User Reviews

This is a spoiler free review due to respect those who haven't see the finale yet (but I've marked it as a spoiler warn because even some details can lead you to find out crucial revelations, plus everything you could have read about it being warned or not). Oh my god, what a stunning finale! Despite being officially canceled by NBC it looks like Bryan Fuller was self aware of the risks and paid this time a truly closing episode, even not taking it necessary on a bow.

After a promising season 1, season 2 really pulled it off by its groundbreaking twists and a deep treatment of Hannibal & Will's state of their minds. If Season 3 had a somewhat slow burning first four episodes they never fell to a bad level. They were extraordinary analyzing what happened to all those characters we fell in love in the first seasons after the bloodbath of the season 2 finale. Across this final season the pace urged to a fast rhythm without being complacent until this last stretch. These last 6 episodes were powerful. And this last episode specially is a powerhouse of a finale.

This episode presents our characters completely changed because of their experiences with Hannibal and the rest of their demons and now they have to face their destiny. A destiny that rules mostly over Hannibal and Will against the Great Red Dragon. The episode is full of twists that you will never see it coming. Also the last minutes pay respect to that remembers and places where nearly everything started on season 1. The final fight against The Great Red Dragon is stunning, not because the brutal choreography (it's not so brutal and ruthless as the two rounds of Hannibal VS Crawford) but due to the raw emotions of the moments (to watch that people being damage not just for the punches nor stabs, but because they are watching the other who "loves" being beaten)so it makes up for being the most epic scene of the whole series.

And then... The ending. Two things I will spoil without being complete spoilers at all: 1: A lot of complaint has been set about about not being able to show the Clarice Starling story under Fuller's touch. It would have been so damn fantastic, true. But this is Will's story since the beginning. That leads to number 2: The last scene before the credits roll shows a dramatic conclusion that goes beyond the words in its goal to be a perfect ending. With that moment (so beautiful, so true to the character, so fitting for him and Hannibal) everything else goes out of the window.

So, don't worry so much for this show to end right now. Because it will be missed so much thanks to leave it on its truly high. Most shows would like to end at the glorious moment this one manages to end. Congrats to Bryan Fuller and the whole team from the lead roles (Mikkelsen, the best Hannibal ever / Dancy, the best Graham / a resurrected Fishburne, the best Crawford) to the supporting ones. They have brought Hannibal to a new whole level even greater than the movies (yes, this show is even better than The Silence of the Lambs on every aspect for me) and they have delivered three perfect seasons (even better in retrospective) and one of the most memorable finales of all time. No kidding. See it with your own eyes and feel it with your own ears... And stay tuned when the credits appear: there's a special "meal" at the very end.

Quoting the base material from Thomas Harris, his very last quote to conclude his vision of the character: "We can only learn so much and live".

Perfect series, perfect journey, perfect season (yeah, even the first slower episodes) and perfect finale (forget the fact that it was because of the cancellation: this is a proper ending with all the words). 10/10.

With that series finale... and let me go into detail... for those who have seen it

Those last few minutes were just completely, completely transcending. I mean, on a visceral level, it worked amazingly, But it also worked to highlight everything the show was about, and everything it would inevitably lead towards. One of the greatest Shakespearean tragedies I've ever seen on TV. I'd like to think that the last scene with Bedelia was her eating her leg because she was sure they were coming for her, so might as well offer herself already... although one could argue it means that Hannibal survived and is back there with her, but the first is just more... ironic and fantastic.

One of the greatest runs in television history, with its three seasons, with one of the best acting duos I've ever seen in Hugh Dancy and Mads Mikkelsen. A mesmerizing, fantastic series that I will desperately miss but one that I hope continues to build in fanbase and legacy.

I've never written a review for anything before. But this show has so affected my life and created such an impact in terms of cinematography, writing, relationships, aesthetics etc. The only way to describe this show is beautiful.

As the last few lines of dialogue say.

Hannibal: You see? This is all I ever wanted, Will. For both of us.

Will:It's beautiful.

And it is. I am completely spoiled with this show and it makes me wonder if I am ever going to be able to watch something so beautiful and stunning and emotional as this show has done. The relationship between Hannibal and Will is something I have never seen before on television. It is love, but a love that transcends all that you think of love. It is impossible to describe unless you have seen the show. The ending was gorgeous and heartbreaking, yet beyond words. It provided a closing for the show, yet it was so much more than that. I hope that the creators manage to add just a little more to this story, because I don't know how I am going to survive without the horribly gorgeous show. If not, I'll miss you Hannibal. It was a great run and we probably won't see your like again. You have definitely made an impact in TV show history and you will go down as one of the greats

First of all I'll just mention the fact that I'm writing this review while listening to the season finale song "Siouxsie Sioux and Brian Reitzell - Love Crime" over and over again. I'm not letting the emotion go away, I want to keep it as long as it's possible and I'm sure every time I hear this song in my life, it will be like experiencing this feeling over and over again.

