – by setting its first half in Florence and its second half in Baltimore, where it tackled Thomas Harris’s novel Red Dragon.
The Florence half was composed like a painting, as colors swirled and eddied, creating an impressionist kaleidoscope of violence, philosophy, and longing. The latter half of the season rested on guest star Richard Armitage’s broad, tattooed shoulders, and he filled the role of Francis Dolarhyde with terrifying aplomb. The Red Dragon saga was the scariest thing on TV all year – American Horror Story, take notes – and maybe the scariest thing about it was how easy Fuller made it all look. Hugh Dancy, Mads Mikkelsen, and the seemingly ageless Gillian Anderson were at the top of their games, playing roles that have been waiting for them their entire lives. Hannibal was a stunning, nearly miraculous achievement, and to paraphrase the Red Dragon, we owe Bryan Fuller awe.
Best episodes: “Digestivo,” “The Number of the Beast is 666”