Back in January we found out that Netflix and Marvel were developing a potential Daredevil spinoff series titled The Punisher, focusing of course on Frank Castle, who made his debut in the recently released Daredevil season two and was played by The Walking Dead star Jon Bernthal.

Today it’s been confirmed that this isn’t something that might happen anymore. It actually is happening. Netflix has officially ordered a full first season of the Punisher series, with Bernthal set to reprise his role as Castle. Hannibal writer and executive producer Steve Lightfoot will handle showrunner duties on The Punisher, while also writing the first two episodes and executive producing.

Hannibal
Season 3 Episode 13 “The Wrath of the Lamb”
Directed by Michael Rymer
Written by Nick Antosca, Bryan Fuller, & Steve Lightfoot
Created by Bryan Fuller
Starring Hugh Dancy, Mads Mikkelsen, Caroline Dhavernas, Gillian Anderson, Laurence Fishburne, Scott Thompson, Aaron Abrams, Nina Arianda, Rutina Wesley, Richard Armitage
NBC
Air date: Saturday, August 29th, 2015, 10pm

The beginning of “The Wrath of The Lamb,” what is most likely Hannibal’s series finale*, begins with a fire. Francis Dolarhyde (Richard Armitage) convincingly purges himself from the world and lets the oddly restorative power of flames to begin his hunt again. But in the ashes of that fire, there’s still a spark. You can hear it clicking throughout the episode’s score, like the burner on a stove waiting to be ignited.

The real fire hasn’t been snuffed out. Rather, it was just twitching and clicking, waiting to be sparked.

Hannibal
Season 3 Episode 11 “…And the Beast from the Sea”
Directed by Michael Rymer
Written by Steve Lightfoot
Created by Bryan Fuller
Starring Hugh Dancy, Mads Mikkelsen, Caroline Dhavernas, Gillian Anderson, Laurence Fishburne, Scott Thompson, Aaron Abrams, Nina Arianda, Rutina Wesley, Richard Armitage
NBC
Air date: Saturday, August 15th, 2015, 10pm

The latest episode of Hannibal, titled “…And the Beast from the Sea,” wastes no time in jumping into a signature moment from the Red Dragon novel (I don’t view spoilers from the novels as sacred text, especially considering how fast and loose Fuller and company have played with source material; so I’d ruined this particular twist for myself quite some time ago) and then lets the chips fall where they may as Hannibal (Mads Mikkelsen), Dolarhyde (Richard Armitage), and Will (Hugh Dancy) all deal with the consequences.

Hannibal
Season 3 Episode 9 “And the Woman Clothed with the Sun…”
Directed by John Dahl
Written by Jeff Vlaming, Helen Shang, Bryan Fuller, Steve Lightfoot
Created by Bryan Fuller
Starring Hugh Dancy, Mads Mikkelsen, Caroline Dhavernas, Gillian Anderson, Laurence Fishburne, Scott Thompson, Aaron Abrams, Nina Arianda, Rutina Wesley, Richard Armitage
NBC
Air date: Saturday, July 30th, 2015, 10pm

Often, most of us look into a mirror without thinking twice. We check our hair or our outfit, and then move along with our day. But for some, mirrors often carry a darker and more menacing tone – reflecting back our insecurities. We see the best of us, followed by the worst of us. For Dr. Lecter (Mads Mikkelsen) and Will Graham’s (Hugh Dancy) first meeting in several years, they find themselves balancing the reflection of those two exact aspects: the best and worst of them. They can’t hide from their reflections. All that’s left in the mirror is honesty.

Hannibal
Season 3 Episode 8 “The Great Red Dragon”
Directed by Neil Marshall
Written by Steve Lightfoot, Nick Antosca
Created by Bryan Fuller
Starring Hugh Dancy, Mads Mikkelsen, Caroline Dhavernas, Gillian Anderson, Laurence Fishburne, Scott Thompson, Aaron Abrams, Nina Arianda and Richard Armitage
NBC
Air date: Saturday, July 25th, 2015, 10pm

Hannibal has been so steeped in building out its epic mythology that it’s sometimes hard for me to remember that the show began as a twisted take on the typical crime procedural, enhanced by Bryan Fuller and company’s impressive dialogue and the show’s inventive visuals. However, with the hunt for Hannibal Lecter (Mads Mikkelsen) now complete, the show can return to its roots – which proves surprisingly effective as we begin to dig into the mystery of the Tooth Fairy.

Brought to life through an already mesmerizing performance by Richard Armitage, Francis Dolarhyde makes his grand entrance into the stage created by Fuller and company. Armitage’s physicality is such that he can express volumes without having to say a single line and this week’s script gives him plenty of material for him to dig his teeth into, but already the former Hobbit actor has proved himself a worthy addition to the Hannibal universe and a threat that’s a worthy successor to Hannibal’s abdicated throne.