It was THE best finale of all time in the history of the TV shows. I don't want to create hype for someone who has not watched the episode yet and then be like "well I expected more" but I'm just stating the fact.

I have never in my life been so amazed, so fascinated by the bloody fight scene. I never could have imagined it could be so beautiful, so soothing, so perfect and so full of love. The tension between them, the feeling of being truly loved and understood, feeling of souls conjoining. Love is the only thing that can make everything look so beautiful, doesn't matter what it is: murder, blood, tragedy or whatever. Each character's death and suffering in Hannibal throughout the series was worth just for this glorious moments: Union and rebirth of two souls. I don't know what people call the feeling that is between Hannibal and Will, it is definitely more than love, more than friendship. It's not about sex, it's not about gender, it's not about this world at all. This is some new level of relationship, out of this world!

The whole show itself has been the work of art - I've been saying it for a long time, every scene of murder had been something more than just blood and gore, this is something that all of us, Fannibals, agree about but it seems like I had no idea about what art is and how much more beautiful it could get. I just want to say thank you to Bryan Fuller and to all of the cast for such an amazing journey, each member of the team: the actors/actresses, people who made music, scenes, make up, design, every single one of the team: THANK YOU!

I was very sad the show was ending but this ending was so perfect it took all my complains away. Hannibal will be missed, there's no doubt about it but I'm happy with everything I got from this TV show.

P.S.You know what's really sad? Hannibal has raised my bar so high, I'm not sure I can ever enjoy any other TV show this much, even close to this.

This season was probably the most pretentious of the series, it started off with a very dreamy quality, but over time it all came into focus and became brilliant and compelling. I did like the season from the beginning though and I must say its my favorite season so far.

The Red dragon part has been fantastic over these past six episodes and have really dived deep into the psychological side of will and hannibals relationship.

This entire series has seemed like its been all leading up to this final episode, everything is mostly tied up extremely well. The first half of the episode was even moving super fast and extremely interesting wrapping up most of the characters story arcs this season.

But the stuff that really makes this episode amazing was the spectacular, Bloody, brilliant and emotional final ten minutes battle and conversation between will and hannibal - It really does seem like everything was leading to this moment and it was amazing.

The scene with bedilia at the end was no doubt in my mind letting us the viewer's know that will and hannibal is still alive, only hannibal makes his food look so brilliant and there was two other chairs at the table to, she also grabs the sharp object and hides it to maybe protect herself, so no doubt they are alive.

overall this is the best episode/final of all time

Overall score = 10/10

I don't even know where to begin with. this episode had to many details and references, especially compare to s2 finale. So first, I think the 'lamb' in the title could be Francis. Remember when s2 the last dinner they had was lamb symbolize as sacrifice. Now Francis had been serve as their last meal in their old life, so he must be the lamb, right? And there are people still questioning Will's love for Hannibal even after this? Who the hell would jump off a cliff with a person they don't love? He could totally just push Hannibal down if he only want him dead. Don't need to hug him at all. 'Can't live with him, can't live without him.' It's that simple. Will already decided to die with Hannibal I think, he gave up on saving himself, and 'suicide is the enemy'. But of cause they didn't die, just don't know it's intentional or not. And to think of Will's intention, if he did commit suicide would that be out of moral or he just feared that if he accept Hannibal then he might not be as precious as he was. Even though Hannibal is the spotlight of this show, but Will is actually the most complicated character that still no one can be absolutely sure about what he is and what he will be. I really really need to know what would happen next. Please don't let it end.

I really love how the story ends but still one thing confuse me, and i think it's an open end.. What does mean the last scene where we saw Bedelia's leg cut ? Are they alive or what?

Over the course of three seasons, "Hannibal" was one of the most unique shows to ever be broadcast over the airwaves. While that uniqueness produced a wonderfully nuanced show, it also almost directly led to its unceremonious dumping from NBC.

For a basic plot summary (some spoilers), this Third Season of "Hannibal" opens with all the main players trying to pick up the pieces (almost quite literally!) after season two's stunning, bloody finale. Hannibal (Mads Mikkelson) and Dr. Du Maurier (Gillian Anderson) have absconded to Europe, while Will (Hugh Dancy), Jack (Laurence Fishburne), & Dr. Bloom (Caroline Dhavernas) are all licking their wounds and contemplating joining forces as the only way to bring Hannibal to some kind of justice. Even Mason Verger (Joe Anderson) & sister Margot (Katharine Isabelle) are willing to pitch in.

