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 Will Graham still building evidence against Lecter, requiring a figure of his past to help him bring him down.
Meanwhile, Mason Verger starts to impose his dominance on Lecter, Graham and Margot, and they decide to take action.
According to Nielsen Media Research, the episode was seen by an estimated 2.32 million household viewers and gained a 0.9/3 ratings share among adults aged 18–49.
During therapy, Graham (Hugh Dancy) questions Lecter (Mads Mikkelsen) about his treatment and view of Mason Verger (Michael Pitt).
Mason imposes his menacing nature by hovering a knife at Lecter's throat and then harshly criticizing his artwork, proudly saying that he likes to "play chicken" with Margot (Katharine Isabelle).
Crawford then shows Graham a possible link that could help them: at the interrogation room, is Bedelia Du Maurier (Gillian Anderson).
At Mason's farm, Lecter is put on a straitjacket and hanging over the pigs, just like Graham's fantasy.
When he wakes up, he finds trails of blood, Lecter and Mason gone, and Carlo's corpse after being devoured by the pigs.
Mason is taken to Graham's house, where he forces him to consume several psychedelic drugs, causing him to laugh hysterically and lose grip of reality.
Pitt chose not to return for the third season, and his role was recast, with Joe Anderson playing Verger starting with "Aperitivo".
[5] With these ratings, Hannibal ranked second on its timeslot and sixth for the night in the 18-49 demographics, behind Kitchen Nightmares, Grimm, Dateline NBC, Barbara Waters: Her Story, and Shark Tank.
There really is no show quite like Hannibal, with its specific mixture of stylized dialogue, beautifully atmospheric cinematography and oh-so gory and macabre set pieces.
"[10] Gerri Mahn of Den of Geek gave the episode a 4.5 star rating out of 5 and wrote, "Last week Graham suggested to Mason Verger that he feed Hannibal to his pigs.