HANNIBAL Season Three Premiere Advance Review: “Antipasto”

HANNIBAL -- Season: 3 -- Pictured: (l-r) Caroline Dhavernas as Alana Bloom, Laurence Fishburne as Jack Crawford, Mads Mikkelsen as Hannibal Lecter, Gillian Anderson as Bedelia Du Maurier, Hugh Dancy as Will Graham, Tao Okamoto as Chiyoh -- (Photo by: Elisabeth Caren/NBC) — HANNIBAL — Season: 3 — Pictured: (l-r) Caroline Dhavernas as Alana Bloom, Laurence Fishburne as Jack Crawford, Mads Mikkelsen as Hannibal Lecter, Gillian Anderson as Bedelia Du Maurier, Hugh Dancy as Will Graham, Tao Okamoto as Chiyoh — (Photo by: Elisabeth Caren/NBC)

It’s finally here! The season three premiere of Hannibal airs tonight on NBC. This show is perfection in every single way. It’s exactly what television should be and so rarely is. Every episode is a visually stunning and uniquely entertaining masterpiece. Prepare yourselves for tonight’s journey. Once upon a time…

The season two finale of Hannibal still resonates with me today. It was a bloodbath. Who didn’t end up in a pool of their own blood? Seriously! It was a brutal season finale. The very last scene cut to Hannibal (Mads Mikkelsen) and Bedelia (Gillian Anderson) on a plane. Well ladies and gentlemen, they have arrived at their destination and tonight you can expect the grandeur to continue.

“Bonsoir.” After spending some time in France, Hannibal and Bedelia end up assuming new identities in Florence, Italy. Hannibal finds himself working at a museum.

My favorite part of tonight’s episode is when Gideon (Eddie Izzard) makes an appearance. Mads and Eddie perform their on-screen magic so perfectly. I could watch an entire season of Gideon and Hannibal just talking. Their scenes will give you chills.

HANNIBAL -- "Antipasto" Episode 301 -- Pictured: (l-r) Mads Mikkelsen as Dr. Hannibal Lecter, Gillian Anderson as Dr. Bedelia Du Maurier -- (Photo by: Brooke Palmer/NBC) — HANNIBAL — “Antipasto” Episode 301 — Pictured: (l-r) Mads Mikkelsen as Dr. Hannibal Lecter, Gillian Anderson as Dr. Bedelia Du Maurier — (Photo by: Brooke Palmer/NBC)

Hannibal and Bedelia’s waltz will take your breath away. It’s the start of something new but eerily familiar. Their conversations make the past more vivid but still shrouded in mystery. The visual element that takes hold when water is introduced in this series is spectacular.

HANNIBAL -- "Antipasto" Episode 301 -- Pictured: (l-r) Gillian Anderson as Dr. Bedelia Du Maurier, Mads Mikkelsen as Dr. Hannibal Lecter, Tom Wisdom as Anthony Dimmond -- (Photo by: Brooke Palmer/NBC) — HANNIBAL — “Antipasto” Episode 301 — Pictured: (l-r) Gillian Anderson as Dr. Bedelia Du Maurier, Mads Mikkelsen as Dr. Hannibal Lecter, Tom Wisdom as Anthony Dimmond — (Photo by: Brooke Palmer/NBC)

Hannibal is always open to having people over for dinner. Anthony Dimmond (Tom Wisdom) enjoys a pleasant evening with the lovely couple and seems to be confused as to what type of party he is in attendance. Am I the only one that flinches when the food is presented? You just want to stop his dinner guests and scream, “No! It’s people, it’s always people!”

There is one thing in this episode that really hit a nerve with me and if you are anything like me, you’ll know it when you see it. It only takes one drop to pull at my heartstrings.

Things really start to heat up prior to the conclusion of the episode. Curiosity comes into play and the veil becomes more transparent. Gideon asks the purest of all questions.

Season three starts off strong and only escalates. I got a chance to screen the first three episodes and I can tell you that you will not be disappointed. The third episode is my favorite. It would be rude of you to miss the premiere, so tell all of your friends. Hannibal will be expecting you tonight.