Hannibal Sakizuke: The Grotesque Episode That’s Shockingly Beautiful

Hannibal (TV series) is a three-season psychological horror-thriller created by Bryan Fuller that aired on NBC from 2013 to 2015. The series stars Mads Mikkelsen as Dr. Hannibal Lecter and Hugh Dancy as Will Graham. It is known for stylized visuals, procedural crime elements, and intense depictions of serial crimes.

Overview of the series
Episode: “Sakizuke” (Season 2, Episode 2)
Visuals and thematic notes
Where to watch

Overview of the series

The series ran for three seasons on NBC, from 2013 to 2015. Bryan Fuller developed the show for television, adapting material from Thomas Harris’s novels. Mads Mikkelsen plays Dr. Hannibal Lecter and Hugh Dancy plays FBI profiler Will Graham. The show combines crime procedural plots with ongoing character-driven arcs.

Episode: “Sakizuke” (Season 2, Episode 2)

“Sakizuke” is the second episode of season two. In this episode, FBI agents discover multiple dead, preserved, unclothed bodies in a river. Investigators find the bodies are unusually stiff and preserved, which complicates the search for where they were dumped.

Hannibal Lecter uses scent clues in the investigation and identifies the smell of corn. That lead directs investigators to a grain silo, where they find a constructed mural made from stitched human bodies. The mural is arranged so that, when viewed from above, it resembles an eye looking up at the sky.

Visuals and thematic notes

The episode is often cited for its meticulously framed shots and color palettes. For example, an overhead shot of the grain silo displays the mural in a single, composed image. The series regularly juxtaposes aesthetic camera work with graphic subject matter. Therefore, many critics and viewers note the show’s strong visual design alongside its violent content.