First released in 2013, this crime drama went on to have a life of its own, as TV fans are still discovering its incredible twists and turns years later. The Fall is a television series set in Northern Ireland starring none other than TV legend Gillian Anderson as a detective solving the crimes of a dangerous serial killer. Her character, Stella Gibson, is part of a psychological “cat and mouse” game as she hunts down Paul Spector, a notorious murderer.
Set against the gritty backdrop of Belfast, Gibson is called in from the Metropolitan Police to assist in their increasing number of attacks on young women. While Spector appears to be a seemingly everyday family man, he lives a double life, and Gibson is determined to put a stop to his heinous crimes.
Across three “gripping” seasons, audiences watch on as the investigations grow to be more and more complicated, rooting for Gibson to get justice. As time passes, her team works tirelessly to build the case, but at each corner they are met with complications out of their control.
A viewer took to the review site Rotten Tomatoes to share: “This was an excellent crime drama—I was glued to every episode from each of the three seasons. Just… wow. The acting and storyline were superb.”
Another viewer shared: “This series is gripping, intense and intriguing throughout. There is never a dull moment, as it is filled to the brim with suspense, mystery and action. I binged the whole series in a week. It is like a book you just cannot put down.”
Joining Anderson on screen is Jamie Dornan, who plays the violent serial killer, as well as Irish actress Aisling Franciosi, who plays Katie Benedetto. Also starring in the show are Merlin actor Colin Morgan and Hollyoaks soap star Bronagh Waugh.
Many viewers were quick to praise the cast for their believable performances in what has been described as an “intense” series. One impressed fan wrote: “Brilliant. BBC Belfast have done themselves proud. There’s a lot of hype with Jamie these days, but I didn’t think the guy could act.
“Now I know he deserved his award as best actor. A very good series with brilliant performances from both Gillian Anderson and Jamie.”
Another viewer went as far as to say that The Fall is their “favourite series of all time”, adding: “[It’s a] very well constructed show. For a procedural thriller, the writing is very unique, especially coupled with the backdrop of Belfast (and all of the city’s complexities), creating a wonderful mixture of beauty and devastation.
“It is a slow but good burn, and being only five episodes means quality is favoured over quantity. Acting is subtle and strong from both Anderson and Dornan. My favourite television series of all time.”
The Fall is now available to watch on Netflix.