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.
According to Nielsen Media Research, the episode was seen by an estimated 0.97 million household viewers and gained a 0.3/1 ratings share among adults aged 18–49.
Police officials led by Inspector Benetti (Giorgio Lupano) interrupt the meeting between Hannibal Lecter (Mads Mikkelsen), Will Graham (Hugh Dancy) and Jack Crawford (Laurence Fishburne).
Despite Crawford claiming to be a federal agent, the police ignore him, only taking Lecter and Graham with them, intending to deliver them to Mason Verger (Joe Anderson).
Graham wounds Cordell (Glenn Fleshler) by biting his cheek and is told that he will be fed to the pigs after they remove his face.
While Bloom explains her decisions with Graham, Margot visits a caged Lecter, who tells her that Mason will betray her.
[6] With these ratings, Hannibal ranked third on its time slot and ninth for the night in the 18-49 demographics, behind two episodes of The Millers, a Bullseye rerun, a Boom!
It seems as though next week’s episode, with its time jump and Red Dragon storyline beginning, will truly feel like a different season.
"[9] Alan Sepinwall of HitFix wrote, "In tying up Hannibal's fugitive adventures and killing off Mason and Cordell, 'Digestivo' was also easily the most coherent episode of the season so far.
"[10] Mark Rozeman of Paste gave the episode a 9.6 out of 10 and wrote, "After the utter insanity of last week, 'Digestivo' manages an appropriately kooky finish to this peculiar mini-arc.
"[11] Jeff Stone of IndieWire gave the episode an "A−" and wrote, "We finally get the emotional showdown between Will and Hannibal we've been waiting for.
I'm not particularly interested in Will and Hannibal as murder pals, and kudos to the show for always making that a distinct, sickening possibility.
"[13] Keith Staskiewicz of Entertainment Weekly wrote, "Are you tired of bland meat products processed in giant factory farms owned by faceless mega-corporations?
Well come on down to Muskrat Farms, where we believe in old-fashioned things like good service, fresh all-natural ingredients, and gestating a human fetus in a sow’s uterus.
"[16] Kayti Burt of Den of Geek gave the episode a 4.5 star rating out of 5 and wrote, "The closing of the Italian story arc was fast-paced, emotionally-resonant, and filled with cringe-worthy moments, the perfect cap to the meditative strangeness of Season 3's first half that leaves us with that familiar, lingering question: Will Will Graham ever be free of Hannibal Lecter?
The show transitions from a cross-continental thriller to a haunted house story and it still manages to close out several plot lines in one setting.
"[20] Britt Hayes of ScreenCrush wrote, "'Digestivo' is a total killer of an episode — it's intense, sickening, startling, and romantic in ways that are at once both grotesque and sentimental.