Hi, I'm Vee. I've actually already put in Will's app, I had a discussion with the mod beforehand about whether or not Hannibal (TV) is so divergent that we should be overly conscientious of spoilers. It wasn't my opinion that spoilers were a terrible problem, considering the main tenants of the story (this time period of hunting the Shrike) have been available for 30+ years in the Red Dragon book, with several movies along the way that involve the characters and what goes on, even if peripherally. Spoilers were my main concern, since it's my understanding that rules about when you can app from a canon are meant to help against them.

I agree that Hannibal's involvement with the team is greater than what is literally stated in the book, but I don't have a problem looking at the spaces between, where no details are stated by the author, and imagining Hannibal having more contact with them. Like the mod mentioned, it seems like something that could have been reasonable headcanon if I'd wanted to app Will before the show came out.

I don't feel like it derails the story's ability to progress in the same direction. Season 4 is meant to be Red Dragon itself. So Hannibal will still be outed at some point, and more details will probably be put into his trial. I also don't agree that Miriam's discovery in 1x06 discounts Will's ability to have the same one later in the series. Miriam wasn't able to share what she discovered. (They probably intend to use the repetition, honestly, since it's Jack's worst fear to lose another person the same way.)

So I feel like Hannibal (TV) is an AU for the more trivial reasons -- 63s, modern day -- but I don't really feel like it's a different story from the skeleton that was already established by Harris.

My opinion might be changed in later seasons, but right now that's how I feel.