Hannibal (TV Series) The Number of the Beast Is 666 (2015) User Reviews

Bone Chillingly Sadistic

[scunning91827 · 10/10 · 21 August 2015]

The journey into the mind of characters like Hannibal, feeds our morbid desire to understand the inner workings of a psychopath's mind. While Hannibal is of course the primary antagonist, Richard Armitage (the Great Red Dragon) has taken center stage as the season nears its climax with the finale next week. The title, "The Number of the Beast is 666," is not only accurate, but it actually lives up to the dark expectations it implies.

The highlight of the episode is, without question, Armitage's phenomenal performance in the scene with Dr. Chilton. The Great Red Dragon shows himself to be the personification of madness laced with evil. The atmosphere of that scene can only be classified as bone chillingly sadistic.

As for the rest of the episode, we open with Will at therapy with Dr. Bedelia (aka Hannibal's therapist/future meal). Their conversation continues to shed light on the evolving darkness set into motion through Hannibal's manipulation of Will. Hannibal, as always was entertaining even if for only a short scene. Dr. Bloom's transformation after season 2's finale continues bring added depth. We also get an appearance from everyone's least favorite journalist, Freddie Lounds, who is helps progress the plot to the beginning of the end game.

Only one episode left in season 3, and if it's on par with tonight's episode, we are in for an epic adventure into the Great Red Dragon's world.

Beautifully dark and numbingly intense

[ryanjmorris · 10/10 · 3 September 2015]

This show has come a long way from its comparatively simpler roots back in season one. Who remembers when Hannibal was a run-of-the- mill, case-of-the-week horror-drama with little to no huge risks or shocking moments? Don't get me wrong, Hannibal's premiere season was great, but it wasn't quite this great. This installment might not have lived entirely up to the seamless heights of the last couple of episodes, but The Number of the Beast is 666 demonstrates so wonderfully what Hannibal does so well. It can ricochet wildly between dialogue scenes and more frightening moments without either feeling smaller or weaker or less important than the other. Sometimes it even manages to combine them; I can't think of many other shows with dialogue as terrifying as Hannibal's. And that, among many many other reasons, is why I am going to miss this show as if it were my own when it leaves screens forever next week.

It's interesting that last week's best set piece was Will Graham's household, and this week it is Dolarhyde's. Everything that took place in Dolarhyde's home between Chilton and himself was so exquisitely framed and gorgeously written, yet so genuinely horrifying at the same time. Hannibal plays around with dialogue a lot, but this week they even began putting twists on regular phrases to make them seem more frightening. When holding someone hostage in one's house and a guest arrives, it's customary in film and TV to tell the hostage that should they make a sound, you will kill them. But no. In Hannibal, Francis Dolarhyde will kill his guest. The use of "her" rather than "you" was a startling moment, made even more ferocious by the coldness in which Richard Armitage delivered it. I had doubts about him joining the cast for this arc, but he has just gone from strength to strength. It's become difficult to imagine anyone else playing this interpretation of The Great Red Dragon this brilliantly, really.

This sequence was both preceded and followed by psychiatry sessions between Will and Bedelia, who both are so much fun to watch despite their gloomy conversational topics. However, 666 did finally demonstrates genuine recognition to a theme that has been running under Hannibal for quite some time now; Hannibal Lecter is in love with Will Graham. Maybe not quite in the traditional sense (then again, does this show ever do tradition?), but it is a bond between them. Does Will feel the same way, Bedelia asks, as cryptically as ever. I believe he does, but again, not in the traditional way. Will is in love with his wife, and he adores his son, but there is a connection between him and Lecter that transcends that of normal human interaction. They are two sides of a coin begging to be connected, but they can't. If both sides of a coin face each other, it means the coin has broken. Hannibal and Will may be in love with each other, but nothing could or would ever come of that, and I don't believe either of them would want that anyway. Like I said, they're aren't following tradition.

It was also nice to see Freddie Lounds back again, her near florescent ginger hair practically lights each scene for itself. Crawford and Bloom using her, Chilton and Will to create that article to lure the Dragon into their trap was smartly set up, but they ultimately failed. Or did they? As was soon made clear, Will intentionally misdirected Dolarhyde by placing his hand on Chilton's shoulder, changing the entire message of the article. Dolarhyde then uses his fake teeth to rip Chilton's lips off, burns him alive in a wheelchair, then sends his lips to Lecter. Love it or not, you can't label Hannibal conventional. This was another stellar episode, making Hannibal's current count three in a row. And next week is finale time. Both of Hannibal's previous season finales have almost unquestionably wound up the best episode of their respective seasons, so if season three follows that same trend for its big farewell, next week will be a frightening, funny, intense, dark, violent, mad descent to hell.

And I, for one, can't wait.