About half way through the season, there is a pretty significant time-jump forward that introduces a very familiar character from Hannibal canon lore: Francis Dolarhyde (Richard Armitage). This plotline sets up what ultimately becomes the endgame of the entire show.

First and foremost, "Hannibal" did not deserve (creatively-speaking) the rough treatment it was given by NBC...first the cancellation and then the banishment to late Saturday nights. However, this is a show that would have been better served by being on cable, where its gore and sophistication would not have to be hidden. This is still a five-star season all the way.

The season starts off a bit slow, even by its own standards, but yet still never boring. After such a shocking finale, perhaps a bit of a breath-taking was needed. Once the main plotlines take shape, however, this campaign produces some of the best episodes/moments of the whole show. Before or after the time jump, it really doesn't matter. The final two scenes are a bit odd, but for a show known for such operatic violence and heady material, I guess that is just par for the course. Still an easy 5-star all the way.

Overall, the third effort of "Hannibal" was a unique joy to watch each week. I will miss its gritty storytelling and incredible acting performances. The show ended too early for a number of reasons (NBC; couldn't get the rights to Clarice Starling, etc.), but for a series that never pulled in big ratings even from the get-go, perhaps this is all fans of the show could have hoped for.

''No greater love hath man than to lay down his life for a friend.'' said Hannibal and got a shot. Oh God such a poetic ending.

In the end Will hugged Hannibal before jumping like in the final of season 2 which Hannibal hugged him after stabbed him.

Really so successful final, thank you Mads and Hugh.

The Finale, of Hannibal begins with the Great Red Dragon, speaking to Reba inside his lair.

D sets the stage for his demise. Setting fire to the House with Reba in it and then blowing off his head with a shotgun. Or did he????

+1 Star for the opening sequences one last time.

Reba is sure that Dolarhyde, shot himself in the face and she 'put her hand in it'. Graham does the questioning.

Graham goes and visits Lecter in Lecter's memory palace cell, which is always enormous and fancy I guess in Lecter's mind. Graham reiterates to Lecter that he turned himself in, so that Graham would always know where Lecter is. Graham says 'goodbye' to Lecter. Now that Dolarhyde is dead no? Case Closed.

Wrong!!!! Dolarhyde awaits Graham when he returns to his hotel room? I think that's where we are. During the course of the conversation, Graham easily convinces Dolarhyde that it is Lecter that needs to be 'changed'

Lol, really? Graham is Let go?? To use Lecter as bait to draw out the Dragon??? Graham lies to Crawford to put this plan in motion? Okay really I find this very disappointing.

The Dragon, should have wasted Graham and gone about his business.

-1 Star for this plot disappointment. Completely silly. As bad as Graham wants Lecter to get got, this is just silly.

Skip to a meeting with Graham and Bedelia. Bedelia calls out Graham for being an idiot. About to unleash Lecter back on the populace? To even give Lecter a shot at being out of his cage?? Again, silliness. I agree with Dr. Du Maurier, Graham is making a really bad play here. Ahh well, suspension of disbelief right???

Dr. Bloom meets with Chilton in his hyperbaric chamber, where they talk about how Chilton is the absolute most toughest ba%$ard on the planet. Dr. Bloom tells Chilton that he wouldn't be comfortable in Lecter's skin.

Bloom then goes to Lecter and shares the plan. If Lecter is cooperative, he will get back his privileges.

Crawford wants to do it this way. Use Lecter to flush out Dolarhyde, then kill Dolarhyde and then kill Hannibal. A big win win is Crawfords version of the plan.

Haha. Ding Dong The Dragon Is Not Dead. Lecter does really get the best lines.

Okay, looks like they are ambushed by the Dragon with Lecter in transport!!! Oh dear this clearly is not working according to plan!! Good job Graham. You just got a bunch of cops and Federal agents killed. This is true government efficiency.

-1 Star for the direction this has turned. I mean come on now.

Well Dolarhyde let Lecter and Graham ONLY escape from his ambush. And he let them go on to hang out together where are they at? The Hobbs residence? Im not even sure where they are. The most important thing of course is that they have wine again. Wine to share together!!!

Enter Dolarhyde! In All his glory! He shoots the bottle of wine from Lecter's hand!! Through Lecter's gut! Oh no he stabbed Graham in the face!!! Oh he keeps leaving the knife where Lecter and Graham can pull it out of themselves and stab Dolarhyde with it!! Lecter finds a random hatchet lying around, now they've got multiple weapons to take down the mighty dragon!!!

Okay visually, the fight was impressive. Story wise, plot wise? Crap.

-1 Star for the ridiculous way the Dragon meets his end. And Graham, no fatal wounds.

