The Fall

Gillian Anderson is an excellent choice as lead detective in this series about her pursuit of a serial killer. The show also follows the life of the serial killer giving the audience an inside look that is rare and quite similar to Hannibal, but less dramatic in a good way. Ironically Gillian Anderson also has a prominent role in Hannibal as his personal Psychiatrist. I wish there were more shows like this on television, but I fear that the average person is more drawn to less sophisticated programming. At times it seems a bit slow, but the characters are so interesting it really doesn't bother me at all. I have yet to notice any glaring wholes in the writing and quite honestly the filming and cinematography is excellent! I pray this show is on for many more seasons to come, often though it is this type of show with all its perfection that gets cut short... let's keep our fingers crossed... they did at least get a 2nd Season.

This series had me gripped from start to finish, and I couldn't be happier that a second series has been green-lit. As a senior police officer leads the hunt for a serial killer in Belfast, we see the similarities in these two amoral protagonists. The story unfolds with an economy of scene structure which never omits important details; every scene drives the narrative, but it never feels unreal or stretches credulity. Beautifully paced, tension abounds with spine-tingling murder scenes. The characters are very well written, and played with pitch-perfect performances from the leads, Gillian Anderson and Jamie Dornan. Another reviewer on this strand didn't like the ending, but for me it was spot on. The story took the time to include complexities and unresolved events which are reflective of real life. Are we to castigate every TV show production team who leave a show on a cliffhanger ending to give them somewhere to go with the next series? If the next one carries the universally excellent production values of the first, then I for one can't wait.

One more episode to go, odd time to write a review but I just cant wait to express how good this show is.

I love detective stories, and have grown to accept a certain number of stereotypes if the plotting is good, it seems to go with the territory.

Not here though. The writing is fantastic, the tough old duffer cops show emotion, the strong female lead is a strong woman with dimensions slowly emerging as the series evolves. Without unrealistically ignoring the sorts of prejudice extant in our society the writing avoids her being a typical 'ballbuster' and allows her to develop meaningful relationships and respect among her colleagues.

The anti hero is fantastically normal and so much more menacing for this, especially outside of the killing 'events'.

The plotting is pacey and involving, the series has become more gripping with each episode. Fingers crossed for the denouement. I have very high hopes.

This show, as many British shows, takes its time developing. It's not in a rush like American TV.

This happens to be one reason why I like British television. Anyway, this show scared the bejesus out of me showing everything in such stark, real detail.

It's very very scary to see someone who has such an ordinary life (wife, kids, job) being such an evil person on the inside.

Anyway, if you like British television and you like VERY DARK shows, this show will probably rock your socks off. Me? I don't know if I can handle how dark it is in spite of its excellence.

I was looking for something to pull me in and unplug me from reality and this series definitely does that. Both of the main actors were brilliant, and while from Gillian Anderson I expected, Jamie Dornan came as a surprise. I don't know how he bounced back from playing this because you could tell he went deep into the mental state of the character, especially in the last season. The first 2 seasons are pretty similar in pace and style, in darkness and detail. The 3rd one changes all of this and although I did not perceive it as being slower as many have mentioned I did find it darker, more harrowing. Most of it is spent looking at the depth and origins of the killers actions, and in a way these feel more real than the murders themselves. Whilst his actions feel far removed from daily life the experiences that shaped him as they are revealed show how the human in him got broken and then when the finale comes it hits so much harder. It's been a roller-coaster, a captivating experience and I loved it, even if it left me shaken for a couple of hours afterwards.