Hannibal Perfectly Reversed Horror's Worst Identity Issue
The series Hannibal fixes its genre's worst problem when it comes to identity by making queer sexuality and attraction the focus of its emotional core. The tumultuous relationship between Hannibal Lecter and Will Graham continues to establish new precedents for queer characters in horror. By avoiding adverse stereotypes and conventions which often occur when LGBTQ+ characters and themes are represented in the genre, Hannibal ultimately proves the continual and necessary progress of a genre historically celebrated by the community.
The showrunner of Hannibal, Bryan Fuller, has stated that he initially didn't intend to spark a romance between the characters of Will Graham and Hannibal but that it became the natural course of action due to the actors' chemistry and the dialogue between them. The relationship between Will and Hannibal begins platonically, but Fuller explains that the show's eventual lean into a queer love story came from what he claims, «started out as kind of a fascination with how straight guys interact with each other in a romantic way that is not sexual.» Since its cancellation, Hannibal has been the subject of both scrutiny and celebration for its subsequent handling of LGBTQ+ subject matter but the final product is undeniably innovative.
Related: Hannibal: The Secret Meaning Of Every Murder Tableau Explained
Hannibal's fame has a lot to do with the tangible chemistry between Mads Mikkelsen and Hugh Dancy onscreen, but more importantly, the show's legacy is lent to how the relationship between their characters subverts horror's worst issue with identity. Characters who identify as queer or who are coded to be queer, especially in horror, often face demonization that explains their identity as a
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