Gillian Anderson promoted to series regular in Hannibal season 3(Photo : Anthony Harvey | Getty Images Entertainment)

More and more important characters connected to Hannibal Lecter (Mads Mikkelsen) from the last two seasons are resurfacing. There is Will Graham (Hugh Dancy) who first appeared in season three in the second episode. Then, Agent Jack Crawford (Laurence Fishburne) was also seen in flesh in the third episode called "Secondo." According to recent "Hannibal" season 3 episode guide, Dr. Frederick Chilton (Raul Esparza) and Dr. Alana Bloom (Caroline Dhavernas) are also set to re-appear this week.

While these people will play role in the capture of the cannibalistic psychiatrist, Will and Dr. Bedelia du Maurier (Gillian Anderson) are still the key in trapping Lecter. Currently, Will is chasing his former friend who gutted him while Bedelia is with Lecter in Italy where they pose as couple. Both characters, who might not share one screen in the next "Hannibal" season 3 episode, are in a way important to Lecter but what are they really to him? According to Gillian Anderson, Will and Bedelia are like mistress and wife to Lecter.

TVLINE | I interviewed Hugh Dancy last week at a Hannibal event in New York City, and he had said that Will will be interacting with Bedelia. We will start to see those two in the same room, and that even with the time jump after Episode 8, Bedelia continues in his life. Can you tease a little bit of what we can expect?

Anderson: No, not really, except maybe to say that now they're both... the energy between them is almost like mistress and wife. They're obviously wary of each other and fascinated by each other, but not wanting to reveal that they're fascinated by each other. And they're both not necessarily arguing over, but they're discussing somebody who's completely thrown both of their worlds upside down. And yet, they're protective of that person. It's not just two people getting together getting to gossip and thrash at their heartache because of their shared experience. [Laughs] They're both still hooked into him. So it's complex and interesting.

In the last "Hannibal" season 3 episode, Will said Lecter is someone he had an intimate relationship. Bedelia, on the other hand, has a long history with the serial killer. So who is the mistress and who is the wife?

For this week, it seems Hannibal has gained more followers. Read the "Hannibal" season 3 episode guide below:

"After surviving a disfiguring gunshot, Dr. Fredrick Chilton is now focused on rallying support to capture Hannibal, using Will as bait. Jack is distracted by Bella's (guest star Gina Torres) failing health, but he implores Will to abandon the risky idea of finding Hannibal. Meanwhile, Alana Bloom entertains a different approach, potentially partnering with Mason Verger (guest star Joe Anderson) to utilize his vast resources. Glenn Fleshler also guest stars."