The series is based on characters and elements appearing in Thomas Harris' novels Red Dragon and Hannibal, with focus on the relationship between FBI special investigator Will Graham (Hugh Dancy) and Dr. Hannibal Lecter (Mads Mikkelsen), a forensic psychiatrist destined to become Graham's most cunning enemy.
The episode revolves around Francis Dolarhyde feeling his relationship with Reba is threatened by "The Great Red Dragon", who wants him to kill her.
According to Nielsen Media Research, the episode was seen by an estimated 1.03 million household viewers and gained a 0.3/1 ratings share among adults aged 18–49.
Graham (Hugh Dancy) discusses with Crawford (Laurence Fishburne) and Bloom (Caroline Dhavernas) about encountering Dolarhyde (Richard Armitage) at the Brooklyn Museum.
The next day, Molly (Nina Arianda) discovers that their dogs have been poisoned but asks Walter (Gabriel Browning Rodriguez) not to tell Graham.
Graham realizes that Lecter motivated Dolarhyde into "becoming" the Red Dragon, viewing his crimes not as "murdering" but as "changing" the victims.
It's a bit like making a game, telling no one the rules, and patting yourself on the back every time you win like it's a genuine achievement.
"[6] Alan Sepinwall of HitFix wrote, "This was another winner overall, with Richard Armitage continuing to bring both Dolarhyde and the Dragon to life with his intense physicality.
But Armitage and the way Fuller, Lightfoot and company have chosen to represent Dolarhyde's madness make him every bit as compelling as our two main characters.
"[7] Mark Rozeman of Paste gave the episode a 9.5 out of 10 and wrote, "In any case, Hannibal continues its streak of greatness with '...And the Beast from the Sea.
'"[8] Jeff Stone of IndieWire gave the episode an "A−" and wrote, "Since there's no equivalent scene in 'Red Dragon', there's a strong sense that anything could happen.
"[9] Brian Moylan of The Guardian wrote, "Taking the novels of Thomas Harris and stripping them for emotionally wrenching, deeply disturbing parts and tossing out the rest, showrunner Bryan Fuller has managed to evade most of the big traps of simply translating prose into film.
The past few episodes have seen the stretching of that approach, however, as the show finally, squarely, and perhaps too directly, hits the territory of Harris's novels – specifically Red Dragon.
"[11] Chuck Bowen of Slant Magazine wrote, "'...And the Beast from the Sea' is structured as a perverse quasi romantic farce, in which two working-class guys are pitted against one another by a rarefied man who literally lives in a gilded cage.
"[12] Greg Cwik of Vulture gave the episode a 4 star rating out of 5 and wrote, "There are so many winks, nods, and jabs in 'And the Beast From the Sea', you might feel bruised by the end.
"[13] Kayti Burt of Den of Geek gave the episode a 4 star rating out of 5 and wrote, "Hannibal no doubt still has plans for Dolarhyde.
"[14] Robin Harry of TV Fanatic gave the episode a 4.5 star rating out of 5 and wrote, "Oh, the emotions that '...And the Beast From the Sea' made me feel.
"[17] Britt Hayes of ScreenCrush wrote, "A horrible line may have been crossed into Will's personal life, but even he admits — openly — that he cannot go home.