The Fall

Agent Scully is back and hot on the trail of a serial killer.  Maybe that's stretching the truth a bit, but Gillian Anderson returns to television greatness on The Fall and her career can no longer be defined by her longtime role on The X-Files.  Besides scoring the highest rating for a drama pilot in eight years on BBC, The Fall has been praised as one of the greatest BBC dramas period.  With an intimate look at the lives of both the pursued and the pursuer, viewers experience the slow burn in this enthralling game of cat and mouse.

After four weeks, the investigation into a Belfest architect's murder has produced zero leads.  Detective Superintendent Stella Gibson (Gillian Anderson, The X-Files) soon arrives from London to take over the case.  Gibson finds links to several other murders in the area and believes that there is a dangerous, highly intelligent serial killer on the loose.

Paul Spector (Jamie Dornan, Marie Antoinette), a grief counselor, is that suspected serial killer.  Balancing a busy home life with a wife and two young children, Spector still finds the time to methodically stalk and kill young professional women around Belfast.  Lying about his job to his wife and leaving his children at home in the wee hours of the morning becomes commonplace.  How long can Spector keep up the charade before being caught?

Dramas revolving around serial killers are nothing new, but The Fall provides an interesting take on the genre by diving headfirst into the lives of both the detective and the killer she is pursuing.  Although Gibson is stern and decisive as a lead detective, she seems lonely and withdrawn outside of her work.  On the other hand, Spector maintains the illusion of being a normal family man while underneath he remains a bizarre psychopath.  Director Jakob Verbruggen illustrates this brilliantly in Episode 2 where both of our lead characters experience "thrills" at the same time - Gibson engages in a spontaneous tryst with a fellow officer whilst Spector takes his time torturing his next victim.

Obviously, this show isn't for everyone.  Viewers offended by disturbing images and/or violence should stay far away.  Of all the programs currently airing of a similar genre, fans of the underappreciated Hannibal should enjoy The Fall the most.  This Series 1 set includes all five episodes spanning two discs along with a short 12-minute behind-the-scenes featurette.  It's a shame there are no commentaries present, but this has become standard fare from Acorn Media.  That being said, Anderson's captivating performance and high-quality gritty storytelling make The Fall a worthy purchase.  Highly Recommended.