Kaiseki (Hannibal)

In June 2013, Bryan Fuller announced that the first episode of the season would be titled "Kaiseki".[1] NBC would confirm the title in February 2014, with Fuller and executive producer Steve Lightfoot writing the episode and Tim Hunter directing. This was Fuller's 11th writing credit, Lightfoot's fourth writing credit, and Hunter's second directing credit.[2]

According to Fuller, the episode serves as a two-parter with the following episode, "Sakizuke", deeming it a "pseudo pilot". He also teased, "Will knows something no one else knows, and it's a great place to put a character. One of the things I was most excited about in Season 2 was seeing Will Graham hit rock bottom."[3]

In September 2013, Cynthia Nixon joined the series in the recurring role of Kade Prurnell, "an employee of the Office of the Inspector General in FBI Oversight who is investigating the events of the first season and Jack Crawford's culpability."[4] According to Fuller, Prurnell was based on the character Paul Krendler, who debuted in the novel The Silence of the Lambs. As the series did not have access to characters originating from the novel, Fuller changed the name, with "Kade Prurnell" serving as an anagram for "Paul Krendler".[5]

The episode also introduced Jonathan Tucker as Matthew Brown, an orderly at the Baltimore State Hospital for the Criminally Insane.[6] The original plan was having the character Barney Matthews, who appeared in The Silence of the Lambs. However, the series did not receive permission to use it, so the producers created a new character based on Barney, making him "younger and perhaps a little more opportunistic."[7] Fuller said that if they had access to Barney Matthews, he would have wanted Chi McBride, whom he worked with on Pushing Daisies, to play him.[8]

On the opening fight, Fuller commented, "I felt like we had so many moves during the season that were as exciting (if not more exciting), and it felt like the logical conclusion to the Jack Crawford/Hannibal Lecter relationship would be a knock-down, drag-out fight of some sort."[9] He also said, "we knew that there was going to be a conversation that you didn't hear, and also circumstances that you wouldn't have assumed going into it with Jack Crawford actually showing up, having gone rogue and taking matters into his own hands, and essentially coming to dinner as a vigilante."[10]

The episode was watched by 3.27 million viewers, earning a 1.1/4 in the 18-49 rating demographics on the Nielson ratings scale. This means that 1.1 percent of all households with televisions watched the episode, while 4 percent of all households watching television at that time watched it.[11] This was a massive 65% increase from the previous episode, which was watched by 1.98 million viewers with a 0.8/2 in the 18-49 demographics.[12] But it was a 25% decrease from the previous season premiere, which was watched by 4.36 million viewers with a 1.6/5 in the 18-49 demographics.[13] With these ratings, Hannibal ranked third on its timeslot and ninth for the night in the 18-49 demographics, behind Dateline NBC, Last Man Standing, Undercover Boss, Grimm, Hawaii Five-0, Blue Bloods, 20/20, and Shark Tank.

With DVR factored, the episode was watched with a 1.9 on the 18-49 demo.[14]

"Kaiseki" received critical acclaim. Eric Goldman of IGN gave the episode an "amazing" 9 out of 10 and wrote in his verdict, "Hannibal returned just as great as ever, with a busy premiere that showed us Will Graham's new scenario and how it's affecting those around him. And wow, that opening scene sure raises the excitement level about what's to come..."[15]

Molly Eichel of The A.V. Club gave the episode a "B+" and wrote, "Well, shit. If the opening scene of 'Kaiseki,' the first episode of Hannibal's second season doesn't get you excited for what's to come, then this probably isn't the show for you. That opening fight scene (smartly put online early by NBC to whet appetites) was fantastic, setting a clear path for how the rest of the season will go."[16]

Alan Sepinwall of HitFix wrote, "I wonder if, by the time we get to the Jack/Hannibal brawl, Lecter will have given himself in some way because he's started to take his new role too seriously. Add in more fine sparring between Mikkelsen and Gillian Anderson, and the introduction of Cynthia Nixon as the federal examiner who just wants the Will Graham mess to go away, and you've got a marvelous opening course of season 2."[17] Mark Rozeman of Paste gave the episode a 9.6 out of 10 and wrote, "'Kaiseki' shows no sign of any potential second season slump and, indeed, sets the bar high for future episodes. Assuming that Hannibal manages to keep going, I firmly believe that this show will serve as the proverbial wrecking ball in demolishing the final barrier in the cable/network divide. Hyperbole be damned — it's that much of a game-changer. In an age where television offers up a wealth of riches, Hannibal currently stands firmly among the best the medium has to offer."[18]

Gerri Mahn of Den of Geek gave the episode a perfect 5 star rating out of 5 and wrote, "The Hannibal season 2 premiere is a flawless example of just how good network television can be."[19] Kevin Fitzpatrick of ScreenCrush wrote, "All in all, 'Kaiseki' doesn't exactly bring anything new to the table that we haven't come to expect from Fuller's disturbingly beautiful drama, but that isn't to find any fault in it. We've got plenty to chew on as Will recovers his memories, and Hannibal continues to put Bedelia on edge with his FBI transparency. We still question if the opening showdown might have been better served as a surprise later on, but for now, Hannibal remains as fascinating and visceral as ever, a delectable feast among an otherwise pedestrian spread of serial killer filler."[20]

TVLine named Laurence Fishburne the "Performer of the Week" for the week of March 1, 2014, for his performance in the episode. The site wrote, "As Hannibal and Jack battled for their lives in Lecter's tricked-out kitchen, Fishburne turned in a physical performance that was elegant in its brutality. He hurled his body (and co-star Mads Mikkelsen) around the set, throwing his all into a fight scene as beautiful as anything else the show has shot. Here's hoping that Fishburne's Jack makes it out of that closet alive."[21]