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So, I've always been a huge fan of the...Hannibal Lecter series, shall we say. The TV show started airing last year, and even though it took me a while to get into it, I now really enjoy it. Even though they've taken a lot of liberties with the plot lines, I think the characters are pretty spot on to the way Harris wrote them. What do you guys think?

Well, first you have to start with Harris' actual novels. I remember when "Silence" first came out, the mystery writers' group was delighted, and in the hunt for Gumb, a friend of mine warned me, "But there's this other character, Hannibal Lecter, who's extra scary!"

I corresponded with Harris and he was gracious to encourage my writing.

Okay, the "Hannibal" movies vs the TV show... The original "Silence" was superb, of course. And "Red Dragon" also excellent. The earlier version "Manhunter" wasn't bad either, although not as good as Red Dragon.

The later Hannibal films were hit and miss, some fine parts, some pure-dee Hollywood junk.

As to the TV show? I am thrilled by it! Brilliant acting, intelligent script (far beyond most network TV), excellent camera and direction, even the sound track is unique and fascinating.

Of course, being a mystery writer myself, I'm drawn to the script mostly. And it's "authentic" in that Hannibal is a genius level mind and therefore his dialogue is on a high literary level. So is most of the other cast, all of them being smart.

Best show on network TV, by far.

I agree with you. The characters in the TV series - particularly Lecter and Chilton - are almost exactly as I imagined them to be in Harris's early novels.

I have been a huge fan of Red Dragon and Silence of the Lambs for many years (I never really rated Hannibal or Hannibal rising in either novel or film form), but did not feel that any film adaption really did the novels justice. I liked Hopkins and Cox as characters and found them enjoyable to watch, but both seemed slightly cartoonish compared to the novel Lecter.

The TV series does a far better job of him in my opinion, making him compelling to watch. He never comes across as likable to the viewer, yet we can see why the other characters are taken in by him. Perfection.