Common Sense Note
Parents need to know that Hannibal is an intense hour-long crime drama that focuses on a serial killer and the FBI agents attempting to capture him. Viewers see many, many disturbing images, including dead bodies, women and men being shot, stabbed, strangled, and impaled, pools of blood, victims being impaled by deer antlers, and so on. Hannibal Lecter (Mads Mikkelson) is a killer and a cannibal, we see presumably human body parts being cut up and cooked, then eaten and enjoyed. Viewers may also see naked bodies, characters being stalked, and many murders through the eyes of killers. There is a dark, tense atmosphere throughout, and many graphic discussions of violence and murders. This intense show is not intended for children; parents should think carefully before letting even mature teens watch.
Sexual
Content
Naked bodies are visible, bloody and impaled; there is discussion of body fluids as they relate to crimes.
Violence
Very graphic, disturbing images. A body is dissected on a table, we hear that the lungs were removed, then cut to Dr. Lecter slicing a spongy set of lungs on his counter. We see people, particularly young women, shot, stabbed, strangled, impaled; there are many shots of dead people in pools of blood.
Language
Not much cursing but there is graphic language about violence and injuries. There is also some potentially offensive classist language used. Victims are referred to as being very "Mall of America."
Social
Behavior
There is a dark, tense atmosphere throughout, with the sense that the world is a dangerous place full of creepy, evil people. But the main thrust of the show is fighting crime, even while one of the main characters commits crimes himself. The camera tends to linger on graphic and gory images, particularly when nubile young women are in danger.
Consumerism
Not applicable
Drugs / Tobacco /
Alcohol
Dr. Lecter frequently drinks what looks to be wine or alcohol with his meals.