Dark Descent
- Episode aired May 28, 2013
- TV-MA
- 1h
IMDb RATING
7.8/10
2.8K
YOUR RATING
DSI Stella Gibson is called in to review a murder case left unsolved for 28 days.DSI Stella Gibson is called in to review a murder case left unsolved for 28 days.DSI Stella Gibson is called in to review a murder case left unsolved for 28 days.
Séainín Brennan
- Liz Tyler
- (as a different name)
Lisa Dwyer Hogg
- Marion Kay
- (as Lisa Hogg)
- Director
- Writer
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
7.82.8K
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Featured reviews
An excellent start.
The Fall is another of those series that I didn't get into at the time, but given the lack of new drama, and reviews I felt I should revisit.
I was wrong, this is an impressive debut, while it doesn't have the mystery element, it is the beginning of a cracking game of cat and mouse.
Gillian Anderson is excellent as Stella, I'd argue it's her finest acting role. It's also obvious from this why Jamie Dornan had such a good career, he is one impressive chap.
Paul Spector is an absolute monster, he's clearly a psychopath, but one who's able to function well in the real world that makes him a very unique threat.
Belfast is not safe from Spector. 8/10.
I was wrong, this is an impressive debut, while it doesn't have the mystery element, it is the beginning of a cracking game of cat and mouse.
Gillian Anderson is excellent as Stella, I'd argue it's her finest acting role. It's also obvious from this why Jamie Dornan had such a good career, he is one impressive chap.
Paul Spector is an absolute monster, he's clearly a psychopath, but one who's able to function well in the real world that makes him a very unique threat.
Belfast is not safe from Spector. 8/10.
So far: Drama that lacks psychological depth
First of all, the cinematography. The camera always seems to me to be a little too close to the action, which could perhaps be due to the fact that this is a TV production. The tracking shot in the Spectors' house is an exception, in which certain cinematic ambitions are recognizable.
Now to the character of Paul Spector. The juxtaposition of a family man with a job and a murderous shadow identity seems interesting at first. I liked the details in which Spector plays with being caught (sketch of the client; diary under the pillow). Nevertheless, I don't quite buy Jamie Dornan's role. A man who has such sexual fantasies as he does while living a normal lifestyle should, in my opinion, feel a deep conflict within himself. Dornan's portrayal has not yet convinced me in this respect. He seems like a normal man playing the serial killer without the psychological trauma that comes with it. Of course, you could say that he's just a psychopath who doesn't feel any human emotions and, while watching his daughter dance, just shows them off and doesn't really feel them. But if that were the case, I would still have liked to see a certain split in the portrayal, so that it becomes clear exactly when the actual personality - that of the murderer - is revealed.
Nevertheless, I see a certain potential in the series and will watch at least the first season to the end. I'm curious to see whether the character of Paul Spector will develop.
Now to the character of Paul Spector. The juxtaposition of a family man with a job and a murderous shadow identity seems interesting at first. I liked the details in which Spector plays with being caught (sketch of the client; diary under the pillow). Nevertheless, I don't quite buy Jamie Dornan's role. A man who has such sexual fantasies as he does while living a normal lifestyle should, in my opinion, feel a deep conflict within himself. Dornan's portrayal has not yet convinced me in this respect. He seems like a normal man playing the serial killer without the psychological trauma that comes with it. Of course, you could say that he's just a psychopath who doesn't feel any human emotions and, while watching his daughter dance, just shows them off and doesn't really feel them. But if that were the case, I would still have liked to see a certain split in the portrayal, so that it becomes clear exactly when the actual personality - that of the murderer - is revealed.
Nevertheless, I see a certain potential in the series and will watch at least the first season to the end. I'm curious to see whether the character of Paul Spector will develop.
Hiding behind my hands
Half way into the second episode and I'm frankly hiding behind my hands. Doran is terrifying but so good - and Anderson is excellent. I think its his casual disregard of women which scares me - and probably most women. I can see me watching all of this though - got serious potential.
Did you know
- TriviaGerman TV cut episodes 1-11 down to 6 episodes, with a run-time of 90 minutes each.
- Quotes
Ned Callan: [fishing for a news story] So why bring someone in from the outside? That looks remarkably like a vote of no confidence in the PSNI and its ability to run an internal murder investigative review, don't you think? What have you found so far? Staggering levels of incompetence?
Stella Gibson: Mister Callan, no one knows better than me how important the media is as an investigative resource. But really and truly, you should fuck off.
Stella Gibson: Now.
- SoundtracksMorning of New Joy
(uncredited)
Performed by Aisling Franciosi
Details
- Runtime
- 1h(60 min)
- Color
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 16:9 HD
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