10 TV Shows That Made You Love Killers

So the last entry just mentioned Hannibal Lecter as a character that it’s hard to feel empathy for, but surprise! They managed to make us empathize with Hannibal. The Hannibal Lecter books and films tended to lower in quality the more they made Hannibal the central character. He was at his best when he was somewhat of an enigma who we can respect and fear, but not really empathize with in significant ways.

The Hannibal television series broke that trend and had the best of both worlds - giving Hannibal an enigmatic quality befitting the otherworldly presence that’s central to his character, but also situates him at the centre of a Gothic romance with the other lead character.

We get a Hannibal Lecter who, of course, murders people. But we also see his compulsion for murder situated within his desire for beauty and connection. We get caught up in the love story between the leads and find love for both parties - a love that, in Hannibal’s case, must always be tied up with and challenged by our knowledge of his evil actions. It’s all kind of sweet… even when it’s really not.