And then top it off, Graham and Lecter hugging it out at cliffside, and Graham throws himself and Lecter off the cliff and into the Atlantic.

Booooo. Didn't like it. Corny, Cop out ending. Because we both know Lecter and Graham both survived that fall off the cliff. No way either of them suffered a fatal wound. There's water down there, they're both fine.

-1 Star for the cop out ending. I mean I can see they wanted to have a FINAL end because the show was canned, but come on.

EPILOGUE::: AS Credits roll cut to Bedelia seated a table with a beautifully prepared piece of meat! The camera fades back. Oh dear!! It looks like poor Bedelia is missing a leg!!! LOL.. told ya! Lecter is alive and well and feeding fine!!!

+2 Stars back for the Epilogue ending. I still think it was weak overall, however, and give this final episode a 4/10

Both tension and emotion require an identical pairing of traits in order to be successful; narrative and aesthetic. Of course, everything on TV has both a narrative and an aesthetic, but to push tension and emotion to their peaks, these elements both need to be working extremely well and cooperating with each other. An emotional scene could not work without fitting visual design and an intricate story preceding it, much like tension would fail should the aesthetic be poor and the plot uninteresting. Across its entire run, my ultimate favourite thing about Hannibal has been its ability to combine narrative and aesthetic so seamlessly and in such an innovative, refreshing way. Hannibal could have been a simple slasher series, episode after episode of violent murders and gallons of fake blood, but Bryan Fuller and co turned it into so much more. Sure, this is almost unquestionably one of the most gruesome shows ever aired on network television, but Hannibal uses both its narrative and its aesthetic to transcend its seemingly basic genre. Hannibal never gave in to simplicity, it never gave in to expectation nor convention. All the way through to its final episode, its perfect wonderful horrifying final episode, Hannibal has excelled in every way good television should. It's hard to imagine we will ever be treated to another show quite like it.

Everything that took place on that cliff side in the episode's close was exquisite television, and a perfect encapsulation of everything Hannibal is about. Despite its fully fleshed out supporting characters and its case-of-the-week murders and its truly wonderful visual & sound design, Hannibal has always been an epic love story between two men, and one with its ending never in sight. Due to its consistently low ratings, every season finale of this show had to simultaneously act as a show finale in case the series failed to be renewed, but The Wrath of the Lamb was the first episode to truly feel like an ending. That's not to say the previous two season finales were inadequate television, both Savoureux and Mizumono are stellar episodes in stellar seasons of a stellar show, but this finale achieved the seemingly impossible; it made Hannibal's departure from television seem OK.

When Savoureux ended, I was desperate to see how Will and Hannibal's dynamic would develop. When Mizumono ended, I needed to know who made it out of that bloodbath and why Bedelia was travelling with Hannibal. When The Wrath of the Lamb ended, I was content. Well, as content as one can be when one's favourite show ends so beautifully. Hannibal and Will finally did something the show has been building to for a long time now; they killed together. In a way, their slaying of the Red Dragon acts as their declarations of their love for each other. Will accepted in last week's episode that Hannibal was in love with him, but his counter response was left ambiguous. Following their brilliantly dramatic murder of Dolarhyde, Will embraced Hannibal on the cliff side. Was this Will saying he understands and accepts Hannibal for who he is? Is Will declaring his love for Hannibal in the only way Hannibal would have wanted him to? It's a surprisingly emotional moment in a delicate way that this show rarely takes pleasure in, and I found myself puzzled by how quickly it all had happened and how simple it seemed to be. And then Will, in Hannibal's arms, pulled them off the cliff side, together.

I feel I can say with confidence that Hannibal was the most aesthetically and narratively artistic show on television. Whilst some palm the show's style off as "pretentious" or, with negative connotations, "arty", they fail to appreciate how this show uses its aesthetic to benefit its narrative, and vice versa. Hannibal is not realistic TV, but it never tries to be. Realism is not the goal of this show and that does not matter one bit. Hannibal is about its characters, it is about its interesting story arcs and its stunning cinematography and its wacky yet brilliant sound design. No show currently on TV has been as wildly experimental as Hannibal, and yet none of Hannibal's experiments ever failed. Bryan Fuller has proved here that risk taking is important for successful TV; after all, who wants to watch a show where they can predict every eventuality? Since its offset, Hannibal has subverted expectations, and it's what has made this show so critically acclaimed yet so rarely watched. It's a real shame that Fuller won't get to complete his seven season vision for this show, but The Wrath of the Lamb is a perfect finale to a pretty damn perfect season of an even more perfect show. But now we have to bid farewell to one of the most audacious, powerful and beautifully horrifying productions television has ever seen. It's been one hell of a ride, but it's time to get down from the table.