Hannibal Season 2: 10 Reasons You Should Be Watching

7. The Production Design

Modern-era production design is often completely overlooked by awards shows and critics. This is probably because the modern era is not seen as much of a challenge to replicate than a period piece or fantasy. However, the sets and costumes in Hannibal are terrific in evoking the psychologies of their characters, and the eerily elegant mood of the show. One of the first things I learned when studying Abnormal psychology is how important an environment is to the success of therapy. Hannibal Lecter's office is a triumph of production design in that respect, for it subtly belies his own contempt toward the people he's supposed to be helping... with the sole exception of Will Graham. When Dr. Lecter is interviewing most of his patients, the attention is drawn toward the red walls of his office through subtle changes in lighting, but when he interviews Will Graham, his own clothing highlights the calming blue hues in the floor and furniture. Speaking of Hannibal's clothing... the costumes in this show are terrific. Dr. Lecter is dressed in very sharp and deeply colored patterned suits, which help put emphasis on his obsession with decorum as well as his otherworldly nature. Parts of Jack Crawford's costume (the long coat and the hat, particularly) recall the character's earlier incarnation as played by Scott Glenn in The Silence of the Lambs.