Flattered_Flatulated

No great offense meant to U.S TV, but most of its shows with hosts trying to make some fun of the recent affairs, politicians and all that jazz are usually crappy and saved by the "bring a funny and/or weird celebrity" bell. Of course, "The Colbert Report" and a few bits of the "Daily Show" are exceptions, but overall one must admit that even these don't really dwell too long in deep waters (meaning grave issues of major concern) like "Last Week Tonight" does.

A couple of examples of serious satire from the first episodes are the death penalty, the hypocritical stance of politicians towards people like the Sultan of Brunei or even the fun'n'serious interview of the ex-chief of the NSA. The fact alone that such significant and highly debatable subjects are discussed is a huge win for the show. The end result airing on HBO, comes as no surprise to me. Their only commitment I have seen so far show-wise, is quality and creativity, two traits this show seems to possess.

I am taken in by the first three episodes and honestly believe that this show has the potential to stimulate the brain and instigate belly-aching laughs at the same time. Hopefully, the creators will not take steps back, when possible pressure to "lighten" their material may arise - if and when a lot of people start watching the show.

{Quick note to those who may feel offended by the approach John Oliver has on the ignorance of some people from the States, when it comes to the rest of the world: If you know your way around a world map and have an idea of what is happening elsewhere in this vast place called Earth, lay back and enjoy the sarcasm. If you can't do that, take the bitter pill.}

Making a suspense/horror/thriller series of 40 minute-long episodes that keeps your interest at all times is no easy task. Having seen "Silence of the lambs" with majestic Hopkins in the role of Hannibal, I couldn't really see the direction that this series would take. At first, I was wondering if it would even be worth it. Well, to my surprise, not only was it worth it but it resulted in me watching all episodes, one after the other, in what was merely a handful of sleepless nights.

I am having trouble finding a starting point since there is very little (or even nothing) that I didn't find of my liking in this most excellent melting pot of quality acting, thrilling cinematography and a plot to match. Maybe I should just begin by saying that Dancy (portaying a most gifted but also haunted special agent of the feds) and Mikkelsen (portaying Hannibal) deliver upon us some gripping performances. Initially, I felt Dancy's performance slightly over-the-top, but as the show progressed, he turned those thoughts away, up until the moment when I realized he was an equal on-screen adversary of Mikkelsen.

Mikkelsen is Hannibal or is Hannibal Mikkelsen? How can he "step out" of this role when going back home? He is probably one of the most cleverly scripted psychopaths, and Mikkelsen seems inmerged completely in his role. Top notch to say the least. The rest are of good proportional high standards, Fishburne being the third actor to stand out.

In order to keep this review as short as possible, let me just mention a few parts that really took this viewing to the highest level for my standards : The dream sequences of Will Graham( Dancy ) are building up as the show progresses and become even spine-tingling. The relentless no nonsense action that keeps the episodes 40 minutes long but oh so dense. The oozing intelligence of Hannibal and the way it leads Graham into questioning his sanity. The excellent "full-frontal" blood and gore which I enjoy and in this case can view through a prism of exquisite taste and craftsmanship.

I mean, I could go on for quite some time but I ll just say this : "Make sure your psychologist is not a serial killer that likes to play with the human mind for fun" and of course a clear 10/10 - could have been a 9.6+ but what the heck, this kept me glued to the screen, so props to all those fine people who are about to deliver us season II in one month.

So, this may sound a bit over the top, still I am enjoying this one thoroughly, therefore I won't be mean on the comments and I can't hide my enthusiasm after finding this little gem from ten years back.

First of all, the idea behind this is pretty much brilliant though some may consider it quite classic. A village full of quirky characters and their everyday life can be somewhat of a usual situation, but the combination of comedy and splatter, which I guess has influenced a series of films that have come out of Britain lately, is extremely well executed. Even if it is a situational comedy, there seems to be a script somewhere in the back lurking, maintaining the interest levels high and giving this show two different layers : one of the physical/situational comedy relief and another one of a more script-based approach, creating a perspective and a depth that can't be met in most comic efforts of the first genre.

On top of that, the dark, isolated environment of the town, the surreal activities taking place and the ever present feeling of the horrific fate the outsiders face upon entering this little town, in conjunction with some fantastic, light-hearted jokes, next to some that go from perverse to obscure, is sure to put a smile on every viewer's face. A sinister smile, a smile followed by some dark, perverse thoughts, yet I take my jokes with a bit of cynicism and a twist of dismembering on the side.

I am pretty sure that after 2 or 3 episodes watched, you are good to go for the whole ride. Enjoy and spread the word to the non-locals!