B Movies Blog

Hello, Movie Mavens! Welcome back to the B Movies Blog. Today, we’re popping the Lecterverse into the ol’ VCR.

Alrighty, friends, here she is—the highly-anticipated piece about the Lecterverse (but mostly Hannibal). 

For those who have absolutely no idea what I’m referring to, the Lecterverse is the nickname I’ve given to the world of Hannibal Lecter. 

Cute, right?

If you still don’t know what I’m talking about, Dr. Hannibal Lecter is the titular character from Thomas Harris’s book series. 

Lecter is a disgraced psychiatrist, who, as it turns out, is/was a cannibalistic serial killer and even went so far as to serve human flesh to unknowing friends. 

As most of you know, Silence of the Lambs is one of my favorite movies of all time, and I’ve always been fascinated with Lecter as a character. 

The Lecterverse currently stands at five films (technically), with Michael Mann’s 1986 Manhunter being the first. 

The other four in the series (aka the ones I consider to be canonical) are: 

• Jonathan Demme’s The Silence of the Lambs 
• Ridley Scott’s Hannibal 
• Brett Ratner’s Red Dragon 
• Peter Webber’s Hannibal Rising 

The Lecterverse also consists of two ill-fated series: 

• Hannibal (2013-2015) 
• Clarice (2021-2021) 

And, today, we’re going to be focusing on the former. 

For YEARS, people have told me to watch Hannibal. 

It’s very queer, they’ve said. 

It’s very horror-centric, they’ve said. 

It’s a show you really need to watch, they’ve said. 

So, friends, I’ve finally done it. I’ve watched the entire series

And, as expected, your girl has some thoughts. 

I just want to smash their faces together like Barbie dolls

Let’s start with my overall thoughts. 

Hannibal is very gay, very horny (both literally and figurately), and very fucked up in the way that I like. 

I think Hannibal suffered the same fate as most horror shows with primetime spots in the late aughts/early 2010s, like Fear Itself—the normies just weren’t ready for this one. 

I don’t think Hannibal would’ve even had half the problems it did had it come out today on streamer. 

In fact, I think it would’ve been gayer, hornier, and more brutal on a streamer. 

I also think Hannibal is a testament to how much of a bummer it is that the crew of Crystal Lake didn’t trust Bryan Fuller’s vision, as I think he would’ve given Friday the 13th a breath of fresh air. 

Brb, wearing this during Pride month next year 

Overall, I did enjoy Hannibal. 

I think the first two seasons are really strong. 

I love how Michael Pitt (and later, Joe Anderson, when he took over) plays Mason Verger like a Batman villain/old-timey gangster. 

I’ve also never wanted two people to kiss more in my entire life than Will Graham (Hugh Dancy) and Hannibal (Mads Mikkelsen). 

BUT, the third season…was laborious. 

I’m not going to lie to y’all. 

Those first six episodes were ROUGH to get through. 

In fact, that’s part of the reason why it took me so long to finish the show and write this piece. 

The third season also yields some of my biggest criticisms of the show overall…as well as some of my most controversial opinions. 

I obviously support gay rights as a queer woman, but this hair is a gay wrong

Now, admittedly, I do believe Hannibal begins to jump the shark towards the end of the second season, particularly with the Will/Margot Verger (Katharine Isabelle) storyline where she uses him as a sperm donor. 

Don’t get me wrong. I LOVE Katharine Isabelle, but that storyline just doesn’t work for me. 

Additionally, I have two other hot takes: 

1. I think Dr. Bedelia Du Maurier’s (Gillian Anderson) character should’ve been cut after she visited Will and told him she believed him. 
2. I think Dr. Alana Bloom (Caroline Dhavernas) should’ve been killed off at the end of season two. 

I know, I know. 

I grew up on The X-Files, so y’all know I love Gillian Anderson, but I think her character overstays her welcome. 

And, when it comes to Alana, I think this whole descent into darkness arc comes out of nowhere, and it’s not really to our benefit. 

I do love that she and Margot are partners, and I do love that we actually get a sex scene between the two of them.

But, I also have mixed feelings because I know the only reason the network signed off is because sex between two girls is hot/fetishized. 

One thing I will give the first half of season three, though, is the scene where Jack Crawford (Laurence Fishburne) beats the everloving SHIT out of Hannibal; it’s truly one of the best scenes of the entire season. 

The only reason I’m glad Alana made it to season three is for this cunty little suit

But again, overall, I do think Hannibal is a good show. 

Would I like it to be even gayer? Yes. 

But alas, this was NBC in the 2010s, so we’re lucky we got what we did. 

I do also wish that Bryan Fuller would’ve gotten the chance to give his interpretation of Buffalo Bill, as well as Clarice Starling. 

Now, this is the part that I’ve been struggling with on this piece. 

How do I end a piece about the Lecterverse?

I tried giving Hannibal Lecter’s reviews of fast food chains…and hated it. 

I tried making fake recipes…and hated it. 

So instead, we’re just going to simplify things. 

Keeping something simple? On the B Movies Blog? There’s a first time for everything. 

Instead of trying too hard, I’m going to leave you with five of my favorite Hannibal Lecter quotes from Silence of the Lambs: 

5. “A census taker once tried to test me. I ate his liver with some fava beans and a nice chianti.”

4. “Well, Clarice – have the lambs stopped screaming?” 

3. “You know what you look like to me, with your good bag and your cheap shoes? You look like a rube. A well-scrubbed, hustling rube with a little taste.”

2. “I have no plans to call on you, Clarice. The world is more interesting with you in it.”

1. “Oh, and Senator, just one more thing: love your suit!”