A lot of people I know have thought many negatives things about this show. For example, through its grotesque imagery and morbid murders its is glorifying murder, or its gore for the sake of gore. Etc.
But if I'm honest, I don't think its anything like that at all.
Hannibal is based on the story by Thomas Harris about a cannibal called Hannibal Lecter (I know it rhymes!); it is based on the novel Red Dragon and centers around the development of the relationship between Hannibal and FBI special investigator Will Graham. If you want a synopsis, google it.
First thing I got to say is there is chilling and disturbing imagery, this show may very well make you uncomfortable and you may even start to empathize with a cannibal. All of this is true, I can't deny that but those are the things that make the show watchable. I want to know what happens, despite the cannibalism and dark imagery. The stunning special effects and the performances by the actors really having you believing this new twisted reality.
The most fascinating part is being able to see into Will Graham's mind. He is someone who can empathize with killers and picture their murder in gruesome detail - which is rather fantastic to watch as he struggles with emotions towards killing that he has never had before. His hallucinations are weird and wonderful, you will find them haunting to watch.
Also Hannibal isn't the bad guy. You know he should be but he isn't. Everything you have been taught about life would lead you to believe that Hannibal is truly the villain due to his cannibalism but he's not the big serial killer you expect when you start watching. He's kind, compassionate and has some morals - no wonder people feel uncomfortable as the show humanizes the killers who we have been dehumanizing for centuries. Yet Hannibal isn't a good guy; in the first episode he warns another cannibal, the FBI are hunting, that they know and are coming for him. So he's not the villain but he isn't the good guy.
The series shows that although what they are doing is wrong, they are just people and this is what some people are capable of. It doesn't glorify murder because Will Graham quite clearly goes after the killers but it doesn't make it the usual bad cop - good cop scenario; its a big grey area which is nice to see for a change as the killers seem to actually be smart.
However this is just my opinion which is an opinion molded by horror books and psychology literature on psychopathy; maybe I'm more open to this idea than others may be. But I do agree that sometimes the line between safe TV and dangerous TV is blurred because there are times that it romanticizes certain aspects of Will Graham's struggle with his ability. Yet who knows, give Hannibal a shot with an open mind. You might enjoy the discomfort.
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