I bought series 1-3 secondhand BluRay, quite cheaply, and expected to enjoy them as I have read and own Thomas Harris's novels and I own the BluRays of the films based on them which I have watched several times. I have managed to get through season 1 but it is going, with the unwatched others, to the charity shop .

Presumably the makers call this series Hannibal as an audience hook (it worked with me) because it is really about Will Graham.

What I found really wrong about it is the repetition, the constant flashbacks, the dream scenes ad nauseam, and although I am never fazed by anything I see in a thriller or horror movie, I found the repetitive focus on the atrocities performed on victims somewhat akin to torture porn and somewhat trashy.

The writing is poor because it is all padded out with repetition. Scene after scene of Hannibal preparing meals, serving meals, eating meals... Not a series for vegetarians! If you compare this series with the movies starring Anthony Hopkins and Ralph Fiennes you may note that it lacks the tension, it's all right in your face with no surprises. There is nothing sophisticated about the plot at all. It's boring. In fact, I watched much of it on fast speed because I was missing nothing.

Had to laugh at one scene where someone, it was decided, had killed themselves. Amazing. It would be physically impossible to do it the way it was done but, hey, never mind, it made for another gorily spectacular scene.