“The Fall” is a psychological crime drama series from the UK. Instead of being just another season–long whodunit, “The Fall” flips convention on its head and reveals the murderer in the very first episode. With as much screen time devoted to following the serial killer as to the detective investigating his crime, the show is a study into the motives and reasoning behind the murders and the growing connection between the murderer and the detective trying to understand him.
Gillian Anderson stars as Detective Superintendent Stella Gibson, an outsider brought in to review a murder who soon discovers the traits of a serial killer. While Stella has a cool demeanor and is often standoffish towards her colleagues, she attempts to understand the motives behind the killings. She may be unlikable to her fellow detectives, but her determination to solve the case and unapologetic way about life make Stella a very likable character.
However, her lesser–known co–star Jamie Dornan steals the show with his breakout performance as serial killer Paul Spector. Dornan manages to exhibit the frequently brooding Spector’s emotions solely through his eyes and facial expressions, which is an incredible feat. Attempting to balance his life with his wife and children and his career as a bereavement counselor with his violent and sexual tendencies towards women paints Spector as a character that has rarely been explored on television before. This type of character has appeared on other shows, but has never been observed in the holistic manner that “The Fall” views Spector.
Despite being in a British show, many actors in the cast will be familiar to American viewers. Anderson is well–known for starring as Dana Scully on “The X–Files” and Dornan had a recurring role as Sheriff Graham in the first season of “Once Upon a Time.” Other recognizable faces include Archie Panjabi from “The Good Wife” as a pathologist and Michael McElhatton and Ian McElhinney, both from “Game of Thrones,” as a detective and police chairman, respectively.
Although the show is centered on a serial killer, it is very short on thrills—a slow–paced look at psychological depths and the connections between people. Spanning only five hour–long episodes, this show serves both binges and tempered watching well. But don’t worry when you reach the end of the last episode—season two has already been ordered and is expected to air next year.
