So, the series has come to what appears to be a definitive end. It's been an engagingly interesting and frustratingly bumpy ride that definitely took the scenic route.

Season one showed great promise but was overburdened by too many distractions. The plentiful serial killers trying desperately to outdo themselves in needlessly convoluted killings only subtracted from what was the real thrill of the show; Hannibal and Will. It was as if the writers didn't trust the audience to find the dialogue and central characters interesting enough and felt the need to entertain us with shiny objects to keep us from changing the channel.

Season two was an improvement in that sense. More focused the background wasn't quite as muddled and the main story was rightfully given more of the spotlight. Some strong supporting characters made for some great tension and despite some major logical flaws the build up and subsequent finale was as satisfying as one could hope for.

In season three we're finally rid of all distractions. Essentially a remake of "Hannibal" and "Red Dragon" in reverse chronological order the first half of the season is mostly set in Florence. Though many scenes and the main plot is lifted straight from the book/movie it still has enough original material that makes it fit quite seamlessly with the shows unique tone. One can hardly accuse the show of appealing to the lowest common denominator. The startup is a challenging, slow paced and surreal introduction to the final season. Though visually stunning as always I found myself growing tired of the forced and sometimes over- pretentious dialogue that seems every bit surreal as the visuals. I kept wishing for some natural, realistic dialogue to break off the somewhat pompous, stuffy tone that permeated each episode and almost every character. Though I guess that is also part of the charm.

The "Red Dragon" part is in that sense a breath of fresh air. Though still staying true to the aesthetic fingerprint of the show it is generally more fast paced and has a more obvious sense of direction and development. In most ways it's simply a re-make of "Red Dragon" and a lot of the scenes are pretty much copy-pasted from the 2002 film. It's however a very good remake, the visuals are astounding and the acting is top tier. Special praise goes to Raúl Esparza as Dr. Frederick Chilton and Richard Armitage as Francis Dolarhyde, the red dragon. They share an especially unforgettable scene i episode 12. A carbon copy of a scene from the movie but nonetheless spectacular. The finale is one of the more satisfying I've seen on TV. Though the buildup feels a bit rushed the end is simply poetic and beautiful.

The show is not without flaws and annoyances. Season one was needlessly contrived, the dialogue isn't quite as smart as it thinks it is and the whole third season, though well executed and not without original minor plots and embellishments, is still basically a remake. It's a shame that the series was already in its death throes when it finally found a tone and voice that was a perfect balance between pretentious art and engaging suspense. Hannibal had all the potential to become a modern classic but fell a few short yards from the finish line.