The average police procedural drama struggles to stand out. There are only so many ways to pretend police officers solve more violent crimes than they do. Most are relegated to cable and enjoyed primarily by older demographics, but serial killer shows have widespread appeal.Hannibalreimagined Thomas Harris' beloved 80s suspense novels with a more polished modern detective show style.Alan Wake 2didn’t borrow fromHannibal, but they’re reading some of the same books.
Alan Wakeisn’t subtle about its influences.Stephen King’s fingerprints decorateevery element of the story. The first game opens with a quote from the endlessly prolific author. Beyond King,Wakeborrows details from several movies, TV shows, and novels. The games don’t work in references, but they wear their influences on their sleeves.
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Finale Date
May 17, 2025
Hannibalis a reimagining ofRed Dragon. The show follows Will Graham, a criminal profiler whose unique psychological gifts allow him to solve murders no one else can. Graham’s skill comes with a tremendous mental and emotional cost. His method requires placing himself in the killer’s mind, subjecting himself to the perceived darkness within his target. FBI Behavioral Scientist expert Jack Crawford approaches Graham with an unsolvable case. Though Graham hates the work, he can’t ignore the innocent lives at risk. Graham is Crawford’s only hope, but the psychological punishment renders him unstable. Crawford hires a psychiatrist to provide counsel and keep Graham focused. Unfortunately, the professional he stumbles uponhappens to be Dr. Hannibal Lecter.
Hannibalran for three seasons on NBC. Critics loved it from the beginning. The Saturn Awards showered the series with praise. Several critics and thousands ofviewers still callHannibalone of the best horror shows ever. Unfortunately, viewers didn’t reward it with the eyes NBC wanted. The first season drew 2.9 million average viewers per episode. That dropped to 2.54 million for the second season and 1.31 for the third.Hannibalis a perfect example of cult success. Its fans are endlessly devoted to it, though they were drawn in for different reasons. Bryan Fuller spoke aboutresurrecting the series for years, rousing excitement every time. It’s been radio silence for three or four years, leading most to give up on any season four hopes. As fair as it is to want more,Hannibalis excellent as it is.
Centered on an FBI investigation of ritualistic serial murders
The lead character suffers disturbing visions played out in nightmare sequences.
Set in a small town in a forested area of the American Pacific Northwest.
Set in a small town in a forested area of the American Midwest.
Every death scene is extremely graphic.
Deer have a huge symbolic role for the main character and the story in general.
The gap betweenHannibalandAlan Wake 2isin their supernatural elements.Wakecanonically features alternate realities, empowered objects, psychic powers, and other fantastical concepts.Hannibalcan’t be called grounded in the field of serial killer dramas, but it is based in reality. Thomas Harris’s work has always been outlandish. Its cannibal killers and soap opera drama separate the series fromNYPD Blue, but shows likeCriminal Mindshave risen to Harris’s level. Those added elements of supernatural intrigue makeAlan Wake 2more complex but less focused. WhileWakecan consistently introduce absurd concepts,Hannibalcenters around the relationship between Graham and the title cannibal. The supernatural criminal investigation subgenreAlan Wake 2finds itself in is known more for its ideas than its characters, though the game is an exception. BothHannibalandAlan Wake 2invigorate the brain with a mystery whileconsistently providing shocking twistsand exceptional horror scenes. There’s a fascinating comparison between Wake’s novels bending reality and Graham’s murder visualizations as examples of delusions as superpowers. They’re surprisingly connected works.
Hannibalwon’t take the audience to any alternate dimensions. No one will turn into a shadow monster or duel their alternate self for the fate of reality. Instead, it provides the same thrills by pushing hard against the walls of a grounded, realistic narrative.Fans ofHannibalwillloveAlan Wake 2’s investigation storyline, horror elements, and haunting atmosphere. Fans ofAlan Wake 2will loveHannibal’s cerebral imagery, staggering creativity, and consistent unpredictability. Those who enjoyed Remedy’s second trip to Bright Falls should come to the dinner table with Will and Hannibal.
MORE:Comparing Alan Wake 2’s Dual Protagonist Structure to Resident Evil 2’s
