Gone are the days of being able to identify the ‘good' guy by his hat color or outfit. Anti-heroes are popular, and several shows feature detailed backstories for villains to gather viewer empathy.

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Yet, there are still some shows featuring characters who have little to no redeeming qualities. An excellent example is Hannibal. The titular Hannibal, played by Mads Mikkelsen, set plans in motion that led to psychological and physical trauma for every character on the show. Occasionally, he is forced to improvise, and these off-guard moments seem to be the only times Hannibal does anything remotely good.

He Saves Abigail – Season 1, Episode 1

Abigail Hobbs in a hospital bed in Hannibal show

When Hobbs cuts Abigail’s throat, Will tries desperately to keep her from bleeding out, panicked. In contrast, Hannibal stands back, watching with curiosity, but then makes the decision to help, saving Abigail’s life and connecting himself further with Will.

Hannibal could have said that she was too far gone, and Will would have believed him. Even if it was only out of curiosity, Abigail does owe her life (at least temporarily) to Hannibal. In his scenes with Abigail, Hannibal displays his most likable aspects.

He Saves The Organ Donor Victim – Season 1, Episode 7

Hannibal Lecter leaning on a skull in Hannibal

Following a lead, Hannibal and Will find a killer, Silvestri, attempting to harvest an organ in the back of an ambulance. This was not something Hannibal could have anticipated, but he sees Will's distress and steps in and takes over the surgery so that Silvestri can be arrested.

Though Hannibal has no interest in whether or not the man lives, he does know that saving a life in a heroic manner wins him points with Will and further deflects suspicion from him.

He Helps Abigail Evade The Police - Season 1, Episode 12

Hannibal talking to Abigail in Hannibal

Hannibal becomes like a father figure to Abigail, and their bond is tightened by the secrets they share. Hannibal understands that she is not a killer yet, but he has plans to see what he can make of her.

When the FBI closes in on her, Hannibal’s secrets are at risk. It would be simple for him to kill Abigail, ensuring her silence on his part in telephoning Hobbs. But on a whim, and something close to affection, Hannibal helps Abigail fake her death and hides her, keeping her safe a second time. Abigail is arguably a TV character who deserved better, but she didn't have much of a chance once Hannibal crossed her path.

He Kills The Mural Killer – Season 2, Episode 2

Hannibal looking serious in Hannibal

When Hannibal steps up to play the part of Will at the FBI, he goes for the role wholeheartedly. Not only does he give insight into the killer’s actions, but he also tracks down the killer himself, something that the character doesn't do in the book series.

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This killer has taken many lives and has no plans to stop, and though Hannibal admires the artistry of the color palette the killer has created, he puts a stop to the killer’s activities. Of course, that means killing him, removing some body parts, and sewing him into his own eye mural, but the fact remains that Hannibal dispatched a person who would have continued to kill, rather than warning him or letting him go.

He Gets Will’s Case Thrown Out – Season 2, Episode 4

Will Graham standing in front of an elaborate painting in Hannibal

Hannibal can be quite fickle, changing his mind often or even deciding Bella’s fate on the toss of a coin. Though Hannibal wanted to frame Will for the murders, he didn’t necessarily want Will to go to prison. After all, Hannibal wanted access to Will to further torment him.

When Hannibal sees the case going against Will, he provides evidence to cast reasonable doubt on Will’s guilt, and when the judge rules some things inadmissible, Hannibal kills the judge. While his means are horrible, he does create an end where the innocent Will gets to walk free.

He Stops Will From Killing – Season 2, Episode 8

Hannibal trying to get Will to put down a gun

After Will is freed, he resumes his old pattern of seeing Hannibal even though he still wants to murder him. When Will’s rage spills out, and he threatens a man with a gun, Hannibal is delighted, but he can’t have Will going back to prison, so he puts his own hand behind the hammer, keeping it from striking as Will tries to shoot.

Hannibal focuses on psychological horror as much as body horror, and though he may still be planning on toying with Will, Hannibal does keep Will from making a big mistake, perhaps the only time he encourages positive behavior in Will.

He Deals With Mason Verger – Season 2, Episode 12

Mason Verger looking to his left in Hannibal

As awful as Hannibal is, Mason might be worse. His torture of Margot is devastating to watch, and his pig breeding is flat-out creepy. He doesn't qualify as a serial killer, but he certainly makes viewers' skin crawl.

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Hannibal sees Mason for what he is, and one of the most lively expressions that ever crosses Hannibal’s face is when Mason stabs Hannibal’s leather armchair. After Mason’s attempt at killing Hannibal, revenge is served up raw and bloody as he drugs Mason and convinces him to mutilate himself. He renders him further helpless by breaking his neck and paralyzing him, and viewers can’t help but be reminded of one of Hannibal Lecter's most chilling quotes: “Doing bad things to bad people makes us feel good.

He Is Willing To Let Alana Walk Away - Season 2, Episode 13

Alana Bloom looking serious in Hannibal

When it comes to not murdering people, the thought only counts so much, but in this case, Hannibal attempts to show mercy and affection for no clear reason. Hannibal mostly communicates in micro-expressions, giving little away in his words or manner.

In a rare show of something like affection, Hannibal tells Alana that she can go, walk away unscathed from the fallout. This is a rare moment where Hannibal offers to spare someone and shows how much he respects her, even if her bravery seals her fate.

He Keeps His Promise To Save Will– Season 3, Episode 7

Hannibal grabs Will by the back of the next in Hannibal

By season 3, Hannibal has given up all pretenses of being a "good" person. However, at the Verger Mansion, Hannibal assists both Margot and Alana, as well as Will. He makes a deal with Alana, but once he is free, he has no need to stay and help them harvest Mason’s sperm and stop the surgery on Will, but he gave Alana his word, and he always keeps his promises.

He carries Will through the snow, even though he has been injured. Though he has excellent reasons to kill Mason himself, he gives Margot and Alana have the satisfaction of taking their own revenge. Many viewers suspect that Hannibal still had dreams of becoming a murderous couple with Will despite all that had happened between them.

He Turns Himself In Voluntarily – Season 3, Episode 7

Hannibal with his hands behind his head

Hannibal could have inflicted maximum damage to those who came to arrest him. He was at Will’s house and could have taken a car and gone on the run. There were weapons available to him, as well as his considerable intelligence and ingenuity. Instead, he stayed and watched over Will.

Once Will woke, he assumed Hannibal would run and even told him that he wouldn’t look for him. Still, Hannibal makes no attempt to leave and immediately surrenders himself when Jack arrives. This may be to spite Will, but he still willingly goes into police custody.

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