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The most popular type of criminal on television is the serial killer and it’s easy to see why. A writer can focus on a single criminal, but still have different crimes for each episode. Of course, some procedurals still try to get through a serial killer case in 42 minutes. But The Fall, created by Allan Cubitt and directed by Jakob Verbruggen, is much different and proves that the serial killer story has new ways of being told.
Despite only running five episodes, The Fall’s first season/series is a surprisingly in depth and intricate look at how law enforcement investigate serial killers. In this case, Belfast bereavement counselor Paul Spector (Fifty Shades of Grey’s Jamie Dornan) is killing strong, professional women in their homes. Since his second victim had important ties, with a famous ex-husband, Metropolitan Police Superintendent Stella Gibson (The X-Files’ Gillian Anderson) is brought in to review the investigation. When she links the murder to another - and then a third happens - she remains in Belfast and dedicates herself to finding the killer.
The Fall is the story of two hunters, who are both flawed characters. But Cubitt is juggling much more than just two sides of the crime. Belfast is a character itself in the story and the politics of Northern Ireland’s capital is never hidden. Gibson unknowingly entangled herself in a drug case after having a one-night stand with a detective the day before he is killed and, even though it is not directly linked to the killer, it is still an issue that factors heavily on the investigation.
The performances from the two leads is simply remarkable. While we expect great performances from Anderson, Dornan is still a relatively unknown commodity to American viewers. He may have earned a Razzie nomination for Fifty Shades of Grey, but he is excellent here, creating a complex killer who we can actually sympathize with.
Northern Ireland talent, particularly John Lynch, fill out most of the remaining supporting parts with ease, giving the show a bit of authenticity. Archie Panjabi (The Good Wife) also pops in as a medical examiner, and the one person Gibson can talk to. Niamh McGrady is also fantastic as a young police officer on the case.
The Fall is an incredibly psychological drama, that gets far into the mind of a killer than any American procedural can hope to. With only five hours, it’s easy to get entrapped, because this is one you’ll want to binge-watch.
The Fall: Series 1 will be available on Blu-ray from Acorn Video on March 1. The two-disc set includes a 12-minute behind-the-scenes featurette.