Bryan Fuller, executive producer of NBC's "Hannibal," finds it "pretty remarkable" that his show actually was a broadcast network series.
Many fans agree.
For three seasons -- despite the fact that they have all been made into movies -- the show took the Thomas Harris series of "Hannibal" novels in strange new directions, first as a prequel and finally as an adaptation of "Red Dragon."
"It was a lot of fun to tell that story in a way that was very familiar to audiences and to be able to subvert that with certain plot changes, and also the dynamic we've learned the past few years with the characters and how they relate to each other," Fuller told CNN.
Saturday night's NBC series finale was no different, with a surprise-filled final 15 minutes that gave viewers a completely different ending to the "Red Dragon" saga.
Here are five moments that shocked us:
1. Ding dong, the Dragon is dead -- or is he?
When it came down to it, Francis "the Great Red Dragon" Dolarhyde could not bear to shoot his blind girlfriend, Reba (a strong performance by "True Blood's" Rutina Wesley). She (and we) were led to believe he committed suicide, while she escaped his burning home.
Then Will Graham was ambushed by the Dragon, who had cooked up an elaborate scheme of replacing his body with someone else's just long enough to fool people.
2. Charred Chilton
Hannibal got his revenge against his jailer, Frederick Chilton, through the Red Dragon, who burned him alive (for starters). Chilton is still alive but horribly disfigured.
(This was a big change from the novels and films, where this fate befell Freddy Lounds instead.)
3. Lecter is loose
Jack, Alana and Will came up with a plot for Hannibal to meet his fan, Francis. Jack's secret plan was to kill them both.
So after saying his goodbyes, Will returns to Hannibal to make a plea, and in one of the best lines of the finale, Hannibal says, "I believe that's what they called a mic drop. You dropped the mic, Will. But here you are back to pick it up again."
Of course, everything went horribly awry as the Dragon was tipped off and broke Hannibal out of the police van transport. Will tagged along in a police car.
