The Hannibal Lecter stories have played on the big screen as movies but now those who elect what the public will love have created a television series based on this human gourmand. In some ways it works and in some ways is doesn't.

The series explores the early relationship between the renowned psychiatrist Hannibal Lecter (Mads Mikkelsen) and his patient Special Agent Will Graham (Hugh Dancy), a young FBI criminal profiler who is haunted by his ability to empathize with serial killers. Another physician has been added in Dr. Alana Bloom (Caroline Dhavernas) and the FBI lead is Agent Jack Crawford (Lawrence Fishburne). Without much introduction as to why Will Graham sees himself (in visions) murdering the victims we see in this first episode (and there are several grisly ones) we are supposed to understand that Will's special gift is that he is an 'empath' – a person so sensitive to the minds of others that he can understand their motivations and thus be a valuable assist in solving crimes. But so far Will (even as played by the gifted Hugh Dancy) is just another seemingly disturbed bipolar-like personality. Hopefully his character will be better developed as the season progresses. As for Mads Mikkelsen he makes a rather dull Hannibal Lecter as he munches on his gourmet servings of his victims: he will not erase the memory of Anthony Hopkins in the role, but the role may take on a whole new direction in this re-do. The series needs fleshing out (pardon the pun) if it is going to maintain anyone's interest for a full set of programs. It is wise to note that the author who created this concept – Thomas Harris – is writing the series with the help of Bryan Fuller. Wait and see.Grady Harp, April 13