When thinking of the most compelling — and violent — television shows out there, then it goes without saying that Hannibal will definitely be a major part of this conversation. The excellent twist on Hannibal Lecter's character combined with the formula of a rather interesting take on cop dramas makes for a series that is extremely interesting for all the right reasons.
A big part of what makes Hannibal such an excellent show is the fact that each and every member of the main cast is incredibly compelling, with performances that drive home their individual narratives in a believable manner while simultaneously contributing to the overarching plot in a seamless manner as well. That being said, some characters simply have a better arc than others, and this list will rank all the main characters' arcs in order to illustrate this.
Jimmy Price
Out of all the investigators and detectives that have a major role in Hannibal, one can argue that Jimmy Price arguably has one of the most forgettable roles in comparison.
While his dynamic with his twin brother certainly adds a bit of depth to this character, there's absolutely nothing else that's even remotely remarkable about him otherwise.
Brian Zeller
While Brian suffers from most of the same problems as Jimmy's character, the fact that he's jealous of the main character and the attention he gets from his superiors certainly help his character be way more compelling than most.
One of the most notable things he did was feel information about Will to Freddie Lounds, which causes no end of problems for the police force. The fact that his jealously led him down such a petty route is a testament to the fact that a person would sink to any depths if it means attaining even a sliver of satisfaction.
Beverly Katz
A multi-talented individual who unfortunately met an extremely gnarly end at the hands of Hannibal Lecter, Beverly Katz was an extremely compelling character whose curious personality ultimately led to her own downfall.
Her skills with a gun and the violin were pretty impressive, with both of these abilities having a major use for her in the field. Unfortunately, her hunt for Hannibal eventually leads her down a path that ends with her untimely demise in what is easily one of the most visually striking murders in the show's history.
Jack Crawford
The idea of seeing Laurence Fishburne in any role is enticing enough as is, but it's a testament to the brilliant writing of Hannibal that his character — Jack Crawford — ends up being incredibly compelling in his own right.
His attempts to groom Will into the role of a detective is interesting enough as is, with his hand-to-hand combat skills also playing a huge role throughout the series as well. However, Crawford's character isn't just limited to his work as well — the mature way in which he deals with his wife's cancer diagnosis is extremely humanizing and gives viewers a peek into the complexities of this brilliant character.
Alana Bloom
The sheer number of ways in which Alana develops throughout the series is pretty indicative of just how deep and complex her character really is. A therapist who also profiles criminals for the FBI, Alana's friendship with Will and her romantic relations throughout the series — including one with Hannibal himself — not only help her character evolve but also allows the plot to drive forward in a completely natural manner.
The manner in which she evolves from a comparatively soft-spoken individual in Season 1 to a hardened individual with a one-track mind for revenge in Season 3 is quite telling indeed and shows just how much she's grown as a result of the horrible circumstances surrounding her throughout the show.
Bedelia Du Maurier
Bedelia is truly one of the most intriguing characters in the series, initially posing as nothing more than Hannibal's therapist before revealing her true nature further down the line at the end of Season 2.
The manner in which she manages to manipulate Will and the others so that they fall right into Hannibal's hands is brilliant to watch... but perhaps nothing about this character is as intriguing as her obsession with Hannibal. The fact that she wilfully decided to offer up her own left leg as meat for dinner is easily one of the most disturbing — yet captivating — moments in the entire show.
Hannibal Lecter
Of course, it would be impossible to talk about the character arcs of Hannibal and not mention the eponymous character himself. Mads Mikkelsen's version of Hannibal is easily one of the best interpretations of this character, with his cooking montages always making viewers experience mixed feelings due to just how beautiful and twisted his meals really are.
But of course, Hannibal's cannibalistic side is just one small flower in the beautiful bouquet that is his character. The relationships he forms over the course of the series' runtime and the absolutely mesmerizing dynamic he shares with Will is easily one of the strongest and most entertaining aspects of the entire show. And speaking of Will...
Will Graham
At a glance, Will Graham might not have seemed like the most compelling main character for a show. However, each episode delves further into his psyche and reveals how fragile and twisted his mind really is — something that is to be expected of someone whose work involves what is essentially projecting himself as a serial killer to track the steps of murderers and decode crimes. Doing so time and time again is bound to wear down on someone, and Will is no exception to this.
What makes this character truly engrossing is that the statements mentioned above are just one part of his plentiful character. His dynamics with Hannibal, Alana, Crawford, Abigail, and a host of other characters in the show are what truly drives his motivations and presents a potentially psychopathic character in a refreshingly humanizing light.