Just outstanding episode

[mohammedmalkawi · 10/10 · 1 August 2019]

Just outstanding episode hannibal is manipulating Dr Bloom and Jack although he is prisoner trying to make them feel guilty for what happened to Dr Chilton and I believe that they are

How great is the Great Red Dragon?

[AlexxAmadeo · 1 June 2022]

Not very great. To be honest, he is the most pathetic character in the entire series, and he has ruined episodes 8-12 for me. I don't know what it is about him that I find so unappealing, probably the constant need to tell anyone who will listen how great he is. Or maybe he's just boring. I do like Richard Armitage in other things, but this particular character... I wish I could forget all about him so that I could enjoy rewatching Hannibal without feeling a bad taste in my mouth every time this slimy creature appears on the screen.

The Title is About a PAINTING...

[setgetsiin · 10/10 · 14 April 2022]

...would it kill the reviewers to keep up...?

Onward: Busting out in laughter was something that happened on occasion during my time with not only the movies but with this series. This one went above and beyond. With most of my laughter coming from Dr. Lector, the words Will used to fuel the Red Dragon's fire (via Freddie Homely's trashy column) had me in tears. "He is ugly and impotent." Just the very thing that buzzard would put in her column with or without help.

They might as well have mentioned stupid, as any seasoned criminal would know that the photo op was a trap, blatant with the window shot. (My brother was a career criminal. Runs in the family. Hardly edgy, but it's something he'd have caught.)

This episode was just fantastic from start to finish.

I Am The Great Red Dragon

[ZegMaarJus · 9/10 · 3 March 2023]

This Episode begins with Will, he is in a therapy session at Bedelia's office. Jack has a conversation with Hannibal about The Great Red Dragon. Chilton is going to help the FBI to capture The Great Red Dragon. Chilton got ubducted by Francis, The Great Red Dragon. Reba visits Francis, she brought soup for him. Francis shows Chilton al the cruel things he did. Francis bite a piece of Chilton his tongue out of his mouth. Chilton has been mutilated by Francis. Francis ubducted Reba. Francis says to Reba that he is the Red Dragon. Amazing Episode of Hannibal Season 3, such a great remake of the Manhunter/Red Dragon movies. These Episodes are better then the movies!

Dragon Nightmare [8.6/10]

[panagiotis1993 · 9/10 · 22 August 2023]

My Reaction / Review for Hannibal Season 3 Episode 12: Episode 11 was great and I gave it a rating of 8.4/10. Is Bedelia Will's psychiatrist? Why would he trust her? Makes no sense, she is nuts. Their plan to trap Francis is actually very smart and interesting. Francis will go nuts after reading this article. Wow I didn't expect that Francis would kidnap Chilton so fast. Damn, he disfigured Chilton badly. So the Dragon after disfiguring Chilton he burned him alive? That's brutal. Will Chilton survive? His whole body is very badly burned. Chilton is not a saint but he didn't deserve this. I hope he wont hurt Reba. Really strong episode overall, my rating is 8.6/10.

I Am The Dragon.

[wandernn1-81-683274 · 7/10 · 8 August 2020]

Open here with Graham again meeting with Du Maurier. Why? I don't get the interest still in her, but Graham certainly seems to relish every little detail he can get out of her regarding Lecter.

A great session between Lecter And Crawford follows, where Crawford informs Lecter that Lecter is actually The Devil. Hahahaha.

Then D is having himself another beating and self mutilation session in honor of his 'becoming'

+1 Star for these great opening sequences...

Bloom, Crawford, and Graham discuss how they might set a trap for D, using Graham as bait.

Chilton confronts Lecter about Lecter's attempts to refute Chilton's work. Chilton who defended Lecter and got him institutionalized instead of imprisoned. Chilton's scene with Lecter is pretty funny. Lecter presses Chilton's buttons perfectly.

Graham, Crawford, Chilton, meet with Freddie Lounds. Here is the part where they are going to ridicule the Tooth Fairy, in an article written by Freddie Lounds. They are going to try to call out D, to fall into a trap. Lets see how that works out!!!! Again this is all out of the books.

But who gets snared??? Oh no it's Chilton!! Well that's not out of the books!!!!! Oh well Chilton gets nabbed and at the very least loses part of his face.

Crawford, Bloom, and Graham get to see the taping of Chilton's confession and the Great Red Dragon's punishment to Chilton.

Graham goes to see Du Maurier again???? Du Maurier calls out Will correctly for his participation in the Dragon's game, and in Lecter's game. They used the flaming wheelchair again??? And it's Chilton this time. And he lived ?? Man Chilton is the toughest guy ever. He's been shot, tortured, burned and had his face bitten off. And he's still alive to talk!

+1 Star For Chilton being the toughest S.O.B in the show, well besides Lecter anyway.

At the end of this episode, D reveals to Reba that he is indeed the Red Dragon she's heard about on the news.

Okay this one ends with a 7/10. It really could have been a lot better. I mean come on now reusing the flaming wheelchair? That seemed lazy to me.