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 Hannibal Lecter's pursuit, with Inspector Rinaldo Pazzi closing in on him, seeking to get a $3 million bounty from Mason Verger.
According to Nielsen Media Research, the episode was seen by an estimated 1.23 million household viewers and gained a 0.4/1 ratings share among adults aged 18–49.
While on the train, Chiyoh explains her experience working as an attendant to Lady Murasaki and how she felt disturbed by Lecter (Mads Mikkelsen).
While tending to Mason (Joe Anderson), Bloom (Caroline Dhavernas) reveals that she discovered information about Lecter having his errands bought by a "blonde woman".
Pazzi leaves and calls a lawyer, wanting to report Lecter's whereabouts and a possible bounty from Mason Verger.
[4] With these ratings, Hannibal ranked third on its timeslot and twelfth for the night in the 18-49 demographics, behind Aquarius, Mistresses, Boom!, Food Fighters, Rookie Blue, The Astronaut Wives Club, Wayward Pines, a Mom rerun, Under the Dome, a The Big Bang Theory rerun, and Big Brother.
Eric Goldman of IGN gave the episode an "amazing" 9.3 out of 10 and wrote in his verdict: "The more deliberately placed, esoteric feel of Season 3 took a turn this week in a big way, as Jack found Hannibal and once more, all hell broke loose in an absolutely thrilling manner.
Club gave the episode an "A−" and wrote, "The tides are turning on Hannibal, and while Lecter escaped this time around, his capture will come sooner rather than later.
"[7] Alan Sepinwall of HitFix wrote, "Some of the issue comes from the act of taking material that's fit well into various feature films and stretching it out over many weeks of a TV season.
In the first two seasons, the show did very well at not making Hannibal's continued freedom feel dragged out, or like something that made the other characters into idiots.
And while I'm certainly thrilled to see how Fuller and Co. cap off this offbeat experiment in television structure, I'd be lying if I didn't mention that the slower parts made me antsy for the upcoming Red Dragon arc.
"[9] Jeff Stone of IndieWire gave the episode a "B+" and wrote, "Turns out, this show is much more exciting when the characters aren't forlornly looking into the middle distance and hitting the same thematic points for weeks on end!
"[12] Chuck Bowen of Slant Magazine wrote, "Last night's episode of Hannibal, 'Contorno', is both conveniently and poetically ludicrous.
Repetition has inescapably set into this season's Italian sojourn, which partially accounts for why last week's superb American flashback episode, 'Aperitivo', felt so sharp.
"[13] Kayti Burt of Den of Geek gave the episode a 4 star rating out of 5 and wrote, "All of our players begin to converge in this week's episode of Hannibal, no longer content to live in the echoes of the trauma Hannibal has caused, but ready to enact fresh violence of their own.