I'll start with the positive. It's stylish, flashy, and the cinematography is stunning. The acting is competent thanks to a high profile cast. The beginning of each new crime or episode is usually exciting because of the unusual nature of the crime, the flood of visual and audible imagery that accompanies it as well as the suspense that is brought to the screen. These are the most attractive qualities of the series. Underneath this exterior however, is a constant thick layer of psychoanalytical gibberish that is passed off as intellectual jargon, implausible leaps of logic, impossible leaps to conclusions, absurd plot points that were only pulled off because of convincing acting and direction but do not make sense if you stop to acknowledge them for at least a split second, as well as educational dream sequences (the last seems the most plausible characteristic- the brain suddenly putting together the jigsaw puzzles lying in your subconscious, but in reality its nothing more than convenient plot device; Processing facts and suspecting someone's involvement through cognitive processing is one thing, but recalling an event under a drug induced state that rendered you unconscious is rather absurd).

The dialogue is often unintentionally misleading or hindering the narrative progression, convoluting the story while giving it the appearance of being highbrow in retrospect. This makes the series seem grand and highly intelligent when it really isn't. It's like finding a well dressed member of the opposite sex bright because of their looks- they're attractive, confident and extravagant but they're only appealing as long as you don't spend too much time delving below the surface. As this show suggests, appearances can be deceptive. Sorry, I took a peak behind the curtain and saw the great and powerful Hannibal for what he really is, which means I won't be staying for dinner to try the tainted meat or drink the kool aid.